1500 Block of Broadway
In 1987, Mattoon Federal Savings and Loan, demolished the entire south side of the 1500 block of Broadway. This included the Virginia Building, Phipps Shoes and the three buildings in between. The Virginia Building is seen to the left, it was three stories when it was built.
Doctor’s offices seemed to dominate the top floors of these buildings in the early 1900’s. Gill’s had a restaurant in this block in the 1960’s. I can recall Jazzercise being held in on of these buildings in the 1980’s, as well as an clothing outlet store. Schiff Shoes at 1515 Broadway is the same building Mattoon Steam Bakery was in the late 1800’s. The building Phipps Shoes was in, was the oldest in town. Built in 1855, the same year Mattoon became a city. Today, the area has been renamed “Constitution Plaza”. The drive up facility built to replace these buildings has been abandoned. The drive up lanes are used for parking. Ironically the dedication plaque has cracked down the middle.
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