Annawan is a town rich in history and pride for the community.  The following is a timeline of the past fifty years plus.

1953 - 1959
* Annawan Centennial celebration is held on September 4th and 5th *
* Kiwanis Club is formed - charter being received on December 7th *
* William Odgen's harness and general store is closed after 50 years of operation *
* New Annawan High School opens on Tuesday, August 28th *
* Fairview United Evangelical United Brethren Church builds new parsonage - dedicated October 14th *

1960- 1969
* Allied Veterinary Service operated by Dr. Harker and Dr. Swinderman opens *
* A new building housing Turn Coin Wash and Johnson Electric opens *
* Lowell Mapes secures the winning bid for constructing a new building on the east end of the village *
* Sacred Heart Church breaks ground for their new rectory *
* Mineral High School students attend Annawan on a tuition basis *
* Work progresses on Interstate 80 north *
* Village council passes an ordinance that all people under the age of 21 must be off the streets by 10:30 during the school year and 11:00 p.m. during the summer *
* Mineral School District annexes to the Annawan district *
* Seven mile stretch of I-80 between Atkinson and Annawan opens *
* Village Council annexes 40-acre tract north of the village to I-80 *
* Construction begins on Annawan Parish Hall *
* Kitchen is added to Annawan Community Center shelter *
* Brownie Troup is formed in Annawan *
* Annawan Kiwanis Club present community variety show *
* Annawan-Alba Library moves into Annawan Township Hall *
* Final link of I-80 opens - Governor Kelly is present for the opening *
 * Farmers Grain Elevator opens new facility *
* Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Robinson purchase Wayne Feed Outlet *
* Annawan Booster Club is formed with Vernon Williams as president *
* Ben Franklin Variety Store opens *
* Open house is held for the new fire station *
* Annawan Shell Station is under construction *
* Announcement that the Annawan Railroad Depot will be closed *
* Tri-County Municipal League is formed involving 16 area communities *
* Fred E. Johnson, Rock Island Railroad employee, retires after serving as depot agent in Annawan, 1939 to 1966 *
* Clarence Davidson, Davenport, takes possession of restaurant (The Edgeatowner) at Tom Lanes*
* Dedication of new veteran's memorial monument in Village Park *
* Village of Annawan and Kiwanis Club purchases new street lights *
* A ten acre tract in Ferguson Addition on the south edge of the village owned by Albert Pritchard and Perry Munson is surveyed for a new housing addition *
* Behind the wheel driver's training is started at Annawan High School *
* Village purchases property from Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad as Mayor Henry Nowers receives information that the railroad is selling "all excess property" along the railroad lines *
* William Dynes Sr. and William Dynes Jr. families host approximately 230,000 visitors to a three day farm equipment show sponsored by M&W Equipment *
* Faye Gish and Gail Christian, area businessman, announce plans to open a Dairy Sweet drive-up ice cream business *
* Ben Vitto, Annawan Band Instructor, retires - Mr. Vitto played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for five years and the St. Louis Symphony *
* Rick Doye, U.S. Marine and a 1967 graduate of Annawan High School, is killed in Vietnam *
* Sauk Trail Inn Restaurant is built by Ufheil family opens for business *
* Annawan High School completes first Building Trades house under the direction of Dennis Heavener - the class built five houses in the village under a ten year period *
* A group of 30 area businessmen and farmers form a corporation (Annawan Bank Company) and purchase the controlling stock in the State Bank of Annawan and the entire assets of the Johnson Insurance Agency *
* Mr. and Mrs. Earl Salzmann will manage the new Texaco Station located on Route 78 *
* The Annawan Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons is formed with Hazel Moon as president *

