PRINCETON — Just before the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Princeton Rotarians gathered in Rotary Park, formally known as Darius Miller Memorial Park, for the unveiling of its new welcome sign.

The sign commemorates Princeton Rotary’s 100th anniversary this year and also pays tribute to Darius Miller. The new brick sign also serves as a welcome sign for visitors crossing the railroad tracks into Princeton.

The sign is made from the Euclid Avenue bricks, which the city has stored away. The sign was designed by a Princeton High School alumni, fabricated by Princeton Graphics and built by Erickson Masonry of Princeton.

Michael Stutzke, a member of Princeton Rotary Club and its 100th Anniversary Committee, called the sign “very Princetonian,” because of the efforts taken to ensure Princeton businesses were used to build it.

“It was a labor of love,” he said during Thursday’s dedication ceremony.

In February, the Princeton Rotary Club approached the Princeton City Council and asked if it could adopt Darius Miller Park to help commemorate its 100th anniversary this year. The city council gave approval. By allowing the adoption, it means Princeton Rotary will now be responsible for its upkeep. The club will be tasked will maintaining the park and has plans (when funds become available) to spruce up the old railroad caboose that sits near the railroad tracks.

Stutzke said the reason for Princeton Rotary adopting the park space all started with wanting to erect a more welcoming sign near the tracks in Princeton. With the club’s motto being “service above self” the idea to adopt the entire park to maintain its upkeep became a better idea to commemorate the club’s milestone anniversary.

Stutzke said he hopes it plays a big part in welcoming visitors to Princeton as they come shop the local businesses.

“This is part of the renaissance as we move from the pandemic and begin to enjoy prosperity again,” he said.

While some may have mixed feelings about changing the name of a park that’s paid tribute to a Princeton man who was once president of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q) Railroad Co., Rotarians promise to continue honoring the Darius Miller heritage.

Steve Bouslog, a member of Princeton Rotary Club and chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee, shared historical background during Thursday’s ceremony about who Darius Miller was and his connections to his hometown of Princeton.

“The Princeton Rotary Club will ensure that the memory of Darius P. Miller will not be lost, and his memorial will always have a prominent place in this park, Rotary Park,” he said. “Darius P. Miller will be side-by-side in the recognition of the Princeton Rotary Club’s 100th anniversary.”

Also during the ceremony, Tim Kunkel, immediate past president of Princeton Rotary, named the original charter members of the Princeton Rotary Club in 1920.

Princeton Mayor Joel Quiram read a proclamation on behalf of the city marking Rotary’s milestone anniversary.

The ceremony ended with remarks from Bob Mullane, president of Princeton Rotary Club, who recognized the nine members who’ve worked on the club’s 100th Anniversary Committee.

“These folks have dedicated countless hours and continue to give time and effort. We are here today to dedicate Rotary Park as a result of these folks’ volunteerism. These community members have careers, businesses and families in the Princeton area. Together they have taken time, a lot of it, to make this a reality,” he said. “These are just nine of our Rotarians helping our club to continue to make Princeton, Illinois the model city that welcomes visitors everyday.”

Paying tribute to Darius P. Miller

Darius P. Miller was born in Princeton on April 3, 1859, and attended Princeton High School.

He began his railroad career in 1877 at the age of 18 as a stenographer in the general freight office of the Michigan Central Railroad. A few years later, he became a clerk in the general freight offices of the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Rail Company.

By 1883, Darius was promoted to the general freight and ticket agent of the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad Company. Miller continued his promotions with several rail companies.

In 1902, he became vice president of the Chicago, Burlington, Quincy Railroad headquartered in Chicago. Upon the death of George B. Harris in 1910, he became president at a salary of $60,000 ($1.5 million in today’s dollars).

Miller was president of the CB&Q when Princeton’s new rail passenger depot was dedicated in 1911.

In 1914, Miller died suddenly while visiting Glacier Park, Mont. with his wife and several railroad officials after he had an operation for appendicitis. He passed away on Sunday, Aug. 23, 1914 at the age of 55. He had spent 37 years in the railroad industry.

Miller was exceedingly proud of his hometown of Princeton. Through his efforts, many improvements and services were made available to the city.

Railroad Park, as it was initially known, was a plot of ground about one acre in size and became an eyesore. The park was under lease to the city, but city fathers never felt justified in making improvements.

Prior to 1926, the city made some efforts to persuade the CB&Q officials to donate the park, but nothing materialized. Then, a movement was started to pave the streets around the park. A committee was formed by the Princeton Booster Club headed by Howard H. Priestley, (a Princeton Rotary Charter member and owner of Priestley Hardware). This committee, along with mayor Thomas P. Gunning (another Princeton Rotary Charter member) persuaded the CB&Q to donate the park as a memorial to the late Darius P. Miller. In return, the city agreed to assume the cost of improvements totaling $1,800.

This proved satisfactory to the rail company. In 1929, the CB&Q deeded this plot to the city on July 6,^,1929, with the stipulation that the land be used for park purposes only, or it would revert back to the ownership of the railroad company. There is also a note in the conveyance that the city was to grade and improve the park and erect a suitable memorial to Darius P. Miller.

A stone boulder was brought from Manlius and along with the bronze plaque were erected on this site. The park was dedicated as Darius P. Miller Memorial Park.

Submitted by Steve Bouslog, Princeton Rotary member and Chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee.