Philander Barclay in 1919. Studio portrait by George E. Birdsall. Photo from The Oakparker, November 11, 1927.
The Barclay Blog
A detailed exploration of the life of Philander Walker Barclay (1878 - 1940),
bicycle mechanic and Oak Park's first Village Historian.
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Philander Barclay as he appeared in the Oak Leaves, November 13, 1903.
Oak Leaves, May 29, 1920, pg. 12.
Decoration Day (Memorial Day) 1920
By Anna-Maria Manuel
Published May 25, 2026.
Philander Barclay was on the move (again) in early 1920. He relocated his bicycle shop to 1017 Lake Street — the Kannenberg Building, just east of Marion Street. The January 17, 1920 Oak Leaves reported that he expected to open “about” February 1. [1] His previous location, 1112 North Boulevard, had been sold by the owner. Neighboring Pioneer Publishing Company at 1114 North Boulevard — publisher of the Oak Leaves — expanded into the space. [2]
It’s no wonder Barclay advertised that he would be open on the morning of Decoration Day — Memorial Day — to handle small repairs for boys [and girls, too, but they seemed to be a small fraction of his customers [3]] hoping to ride their bicycles in the parade. Judging by Oak Leaves coverage, the parade was quite an event. It formed at 9 a.m. at Lake Street and Grove Avenue and wound its way to the high school. [4] Thirty-two Civil War veterans, 20 from the Spanish-American War, and around 50 from the World War took part. [5] Boy scouts, the Band of Mercy [6], school children, village officials, civic societies, and the Daughters of the [American] Revolution all marched.[7] The 50-piece Siloam Commandery Band [8] played “almost constantly” throughout the procession and in the high school.[9] Lewis F. Cooley, Civil War veteran and Commander of the Phil Sheridan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, rode on horseback at the head of the parade. [10] The march concluded at the high school, where a service followed. [11]
One final note: the Kannenberg Building — renumbered to today’s 1031 Lake Street — appears to be the only one of Barclay’s six shop locations still standing. Over the decades, the others have been torn down and built over. [12]
Sources
1. Barclay ad; Oak Leaves; February 28, 1920; pg. 28.
“Lake Street Gets Bicycle Barclay”; Oak Leaves; January 17, 1920; pg. 17.
2. “Real Estate Market”; Oak Leaves; January 3, 1920; pg. 55. The blurb erroneously gave the address of the building that sold as 1114 North Boulevard. It should have been 1112 North Boulevard.
3. For example, see the lists of Barclay's customers who had Pennsylvania Tires on their bicycles. Judging by the ones that used their full names (not just initials and a surname), most were male. Barclay ads from Oak Leaves; May 4, 1918; pg. 16 and Oak Leaves; May 11, 1918; pg. 29.
4. “Memorial Day”; Oak Leaves; May 29, 1920; pg. 1.
5. “Memorial Ceremonies”; Oak Leaves; June 5, 1920; pg. 3.
6. “Bands of Mercy were formal, locally led organizations in the 19th and 20th centuries that brought people — especially children and adolescents — together to learn about kindness to non-human animals. The Bands also worked to help animals and prevent cruelty in their area through humane education and direct action.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bands_of_Mercy; accessed May 16, 2026.
7. “Memorial Ceremonies”; Oak Leaves; June 5, 1920; pg. 3.
8. The Siloam Commandery Band was a non-professional, Masonic band. The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary; pg. XX; https://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/OCA/Books2008-09/proceedingsofgra/proceedingsofgra751914free/proceedingsofgra751914free.pdf; accessed May 16, 2026.
9. “Memorial Ceremonies”; Oak Leaves; June 5, 1920; pg. 3.
10. Ibid.
11. “Memorial Day”; Oak Leaves; May 29, 1920; pg. 1.
“Memorial Ceremonies”; Oak Leaves; June 5, 1920; pg. 3.
12. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, 1908 – September 1950. Map 32. Library of Congress, Digital Collections, Sanborn Maps; https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4104om.g020591950/?sp=36&r=-0.724,0.443,1.705,0.781,0; accessed June 5, 2023. Note the old street address numbers above the new numbers on the south side of Lake Street.
Architectural Survey Downtown Oak Park and The Avenue Business District; Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission; Conducted in 1975; Updated 1981 and 2005; Approved November 21, 2005; pg. 15. https://www.oak-park.us/files/assets/oakpark/v/1/historic-preservation/resources/downtown-architectural-survey.pdf; Accessed September 18, 2022. Note that for 1031 Lake Street, the Original Owner was C. F. Kannenberg.