Local History Program Coordinator at the Pekin Public Library. I oversee the library’s local history room collection, write a weekly local history column/weblog for the library, and present local history programs at the library and in the community.

Author's Articles

Following on last week’s portrait of the life of Pekin Mayor Daniel...

Jared L. Olar

January 9, 2016

In a previous column, we told of the popular horse race track...

Jared L. Olar

January 1, 2016

Here’s a chance to read again one of our old Local History...

Jared L. Olar

December 29, 2015

Among the old families of the Delavan and Hopedale areas are the...

Jared L. Olar

December 26, 2015

Last month, in an exploration of some of the lost place names...

Jared L. Olar

December 19, 2015

Here’s a chance to read again one of our old Local History...

Jared L. Olar

December 16, 2015

Here’s a chance to read again one of our old Local History...

Jared L. Olar

December 12, 2015

Older Pekin residents will remember the old railroad bridge that once spanned...

Jared L. Olar

December 11, 2015

Here’s a chance to read again one of our old Local History...

Jared L. Olar

December 8, 2015

Here’s a chance to read again one of our old Local History...

Jared L. Olar

December 8, 2015

This week we’ll shine a spotlight on one of Pekin’s many German...

Jared L. Olar

December 4, 2015

Judging from the number of “likes” and “shares” on Facebook and Twitter,...

Jared L. Olar

November 28, 2015

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