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Article: Barnes symbol of past amid present sprawl
- Article from:
- The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL
- Article date:
- June 7, 2009
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Towanda Barnes Road, which runs along the eastern fringe of both
Bloomington and Normal, is a symbol of the sprawling, seemingly
unchecked growth of the Twin Cities.
Yet amid the brand new residential and commercial developments
sprouting up and down the corridor stands a lonely reminder of
McLean County's past-a past measured not by cul-de-sac subdivisions,
daycare centers and Kwik-E-Marts, but rather one measured by corn,
livestock and the steam engine.
The anachronistic collection of grain elevators and storage
buildings at the northeast corner of Towanda Barnes and General
Electric roads was once known as Barnes, a small station stop and
siding on an Illinois Central Railroad branch line.