Photo: submitted Aerial shot of downtown Silvis and Silvis railyards, circa 1912. Submitted by Silvis Public Library.

Photo: Dan Videtich Silvis Mayor Lyle Lohse is exited about moving into the city's new city hall, which is located in the former Black Hawk Bank at 121 11th Street, Silvis. Mayor Lohse is pictured in the new city council chambers where the former bank's safe still exists.

Photo: submitted View of Silvis' 1st Avenue, looking west. Year unknown. Source: Silvis Public Library

At the heart of Silvis' business community is 1st Avenue, and city officials hope some recent investments downtown will help it continue to thrive.

One noticeable difference is the new Black Hawk State Bank built last year. Early this year, city offices, including the city clerk, treasurer, mayor and council's chambers moved from the old city hall and annex into the old bank building.

The police and fire departments stayed in the old city hall building.

The move includes space for aldermen offices, which city hall didn't have before, Mayor Lyle Lohse, said.

The building inspector has an office on the second level with a back entrance for construction contractors to come in to discuss plans, Mayor Lohse said.

In recent years, the city has made improvements to the park across the street from city hall. An old caboose was fixed up and placed in the park, and is open for special occasions.

Alex McGehee, president of Anchor Do-It Center, donated the caboose. National Railway Equipment Co., of Silvis, sandblasted and painted the outside of it, while and Tom Phipps, his son, Dale Phipps, and his grandson-in-law, Joe McGregor, rebuilt the roof, floor and interior of the caboose.

In 2005, the state blacktopped 1st Avenue, and the city is working to improve sidewalks. The city also has taken out some concrete and replaced it with grass and benches, Mayor Lohse said.

"It was kind of a hodge podge of sidewalks," city administrator Jim Grafton, said. "It's been one of the goals of the city (to improve the sidewalks). Next spring, we'll do the north side."

In the future, the city hopes to start a facade program to help businesses improve the look of their buildings, Mayor Lohse said.

"We've lost some businesses, but we're still thriving," he said. "We need to spend money down here and help the businesses. (The facade program) will do a lot for downtown."

In 2002, the city opened a new library on 1st Avenue and several businesses have improved their exteriors, such as River City Sign and Bobb Chiropractic Center.

"The city put a lot of effort and funds into Hero Street Park," Mayor Lohse said.

Also in the last few years, city festivals have made a comeback. Last year's Moonlight Parade attracted 10,000 people and Christmas in Silvis has been just as popular for the last few years.

The Silvis Business Association was re-established and has been involved in promoting the festivals, Mr. Grafton said. "They've been a lot more active in downtown development."

When the Moonlight Parade began in 2002, the city had gone six years without a summer festival. The last Country Music Festival was held in Silvis in August of 1995, after 20 years of hosting the annual event.

Declining revenues and rising costs forced sponsoring groups to discontinue the country-music event which drew 20,000 people a night for the two-night festival.

Sponsors included the Silvis Fire Department, Silvis Optimist Club and East Moline-Silvis Kiwanis Club. The festival's costs were more than $93,000 in its last year.

In 2001, the city and business association began hosting Christmas in Silvis. Festivities include a visit by Santa, cookies and hot chocolate, business open houses and stories and crafts at the library. More recently, horse carriage rides were added.

Silvis' history, and its downtown, date back to 1906 when Richard Silvis and his brother built up the railroad in Silvis as a way to ship coal. The city celebrated its 100th birthday Dec. 19.

Staff writer Amy Thon can be reached at (309) 786-6441, Ext. 208.