Allen Cigar Store building, 2022 (SCHS)
“Springfield’s original optimist” died in a soda fountain explosion on Sept. 7, 1929.
Matt Reavley (1879-1929) was an employee and part-owner of Allen Cigar Store, which at the time had operated for 20 years on the northwest corner of Sixth and Monroe streets. He was carbonating water for the store’s soda fountain when the blast occurred, the Illinois State Journal said.
Reavley had been mixing syrups and connecting tanks in the basement.
He apparently had begun work on placing the tanks in position to be used to charge the water for the soda fountain in the store when the blast took place. His right arm was severed above the elbow by the explosion, and pieces of metal from the tank caused severe lacerations and bruises on his body and right side.
A Journal editorial a couple days later awarded Reavley the title of “Springfield’s original optimist.”
Reavley “for years had dispensed soft drinks, optimism and good cheer, quenching thirst and gloomy spirits,” the Journal said. “From behind his soda fountain counter he met all men equally, shared their joys and sorrows and radiated good will to all.”
Reavley’s partner, John Kohlbecker, kept the store in operation after Reavley’s death.
Allen Cigar Store
The Allen Cigar Store (its formal name, although most people called it “Allen’s”) was at Sixth and Monroe from 1908 to 1987. While it did a good trade in cigars, especially in its early years, the shop was most popular as a lunch counter.
T.W. Allen (findagrave.com)
The store’s founder and namesake was Thomas “T.W.” Allen (1880-1923), who opened it after working as a cigar maker and merchandiser for years in Springfield. The incorporation papers said the business’s object was “to wholesale and retail cigars, tobacco and smokers’ articles and to conduct billiard and pool rooms.” In addition to the Sixth and Monroe store, Allen sold cigars at the St. Nicholas Hotel.
Late in life, however, Allen was forced to give up management of his stores due to mental disability. Allen’s attempts to regain control led to an ugly series of court actions pitting Allen against his wife, Frances, who contended her husband suffered mental breakdowns due to paresis, usually a consequence of syphilis.
The question of Allen’s competence went to trial twice – 100 people testified in the first trial, 150 in the second – but neither jury was able to reach a verdict. At the end of the second trial in June 1922, the Journal expressed doubt about whether any panel of jurors would ever reach a conclusion one way or the other.
“On the witness stand Allen appeared perfectly normal and did not break down, or show any tendency to do so, under cross-examination,” the newspaper said. “It is entirely possible, it is agreed, that a man may have paresis and enter into a period of remission at which time he appears normal.”
A third trial was scheduled in September 1922, but, at the urging of Judge Roger Chapin, the two sides reached a settlement agreement first. Allen regained control of his affairs, but at a cost. Frances Allen (1878-1950) received $25,000 worth of stock in the stores, two other investors – store manager Kohlbecker (c.1881-1944) and John “Buddy” Kapp, later Springfield mayor – bought out the rest of T.W. Allen’s interest, and Allen had to pay for most of the expense of the litigation. The controversy over Allen’s mental abilities was rendered moot a few months later; he died in February 1923.
Nora “Tiny” Reavley (Courtesy State Journal-Register)
Kohlbecker owned Allen Cigar until 1933, when Matt Reavley’s son, Edward “Cousin Eddie” Reavley (1904-75), bought him out. Reavley’s wife, Nora “Tiny” Reavley (1910-2002), joined the business in 1950.
The Reavleys were an example of what togetherness could accomplish, State Journal-Register columnist Pauline Telford wrote when they retired in 1974.
(T)heir happiness and satisfaction with each other created an atmosphere of such pleasantness that customers came to look upon Allen’s as a regular stopping place, if only for a cup of coffee.
Eddie has never met a “stranger.” Those who might have been accounted as such are addressed as “cousin” or “cuz.”
You think that could have been a bit corny?
Not if you’ve ever been a stranger, yourself.
As for the “regulars,” they’re all called by name. …
“Cousin Eddie” is said to have the best “on the run” lunches, and even, at one time, baseball pools, punch boards, and beer and whiskey drinkers, when the store carried a liquor license. … and Eddie carried a bottle of Old Grand Dad or Old Fitzgerald on the shelf.
Its reputation for good clean food and delicious sodas, along with good companionship, has long been identified with that Sixth and Monroe corner. The Reavleys and their Allen’s Cigar Store will be sorely missed.
But oh! the good memories they are leaving behind.
