La Harpe, Illinois

Geobox|Settlement
name = La Harpe
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category = City
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country = United States
state = Illinois
region = Hancock
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population = 1385
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timezone = CST
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postal_code = 61450
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map_caption = Location of La Harpe within Illinois
map_background = Illinois - background map.png map_locator = Illinois2
commons = La Harpe, Illinois
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La Harpe is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,385 at the 2000 census.

Geography

La Harpe is located at coor dms|40|34|59|N|90|58|8|W|city (40.582925, -90.968770),GR|1 along the South Branch La Moine River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²), all of it land.

History

During the 1700s, French explorers headed by Berrard de LaHarpe were forced to spend the winter just north of the present city of La Harpe, Illinois. About 1896, four stone tablets dated June 15,1715 and inscribed in French were reportedly found a few miles east of the old fortication built by the explorers. Soon after 1830, landowners in the area began to develop a town which they called Franklin. In 1836, they applied for a post office and were informed another town in Illinois was already named Franklin. The first postmaster, Louis F. Chaffin, suggested the name be registered as La Harpe, for the Frenchman who spent the winter over 100 years earlier. The City of La Harpe was granted a charter by the Illinois legislature in 1859. The charter was amended in 1861 to change the size of the town, and the boundaries have changed through the years. Today the city has 22 streets and avenues.

In 1867, the TP&W railroad line was completed through the town. In 1888, the City council bought the first fire engine, but a fire in October 1893 still destroyed nearly all the businesses in one block of Main Street. City Hall was built in 1894. The election of 1895 was the first election in which the women of LaHarpe were allowed to vote on the issue of liquor licenses (The women had a separate ballot box). The La Harpe Carnegie Public Library was built in 1905, with local support and a donation from Andrew Carnegie. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The City Park was donated by Marvin Tyron, one of the town's founders, as a public square.

In 1986, La Harpe celebrated 150 years of history. During that year, a Sesquicentennial History entitled La Harpe, Illinois, 1836-1986 was published.

Each summer the town celebrates during the annual Summerfest on the town square.

Today, many of the surviving buildings in La Harpe's business districts, including the City Hall, are on the National Register of Historic Places. La Harpe has the only 4-story building in Hancock County. The park district includes a community club house, swimming pool, LaMoine Valley golf course and a complex of lighted ball fields. The city park has a lighted shelter house and stage.

Events & Attractions

Summerfest

Fred Gibb Car Show

Schools

Illini West High School

*Home of the Chargers

Beginning in August 2007, La Harpe High School will be shut down and students will attend the newly formed Illini West High School in Carthage. La Harpe Elementary and La Harpe Jr. High School will still remain in La Harpe.

La Harpe Grade School/Jr. High

*Home of the Eagles

La Harpe Grade School/Jr. High will remain in La Harpe and will move into the vacated high school building.

La Harpe High School

*Former home of the Eagles/Thunder/Cyclones

In 1996, the Northwestern-La Harpe Thunder football team was the first athletic team with La Harpe High School students to ever participate in the IHSA State Finals. They were defeated 35-28 by the Chenoa, Redbirds. In 2000, the team once again made it to the IHSA State Finals and were defeated by the Carthage Blueboys 14-0.

In 1839, a log cabin was built to be used as a blacksmith shop. After a few years it became the first school house in La Harpe. The log cabin served as a school house until 1844, when it was sold and became a blacksmith shop again. The next school building was a brick building that had an enrollment of 98 students. This building served as a public school until the academy was built in 1857. The Academy was located on the present site of the elementary school building. A new building was built in 1898 for a larger student body. This building served as the high school and elementary school until it was destroyed by fire in 1927. A new structure was built in 1929. The new building is now our present elementary school building. The school became La Harpe Community School District on April 20, 1942. In 1958, the current high school building was built. On May 2, 1961, the present La Harpe Community School District #335 was formed from the communities of Fountain Green, Terre Haute, La Harpe, and Durham. On May 27, 2007, the high school hosted its final graduation.

Businesses

Oasis Tap

Little Brothers

Plumbing, Heating & Electric

La Harpe Elevator

CCS Computers

PY's Muffler Shop

West Central FS Inc.

Time and Chime Jewelry Store

Hancock County Quill

La Harpe Equipment

Massey Ferguson Dealer

Hometown Insurance

Wood Tax/Accounting

Meals Plus for Seniors

First Impressions Beauty Salon

K&C Enterprises Car Sales and Service

K & C Enterprises Sales and Service, LLC was established in April 2002. The used car dealership now occupies the building and lot that formerly housed the La Harpe Motor Sales Ford Dealership. Ken Foster and Lenus Duffie are the owners of the business. Located on Highway 9 East, next to R+D Foods grocery store, and across the street from Dollar General.