1970 - 1979
* State of Illinois takes over control of the Hennepin Canal *
* Sauk Trail Inn expands facility *
* New Annawan street (Doye Street) is named in memory of AHS graduate, Rick Doye, who was killed in Vietnam *
* The first home on Pleasant View Drive is constructed by James Croegaert, currently owned by Duane and Linda Rakestraw *
* Art Quiafe, Annawan civic leader and former mayor dies while on tour in South America *
* Voters pass referendum to build new Annawan Grade School by a vote of 505-449 *
* Village purchases 25 acres for sewer lagoon from Raymond Bollengier for $30,000
* Work begins on Farmer's Table restaurant to be built at an approximate cost of $100,000 *
* Village Board accepts bid from the State Bank of Annawan for a lot on Front Street *
* Annawan Motor Sales expands by adding on to the west side of their current building
Tomahawk, an economy gas station, is to be built on Route 78 near I-80 by Tom Ingram *
* Annawan Booster Club slogan winner is Alice Rosenow  with "Annawan-Chief Crossroads of Illinois" *
* Village Board grants a license to Gail Christian to build and operate a new bar - the Old Timer
Annawan-Alba Fire Department purchases first rescue van *
* Farmers Building Service, owned by Charles Farmer Jr starts metal building business *
* Ribbon cutting ceremony conducted for new building housing the State Bank of Annawan*
* Open house held at newly remodeled Goossen's Plumbing and Air-Conditioning - the store will also include a floor covering and interior decorating section *
* Bids let for sewer system *
* Charles Farmer Sr. purchases part of the Verdick Implement dealership *
* Bill Rambo takes over Bill's Shell from Bill Comp *
* Williams Stewart, attorney, buys William Kirman's law practice *
* Two downtown businesses suffer considerable fire damage - fire began in the apartment above Haven's Beauty Shop and spread to the roof of Dean's Tap *
* Albert Croegaert, Annawan Postmaster, retires after 30 years of service *
* The new Annawan Grade School opens on August 27th *
* Route 78 through the village is widened to four lanes *
* Lyle Pringle of Pringle Locker Service retires and Harry Seger takes over the business *
* Verdick Implement owned by Charles Farmer Sr. builds a new facility, south edge of the village*
* Annawan Village is awarded $11,500 EPA grant earmarked for wastewater treatment works study *
* Annawan Jaycee chapter is organized *
* Village Board approves eight lot subdivision on old grade school property *
* Annawan Booster Club sells 10,000 petunias *
* Wilbur Hodgett replaces Henry Nowers as mayor *
* New rolle bolle courts constructed by Bolders club behind the current fire station *
* William Baker present Annawan Kiwanis Club with $10,000 check to add an open air picnic shelter *
* Vernon and Margaret Williams sell Williams Royal Blue Grocery Store and their Annawan Ben Franklin to their son Adren *
* Annawan-Alba Library hosts an open house to introduce the "new" historical jail annex of the library *
* Annawan celebrates its 125th birthday on June 4th *
* Arden and Regina Williams open Angela's Apparel Store *
* Lawrence VanHyfte, well known auctioneer and real estate broker dies *
* Village Board agrees to purchase a 12 acre plot for the community park *
* Three new businesses open in the lower level of the Annawan Bank *
* Ferguson Auto Repair expands business by purchasing a building owned by Chet Goossens *
* John Hatzer and Mike Nordstrom purchase implement company from Charles Farmer and Associates *
* Annawan dentist, Dr. Ralph Graham, retires after 52 years of practice *

