1938
Lester Wood, who started business in Washington in 1919 on South Main St in Washington selling musical furniture (pianos, phonographs, etc) but later turned to his master trade of jeweler, retired from the business in 1938, selling his business to Donald Smartwood. Through a few more ownership changes this business would morph into Foster Jewelry.
Dr. George Cohen arrived in town in 1938, replacing Dr. Whitlock.
Market Street was paved from Peoria to Holland Streets.
In 1938 it was announced that a "moving picture theater" would be erected in Washington.
A vote was taken and the resolution passed by the public for the construction of a new high school.
In 1938 there was a movement for a new city road. In today’s terms, it would have run south from the southern end of Wilmor Road and connected with the spot where Guth Road turns into Foster Road. The reasoning behind the road was to be able to provide access to the City Park on the west side of the cemetery without going through the cemetery. In the end, the road was not built due to the large cost of the construction of a railroad crossing and bridge over Farm Creek needed for the road. The 2001 Comprehensive Plan for Washington re-ignited the potential of this road.
Adam Vohland sold his land about three miles west of the Washington city limits. This land would then be subdivided and come to be known as Beverly Manor.
With the closing of the Muller Grocery in the Esser building on north Main St., that space was rented to the Ben Franklin stores out of Chicago. Originally taking only half of that building, within a year they had taken over the entire Esser building, and remained there until 1971.
