Construction of the Dell’Era Opera House was finished, at what is today 204 North Park Avenue. The opera house was a three-story building.
1909
Construction of the City National Bank Building at 200 North Park Avenue was completed; the building cost just $25,000. Two years earlier, the bank had been organized for $50,000. In a very short amount of time, being the youngest bank in Herrin, it reached $1,000,000 in assets.
1918
The Dell’Era Opera House was consumed by an electrical fire. A two story building was rebuilt in the 1920s and used as office space by Louis Dell’Era and others.
1920
The Merlo Building was constructed sometime in the 1920s at 202 North Park Avenue. During the 1920s, Herrin develops identity as the “Trade Center of Egypt”, and city population reaches 20,000 in 1923.
1937
The Bank of Herrin acquires the City National Bank Building at 200 North Park Avenue. At that time, it housed the Villa Tavern. In that same year, Ms. Mildred Yuill opens Yuill Music on Cherry Street.
1948
President Harry Truman visits Herrin in September of 1948. The City National Bank Building, housing Bank of Herrin at the time is seen in the background, with several men enjoying a rooftop view.
1950
The Dell’Era Retail Building becomes home to the F.W. Woolworth Company.
1965
Mildred Yuill sold Yuill Music to her former student, Bill Barras. Her store at 111 West Cherry Street is pictured here, in 1956.
1970
The Dell’Era building, which had housed the F.W. Woolworth Company becomes LeQuatte Drug Store. It was later sold to the Calcaterras in 1984.
1972
The store moved into the City National and Merlo Buildings at 200 and 202 North Park Avenue. Bill changed the name of the store to “Baldwin Piano & Organ Center”.
1991
After having served many purposes over the years as retail space, doctors and dentists offices, as well as a nursing home, the then vacant Dell’Era building became victim of an arson attack.
1993
Bill acquired the Dell’Era building two years after the fire in 1991, and renovated the building for more showroom and storage space.
2012
Now, celebrating it’s 75th year in business, Baldwin Piano & Organ Center remains the central location in the Midwest for new and pre-owned pianos, digital pianos, and organs.
Mrs. Mildred Yuill, musician, teacher, and composer, began selling Baldwin pianos from Herrin in 1937. In 1965, she sold the store to her former student, Bill Barras. Prior to acquiring the store, Bill spent six years studying theology at St. Meinrad’s Seminary. Originally a full line music store, the Barras family decided to concentrate their efforts on the segment of music business they knew best, with Bill’s passion being rooted in church music and the organ. The store has since developed into one of the largest showrooms in the quad-state area offering grand and upright pianos from Baldwin, Pramberger, Wm. Knabe, Ritmüller, digital pianos, keyboards, and organs from Roland, and classical organs from Rodgers and Viscount. The store also has one of the largest selections of sheet music in the area, with a virtually unlimited number of titles available through connections with many suppliers.
In 2010, the store suffered a tragic loss with the passing of Bill. Under the direction of his business partner, Bruce Steh, the store remains a thriving landmark in downtown Herrin. We welcome you to stop by the store, meet our staff, and view our great selection of musical offerings. In addition to our large inventory, we also have connections with instrument technicians and piano tuners in the area who provide service to many of our customers, and those in need!
