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Joe Publico A ‘normal’ school ment it was a university for training teachers. It’s an old term that goes back to Europe but I could not tell you how that word was chosen to identify a teachers college.
I moved to Boston, MA for graduate school and I came across this video today because I miss my hometown, Blo-No. Thank you for this video, Chris. You brought back memories from the streets you drove on to even passing my old high school.
Made a few turns that kept you from heading down Veterans Parkway (North in Normal to South in Bloomington) that would have shown State Farm Headquarters, major shopping and restaurant areas.
I love the soothing music in the background! I lived in the area back in the 80's. So sad about the mall! I loved to hang out there! Miller Park was my best memory of Blooomington. I wish the park was featured in the video.
ISU was originally called Illinois State Normal because, at the time, the word ‘normal’ in the name ment that the university was one that trained/educated people who planned on being teachers. The use of the word to designate a teachers college goes back to Europe where a number of universities still call themselves ‘normal’ schools. A couple of other notes: the first Stake’n’Shake burned down in the 1960’s. The building that was built as a replacement remained Stake’n’Shake until the 90’s. That building (with minor remodeling on the outside by Monical’s, a couple of remodels having been done by Stake’n’Shake when they owned it) is the one Monical’s Pizza now owns and operates. You mentioned State Farm being headquartered here but it also began here (if you mentioned that I missed it and sincerely apologize)
rebelpearl In the case of Normal, Illinois and ISU... In 2020 Normal = Odd. Haha. Very interesting to know about the Steak n’ Shake. About State Farm, I’m not sure if I did mention that it had also begun in Bloomington. I should’ve drove past the HQ though for this video.
Nostalgia Tours Oh, yeah using the word Normal now is really odd, no disagreement. And I think you did very well on your video. Unless someone can spend a lot of time in an area - doing tons of research, tracking down locations, etc - it’s really hard to get details if you don’t live there.
And I love it when people understand that and bring key details that I might’ve missed in a non-bitter/non-angry way to the comment section! The comment section can greatly help people learn about a place if used the right way. You’re the best.
I would just like to add that my two older brothers worked at that original Steak'n'Shake as teens. When it was time for me to go work at a fast food place, I had to be different, I worked at the Dog'n'Suds in Bloomington. But I was born at what was then called Brokaw Hospital, literally across Main Street from that original Steak'n'Shake. At least there are still a few Steak'n'Shakes left in these towns. I would always make certain I ate at Steak'nShake when I came to visit with my folks, and after my Dad passed, with my Mom. While I was born and raised in Normal, I left for college, then lived most of my adult life in the Chicago and then Minneapolis areas. My Mom passed about a year ago, and I was retired from my job at about the same time (long story), so, in my retirement, I've moved back here to Normal. Now I can have Steak'n'Shake any time, and Avanti's Italian food. I can visit my old homes, and I can visit my folks at the cemetery. I can think of lots worse ways to spend one's retirement. Call it closure, or coming full circle, whatever. It's satisfying to me.
I currently live here. We have State Farm (17,000) employees, Country Company 10,000 employees, rivian close too 2k employees, Bridgestone Firestone tires as big companies. We just seen a boom in 2021. There is now no open apartments and a waiting list. There are also ISU, IWU, Heartland community college and Lincoln college (private).
I currently live here in Bloomington normal. I noticed how you drove through the center of town, but skipped the east side, which is a lot nicer. Anyway, thanks for doin gothic vid, and many do a follow up later!
Great video so far - one of the huge buildings in downtown is the old/original State Farm HQ. I’ve been with the company nearly 25 years and we celebrate 100 years in existence this year (2022).
I loved the soothing music in this video! I lived in the area back in the 80's. I wish Miller Park was featured in this video. It was my favorite hang-out and memory!
I can remember, nearly 60 years ago, now, when Miller Park had an area that was built up into a small amusement park, complete with rides like a merry-go-round and such. With the Miller Park Zoo literally across a park path from the amusement park area, it was a really great place to spend a weekend day, back in the 60s. The zoo is still there, but the adjacent amusement park has long since been removed and that whole area -- from the old steam locomotive over to the zoo -- has simply been leveled out as additional parkland. It was a great place to go on the 4th of July, though, to watch fireworks shot off from the opposite side of the small lagoon.
I used to live here as a kid. Was a beautiful area, and community was closely knit. Hi to anyone who used to live at Wingover Luxury Apartments right in front of the regional airport next to the Buffalo Wild Wings and Avanti restaurant!
You should do Clinton, IL, small town, with a few factories and a power plant. So weird seeing all these roads in BloNo in a video. Drove them for years and still randomly do.
Thanks for this video. I attended ISU between 1994 and 1996. Like many, I have great memories of my time there. Normal has changed so much since then. My next trip to Illinois will include a visit.
