Fate Prevented Village Growth, Vermilion County, Illinois Newspaper: Unknown (Vermilion Co., IL), Date: Unknown, after 1953 FATE PREVENTED VILLAGE GROWTH ARMSTRONG - Three disastrous fires and a new highway did much to limit Armstrong's chances of becoming the prosperous business and retail center for a rich farming area. But most people enjoy the peace and quiet of the village. The worst blaze struck Oct. 2, 1908, and razed an entire block on the west side of Main Street. A general store, harness shop, blacksmith shop, lumber yard, opera house, post office and grain elevator were destroyed. Since there was no fire department, people fought the blaze with bucket brigades. Water was pumped by hand from the community wells and a railroad engine brought water from a tank more than a mile away. This business block never was completely rebuilt. In 1925, lightning struck a lumber yard built on the site or the earlier fire. The resulting blaze destroyed the yard and large amounts of carnival equipment which had been moved in for an overnight stay. Three grain elevators also have burned to the ground. Although one of Vermilion County's first paved roads splits the village from north to south, the construction of State Route 119 (now also 136) to the south of Armstrong cut off through traffic. The town was laid out April 11, 1876, on land owned by Thomas and Henry ARMSTRONG. It was located on a narrow gauge railroad, Havana, Rantoul & Eastern. The line later became part of the Illinois Central. Passenger trains used to run through the town as far east as West Lebanon, Ind. Occasional freights are now the only traffic. History books credit the PARTLOW family with the first settlement near Armstrong in 1828. Partlow Cemetary and the former Partlow Methodist Church were marks left on the area by this pioneer family. Armstrong's grade school, built in 1950, takes in the town and the former Foster, Pilot, and Hope Schools. The high school, first located in the Odd Fellows Hall above a grocery store, now includes students from Gifford and Penfield to Collison. Most Armstrong residents work in Danville or at Chanute Air Force Base. Present population is about 250. One of the biggest events in the town's history was the Farm Progress Show held in October, 1953. More than 100 planes landed in nearby fields bringing people to the exposition which was held on the late Earl BASS farm. PHOTO: WOODEN SIDEWALKS - Business section of Armstrong, pictured between 1905 and 1910, catered to shopping convenience with board walks in front of stores, permanent crosswalks at corners of unpaved streets. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Whitney R Profitt