Geo. Brand Building

George H. Miller (b. May 7, 1856—d. March 6, 1927) grew up on a family farm as one of eight children. His education began in the public school system, and by the age of 15, Miller began his career under architects from the Rudolph Richter firm, which at that time was the only one in Bloomington. In 1874, Miller traveled to Columbus, Ohio, working as a draftsman with the Chicago-based firm Fredrick and Edward Bauman, and working alongside architect John Harris.

Returning to Bloomington in 1875, Miller launched a successful career as an architect. He designed prominent buildings such as the Oberketter, Corn Belt Bank, and Livingston buildings, which established him as a leading figure in Bloomington architecture. Miller innovated by introducing modern side lighting systems in school buildings, a technique still in use today.

Beyond architecture, Miller contributed to his community, serving as Bloomington city treasurer, third ward alderman, and chancellor of the local Knights of Pythias chapter. He married Rose Stautz in 1887 and had three children: Kenneth, Raymond, and Sallie. In his later years, Miller faced health challenges, including paralysis from a stroke, leading to his passing in 1927. He is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Arthur L. Pillsbury was born in Bloomington on November 29, 1869. He grew up in Bloomington and attended schools in Normal while his father served as principal of the Model School at Illinois State Normal University (today Illinois State University). In 1880, the family moved to Springfield where his father became principal at Springfield High School. Pillsbury completed high school there and began his higher education at Harvard University, graduating in 1892 with a degree in Engineering. Subsequently, he then moved back to Illinois to attend the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for its architecture program, which was the first university in the United States to offer a four-year architectural degree in 1890. He graduated with a degree in architecture in 1895.. After graduation, Pillsbury traveled to Chicago, Toledo, Buffalo, and New York where he worked for a short time and explored the architectural works of these cities. When he moved back to Bloomington in 1898, he was the city’s first university-trained architect. He also became one of Illinois' first licensed architects in 1897, a process established through the University of Illinois architecture program.

In 1898, Pillsbury married Daisy Deane Hill, and they had one daughter, Frances. Throughout his career, Pillsbury designed and renovated approximately 435 homes, 104 schools, 73 businesses, 32 churches, 17 banks, and 16 garages, alongside other architectural projects. Over a dozen new buildings in downtown Bloomington were designed by Pillsbury in the first few years after the Downtown Bloomington Fire of 1900.

In addition to designing notable buildings in Bloomington, he was active in community organizations including the Freemasons, American Institute of Architects, Bloomington Country Club, a member of Second Presbyterian Church, and the University of Illinois Alumni Association. He also donated his time as the McLean County Chairman for the State Council of Defense. With this position, he was responsible for insuring that non-essential construction projects would not draw supplies that would otherwise be used for the war effort during World War I. Tragically, Pillsbury died in a car accident at the age of 55 while returning from a University of Illinois football game. He is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington, IL.

The Romanesque Revival in America was inspired in part by the medieval European style known as Romanesque, popular in Europe during the 11th and 12th centuries as a revival of earlier classical Roman forms. Identifying features include round arches over windows and/or entryways with heavy emphasis around the arches; thick, cavernous entryways and window openings; thick masonry walls, rounded (sometimes square) towers with conical roof; facades are typically asymmetrical; variable stone and brick façade. On elaborate examples, polychromatic facades with contrasting building materials. The style emphasizes the Classical Roman arch as its dominant feature. Description via www.architecturestyles.org