Submitted by Fred South, PAHS archivist
Prophetstown Area Historical Society presents a look back at Chuck’s Place as they once again invite you to dive into the history of Prophetstown. For those not-in-the-know Chuck’s Place was one of the most popular gathering places for high schoolers in past Prophetstown.
Take a look back at Chuck’s Place and learn about what came before it and after it, in this Prophetstown Area Historical Society journey into the past.
15 Responses
Loved hanging out there and meeting up with friends, very memorable.
My dad Herb Doering drove the school bus to all the sporting events, usually the players bus. My mom and the four of us kids used to stay up late because dad would always stop at Chucks and get a bag full of hamburgers and some fries and bring them home for a late Friday or Sat night supper. I can still smell those great burgers. Chucks place was the best.
Roger Doering
OOps
Thank you for all of your comments. We arrived in town in August 1964 so knew Chuck’s Place very well. So sorry to see it close.
I can’t see the photo all that well but Brack at the end of the counter you can’t miss. Arlyn Brackameyer and then (I can’t make out the photo) but I’d guess Bill Gardner, then Ed Seylander and Gary Sutphin. Sitting at the table is Bill Brinkman and the guy with his back to us, I don’t have a clue.
Mac Majeski
p.s. I was probably working that day. 🙂
Pretty sure the guy with his back turned is Jerry Reynolds.
as the youngest daughter of chuck, i have a few memories of ‘the store’. i mostly did dishes there…and loved it. i liked watching and listening to customers. i remember i was helping my dad during one of the times when it was packed with kids after a game and he yelled “shut up”. it was quiet for a few seconds and then we all resumed talking loudly! i never heard my dad yell, so that was memorable. he must not have been feeling well. i saw him work many, many times when he was sick. i usually rode with him on saturday when he picked up pies from mabel (somebody). and when he had the wall cabinet of penny candy…he knew all the kids were stealing from him, but he didn’t seem to mind. remember when he got a very small pizza oven? he fought that really hard with the salesman. he hated pizza and the smell of it. but we convinced him to get it. i don’t know if it made money but he liked to please.
Mabel Blackert’s pies.
I can close my eyes and open Chuck’s door, and smell those wonderful burgers! This was the greatest place in Ptown. Mary Q. Wolf, class of ’68.
25 cents for a burger and 10 cents for fries. yes, great place!
Worked there from freshman yr ’till off to WIU. Saturday AM coffee, Fri nights after games. Long hours, puny paychecks. But generally many laughs. Thank-you Mr. South.
Had so much fun there! Especially after games!
Loved hanging at Chuck’s place. Lots of fun memories! Thanks Mr. South
Wow! This brings back many sweet memories from the late 60s-early 70s as a teen in P-town. We hung out there after school and sports events. It was a great place to gather!
Thank you “Mr. South”… You will always be Mr. South!