Hobby Claim Service

NorthSide Motor Sales

Dan Gillett,owner

Jones Heating & Cooling

R+D Foods

Dollar General

Country Insurance & Financial

Casey's General Store

Aeryco Convenience Gas Station

My Sister's Place Flower Shop

Jones Insurance Agency

Jones Insurance Agency was originally Howd Insurance Agency, beginning with Jim Howd in 1941. It was passed on to his son, Joel, who continued the tradition of great service until 1985. At that time, the long time family business was sold, and Jay Jones became the new agency principal. The agency has seen many changes over the years in the insurance industry, and automation, while still maintaining the best level of customer service in the area.

In 2006, the agency opened a St. Louis branch office, offering personal lines insurance in Missouri and Illinois.

Sparrow Construction/Millwright

J Money Motorcycle Parts

Friends-A-Bloom Floral & Gifts

Housewright Contracting

Pesty Lady Pest Control

Jones Tree Service

The Hair Affair Beauty Shop

Chem-Gro Inc.

First State Bank of Western Illinois

On January 9, 1904, The State Bank of Burnside was opened for business with assets of $25,000.00. The Bank prospered, but the Directors felt there was a greater opportunity for growth in a larger town. So, on July 4, 1941, the Bank moved to La Harpe and became the State Bank of La Harpe.

First National Bank of Carthage was chartered May 4, 1934, and opened with assets of $207,758.00. The Bank was sold to First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. of Naperville in 1985, and became known as First Midwest Bank/Hancock County. On June 30, 1989, the Carthage branch of First Midwest was sold to the State Bank of La Harpe and the two banks became known as FIRST STATE BANK OF WESTERN ILLINOIS.

On September 7, 1990, First State Bank of Western Illinois purchased the Macomb branch of Gem City Federal Savings and Loan Association. The establishment of a presence in Macomb was a natural part of First State’s plans for growth and commitment to Western Illinois. The Bank’s assets increased to approximately $70 million with the Gem City acquisition.

On November 12, 1997, First State Bank of Western Illinois opened a full-service branch in Thompson’s Food Basket in Macomb, Illinois. This was the first in-store branch in either McDonough or Hancock counties and is indicative of our continued effort to provide the most up to date delivery service for our customers.

In July 2000, First State Bank of Western Illinois purchased the Hamilton, Illinois Branch of Associated Banc-Corporation. The purchase of this $27,000,000 institution gave First State three strategically located facilities in Hancock County and increased total assets to $125,000,000. This also made First State Bank of Western Illinois the largest financial institution in Hancock County.

In the late summer of 2000, Thompson Food Basket in Macomb, Illinois discontinued business and as such First State Express was forced to close it’s doors. Discussions began immediately with Hy-Vee, who was in the process of building a new store on the east side of Macomb. Negotiations were successful and in October 2000 First State Express opened it’s doors in Hy-Vee’s new facility on East Jackson.

In late 2003 discussions were initiated with Union Bank/West to purchase their Blandinsville, Illinois Branch. Blandinsville is only seven miles east of La Harpe, with a great deal of overlapping commerce, making the location an obvious choice. An agreement was reached and on May 7, 2004 the $12,000,000 Branch became First State’s sixth full-service location bringing the Bank’s total assets to $147,000,000.

Also, in late 2003 Associated Bank contacted us concerning their Monmouth location. Monmouth, being the county seat of Warren County and contiguous to McDonough County on the north, was a logical choice for a First State location. Terms were agreed upon and on June 18, 2004 the $7,000,000 branch became First State’s seventh location, bringing the Bank’s total assets to $155,000,000.

Rodeffer's FS

La Harpe Auto Body

Christy's Cuts

Claremont Auto Sales

Route 9 Cafe

Palmer's Auto Sales and Service

Clover Tire Shop

Hometown Video

Grisham's Diner

La Harpe Telephone Company

Hobby Auction Service

La Harpe Davier Health Care Center/Nursing Home

Family Rural Health Care Center

Steve E Rodeffer Dds

202 W Main StLa Harpe, IL 61450Phone : [phone]

Community Resources

La Harpe Fire Department

La Harpe Police Department

La Harpe Carnegie Public Library

La Harpe Park District

*Lamoine Valley Golf Course

La Harpe is home to one of the states few golf courses with sand greens. The 9-hole par 34 "Lamoine Valley" course at the Lamoine Valley Golf Club facility features all the hallmarks of Illinois golf for only $3. It is located at the corner of West Archer and North E Street near the La Harpe Park District Pool. The course features many grass traps, a pond and a one of a kind sand trap with the grass initals “JT” in the middle of the sand trap on the par 3 number 6 hole. “JT” stands for the current Superintendent Jeff Thompson who took over after the longtime groundskeeper Raymond Reed died in 2000. Each summer local golfers compete in the LH Open 2 Man Best Ball Tournament around Summerfest. The Lamoine Valley Golf Course is also home of La Harpe’s Junior High's 200 meter grass track in the spring, and the Annual Fred Gibb Car Show. Also, during the winter months, the golf course hills challenge local recreational sledders. The Lamoine Valley golf course opened in 1920.

