Handwritten Poem written by Edna Dean Proctor;

Transciption:
“Peoria!
Oh the music of thy name!
Peoria!
When with May thy meadows flame,
when the wild crab woos the bees
To ite bowers; and Judas – trees
Tint thy budding woods with red;
When from all thy groves and lear.
As if grief and care were dead,
And life and joy forever wed,
Bluebirds, thrushes, orioles
In raptureous song pour forth their
souls;
Then I know it was in May
The Indian lovers came this way,
And tranced with bloom and song of
bird,
Coined thee this melodious word,
Sweet as far off buglee note
Fall the syllables and float –
Peoria!
Edna Dean Proctor”