1980 - 1989
* Jaycees finalize plan to start youth football program *
* Annawan wins bid to host World Rolle Bolle tournament *
* Chet and Gretchen Goossens before proprietors of an ice cream and sandwich shop *
* Annawan Jaycees continue to grow with 80 members *
* Bill Baker, Annawan's oldest citizen, dies at the age of 99 *
* Construction begins on the new sewer system *
* A new 1500 square foot dental office is built by Dr. Tom VanVooren *
* Carol Croegaert opens The Cactus Patch floral shop *
* Wayne Heitzler and James Wiley purchase Tom Lanes Bowling *
* Village Board reviews proposal to allow Midland Cablevision to provide cable service to the village at a rate of $8.75 *
* Fire levels Annawan Motor Sales *
* Terry and Vicki Dickens are the new owners of The Longhorn *
* Brave Industries takes possession of former John Deere Implement of the east edge of town *
* Annawan residents continue to hook up to the new village sewer system *
* New 250,000 gallon water tower built *
* Co-op Gas and Oil constructs a new plant east of Annawan *
* Brave Industries plans a 3,000 square foot expansion to its 10,000 square foot facility *
* Village takes over ownership of VFW/American Legion building *
* New Annawan firm, American Eagle Buildings, opens *
* Fort Annawan, formerly Sauk Trail Inn, re-opens with $40,000 sign to attract I-80 business*
* Village Board and Jim Howell each donate $2,500 to begin construction of a shelter and pay off baseball fence loan at Howe's Park *
* Annawan, Atkinson and Geneseo form joint Vocational Coop *
* Harry Heath's Barn Burner Recording Studio nears completion *
* Lynn Williams opens a carwash on Second Street *
* Jane Savage opens a new shop, Annawan Village Interiors *
* Annawan water treatment plant named one of the best six in Illinois - Jay Bridges is the water superintendent *
* Dr. William Larson dies while vacationing in Florida *
* Audie Sturtewagen is named president of new Annawan area booster group *
 * Frontier Tap owned by John and Fran Payne damaged by fire *
* Annawan High School's ACT test scores are ranked 2nd in the State of Illinois *
* Johnston Lumber Company replaces their 88 year old storage building with a new 64' by 120' structure *
* Fort Annawan closes after nine years in operation *
* Stackhouse-Moore renovates funeral home *
* 1990-Robert G. Lenertz assumes duties as president of The State Bank of Annawan *
* Bob and Isle Davis purchase Purple Onion restaurant *
* Michels Pipeline Construction Company begins laying a fiber-optic cable from Green River to Annawan for Henry County Telephone *
* Fort Annawan reopens - an east coast firm is leasing the property from I-80 Truck Stop *
* Annawan Brewing Company, formerly the Old Timer, reopens *
* Jim and Terri Wiley become sole owners of Tom Lanes bowling alley *

1990 - 1999
* The AHS agriculture department and the community work together to build a new locker room near the football field *
* The New Kids on the Block have recording session at The Barn Burner Recording Studio *
* Duane and Mindy Bollengier purchase Tom Lanes *
* Allen Nordquist, Larry Carlson, and Nancy Kelly become new owners of the Johnston Lumber Company *
* Annawan Agri Service is sold to Hillsdale Coop - Audie Sturtewagen is names branch manager*
* Village Board purchases the Farmer's Table for $13,500 *
* Randy Hanson opens Hanson's Landscaping *
* Norton Insurance Agency moves into newly remodeled offices *
* Wayne Heitzler and Terry Dickens purchase the Annawan Farmer's Table from the village*
* Don Moon sells his insurance agency after 37 years of business *
* Cliff Verdick retires as Annawan Fire Chief after 37 years *
* Janet Wancket purchases the Purple Onion Restaurant *
* Mary Sue Moon opens Memory Lane Quilt Shop *
* Kathy Rakestraw and Maureen Hasbrook open flower shop *
* Colin and Liz DeVrieze purchase bowling alley *
* Car wash and repair shop owned by Craig and Doreen Miller opens for business *
* The Regional Office of Education opens in newly renovated office *
* Williams IGA opens for business as the Annawan Hometown Market - owned by Lynn Williams and Jeff Roman *
* Wilbur Hodgett, Annawan mayor, dies *
* Jeff and Charles Farmer, Leading Edge Development, open subdivision on the south edge of the village *
* Dennis DeSplinter, becomes mayor of Annawan *
* Welcome to Annawan signs are constructed and installed by the Annawan FFA *
* Mary and Mike Wheeler open Antique Alley *
* Village opens new offices in the ROE complex  owned by the village *
* Pawel and Eva Przbyla open the Annawan Bread Box bakery *
* Larry and Jeanne Carlson become sole owners of the Annawan Building Center *
* Iowa Interstate freight train derails while traveling through Annawan causing extensive damage*
* Annawan Community Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) is formed *
* Memory Lane Quilt Shop and Antique Store closes *
* Bill Rambo and Maurice Atwell retire from the Annawan Fire Department *
* The Annawan School Board purchases 3 acres west of the school for P.E. and football practices*
* Annawan hosts National Quilt Show organized by Mary Moon *
* Edna Jo's Hair Care Service begins business * 
* Shaun Kiene purchases the Loft Restaurant *
* Annawan Home Center is purchased by Mike Hill *
* Dr. Jeffrey Lathrop opens new chiropractic clinic *
* Loren and Val Jackson open Jackson's Collision Repair
* Shirley Foerder retires as Annawan Postmaster after 25 years *
* The Village of Annawan sells the building housing the ROE *

