1845

In 1845, Asa Danforth built the "old brick mill. " The mill, located at the corner of what is now Jefferson and Wood Streets, was the first brick building built in Washington. The Andrews family ran the mill for over fifty years, and it was finally razed in 1956. Below, you will see two photos of the mill, one from the early 1900s and one much later in the building's lifespan.

In 1845, the city of Peoria was officially incorporated, and it had a population of around 2,000 people.

In 1845, the Tazewell County Board passed a resolution that every able-bodied male between the ages of 21 and 30 was to perform two days of work for the County Supervisor.  The Board also appointed Washington's election supervisors, John Lindley, Elisha Harms, and Joseph Kelso.

Andrew Frazer was a significant arrival in Washington in 1845.  Frazer arrived in our area at 32 and spent another fifty years providing harness work for Washington's citizens at his shop just north of the square near the corner of what is now Main and Zinser.

In 1845, the Hungerford family sold their Hungerford Hotel on the square to William Robinson, who died in 1866.  At some point, the hotel was sold to Elias Benford, and during these changes, it was renamed the Sherman House.

Also, in 1845, this statute was passed in Illinois: "Any person who shall hereafter bring into this State any black or mulatto person, to free him or her from slavery, or shall directly or indirectly bring into this State, or aid or assist any person in bringing any such black and mulatto person to settle and reside therein, shall be fined one hundred dollars on conviction and indictment, before any justice of the peace in the county where such offense shall be committed."

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