Jeanne Clark Challacombe

Interview Date: 7 April 2022

Jeanne Clark Challacombe was born to John and Genevieve (Maher) Clark. She grew up in Brimfield, Illinois during the 1930s–1950s. She attended Brimfield Grade and High Schools and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She married Kenneth “Kenny” Challacombe and had six children together. They lived and raised their family in Brimfield. Jeanne had several different jobs and interests in town. These include newspaper correspondent, multiple positions with the Village of Brimfield, artist, and shop owner. Her husband, Kenny was responsible for the Village public works systems; a job that her son, Kevin, holds today. Jeanne talks about growing up and raising a family in town, attending school, church life, her work as an artist, Old Settler’s and her families work with the Village of Brimfield.

Introduction
00:54 – Origin Story: Birth and Parents
02:01 – Growing up years
04:33 – School days
09:00 – Interest in the arts
13:27 – Old Settlers
16:43 – Church life and Saturday night fun
22:34 – Marriage and family life
29:06 – Occupations
42:44 – Current life with Dale Sollenberger  

Hamilton house
Brimfield Grade School
Brimfield High School
Donna (Clark) Rahn
Maher family
Susie Clark
Mrs. Hayes (schoolteacher)
Mrs. Blundy (schoolteacher)
Mrs. Doubet (schoolteacher)
Kickapoo, Illinois
Artistic talents and work
Mrs. Sherman’s mother
Bernadine Tucker (local artist and schoolteacher)
Vale’s Market
Farmer’s Table Restaurant
Shoe kicking contests
Keith Challacombe
Free Movies on Saturday Nights
St Joseph Church burning
Charles “Charlie” and Bertha Marks
William “Bill” Harding
Parkside Cafe
Lucky’s Cafe
Elmer “Red” and Aileen (Bollman” Corney
Father Thomas Harrison
Della Robbia statue
Community Building
American Legion building
Miss Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fuchs, church organist
Debbie (Challacombe) Peters
Brimfield News
Sara Maher
Melva Lafollett
Guyer cabin
Wilma Shipley
Kathryn (Maher) Miller
Caterpillar Tractor Company
Thomas “Tom” Maher
Wilma Young 

Interviewed by : Diane Minor

Interview Format : Zoom Video with Slideshow Presentation

Total Time : 44:47

The interview is archived at the Brimfield Public Library District in Brimfield, Illinois.

The Brimfield Oral History Project is a long-term effort to record the stories of Brimfield’s past in the voices of those who remember and make these original sources available for generations to come. This collaboration is a partnership between the Brimfield Public Library District, the Brimfield Historical Society, and the Peoria County Genealogical Society.

Readers of interview transcripts, if available, should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word and that the interviewer, interviewee, and editors sought to preserve the interview as recorded. Brimfield Public Library District and project volunteers are not responsible for the factual accuracy of this interview, nor for the opinions expressed within.

© Brimfield Public Library District 2023

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