09/10/2026
🎬 Have you watched “Over a Barrel”?
Recently, we shared news about the premiere of Over a Barrel at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. The film is now available to watch on YouTube—see the link below!
The movie features several items from the museum archives. One of them is the Crystal Fountain Collection of Temperance Songs. There was quite a bit of interest in the book at the movie premiere, so we’re sharing a few pages here for you to explore. The book is currently on display at the museum so please stop in to view it.
The photograph showing names from the inside cover may indicate that the book once belonged to Mabel Dunlap.* Other names on the page include Mrs. Rose, John Harlan, Alfred Carr, A. Lott, Laura Harlan, Walter Yates and Nettie Cassity and Essie, Allie, Lula & Elmer Richmond.
You’ll also see an interview with our Board President, Roy Maguire, discussing the farming and production of wheat. Several photographs featured in the film also come from the museum archives. As you watch, you may even recognize some familiar local names—including Oertley, Cox, and Ostrom.
We love seeing our collections and local history come to life on the screen. We hope you’ll watch the film and take a closer look at these fascinating pieces of our community’s past! Thank you to Elmwood Center for the Humanities for releasing the movie on YouTube.
🎥 Watch “Over a Barrel” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ThxDi26p7w
* Mabel Dunlap Holmes (1876–1929) was a granddaughter of Alva Dunlap, the namesake of Dunlap. She was married to Charles Holmes, great-uncle of Zealy Holmes, who lived in rural Edelstein. Zealy Holmes was a seed corn producer and owner of Holmes Hybrids. Mabel and Charles Holmes are buried in Mt. Hawley Cemetery.