Thank you for these awesome videos. They are informative and entertaining and very well done. I am thinking about moving to beautiful and cool Illinois (I'm from fire-hot Texas), and your videos are helping me to look around the area almost in real time
It’s already been talked about but Rivian moving in where Mitsubishi left should really put BloNo on the map if they take off. Excited to see how that all plays out
I got robbed earlier today on the west side and for some reason this was reccomended do I clicked it and “desirable place to live” says the one without a glock 26 in his face lol
Thanks for the video. I'm really enjoying your series! Being a twenty plus years resident i have to say that you missed the mark on this one, though. Points worth seeing here is our historic architecture; White Place, Vrooman Mansion, Ewing Manor, The Camel Back Bridge, and David Davis Mansion just to name a few. We have Central Illinois Regional Airport which serves as an alternative to the major airports of Chicago and Indianapolis. You came within blocks of State Farm's Corporate Headquarters' Tower and you missed a trip down Veterans Parkway showing one of the biggest collections of chain restaurants in one place. the twin cities spends more money per capita on restaurants than elsewhere in the state of Illinois. Despite missing all of that sometimes I feel like I've taken a little vacation when I watch your videos. Keep up the good work!
I love it when I drive through Bloomington’s downtown area up Main/East St. (this video, starting 3:05 and ending 3:45) or down Center/Madison St. through all green lights
"Up ahead on the left, you'll be able to see the McLean County Courthouse..." It's now the McLean County Museum of History. Until 1988, it was used for administrative purposes, and was then converted into the history museum. A two-story, Federal style courthouse was built in 1836, and served members of the Eighth Judicial Circuit and attorney Abraham Lincoln. And for the last 25 years, it has hosted the "Voices from the Past: Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk", with local actors who perform sketches of past McLean County residents.
I grew up here and was one of the people who moved away. Here are a facts about the area - 1.) The mall is not doing well as you claim, that mall has been losing money hand over fist for years and is on the brink of closure. I remember going to Eastland as a child and it was a bustling place rich with life and excitement, nowadays with covid-19 and the online era that mall sees maybe 1/50th of the business that it once had, the food court is essentially vacant now. I will bet that mall closes entirely in 1-2 years. 2.) You are right, the town does have a large hick population which is problematic as there is also a decent sized African Americans population who moved to the area from Chicago after the closure of Caprini Greens in the early 2000's, this caused the area to be somewhat of a melting pot for racial tensions. (Get along people! Skin color doesn't matter quit being fucking racist) 3.)Bloomington like many others towns has it's wealth gap. The west side of town is extremely poor, while the median average cost of a house is in the $100k's you can buy a house on the west side for $40-60k, the wealth gap in this town is very evident due to the fact that there are very few good places to work. 4.) If you do not work at State Farm, Country Companies, ISU or Wesleyan you might as well move as you are destined to be poor. 5.) The cops in Bloomington are extremely bored. They are on a high quota and pull people over constantly. I got pulled over more times in 6 months living in Bloomington than I did in 10 years living in another state. 6.) People in Bloomington LOVE FAST FOOD. This town has a staggering amount of restaurants for the population. I will never forget how Normal had the 2 closest Mcdonald's in the world. Back in 2005-2008 a Mcdonald's was built in the parking lot of Wal-Mart while Wal-Mart had it's own Mcdonald's. (YIKES). (Yes, Technically a Mcdonald's was in the parking lot of a Mcdonald's) Also - the town lobbied for years to get a Krispy Kreme, when one was finally built a small parade and extravagant pyrotechnics display marked the opening of the store. I remember seeing a picture of hundreds of people in line, one lady was crying in happiness. (FAIL)
The hick population claim is completely false, compare this to other areas such as fairbury and it is awful. Mostly everyone here is friendly, and unfriendly people are frowned upon.
The malls in Champaign and Peoria are still doing well. Not sure about the one in Springfield. It is kind of surprising though because I would think Bloomington Normal would have enough population to support a major mall.
He's right about the mall. I worked in Bloomington-Normal 2018-20, and the mall was a 4 out of 10 prior to the pandemic. There were a lot of big box stores in the area doing well (probably conributing to the decline of the mall, which needs reno), and I actually really liked the Home Depot just off 55 north of town...clean, very friendly staff. Even though I didn't live there I would get a lot of stuff there
Normal once had 3 Garcia's Pizza real close to each other. One on Fell and Beaufort, one on Dale and Kingsley, and one in Bone Student Center by McDonald's. I really miss their slices- wish they'd come out to Phoenix.
God do i miss real weather snow real thunderstorms here in Las Vegas where i live now the rain is less than a drizzle and last about 1/2 minute sometimes it last all day like when california got hit with that tropical storm two weeks ago
Moved away from Normal to California 40 years ago and have only returned 2 or 3 times since.... Great video, nice to see some of the town I grew up in. I was ahead of my time, moving away in 1980, guess the trend has taken hold. As grey and gloomy as the town looks in the video, it's even much worse in winter, which are brutally cold and snowy. I sometimes wonder how things would have been had I stayed in Illinois, thanks to your video, I see I made a good choice leaving. Not that California, where I am now, is any garden spot anymore. Tens of thousands are leave California now also. As a fellow YT'er, I find it curious to some extent you would take the trouble to do all these videos you post on your channel.... you do a really good job with narration, camera work, etc. but only a few hundred views per video is not very cost effective. But in any case, I'm glad you took the effort, thanks!
I'm another Normalite that followed your footsteps, then, only I haven't found the time to go back yet. I wonder what's going to happen in the next 20 - 40 years there.
