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History · Chrisman

Chrisman’s history is mostly unwritten

The public archives hold only 2 old photos of Chrisman. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.

2old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Chrisman’s archive · credits on each photo

What stands out about Chrisman’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Chrisman’s homes were built before 1956.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Chrisman’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Chrisman’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewChrisman Township High School - Image f…: stand where they stood+15 Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Chrisman came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Chrisman.

Read it all →

Chrisman was founded on land originally owned by a man named Abraham Smith, who moved to Ross Township in 1840. In 1851, Smith sold his farmland to John Chrisman who then built his home on the land where the Nazarene Church currently stands. Chrisman lived in this house until his death in 1870. Upon his death, the property, including the 800 acres of farmland, was inherited by his son, Mathias Chrisman. It is believed that at this time, around 20 other families were also living in the area.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Chrisman, decade by decade

2 decades in the archive, from the 1910s to the 1950s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1910s1 item
Chrisman Township High School - Image from page 32 of "Township and union district high schools in Illinois" (1915)1915Chrisman Township High School - Image from page 32 of…
1920s–1940snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
1950s1 item
Town 'N Country Motel-Restaurant (NBY 429081)1958Town 'N Country Motel-Restaurant (NBY 429081)
1960s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today3 recent
Frostop Root Beer sign2007Frostop Root Beer sign Chrisman Illinois water tower2007Chrisman Illinois water tower Chrisman Illinois high school2007Chrisman Illinois high school
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Chrisman Township High School - Image from page 32 of "Township and union district high schools in Illinois" (1915)
Retake this viewChrisman Township High School - Image from page 32 of "Township and union district high schools in Illinois" (1915), 1915

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Chrisman’s page.

Retake this view · +15

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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From Wikimedia Commons (5) and Wikipedia. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.

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