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Community of Sabina History
McLean County, Illinois

(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

Sabina received the name from Mrs. Sabina Moore. Mr. Moore was a large land owner near Sabina and he gave his wife's name to the freight station. The grain station of Sabina is situated in the center of West Township. Many years ago there was a hotel, church and post office as well as two grain elevators, a general store and several homes. The hotel had a thriving business with salesmen and other travelers and visitors, who arrived on either the 7 a.m. train that ran from LeRoy to West Lebanon, Ind. or the 4:30 p.m. train on its return to LeRoy. The post office was located in the hotel lobby and was known as Monarch, 111. The post office was discontinued many years ago. A branch line of the Illinois Central Railroad which passes through Sabina and Glenavon was popularly known as the "Pumpkin Vine." Also, a church flourished in Sabina, it being affiliated with the Christian Church in LeRoy. The church was located on the west side of the road and north of the railroad. After church services were discontinued the building was used as a residence for a time and later was torn down and the lumber used to build a home near Glenavon. The general store stocked many items from tobacco, cough syrup and candy to canned goods. Sabina has had a general grocery store for many years. After the original store, which was owned and operated by Jay West was discontinued, several other owners operated the store, and most recently, the store was in the front rooms of a home, two houses south of the original store, and owned and operated by Ira Hess. All kinds of canned goods were available as well as a variety of cold meats and gasoline pumps were operated to supply the farmers' needs. At one time, there were stockyards located south of the railroad on the west side of the road. When the farm animals were ready for market, the farmers, assisted by their neighbors, walked or rode horseback, herding their cattle and hogs to the stockyards to be shipped out on freight cars to market.

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