Moving to California I get, but when compared to other areas of the country, East of say Colorado, Bloomington's winters are very temperate. I mean yeah it gets cold and it snows, but the amount of snow is usually very manageable, and same with the cold.
@@jonathonmichaels2101 I guess I've developed a "You don't need to shovel sunshine" mentality. The last three years I spent in Illinois the winters were absolutely brutal. It helped me make my move.
State Farm insurance is headquarters in Bloomington and everything is on east of town. My mom and brother and his family live there I used to know like back of my hand
Bloomington also has many historical areas of interest, including one of the most amazing cemeteries in downstate Illinois: Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Former U.S. Vice President, Adlai Stevenson I, is buried there, as is his son, Adlai Stevenson II, who was the 31st governor of Illinois and US Ambassador to the UN. US Supreme Court Justice, David Davis, who was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln is also buried at Evergreen, and the David Davis Mansion & grounds are still maintained and offer tours. Former Illinois Governor George Fifer is buried in Park Hill Cemetery, as is George J. Mercherle, founder of State Farm. Besides Laurie Metcalf, several other celebrities attended Illinois State University: Sean Hayes, Jane Lynch, John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Pokey Lafarge and of course, McLean Stevenson was born and raised here - he is the great nephew of former U.S. Vice President, Adlai Stevenson I...
Also, at around 25:00 (at the stoplight) you were directly across from Ewing Mansion, which hosts one of the best Shakespearean festivals in the Midwest + this home has it's own rich family history. Bloomington-Normal also has an amazing biking/running/walking system called Constitution Trail that is pretty amazing, too - you were actually parallel to it for a bit when you turned from Towanda onto Vernon (26:00)...it was on your right for a bit.
You should make another video where you go through the more northern and eastern areas of Bloomington and normal, because the whole video was the west and a bit of the north. Really the only north part though was when you went by my neighborhood
Are you from around here? 30 miles north of here is Pontiac where I grew up you do a lot of Illinois I love it haha. Was just in Bloomington yesterday at the Hyvee and Binnys
Taxes and insurance are higher in FL than in Florida. Bloomington is hours from Chicago BTW More people have left Florida in 2022 than people who left CA or NY...
I always thought the same thing but I found out the reason it’s called that. It actually has to do with Illinois State University being a teaching school which originally was called Illinois State Normal University, which a “normal university” is a school for teaching majors. Originally Normal was called North Bloomington. I only found this out cause I went to school there lol
You didn't drive down the Main Street in Bloomington Normal. Veterans Parkway or Hershey Ave? We didn't see any of the nicer East side of the area at all. State Farm Headquarters?? Just curious why not?
Because I was a rook when I made this video. I’m better at route planning today and finding out important places to see then I was 3 years ago. Simple as that.
April 4th my mom brother and my self were heading to Bloomington when the tornado outbreak happened my dad at the time worked at Transamerica insurance company in downtown decatur he had a business trip in Bloomington we only made it as far as Parsons Elementary school before seing that tornado cut close to my house on Hail dr. On Shadowlane it jumped over sun n fun snd touched down close to MacArthur dr surprisingly only two were killed in that tornado one at the fairground and a trailer park next to the fairgrounds
3:40 That church is literally a minute away from me. Then you head down the same road I take every Friday for grocery shopping. 5:18 that bike at McDonald's has been abandoned for 2 years. 🤣
Just a small request. My eyes always perk up when you cruise through older neighborhoods with older homes having interesting architectural details, especially when they're well maintained and not rotting down. Please try to single out these areas and s l o w d o w n just a little. Thanks.
You are correct. It was changed to a Monical's in 1995 or 1996. I used to enjoy many a lime freeze (an item no longer on Steak & Shake menus) when I went to college nearby.
Good evening. Did you see the 6 foot tall sign on the left side of this video? It appears at the 3:43 mark of the video. It has two large blue metal poles. I know a neat story about this sign. If you want to hear my story, feel free to contact me.
I was born and raised in Normal, and when I left town to go to college (since going to ISU would mean living way too close to my folks for the kind of college experiences I was seeking, lol), I just told everyone that I started out Normal, but have been moving farther and farther away from Normal ever since. But, since I moved back here after I retired, I guess I can finally say that I'm back to Normal. 🙂
I was at ISU for 8 years. I can't believe they tore down Rocky's, Shanigan's, and the Gallery for a fucking museum! Nothing against museums per se, but one would think that they could've found somewhere else to put it. I see the building where The Cellar used to be is still there. I sure miss 25 cent beer nights!
That was big controversy when Normal tore down historic buildings that they deemed were an eyesore and outdated. They felt that is was more important to give the students usable state of the art surroundings. Either way, it's all history now. They did preserve some of the older buildings like the theater and parts of W North St and E Beaufort St.
I former isu friend, said that he met the owner of the building and was taken down to the just down Cellar and was shocked that it looked just like he remembered when we went there in the early 80's
@Pbirv Nothing, it was locked up. If I remember right he said the town would not let him reopen after they redid uptown. It's been 40 years since i graduated, and with the changes I'm not sure i could remember were it was. I'm going down to ISU in a couple of weeks to meet some old classmates and they want to stop a Mother Murphy's. I'm sure they will know. I remember the Gallery, Josie's and Whitehorse they are all gone.
