Harriett Blundy

Interview Date: 29 November 1986

Harriett (Murdoch) Blundy was interviewed by Henrietta Memler on 29 Nov 1986 for the Brimfield Historical Society. It was recorded on cassette tape. In April 2022, Kim (Claybaugh) Hanks converted the cassette to a digital recording. 

Below is a tag and timestamp for this audio recording. The original cassette recording is not high quality. Because of this there are places in the digital recording that may not be audible or discernable. There are likely spelling issues with names and places in the timestamp. 

When searching for key words/tags, names, places, and dates use spelling variations if needed.  

Time Stamp for major topics

00:08  Introduction by Henrietta Memler
00:14   Brimfield High School, Ruth Hayes, Lawrence Will[???], Mr. Camel, Mrs. Addison Pacey
04:48   Basketball, Chichester Hall, Lynch Conway
06:00   Social Activities, Clubs, Parties, Movies 
08:26   Chichester Hall, Community Building, Implement Business, 
09:10   Graduation, Congregational Church, Virginia (Murdoch) Doubet, 
10:12   Buildings on Main Street [Knoxville Street/U.S. Route 150], [Harriett seems to start at the corner of Washington and Knoxville and go east down the south side of the street. Then she goes across Knoxville and goes west down the north side of the street.]  Livery Stable [likely 207 W. Knoxville], William Harding Building [Brimfield Village Hall], Mr. Bragg Harness Shop, Ice Cream Parlor, Meat Market run by Miller, Blacksmith Shop, Keating Hotel, Saloon and Pool room, Barber Shop, Thaddeus Fuchs, Joseph Fuchs, El[???, male] McKown[??]’s Jewelry Store, Post Office, Bank, restaurant and movie theatre, Mr Arbor’s Hardware Store, grocery store, E. B. McClellan, M. R. Clark, drug store, soda fountain, Memler’s Store, Cady Brothers, H. R. Johnson and Sons, furniture store, telephone office, Dr. Hawkes (dentist), Dr. Knapp, Dr. Farnham, Dr. Roberts, Dr. [Taylor??], Dr [Moler??], Pacey’s printing office, Kelly’s Supply Co., Mr. Nieker[sp.??], Union Church, hotel
16:25 Prices of goods and services
16:58   Businesses no longer in town, Blacksmith Shops, Mr. Gibbs[?], Glen Shane, Mr. Humason[?], _____ Carson (brother of Charles Carson)
18:22    James “Jim” Murdoch (father of Harriett), John Murdoch, Murdoch Brothers Meat Market, Kickapoo, Kramm Switch
23:50    Changes in Brimfield during Harriett’s life
26:00    Summary and Thank you  

Topics Covered/Key Words

Harriett Blundy
Henrietta Memler
Brimfield High School
Ruth Hayes
Lawrence Will[???]
Mr. Camel
Mrs. [Harold] Addison  Pacey
Chichester Hall
Lynch Conway
Movie Theatre
Community Building
Implement Business
Graduation
Congregational Church
Virginia (Murdoch) Doubet
Livery Stable
Library
William Harding Building
Mr. Bragg Harness Shop
Ice Cream Parlor
Miller Meat Market
Blacksmith Shop
Keating Hotel
Saloon and Pool room
Barber Shop
Thaddeus Fuchs
Joseph Fuchs
El[???, male] McKown[??]’s Jewelry Store
Post Office
Bank
Restaurant and movie theatre
Mr Arbor’s Hardware Store
Grocery store, E. B. McClellan
R. Clark
Drug store
Soda fountain
Memler’s Store
Cady Brothers
R. Johnson and Sons
Furniture Store
Dr. Hawkes (dentist)
Dr. Knapp

Dr. Farnham
Dr. Roberts
Dr. [Taylor??]
Dr [Moler??]
Pacey’s printing office
Kelly’s Supply Co.
Mr. Nieker[sp.??]
Union Church
Hotel
Blacksmith Shops
Mr. Gibbs[?]
Glen Shane
Mr. Humason[?]
Carson (brother of Charles Carson)
James Murdoch
John Murdoch
Murdoch Brothers Meat Market
Kickapoo
Kramm Switch 

Interviewed by: Brimfield Historical Society

Interview Format: mp3 Recording of Original Cassette Tape

Total Time : 26:48

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

This interview and accompanying documents may be used for educational and non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Brimfield Public Library District. However, the Fair Use criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials may not be deposited in other repositories or used for resale or commercial purposes without authorization from the Brimfield Public Library District Director.

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Brimfield Public Library

111 S. Galena Ave.
Brimfield, IL 61517

Phone: (309) 446-9575
Fax: (309) 446-9357