Allen Cigar went through a series of short-term owners from then until 1987, when the shop finally closed. As of 2022, U.S. Rep. Darrin LaHood’s office occupied the ground-floor space that once housed the Allen Cigar Store.
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I was a fan of both Jimmy’s and El Presidente, two of the restaurants which inhabited Allen’s.
I am nostalgic for a few Springfield eateries and those are two.
My mother told be about a cigar store where my grandfather, Harold Kohlbecker, had worked, and there were rumors that his family owned it. After some research, I found that his father’s name was John Stanley Kohlbecker. My research indicates that Harold was a clerk there in 1945, and that his father, John, was the manager in 1940, living at 1683 Park Drive. I have heard stories about his big yellow brick house with fountains and gardens, but haven’t been able to locate it. The city directory cites John as the President of TW Allen in 1930, and secretary/treasurer prior to that date. It appears he started as a salesman there in 1910.
Any information anyone has about this family would be greatly appreciated!
Carolyn Kohlbecker Johnson
Ms. Johnson: As you can see from the entry, John Kohlbecker indeed worked at Allen Cigar and became an owner and/or part-owner after T.W. Allen was forced to give up his interest in the store in 1922. Another reader, who prefers not to be named, came up with the following information on the Kohlbecker residence. I hope it helps, and thanks for reading.
Mike, a lady responded to the Allen’s Cigar explosion post and mentioned her grandfather, John Kohlbecker, worked there. I did some checking and believe the address she cites for the Kohlbecker home (1683 Park Drive) is really 1623 Outer Park near Wiggins Ave. I know this house — an English cottage style. The thing I believe points to this house being Kohlbecker’s is that on the 1940 census, the subsequent house listed is “1700” Outer Park and that house is still there on the north side of Wiggins. Between 1623 and 1700, there is today a post-war looking home and I bet her description of the Kohlbecker home made of brick with the gardens fits 1623 best. It does have a generous front and back yard. If you wanted to reply to her, you can add the house was a Sears Catalog home (called the “Hillsboro”). Here is a link to the latest sale of the house, and they put an old Sears ad in the listing:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1623-W-Outer-Park-Dr-Springfield-IL-62704/2067865731_zpid/
1940 census has John Stanley Kohlbecker listed as “owner, cigar store”. She also cites the 1930 city directory shows Kohlbecker as “President TW Allen”. That jibes with the 1930 census showing him as “Pres. Allen Cigar”. Harold (his son) is a clerk at Allen’s in 1930, but their address at that time is 1600 Outer Park. Now the house at 1600 is a 1950s style ranch, so maybe it was torn down after they moved or numbers on that block changed and 1600 became 1623?
Ms. Johnson, would your mother’s name be Patty and your stepfather’s name Charlie? If by chance that is correct, then John Kohlbecker would be your Great Grand Father, Harold Kohlbecker would be your Grand Father and you would have been born at Keesler AFB, MS in 1962.
The last place you saw your Father was in Cincinnati, Ohio, you were about 14 yeas young. It was your Father’s birthday and you bought him a George Carlin album, “Oh Sh**”Your father had a 1966 Corvette covetable that you so loved but got your hair ratted – – much to the disdian of your mother who had to do the untangling.
I know all this and much more based upon being the Ghost Writer for his yet to be published Novel and serving with him (Kandahar, AFG 2004.
Thanks so much! This information is invaluable, as folks with first-hand knowledge pass/move away. I’m very grateful
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I am, to my knowledge, the one and only Grandchild of John & Rachel Kohlbecker. Born may 23, 1940, father:Harold a Clerk @ Allens Cigar Store and Edith Mildred Anderson daughter of Gus Ollie Anderson.
I have no information as to exactly when the house was built(guesstimate 1930s), but I do have Studio quality pictures & memories of the white 2 story frame house on the hill overlooking Illini Country Club. We had, a mostly underground, garage and wine cellar. The ceiling of such provided a large railed porch. It did have large front and rear acreage with John’s prize Tulip beds, a grape vineyard for making wine, an apple orchard and a Rock Garden with 12′ waterfall. I believe John furnished Adam, the Gardner & German immigrant, with a small rock cottage in the rear of the property.
In the late 40s or early 50s Rachel subdivided & sold off the property to relocate to South 5th street. The Catholic Church of Springfield has the best record of the Kohlbecker residences.
In the 80s I passed through Springfield, viewed the house from the outside and spoke with a resident in the back of the original property- – she then had a real understanding of why wherever she dug there were rocks.
With all the management and ownership data, there is one name missing; my Godfather: Francisco Zito “Don of the Prairie”