I’ve been interviewed by Rivian, and I have a young family to take care of. Would this be an ideal area to raise a family?? How are the schools and crime rate?
I lived in Normal for a couple of years when I went to ISU. The schools actually in the area are known for being really good. Especially University High School. It’s a very education based town in general because of the higher education there. The crime isn’t horrible, but the two areas I would definitely stay out of are the far north side of Normal near Raab Road, and the West side of Bloomington by Market Street as both those areas deal with shootings. A lot of people in those areas are transplants from Cabrini Green Housing Projects in Chicago when they were torn down and had nowhere to go, some came to those parts of Bloomington-Normal. Most of the Bloomington-Normal area outside of those areas though is safe
Bruh what they tore down the first STEAK N SHAKE im upset they did that wonder when they did that? Im from Peoria Il and saw ruclips.net/video/JRdCtryapgg/видео.html and had no clue steak n shake started in Bloomington Illinois
Bloomington is my hometown. I was born in St Joseph Hospital across from Eastland mall. I moved from there because over the last several years, the crime has gotten really bad. I would never move back there. Not a great place to live.
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I did at 4:40 just didn’t put that in the time stamps, my bad.
Joe Publico A ‘normal’ school ment it was a university for training teachers. It’s an old term that goes back to Europe but I could not tell you how that word was chosen to identify a teachers college.
Beer Nuts: 20:35
I moved to Boston, MA for graduate school and I came across this video today because I miss my hometown, Blo-No. Thank you for this video, Chris. You brought back memories from the streets you drove on to even passing my old high school.
Made a few turns that kept you from heading down Veterans Parkway (North in Normal to South in Bloomington) that would have shown State Farm Headquarters, major shopping and restaurant areas.
I love the soothing music in the background! I lived in the area back in the 80's. So sad about the mall! I loved to hang out there! Miller Park was my best memory of Blooomington. I wish the park was featured in the video.
ISU was originally called Illinois State Normal because, at the time, the word ‘normal’ in the name ment that the university was one that trained/educated people who planned on being teachers. The use of the word to designate a teachers college goes back to Europe where a number of universities still call themselves ‘normal’ schools.
A couple of other notes: the first Stake’n’Shake burned down in the 1960’s. The building that was built as a replacement remained Stake’n’Shake until the 90’s. That building (with minor remodeling on the outside by Monical’s, a couple of remodels having been done by Stake’n’Shake when they owned it) is the one Monical’s Pizza now owns and operates. You mentioned State Farm being headquartered here but it also began here (if you mentioned that I missed it and sincerely apologize)
rebelpearl In the case of Normal, Illinois and ISU... In 2020 Normal = Odd. Haha.
Very interesting to know about the Steak n’ Shake. About State Farm, I’m not sure if I did mention that it had also begun in Bloomington. I should’ve drove past the HQ though for this video.
Nostalgia Tours Oh, yeah using the word Normal now is really odd, no disagreement. And I think you did very well on your video. Unless someone can spend a lot of time in an area - doing tons of research, tracking down locations, etc - it’s really hard to get details if you don’t live there.
And I love it when people understand that and bring key details that I might’ve missed in a non-bitter/non-angry way to the comment section! The comment section can greatly help people learn about a place if used the right way.
You’re the best.
Correct!
I would just like to add that my two older brothers worked at that original Steak'n'Shake as teens. When it was time for me to go work at a fast food place, I had to be different, I worked at the Dog'n'Suds in Bloomington. But I was born at what was then called Brokaw Hospital, literally across Main Street from that original Steak'n'Shake.
At least there are still a few Steak'n'Shakes left in these towns. I would always make certain I ate at Steak'nShake when I came to visit with my folks, and after my Dad passed, with my Mom. While I was born and raised in Normal, I left for college, then lived most of my adult life in the Chicago and then Minneapolis areas. My Mom passed about a year ago, and I was retired from my job at about the same time (long story), so, in my retirement, I've moved back here to Normal.
Now I can have Steak'n'Shake any time, and Avanti's Italian food. I can visit my old homes, and I can visit my folks at the cemetery. I can think of lots worse ways to spend one's retirement. Call it closure, or coming full circle, whatever. It's satisfying to me.
I moved to BN about 12 years ago from the Chicago area. It was a job transfer. I’m retired now. I love it here!
I currently live here. We have State Farm (17,000) employees, Country Company 10,000 employees, rivian close too 2k employees, Bridgestone Firestone tires as big companies. We just seen a boom in 2021. There is now no open apartments and a waiting list. There are also ISU, IWU, Heartland community college and Lincoln college (private).
I currently live here in Bloomington normal. I noticed how you drove through the center of town, but skipped the east side, which is a lot nicer. Anyway, thanks for doin gothic vid, and many do a follow up later!
Any thoughts on what happened to Jelani Day in Peru?
Around Funk's Grove, which is just southwest of Bloomington there is a really scenic area of wooded hils.
Skipped Franklin Park. In a few weeks it'll be exploding with color.
