History of The Courier Cafe

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Palace Chandelier

The chandelier which hangs at -the center of the main dining room was removed from the Palace Opera House in Erie, PA. The opera house, built in the 1800's, was boarded up in 1914 for over 50 years. This fixture and many more fine pieces were saved shortly before demolition of the building.

Cash Register

Made in 1914 by (NCR) National Cash Register, a class 500, the top of the line. It is believed that this was the first electric (electro-mechanical) register made. The exterior is solid brass.

Coca-Cola Regulator

A seven day regulator originally made as an advertising piece for Coca-Cola. One look at the advertised price will tell this clock is really old.

Brass Chimes

A gift from a Nickelodeon maker, George Mulford, these tubular bells are remnants of a steam powered calliope, a turn of the century mechanical musical masterpiece. Not unlike our friend George, the days of the nickelodeon and calliope are gone forever.

The Digger

Once a common sight at every county fair, circus or carnival, rows of these coin-operated mechanical machines fascinated patrons with the chance of retrieving a special prize. Our machine was built around 1925 and is now used as a gumball machine.

111 N. Race Street, Urbana, Illinois

     In 1837 William Tompkin purchased the land where the Courier Café now stands and about 78 additional acres for $200.00. He erected a two-room log cabin on this site, the first building in what is now known as Urbana.
     Two years later, Tompkin deeded the land to Issac Busey, another early settler. The land remained in the Busey family until 1850 when his son-in-law sold the land to Wilson Lewis for $270.00.
     In 1916 Alvin T. Burrows, the owner of the Courier Newspaper-then located on South Race St., purchased the land. The Courier newspaper began with the founding of the Champaign County Herald in 1877, a weekly paper serving 35,000 people.
     In 1897, with a "reputation second to no country paper," the weekly became a circulation leader and remained so under the new owners Lindsey-Schaub, who bought the paper in 1934.
     In the early 50's the building was almost lost to a fire but was saved and rebuilt. There are places where charred timbers are still visible.
     In 1962, after many years at successful circulation, the Courier became plagued with problems and on March 31, 1979 closed their doors, bringing to an end one of the few remaining competitive newspaper situations in the United States.
     The passing of the Courier Newspaper was especially sad because of a strong bond of friendship of men and women of integrity in an enterprise which sought to make the world more meaningful to those who live in it.
     The Courier then remained empty until July 7, 1980 when the current owner of the Courier Café began remodeling the desolated building. Care was taken to preserve as many of the original characteristics of the building as possible. On November 10, 1980, the building again came to life as the Courier Café.

See photos of our antiques

Courier Clock

Known as a master clock, this mercury filled pendulum timepiece was noted for accuracy. The mechanisms in the case were used to time bells, machines and drive other 'slave' clocks in a large building. It had the interesting feature of being self correcting. Circa 1925.

Airplane Fan

A novel version of the ceiling fan, this biplane fan was marketed as the Fan-O-Plane and dates to the early 1930's.

Stained Glass

Kite shaped glass on the south wall came from a Danville church which predated the Civil War between the states.

Meadow Lark

An original sales lithograph for an early farm machine. Circa 1850

Columbian Exposition

An original architectural concept of the 1896 Exposition in Chicago. It was used to "sell" the idea to the exposition committee-it is believed to be the only copy in existence.

Pullman Lamps

These fine examples of Victorian styling, once lighted the aisle ways for passengers aboard Pullman railroad cars at the turn of the century.

Visit Silvercreek Restaurant

Courier Café - 111 N Race Street, Urbana, IL 61801, Ph: 217-328-1811, Fax: 217-328-5707

Menu Designed and Illustrated by Portia Iverson
Menu © 1981 Allen Strong
© 1981-2004 Allen Strong/Courier Café/Silvercreek Restaurant
http://www.CourierSilvercreek.com

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