National Register of Historic Places

Downey Building

Atlanta, Logan County, Illinois
Listed
February 25, 2004
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
04000069

About this property

The Downey Building is a historic building located at 110-112 Southwest Arch Street in Atlanta, Illinois. The Italianate building was constructed in 1867 by local businessman Alexander Downey. The building contains two storefronts, which have historically housed separate businesses. The Exchange National Bank of Atlanta moved into the south side of the building shortly after it opened; at the time, it was the only bank in Atlanta, as it had been chartered the previous year after the previous bank shut down. The bank later changed its name to the First National Bank of Atlanta and the Atlanta National Bank. In 1916, the bank relocated, and John Luther Bevan acquired the space for his and his son's law office. His son, Samuel Bevan, used the office until his death in 1960. The south side of the building now houses an annex of the Atlanta Museum. The north side of the building housed various businesses until 1934, when James Robert Adams opened the Palms Grill Café in that storefront. The grill was both a community gathering place and a stop for travelers on U.S. Route 66. In addition to serving food, the café also hosted community gatherings such as dances and bingo. It also served as Atlanta's Greyhound Bus stop. The restaurant featured a large neon sign in front, which was also used to signal buses. The restaurant was closed during the 1960s but reopened in 2009 after the building was extensively renovated. It is now a popular stop on Historic Route 66 in Illinois. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 2004.

Location

110-112 Southwest Arch St.
Atlanta, Logan County, Illinois
40.26028, -89.23147

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Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Hawes, J. H., Elevator
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0.1 mi
Atlanta Public Library
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0.5 mi
University Hall
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9.8 mi
Hoblit House
Industrial
10.2 mi
Foley, Stephan A., House
Industrial
10.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Downey Building listed on the National Register?

Downey Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 25, 2004.

What type of historic resource is Downey Building?

Downey Building is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Downey Building?

The period of significance for Downey Building is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Downey Building?

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