Bro when I was little I grew up going to funks grove
I suggest showing more into the east side of town because it’s nicer there.
Yeah maybe a part 2 for the east side
Left there in 1972 after high-school. GREAT place to grow up.
We moved in 78 ftom decatur to AZ hated the move from illinois
Great video so far - one of the huge buildings in downtown is the old/original State Farm HQ. I’ve been with the company nearly 25 years and we celebrate 100 years in existence this year (2022).
Nice! Is Aaron Rodgers or Chris Paul invited to the party?
@@ChrisHarden 🤣
@@ChrisHarden I’ve enjoyed several of your Illinois videos: Macomb, Rochelle, Genoa, Chicago area. Great tours.
I loved the soothing music in this video! I lived in the area back in the 80's. I wish Miller Park was featured in this video. It was my favorite hang-out and memory!
I can remember, nearly 60 years ago, now, when Miller Park had an area that was built up into a small amusement park, complete with rides like a merry-go-round and such. With the Miller Park Zoo literally across a park path from the amusement park area, it was a really great place to spend a weekend day, back in the 60s. The zoo is still there, but the adjacent amusement park has long since been removed and that whole area -- from the old steam locomotive over to the zoo -- has simply been leveled out as additional parkland. It was a great place to go on the 4th of July, though, to watch fireworks shot off from the opposite side of the small lagoon.
Beer Nuts corporate office and store is also in Bloomington. You drove past it on Washington. Always wanted to check it out.
And if I’m not mistaken that the apartment complex across the street has had a shooting happen there.
@@coltonevans3054 years ago. Not in the last year. Lived at 822 for almost a year.
My sister works at the kohl’s that you drove by. I just think it’s so crazy to see other people so invested in our town
Thanks for the video. Was born here and lived in Normal until I was 10. Haven't been back since late 80's. Nice to see some familiar places.
I used to live here as a kid. Was a beautiful area, and community was closely knit. Hi to anyone who used to live at Wingover Luxury Apartments right in front of the regional airport next to the Buffalo Wild Wings and Avanti restaurant!
This video made me remember the sweet moments I had in Bloomington Normal
Thank you!! I am moving there soon and I like this!!
but if I drop a like after i drop a like it is an unlike so I just drop one time :)
You should do Clinton, IL, small town, with a few factories and a power plant.
So weird seeing all these roads in BloNo in a video. Drove them for years and still randomly do.
Graduated from Illinois State Baby! Redbirds!
Loved this video! I haven’t lived in B-N for years and this video sparked good memories. Thank you!
Thanks for this video. I attended ISU between 1994 and 1996. Like many, I have great memories of my time there. Normal has changed so much since then. My next trip to Illinois will include a visit.
Thank you for these awesome videos. They are informative and entertaining and very well done. I am thinking about moving to beautiful and cool Illinois (I'm from fire-hot Texas), and your videos are helping me to look around the area almost in real time
That’s awesome, I’m glad these videos are helpful!
It’s already been talked about but Rivian moving in where Mitsubishi left should really put BloNo on the map if they take off. Excited to see how that all plays out
I got robbed earlier today on the west side and for some reason this was reccomended do I clicked it and “desirable place to live” says the one without a glock 26 in his face lol
@@danielgrosvenor9948 pro tip, don't live on the west side lmao
It's cool to see the Rivian trucks around town!
Bloomington is as close to Normal as some people get. 😁
When I was in Florida in 2010, Key West Tourism advertisements said "Far From Normal"
Thanks for the video. I'm really enjoying your series! Being a twenty plus years resident i have to say that you missed the mark on this one, though. Points worth seeing here is our historic architecture; White Place, Vrooman Mansion, Ewing Manor, The Camel Back Bridge, and David Davis Mansion just to name a few. We have Central Illinois Regional Airport which serves as an alternative to the major airports of Chicago and Indianapolis. You came within blocks of State Farm's Corporate Headquarters' Tower and you missed a trip down Veterans Parkway showing one of the biggest collections of chain restaurants in one place. the twin cities spends more money per capita on restaurants than elsewhere in the state of Illinois. Despite missing all of that sometimes I feel like I've taken a little vacation when I watch your videos. Keep up the good work!
I love it when I drive through Bloomington’s downtown area up Main/East St. (this video, starting 3:05 and ending 3:45) or down Center/Madison St. through all green lights
Spent 6 years over there - brings back so many beautiful memories.
You should have shown much more of the east side. Also, the building that was the 1st Steak n Shake is still there, but it is Monical's pizza now.
"Up ahead on the left, you'll be able to see the McLean County Courthouse..."
It's now the McLean County Museum of History. Until 1988, it was used for administrative purposes, and was then converted into the history museum. A two-story, Federal style courthouse was built in 1836, and served members of the Eighth Judicial Circuit and attorney Abraham Lincoln. And for the last 25 years, it has hosted the "Voices from the Past: Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk", with local actors who perform sketches of past McLean County residents.
I was there in 2014 and watching this video made me feel nostalgic.
