The Irvin family was known for the Irvin Theatre, which was established by Clarence Irwin. What some people may not remember is the versatility of the Irvin family. Father Irvin was the street railway superintendent in 1910 and worked in the probation office in 1920. Clarence Irvin first worked as the Bloomington Chief of Police in 1910 and first built his theatre in 1914.
Sisters Beulah and Ina were born in 1893 and 1891 in McLean County. In 1910 the family lived at 1205 Park Street. At that time Ina was working as a stenographer for a photographer (most likely CU Williams), and Beulah was a 17 year old student. By 1920 the family lived at 1511 Grove Street (except Clarence). Their father was working in the probation office. Ina worked at C U Williams as a stenographer and also was a distributor for a hosiery line. The hosiery line made personal appointments with clients and had no shop, which was a popular way to purchase intimate clothing at the time. The 1920 census records Beulah's employment as stenographer, but legal announcements in the Pantagraph indicate she was working as a Deputy Sheriff. In the twenties she worked in the probate clerk's office as a deputy clerk and in 1929 she set up her own practice as a lawyer. According to the Pantagraph, she received a bachelor's degree in law at IWU and graduated from the Bloomington Law School (Wesleyan's law
school).
The 1930 census listed Ina's occupation as department manager with Williams Oil O Matics and Beulah was a lawyer. Ina would marry Elmer K Rehker in 1939. He was the owner of the Leman dairy. Ina was very active with the Businesswomen's Club in Bloomington and at Centennial Christian Church.
In 1940 Ina was living on a farm with her husband and new stepson and not working outside her home. In the early 1950's however, she was a realtor in Beulah's real estate office. Beulah had practiced law for some 30 years and had then opened a real estate office. Ina had also worked as a realtor along side her husband, who died in 1964. At that time, Elmer and Ina lived at 1924 E Taylor.
Ina died in 1974 and Beulah died in 1980. Both of these women were trailblazers in their own right. Ina had worked for the same company for over 30 years and then changed careers after the age of 50. Ina had worked her office job and managed a distributorship for a line of hosiery in her spare time. Beulah was an attorney when few women were attorneys and also managed her own real estate company. While their brother may have left a more lasting impression on the town, I hope that Ina and Beulah can be remembered by a few of us for their contributions.
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