The Champaign County Historical Museum is adopting the popcorn wagon as it's new logo. We have chosen the popcorn wagon because we feel it best represents the uniqueness of our county as well as the entrepenurial spirit which has always been a major part of our local development.
The popcorn wagon was made in 1919 by the Cretor Company in Chicago. It was the first self-propelled popcorn wagon ever made and was built on a Model T Ford chassis. Purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sansone, it soon became a landmark in downtown Champaign.
In 1925, although Model T's had begun being mass-produced, the chassis changed and the Sansone's popcorn wagon became the only one of its kind. The chassis was replaced with a Chevy chassis purchased at Sullivan Chevrolet in 1940, but on the whole, the popcorn wagon remains very much the same as it was in 1919.
In 1974 the wagon was purchased by E. Joan Macumber and became a familiar sight on campus at John and Wright streets. In 1977, it was purchased by the Historical Preservation Committee of the Champaign County Historical Museum with the aid of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds from the City of Champaign.
Today, the popcorn wagon still rolls out for special occasions, such as the 4th of July parade and the Taste of C-U celebration held each summer at West Side Park.
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