Aiken St, Peoria, Il

[azthundercloud]

my buddy and i snaggged a street sign from aiken alley. still have it. ahh the good old days. havent been back to peoria since i left for the usaf in 77

[richieroller67]

I went down this street quite a few times when I live in Peoria . I live in Jacksonville , Florida now .

[saharra22469]

The late Comedian/actor, Richard Pryor was born there, grew up there. His jokes were about his life there and his mother there.

[hercpop]

Aiken Alley was near First Street and State Streets. The Red light area was only one block...between Jefferson and State Streets. I went to Douglas School, which was a stones throw form the area. We would dare each other and run through the alley way and sneakk a peek at the "working ladies" standing in the windows.

Gotta get you history right.

[Neil6000]

peoriaillinoisan:

I am a Peoria native and I got news for you, this street was NEVER a red light district or known for prostitution at all.

You are thinking of Aiken ALLEY not street - the two were not even close to each other.

Aiken Alley was a very short alley behind the old Blue Shadow and Slipper Club and was an area known for prostitution for many years. All those old buildings were torn down for the new ball park.

U are doing a terrible injustice to the people that live on Aiken Street

[peoriaillinoisan]

You are correct and I meant not to offend. I have changed the description.

[saharra22469]

@Neil6000 Neil, Thank you for the vids of Peoria. I have seen 3 of yours now. I want to move back to Peoria. I miss it. I've been gone for 30 years. I have no relatives or friends left there. I am told by someone that it is taken over with gangs and that the old historic homes by Bradley Park are now like public housing with welfare ppl in them. I am told the Bradley Park and Glen Oak park are taken over by Mexicans and their drug gangs. Is it true. What about Moss avenue and the Sheridan road?

[Neil6000]

saharra22469

Peoria hasn't really changed in the last 30 years other than new shopping centers have been built everywhere. Lots of money around this town judging by the number of large new homes.

I live 5 minutes from Glen Oak & it hasn't been taken over by anyone except people wanting to see the new Zoo addition & it's pretty neat with rhinos, lions, zebra, and giraffe.

The old neighborhoods haven't changed. People have misinformed you about the changes in Peoria as most are for the better.

[saharra22469]

Thank you Neil. I used to ride my bike down from London st. to Glen Oak. I used to play all day in that park and at the Lagoon. I would sometimes take my little girl friend. They tore our old Victorian house down. I wanted it back. I am so relieved that the parks aren't taken over by Ethnics on welfare with a lot of kids. I just wanted everything to be as nice as it once was.

What H.S. did you go to? Do I know you?

[Neil6000]

saharra22469

I went to Woodruff, class of '73 and live just a couple of blocks from London St. I have lived in the same area most of my life and had a girlfriend (Laurie) that lived on London so I hung out on your street a lot from '73 to '76.

[Neil6000]

I just looked at your profile and we're about the same age - we probably do know each other.

[metamorabirds98]

where is this

[gunman1876]

The hookers part of Aiken came out on Adams St between the two door tap and the Big 500 if I remembe right. When CAT built it tech center it cut Aiken off. The the redevelopment took care of the rest.

[kdc43]

Well,this is the 3rd video now. like i said i was born in peoria 50 yrs ago but in 1968-1975 i went to school in Princeville and we heard rumours about "prostitutes in Aiken Alley". never been there and now i seen it....it really looks like a big alley! Strange name tho.... i thought it came from the cops busting the guys there and then they were "acheing",Ouch! or cuz they got VD. "Achein' Alley". but i did not realize it was a real place name. Thanks.

[joe69rocket]

im assuming this is in the south end of town?

[stronga]

I lived in Peoria for 22 years and never drove down Aiken Alley, I was afraid to. Come to think of it I don't think I even knew where it was.

[sweldonWI]

It used to to be the redlight area of Peoria.

[priapas]

Tell everyone why Aiken alley was so infamous