Oquawka Cleanup and Restoration

The area of present-day Oquawka was named Oquawkiek by the local Sac and Fox tribes, meaning “yellow banks.” The early White settlers of the area including Stephen Phelps, who later became the founder of Oquawka, respected the area and the people that lived there as they developed the area for other settlers to live. Oquawka saw some economic growth in the 1800s—and even hosted a stump speech from Abraham Lincoln—but without a railway to help them expand, most business went elsewhere and Oquawka remained a quaint residential town.

In 1972, the Clark & Walter Circus was running in Oquawka, and their biggest attraction was an African elephant named Norma Jean. One night as the elephant was chained to a tree, a thunderstorm came through Oquawka and struck the same tree. The resulting voltage killed Norma Jean, and the circus left the town leaving the elephant behind. Residents decided to bury Norma Jean at the site of her passing and has since put a plaque in place commemorating her.

Water damage restoration and fire damage restoration in Oquawka

Destructive storms can find their way to any city on the plains, and Oquawka is no exception. Harsh winters are also no stranger to the area, and even the most well-prepared businesses and homes can take a blow when dangerous weather strikes. Thankfully, SERVPRO® can be a big part of that plan with our fire damage restoration and water damage restoration. SERVPRO is waiting to answer your call 24/7 and is always ready to help no matter when a disaster happens.

SERVPRO is here to serve 24/7

Rain or shine, day or night, 365 days a year, SERVPRO is here to swiftly make sure your home or business is taken care of.  And with the new designation as a large loss leader, no size job is too big for SERVPRO Team Fletcher to tackle. Even in the largest of disasters, SERVPRO’s team of IICRC certified experts will make sure your facilities are back to looking and operating “like it never even happened.”