*La Harpe Community Club House

The club house is available to rent for special occasions. It also hosts the annual Lions Club breakfast and is the polling place for La Harpe residents.

*La Harpe Community Reservoir

Dr. B. I. and Flora Mueller Wildlife Area is located at the community reservoir, this area houses wildlife and many beautiful flowers.

Also a great place for fishing, a 31 lb. flathead catfish was caught here by Will Smith.

*La Harpe Community Swimming Pool

*La Harpe Baseball/Softball Complex

Northern Hancock County Ambulance Service

Senior Citizen Center

200 West 1st Avenue

La Harpe, IL 61450

Phone: [phone]

Churches

Union Church

The [http://www.unionchurch.com Union Church Website] of La Harpe, IL is an independent, theolgically conservative, evangelical church. The church is associated with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference. Worship is held on Sunday mornings at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and the church is Pastored by Rev. Bruce Goettsche. His son Rick Goettsche is the Pastor of Outreach and Education.

The church website contains a sermon archive of hundreds of free sermons. The church also produces a radio broadcast. "God's Truth for Daily Living" airs on five local stations. [http://www.unionchurch.com/gtdl.shtml Broadcast Archives]

Christian Church - http://laharpechristianchurch.com/

Methodist Church

AGAPE Christian Fellowship

Abundant Life Outreach

Clubs & Organizations

La Harpe Historical and Genealogical Society

Lions Club

Golden Rule Club

American Legion

Masonic Lodge

Residents

Fred Gibb Jr.

Fred Gibb Jr. was a Chevrolet Dealer in La Harpe, Illinois for 36 years. Gibb began his racing career in 1967 with the high performance "302" Z28 Camaro and retired from racing in 1971 after winning the A.H.R.A. World Championship for Pro Stock in San Francisco, California. Some of his family still reside in LaHarpe.

Charles Duryea

Charles Duryea, who with his brother, Frank invented the first gasoline-powered automobile, graduated from La Harpe's Gittings Seminary in 1882.

Jamie Jones

Jamie Jones was the only resident from La Harpe to ever win a IHSA State Championship medal by winning back to back Class A High Jump titles in 1997 and 1998.

Byron I. Mueller

Doctor Byron I. Mueller came to La Harpe in 1938. He and his wife, Flora served La Harpe and the surrounding community for over 54 years. In 1993,they were honored by the dedication of the Dr. B. I. and Flora Mueller Wildlife Area.

Olan Soule

Olan Soule was a character in Hollywood and appeared in more than 200 roles, in both television and movies. His most famous TV appearances involved rural-themed comedies, like "Green Acres", "Petticoat Junction", "Mr. Ed", and "The Andy Griffith Show"; crime-themed dramas, like "Dragnet", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Perry Mason"; or westerns, like "Bonanza", "Gunsmoke", and "The Big Valley". In his later career, he was a prolific voice-over artist for children's television cartoons.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,385 people, 561 households, and 383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.8 people per square mile (393.2/km²). There were 604 housing units at an average density of 445.6/sq mi (171.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.78% White, 0.07% from other races, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.

There were 561 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,589, and the median income for a family was $37,708. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,400 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,586. About 4.6% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

La Harpe Website
* [http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/hancock/laharpe.html Town Page]

La Harpe School Websites
* [http://www.laharpeeagles.org/ La Harpe Grade/Jr. High School]
* [http://www.illiniwest.org/ Illini West High School]

Local Newspaper Websites
* [http://www.quillnewspaper.com/ Hancock County Quill]
* [http://www.journalpilot.com/ Hancock County Journal Pilot]

Local Radio Websites
* [http://www.wcazam990.com/ WCAZ 990AM]

Local Library Website
* [http://www.laharpe.lib.il.us/library/ La Harpe Carnegie Public Library]

Local Business Websites
* [http://www.jonesinsagency.com/ Jones Insurance Agency]
* [http://kandcent.com/ K&C Enterprises]
* [http://www.fsbwi.com/ First State Bank]

Local Church Websites
* [http://www.unionchurch.com/ Union Church]
* [http://www.laharpechristianchurch.com/ Christian Church]

Local Websites of Interest
* [http://fredgibb.com/index.html Fred Gibb Car Show]

Maps