{"nrhp_refnum":"79000860","name":"Proctor, John C., Recreation Center","other_names":["Proctor Recreation Center"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"300 S. Allen St","address_restricted":false,"city":"Peoria","county":"Peoria County","state":"IL","lat":40.68548310400007,"lon":-89.61633777299994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1979-09-06","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A three-story brick recreation center and public baths at 309 South Allen Street on Peoria's near south side, occupying a full city block. It was completed in 1913 to designs by Peoria architects Hewitt and Emerson, with Frank Emerson named as architect.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is a fine example of quality Classical Revival architecture from 1913. It was established under the will of banker and lumber dealer John C. Proctor to promote the physical, social and moral welfare of the community. Its plan was original rather than modeled on earlier institutions, and it was praised in 1934 as the finest recreational center in the middle west.","narrative":"Occupying a full city block on Peoria's near south side, the John C. Proctor Recreation Center is a three-story brick building opened in 1913 as a recreation center and public baths. It was funded by the estate of John C. Proctor, a banker and lumber dealer who left his fortune to benefit the community. Peoria architects Hewitt and Emerson designed it, with Frank Emerson, a former student at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, credited for its Classical Revival character. Inside are two gymnasiums, an auditorium, a library and game and meeting rooms, with separate wings for men and boys and for women and girls. Marble, terrazzo and durable finishes were chosen to make the interior boy-proof. Gray brick laid in patterned bond, buff limestone trim and a tiled roof give the exterior its distinctive look. The grounds include a swimming pool, tennis courts and playfields. A national recreation representative praised it in 1934, and it still serves neighborhood residents of all ages.","period_of_significance":"1900-","architect_builder":"Frank Emerson (Hewitt and Emerson)","architectural_style":"Classical Revival","criteria":[],"status_note":"Occupied and still used as a recreation center; described as virtually unchanged, with minor roof repairs and wheelchair-access modifications to two side entrances.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:35.13331-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/55/8938/28893855/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/79000860.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/79000860/152fc5da72-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/79000860/152fc5da72-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Esvobod2","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_C_Proctor_Recreation_Center_Peoria.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Esvobod2</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_C_Proctor_Recreation_Center_Peoria.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893855","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Proctor_Recreation_Center","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6224595"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/peoria-county/proctor-john-c-recreation-center-79000860/"}