Odea's Cleaners opens at 704 Peoria Street, and would become one of the longest tenured businesses in the history of the City.

John L. Hensey School opened its doors for the 1958-59 school year, dedicated to the district Superintendent who died in 1955.

The Town & Country Gardeners were formed and have been invaluable to Washington ever since.

In 1958 future legendary Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn was the play-by play man for several Washington Panthers basketball games on the radio.

In 1958, the North Central Area Mutual Aid developed an evacuation plan for Peoria in case of enemy invasion.  In that plan, over 9,000 people were to be funneled through Washington, with over 3,000 remaining in Washington and the rest continuing on to cities like Eureka and others.

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