I like how these videos just show normal America. He can't go on every street but he shows a good amount
nostalgia kickin in as a ISU student
I grew up here and was one of the people who moved away. Here are a facts about the area -
1.) The mall is not doing well as you claim, that mall has been losing money hand over fist for years and is on the brink of closure. I remember going to Eastland as a child and it was a bustling place rich with life and excitement, nowadays with covid-19 and the online era that mall sees maybe 1/50th of the business that it once had, the food court is essentially vacant now. I will bet that mall closes entirely in 1-2 years.
2.) You are right, the town does have a large hick population which is
problematic as there is also a decent sized African Americans population who moved to the area from Chicago after the closure of Caprini Greens in the early 2000's, this caused the area to be somewhat of a melting pot for racial tensions. (Get along people! Skin color doesn't matter quit being fucking racist)
3.)Bloomington like many others towns has it's wealth gap. The west side of town is extremely poor, while the median average cost of a house is in the $100k's you can buy a house on the west side for $40-60k, the wealth gap in this town is very evident due to the fact that there are very few good places to work.
4.) If you do not work at State Farm, Country Companies, ISU or Wesleyan you might as well move as you are destined to be poor.
5.) The cops in Bloomington are extremely bored. They are on a high quota and pull people over constantly. I got pulled over more times in 6 months living in Bloomington than I did in 10 years living in another state.
6.) People in Bloomington LOVE FAST FOOD. This town has a staggering amount of restaurants for the population. I will never forget how Normal had the 2 closest Mcdonald's in the world. Back in 2005-2008 a Mcdonald's was built in the parking lot of Wal-Mart while Wal-Mart had it's own Mcdonald's. (YIKES). (Yes, Technically a Mcdonald's was in the parking lot of a Mcdonald's) Also - the town lobbied for years to get a Krispy Kreme, when one was finally built a small parade and extravagant pyrotechnics display marked the opening of the store. I remember seeing a picture of hundreds of people in line, one lady was crying in happiness. (FAIL)
The hick population claim is completely false, compare this to other areas such as fairbury and it is awful. Mostly everyone here is friendly, and unfriendly people are frowned upon.
It as well seems like a problem with your own driving ability to be pulled over that much, not the cops.
The malls in Champaign and Peoria are still doing well. Not sure about the one in Springfield. It is kind of surprising though because I would think Bloomington Normal would have enough population to support a major mall.
He's right about the mall. I worked in Bloomington-Normal 2018-20, and the mall was a 4 out of 10 prior to the pandemic. There were a lot of big box stores in the area doing well (probably conributing to the decline of the mall, which needs reno), and I actually really liked the Home Depot just off 55 north of town...clean, very friendly staff. Even though I didn't live there I would get a lot of stuff there
Normal once had 3 Garcia's Pizza real close to each other. One on Fell and Beaufort, one on Dale and Kingsley, and one in Bone Student Center by McDonald's. I really miss their slices- wish they'd come out to Phoenix.
Monicals Pizza @4:51 on the left immediately after Casey’s is THE ORIGINAL Steak N Shake building, built in 1934. Rare known fact
Original site, not the building.
Normal schools were established to train elementary school teachers. I graduated from ISU in 1978.
What??? A trip to Bloomington/Normal and you totally skip Veteran's Parkway??? That's the "main" part of both towns these days.
20 seconds into the video I can see my wife pulling out of the caseys lol
God do i miss real weather snow real thunderstorms here in Las Vegas where i live now the rain is less than a drizzle and last about 1/2 minute sometimes it last all day like when california got hit with that tropical storm two weeks ago
Moved away from Normal to California 40 years ago and have only returned 2 or 3 times since.... Great video, nice to see some of the town I grew up in. I was ahead of my time, moving away in 1980, guess the trend has taken hold. As grey and gloomy as the town looks in the video, it's even much worse in winter, which are brutally cold and snowy. I sometimes wonder how things would have been had I stayed in Illinois, thanks to your video, I see I made a good choice leaving. Not that California, where I am now, is any garden spot anymore. Tens of thousands are leave California now also. As a fellow YT'er, I find it curious to some extent you would take the trouble to do all these videos you post on your channel.... you do a really good job with narration, camera work, etc. but only a few hundred views per video is not very cost effective. But in any case, I'm glad you took the effort, thanks!
... If you build it they will come.
I'm another Normalite that followed your footsteps, then, only I haven't found the time to go back yet. I wonder what's going to happen in the next 20 - 40 years there.
Moving to California I get, but when compared to other areas of the country, East of say Colorado, Bloomington's winters are very temperate. I mean yeah it gets cold and it snows, but the amount of snow is usually very manageable, and same with the cold.
@@jonathonmichaels2101 I guess I've developed a "You don't need to shovel sunshine" mentality. The last three years I spent in Illinois the winters were absolutely brutal. It helped me make my move.
