The Terregon (Forrest)

The Terregon Ballroom was not a grand old hall with a storied past as the name might suggest.  Instead, it was a grain storage building on Route 47 at the north edge of Forrest, Illinois - a town of roughly 1,200 people.  For a brief time in the late 1960's however, it was host to some big name rock and pop concerts by groups such as the Grass Roots, the Cryan Shames, the New Colony Six, and many others.

Ronnie Rice, New Colony Six at the Terregon

How did these bands come to perform in a metal farm building on the edge of a small town in rural Livingston County?  It appears to have been the work and determination of one man.  Glenn Terrell was a local truck driver, a business owner, a World War II veteran, and a father of teenagers.  

In 1967, Terrell converted the 60' x 120' steel building into a concert venue, dance hall and community center.  He added a new floor, built a stage, covered the walls with wood paneling and added some colored tables and chairs.  The Terregon was born.  It had a reported seating capacity of 900, though it proved to hold more, possibly when the tables and chairs were removed.

Incredibly, for about a year the Terregon brought in a string of top-tier groups from Chicago as well as national touring acts.   Almost all of the "teen" concerts were emceed by a WLS disc jockey.  A local group from nearby Pontiac, the Chancellors, served as the opening act for many of the shows.

The Terregon opened its doors on September 2, 1967 with a teen concert featuring the Cryan Shames and the Flock.   The Cryan Shames would play the Terregon at least four times in less than a year.  

According to the Pontiac Daily Leader, over 1,500 attended the debut concert.  Before the end of the year, the Terregon hosted at least four more teen shows, each on a Saturday night:

• Sep 2, 1967     The Cryan Shames, The Flock   
• Sep 23, 1967   The Yellow Balloon, The Ides of March
• Sep 30, 1967   The California Spectrum (members of the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band) 
• Oct 28, 1967   The Same, The Chancellors
• Dec 16, 1967   The One-Eyed Jacks, The Chancellors

Starting in early 1968, owner Glenn Terrell decided to shift the teen shows to Sunday afternoons instead of Saturday nights.  This change, which seemed innocent enough, would spark a controversy that would put the Terregon and the village of Forrest in the news for the next several weeks.  

On January 17th, 1968, the Forrest Village Board held a special meeting to discuss the town's new dance hall.  First, they imposed a $50 license fee for any dance held during the week.  In addition, they denied Terrell's permit request for having dances on Sundays.

The board was apparently split on the matter of allowing these dances but came to their decision after casting a secret ballot in a closed session (later determined to be an illegal action).  They justified their ruling by invoking a "blue law" enacted in the 1880s that remained on the town's books.  

One of the board members, Ray Steffen, told the Pantagraph, "It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life."  Steffen had voted against the ballroom.  When ask why, he said, "Because of my concern for the youth."  He added, "I have a strong belief in the Ten Commandments.  The fourth covers this situation - Remember the Sabbath Day and to keep it holy."

Public outcry over the decision was immediate.   Newspapers across the state of Illinois ran stories about the small town that banned dances on Sunday due to an outdated statute.  Several people wrote letters to the editor of the Pantagraph in support of the Terregon and the rights of teenagers.

When Glenn Terrell was asked what he planned to do next, he responded, "Like John Paul Jones, when asked if he was ready to surrender, said, 'I have just begun to fight.'  I guess that's the position I'll have to take."   Terrell petitioned the board for a new hearing.   When they dragged their feet, Terrell informed them by letter that he intended to continue operations until they provided him with a documented report requiring him to close on Sundays.  The Village Board instead granted him permission to operate "as is" until their April meeting.  For the next several months, teen concerts were held on Sunday afternoons without incident.

• Jan 7, 1968       Jay and the Techniques, (Art Roberts - WLS)
• Jan 21, 1968     Cryan Shames, (Clark Weber - WLS)
• Feb 4, 1968      The Destinations, The Chancellors, (Art Roberts - WLS)
• Feb 11, 1968    One-Eyed Jacks, (Ron Riley - WLS)
• Feb 18, 1968    The American Breed, (Bernie Allen - WLS)
• Mar 17, 1968   The One Eyed Jacks, (Jerry Kay - WLS)
• Mar 24, 1968   The Classics IV, (Larry Lujack - WLS)
• Mar 31, 1968   The Cryan Shames, (Clark Webber - WLS)

On April 4th, during their regular town meeting, the Forrest Village Board reversed their earlier decision and granted the Terregon permission to hold Sunday concerts.  Some board members still expressed concerns however about kids dancing on Sunday.  Terrell assured the board that the events were concerts not dances.   He admitted some attendees do dance but the concerts were meant for entertainment not dancing.

Terrell had won the battle but Sunday concerts did not last much longer.  There were two in April.  By June, concerts were happening during the week and on Friday.

 

• Apr 21, 1968   The New Colony Six, The Chancellors
• Apr 28, 1968   Grass Roots, The Chancellors, (Ron Riley - WLS)
• Jun 7, 1968     The Cryan Shames, (Larry Lujack - WLS)
• Jun 20, 1968   The World Column, The Chancellors, (Art Roberts-WLS)
  
• ?              Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

Thanks to Randall Hollister and his sister Judy who attended several concerts at the Terregon, we actually have photographs from some of these shows.

The Cryan Shames - January 21, 1968

The New Colony Six - April 21, 1968

The Grass Roots - April 28, 1968

Top L-R: Warren Entner, Rob Grill; Bottom L-R: Rick Coonce, Creed Bratton 

Gary Puckett & The Union Gap reportedly played the Terregon as well but the exact date has not been confirmed.   The group did perform at the Reservation in nearby Pontiac on Dec. 22, 1967.

While no teen shows could be identified after June 1968, the Terregon also held concerts for "mom and dad," some of which continued into 1969.  Here are some of the other concerts and private events we could identify:

• Sep 16, 1967     Ted Weems Orchestra
• Oct 14, 1967     Tiny Hill & His Orchestra
• Nov 11, 1967    Ferlin Husky, Cristy Lane
• Dec 2, 1967      Tiny Hill & His Orchestra
• Dec 23, 1967   Leon Ashley, Margie Singleton, Cristy Lane, (Stan Scott - WJJD)
• Feb 24, 1968   Bud Sherman
• Apr 6, 1968   Strawn Firemen's Ball: Howard Jacobs Orchestra
• Apr 20, 1968   Bud Sherman
• Jul 28, 1968   M&W Gear Co. party: Rex Troyer band
• Apr 12, 1969   Strawn Firemen's Ball: Howard Jacobs Orchestra

It is unclear why or exactly when the venue closed its doors.  If anyone has any more info or memories about the Terregon please leave a comment below or reach out to us directly at:  downstatesounds@gmail.com

Special thanks again to Randy Hollister for sharing the photos as well as scans of the Terregon flyers.