2000 - present
* Chuck and Davette Malufka open a video and music store *
* Annawan Village offices move to new location in the former Hanson Landscaping building *
* Sugar Shack, ice cream parlor, opens for business *
* Representative Don Moffitt and Senator Carl Hawkinson present the village with a check for $32,500 for the purchase of two severe weather-warning sirens for the village *
* ACEDC initiates a "Welcome Package" for new residents *
* Kennard Franks becomes mayor of Annawan *
* Deb Pool purchases the former Memory Lane building *
* Annawan Kiwanis Club constructs and erects a new church signage board and planter near the community center *
* Village uses a $71,000 Illinois First Grant to demolish grain elevators * 
* Annawan Economic Development Director, Tracy Diehl, hired by the ACEDC *
* Olympic Flame Restaurant opens *
* Holiday Inn Express is opened *
* Jane Kipp is appointed manager of the North Meadow Village, Senior Living Community *
* JTJ Enterprises purchase the Annawan Car Wash on Route 78 *
* Beck Oil Company of Princeton purchases the Phillips 66 Shop and Go *
* Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, visits Annawan*
* Emma's Bloomers moves two stores east *
* New gas station, Mobil Bulk Petroleum, is built *
* Annawan Banquet and Convention Center opens adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express *
* Troy and Michelle Osborne open The Styling Station Salon *
* Sugar Shack closes *
* Improvements to Route 6 start, not expected to be done until 2005 *
* The Pizza Box opens *
* Village annexes approximately 400 acres, doubles size of Annawan *
* TIF district developed in home of future industrial site *
*Pizza Box closes*
*Longhorn sold and reopens as The Phoenix*
*Congressman Dennis Hastert gifts the village $1.84 million for road construction to Industrial Park*
*New streetlights placed in downtown Annawan, Village Board member Grove Killelea spearheads the successful program*
*Road construction complete, sod to be laid in 2006*
*House fire kills two citizens*
*Ethanol plant determined to be placed in Annawan, construction to begin in 2006*
*Patriot Renewable Fuels opens office in Annawan*
*Second TIF developed in Annawan*
*Holiday Inn is changed to Annawan Express*
*Annexed additional property into town, village now goes into Bureau County (2007)*
*Olympia Flame closes (2007)*
*North Meadow Village forecloses, local bank takes over (2007)*
*Major improvements are being done to US Route 6 in preparation for ethanol plant traffic (2007)*
*People's National Bank of Kewanee opens branch on Route 78 (2007)*
*Patriot Renewable Fuels moves offices to plant site (2007)*
*The Phoenix closes (2007)*
*State Bank of Annawan becomes BankORION (2007)*
*Burbon's Place opens in the former Phoenix building (2007)*
*Annawan Express sold, will open as a Best Western (2007)*
*Grove Killelea, Village Board trustee, passes away (2007)*
*Annawan's oldest living citizen - Lois Dynes - passes away on January 21, just 21 days before her 109th birthday (2008)*
*Dean's Tap is sold and reopens as JA's (2008)*

 

THE FUTURE
Who knows what the future holds for the Village of Annawan.  With the recent annexation of property, we have doubled our size with the hopes of filling that property with light industry and commercial businesses.  We recently have had several homes built here and a TIF district has been developed to assist in our growth.  Annawan is changing and growing by leaps and bounds with no sign of stopping soon.