State Farm insurance is headquarters in Bloomington and everything is on east of town. My mom and brother and his family live there I used to know like back of my hand
Bloomington also has many historical areas of interest, including one of the most amazing cemeteries in downstate Illinois: Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Former U.S. Vice President, Adlai Stevenson I, is buried there, as is his son, Adlai Stevenson II, who was the 31st governor of Illinois and US Ambassador to the UN. US Supreme Court Justice, David Davis, who was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln is also buried at Evergreen, and the David Davis Mansion & grounds are still maintained and offer tours. Former Illinois Governor George Fifer is buried in Park Hill Cemetery, as is George J. Mercherle, founder of State Farm. Besides Laurie Metcalf, several other celebrities attended Illinois State University: Sean Hayes, Jane Lynch, John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Pokey Lafarge and of course, McLean Stevenson was born and raised here - he is the great nephew of former U.S. Vice President, Adlai Stevenson I...
Also, at around 25:00 (at the stoplight) you were directly across from Ewing Mansion, which hosts one of the best Shakespearean festivals in the Midwest + this home has it's own rich family history. Bloomington-Normal also has an amazing biking/running/walking system called Constitution Trail that is pretty amazing, too - you were actually parallel to it for a bit when you turned from Towanda onto Vernon (26:00)...it was on your right for a bit.
And Abe Lincoln's old law office is still there
@@igna83 ewing manor, owned by ISU
@@patrick383ironworker - I'm aware...I'm employed by Illinois State.
You should make another video where you go through the more northern and eastern areas of Bloomington and normal, because the whole video was the west and a bit of the north. Really the only north part though was when you went by my neighborhood
Are you from around here? 30 miles north of here is Pontiac where I grew up you do a lot of Illinois I love it haha. Was just in Bloomington yesterday at the Hyvee and Binnys
Nope not from Illinois. Many of the videos you see happen to be my first time in those cities, and I just finished editing my Pontiac video 👀👀
Nostalgia Tours hope you drive by my house 😂
Sure looks better than the other crappy Illinois towns.
8:22 ah yes Vernon Stables, I had a buddy that lived over there in college. Used to throw awesome parties
I liked the apartments, new and pretty affordable for the good location
Taxes and insurance are higher in FL than in Florida. Bloomington is hours from Chicago BTW
More people have left Florida in 2022 than people who left CA or NY...
"Normal. What a great name for a city." 🤣
Even though I grew up there I have to agree
We are anything but "Normal" 😂
I always thought the same thing but I found out the reason it’s called that. It actually has to do with Illinois State University being a teaching school which originally was called Illinois State Normal University, which a “normal university” is a school for teaching majors. Originally Normal was called North Bloomington. I only found this out cause I went to school there lol
@@owenrozanski7830 maybe given the Rivian boom there could be a "paranormal" or an "extra-normal" now!
My city’s name is normal, my city is the definition of a basic, NORMAL CITY. COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT
The main thing that would draw me to these twin cities is the Historic Route 66, especially Ryburn Place in Normal.
McLean is pronounced like McLain
You should have seen College Hills mall back in the day. Light years better than Eastland
@@cpottervlog8122 Regarding College Hills Mall, Isn't that where Target, Starbucks, Von Maur, etc are located now?
@@UneekSaltyAF target and Von Maur have been there for many years. The Starbucks in target is new
@@cpottervlog8122 - Meh. College Hills was very heavy on shoe stores.
@@IAmTheEggMan111 true
Been to bloomington when i was a child in the seventies from Decatur
Ooh, so close. You came within a couple blocks of my old house about four or five times.
IL State Alum: Actor/Comedian Craig Robinson of "The Office" fame
Thanks for this video. I even see my bicycle!
The Original Steak n Shake building is still there it wasn't torn down. Monicals took it over and renovated it.
Didn't even show Veterans, or places like Fox Creek Road, ISU Golf Course, Market Street.
You didn't drive down the Main Street in Bloomington Normal. Veterans Parkway or Hershey Ave? We didn't see any of the nicer East side of the area at all. State Farm Headquarters?? Just curious why not?
Because I was a rook when I made this video. I’m better at route planning today and finding out important places to see then I was 3 years ago. Simple as that.
April 4th my mom brother and my self were heading to Bloomington when the tornado outbreak happened my dad at the time worked at Transamerica insurance company in downtown decatur he had a business trip in Bloomington we only made it as far as Parsons Elementary school before seing that tornado cut close to my house on Hail dr. On Shadowlane it jumped over sun n fun snd touched down close to MacArthur dr surprisingly only two were killed in that tornado one at the fairground and a trailer park next to the fairgrounds
3:40 That church is literally a minute away from me. Then you head down the same road I take every Friday for grocery shopping. 5:18 that bike at McDonald's has been abandoned for 2 years. 🤣
An abandoned bicycle sittin’ on the rack for 2 years eh? Property crime must not be too bad then haha.
@@ChrisHarden Nah, they're just too lazy to remove it. The McDonald's, last time I was there, had the laziest and dumbest people working there. 🙄
Hmm. Sounds like every other McDonalds
@@ChrisHarden Or the burger king near lakewood plaza.
State Farm, Country Companies and Auto Manufacture are a major reason for the median household income.
Just wanted to see what ya had to say about my home town of the twin shittys
Good ol market street
A “normal school” means it’s a school for teaching majors. Only found that out cause I went there for college
Thanks for the info.
What source did this great music come from? I love it!
It's a site that many RUclipsrs go to for good music to use legally. Musicbed.com
Just a small request. My eyes always perk up when you cruise through older neighborhoods with older homes having interesting architectural details, especially when they're well maintained and not rotting down. Please try to single out these areas and s l o w d o w n just a little. Thanks.
