In the quiet corridors of Delavan Grade School, a young girl once sang “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” to nursing home residents, accompanied by her Chihuahua, Tiny, and a cage crafted by her father. That girl was Edie Barnard, and her voice—both literal and figurative—has resonated far beyond the borders of her childhood hometown.

Born in Decatur and raised across central Illinois, Edie’s formative years in Delavan laid the foundation for a life steeped in music, theater, and public speaking. Her father, a Methodist minister with a doctorate in theology, and her mother, a gifted pianist and seamstress, nurtured Edie’s early talents. By age four, she was learning piano; by grade school, she was performing for audiences with charm and confidence.

Delavan’s Influence

Edie attended grade school in Delavan before moving on to junior high in Moline and graduating from Kewanee High School. But it was in Delavan that her love for performance first bloomed. She sang in choirs, played clarinet in the band, and served as piano accompanist for her church. Her musical upbringing was a family affair—singing folk songs with her sisters and absorbing the musical traditions of her grandmothers.

These early experiences weren’t just hobbies; they were rehearsals for a life on stage. Delavan gave Edie her first audiences, her first applause, and her first taste of the transformative power of performance.

A Career That Spanned Continents

After graduating from the University of Illinois, Edie’s career took her from Maine to Scranton, Barbados to Greece. She owned and operated a theater in Bath, Maine for 15 years, toured New England portraying Harriet Beecher Stowe, and even served as a U.S. cultural ambassador to Greece under the Smithsonian’s sponsorship.

Her performances weren’t limited to the stage. Edie conducted musical tours across the Caribbean, taught media studies at Lindenwood and Webster Universities, and founded the Midwest Center for Media Literacy. Her seminars—like “Team Building Through Drama”—continue to empower others to find their voice, just as she found hers in Delavan.

Coming Full Circle

Now based in Peoria, Edie remains active in the arts, serving on the board of the Apollo Theater and offering voice coaching through her Woodland Studio. Her portrayal of Harriet Beecher Stowe continues to inspire audiences, a testament to her belief that “her voice is still as relevant today as it was in the 19th century”.

For Edie Barnard, Delavan wasn’t just a childhood home—it was the overture to a symphony of accomplishments. And though her journey has taken her across oceans and onto countless stages, the echoes of her earliest performances still ring in the halls of her hometown.