Nearly 50 minutes of driving through Bloomington/Normal and not once did you drive on Veteran's Parkway? It's One of their major streets.
Steak-n-shake is still standing it's the monicals building
You are correct. It was changed to a Monical's in 1995 or 1996. I used to enjoy many a lime freeze (an item no longer on Steak & Shake menus) when I went to college nearby.
Good evening. Did you see the 6 foot tall sign on the left side of this video? It appears at the 3:43 mark of the video. It has two large blue metal poles. I know a neat story about this sign. If you want to hear my story, feel free to contact me.
One thing i really miss is the wild boisonberries sorry if i butchered the spelling lol barely awake
You should have mentioned Connie Link Amphitheater and Constitution Trail. When you went by.
ETA. Have to say. Veterans Parkway was a huge miss.
Also, many people have at least one secondary degree, and are far from being “red necks.”
I actually did move to Bloomington so I could get closer to normal.
I was born and raised in Normal, and when I left town to go to college (since going to ISU would mean living way too close to my folks for the kind of college experiences I was seeking, lol), I just told everyone that I started out Normal, but have been moving farther and farther away from Normal ever since. But, since I moved back here after I retired, I guess I can finally say that I'm back to Normal. 🙂
I was right on west side,of jackson street
Have you ever done a video on Carroll County Illinois?
Mitsubishi Motors had an automobile assembly plant there until a few years ago.
Teacher colleges were called "Normal" schools. I went to a former Normal school, Southeast Mo State.
I was at ISU for 8 years. I can't believe they tore down Rocky's, Shanigan's, and the Gallery for a fucking museum!
Nothing against museums per se, but one would think that they could've found somewhere else to put it.
I see the building where The Cellar used to be is still there. I sure miss 25 cent beer nights!
That was big controversy when Normal tore down historic buildings that they deemed were an eyesore and outdated. They felt that is was more important to give the students usable state of the art surroundings. Either way, it's all history now. They did preserve some of the older buildings like the theater and parts of W North St and E Beaufort St.
@@zafnor Rocky’s, Shanigan’s, and the Gallery were useable. I’ll never forgive the town for tearing them down.
I former isu friend, said that he met the owner of the building and was taken down to the just down Cellar and was shocked that it looked just like he remembered when we went there in the early 80's
@@trfabing So what’s in the Cellar now?
@Pbirv Nothing, it was locked up. If I remember right he said the town would not let him reopen after they redid uptown. It's been 40 years since i graduated, and with the changes I'm not sure i could remember were it was. I'm going down to ISU in a couple of weeks to meet some old classmates and they want to stop a Mother Murphy's. I'm sure they will know.
I remember the Gallery, Josie's and Whitehorse they are all gone.
I’ve been interviewed by Rivian, and I have a young family to take care of. Would this be an ideal area to raise a family?? How are the schools and crime rate?
I lived in Normal for a couple of years when I went to ISU. The schools actually in the area are known for being really good. Especially University High School. It’s a very education based town in general because of the higher education there. The crime isn’t horrible, but the two areas I would definitely stay out of are the far north side of Normal near Raab Road, and the West side of Bloomington by Market Street as both those areas deal with shootings. A lot of people in those areas are transplants from Cabrini Green Housing Projects in Chicago when they were torn down and had nowhere to go, some came to those parts of Bloomington-Normal. Most of the Bloomington-Normal area outside of those areas though is safe
There's a problem with housing but Rivian is supposed to be a good place to work.
Isu and iwu is only colleges in USA on same street
1st steak n shake building is still there its Monicals pizza now.
Bruh what they tore down the first STEAK N SHAKE im upset they did that wonder when they did that? Im from Peoria Il and saw ruclips.net/video/JRdCtryapgg/видео.html and had no clue steak n shake started in Bloomington Illinois
It was Normal where steak n shake was
The Tour ended very close to my house
Didn't have any big expectations for Normal Illinois
My dad went to high school wuth Gus Belts daughter in decatur
You forgot Ronald Regan he is a graduate from Illinois state
Eureka College! 👍
Please show east side
That was kind of a weird tour. I do like a lot of your videos though!
no veterans pkwy??
You drove past my neigborhood
Missed the nicer East areas of both cities.. maybe next time.
Bloomington is my hometown. I was born in St Joseph Hospital across from Eastland mall. I moved from there because over the last several years, the crime has gotten really bad. I would never move back there. Not a great place to live.
Go to north lee west market street
5:17 is me and my dad going to McDonald’s in black truck
You just reminded me of how BORING B/N is and I will never move back. Great video tho.
Haha.
Steak ‘n Shake, Keller’s, old College Hills mall, SF pool, Miller park zoo. 30 minutes of almost nothing we’re here for lol,
You should make one about Bloomington, this ones all Normal.
Cherryville mall it’s in Rockford you been there
Hmmm I don’t think I drove to there when I was in Rockford.
It’s actually in Cherry Valley, Illinois.
Why shove biased conservative views into a video about two middle of nowhere towns?
CJS 08, go Redbirds!