ALTON — Nine years ago, at his grandmother's funeral, Zak Dahlheimer made a promise: On October 26, 2026, the day she would have turned 100, their family would come together again to celebrate her life.
Next Monday, Oct. 26, he'll keep that promise in the very building where she once owned and operated her longtime Alton beauty shop.
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At 11:30 a.m. Monday, October 26, Alton Mayor David A. Goins will present to the Dahlheimer Family an official proclamation declaring October 26, 2026, as “Mary Corzine Goodpasture Day” in honor of Mary Louise Corzine Goodpasture (October 26, 1926 - August 12, 2017), a longtime Alton businesswoman, mother, grandmother, and pioneer whose life spanned nearly a century of local history.
The ceremony will take place at The Wedge Innovation Center (620 E. Broadway) inside the site of the historic Elfgen Building, the former home of Mary's Beauty Shop (604 E. Broadway).
A Lifetime Rooted in Alton
Born in Alton, Ill. in 1926, Mary grew up in the community and attended Marquette Catholic High School.
Historical research conducted with help from Hayner Public Library and the Madison County Historical Society traces her professional life through several well-known Alton businesses.
In 1949, she worked at Carl's Shoe Store on West Third Street.
By 1957, she was managing the shoe department at Craft's Factory Outlet on Belle Street.
Family accounts also state she worked for local real estate group, Steiner Real Estate, and operated the Mineral Springs Beauty Shop located at the historic Mineral Springs Hotel in Alton.
By 1971, she had established herself as the owner-operator of Mary's Beauty Shop at 604 E. Broadway, inside the city’s historic Elfgen Building.
Her salon was described as “the friendliest shop in town,” reflecting the relationships she built with generations of customers and neighbors.
Mary continued working in cosmetology at other locations in the Alton area, including Grafton, before eventually relocating to South Florida to be closer to family.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, she was a devoted mother to her late son, Mickey Corzine, and daughter, Kim Dahlheimer, a grandmother, a woman of Catholic faith, and someone remembered by her family for her generosity, independence, humor, and unwavering love.
A Promise that Brings Her Family Home
At Mary’s funeral in 2017, her grandson, Zak, expressed his determination to reunite the family on what would have been her 100th birthday.
That promise has now grown into a community celebration honoring not only her life, but also the people, businesses, and institutions that helped shape it.
In addition to Mayor Goins's proclamation, the ceremony will also feature a special recognition presented by Marquette Catholic High School, and historical reflections from Lacy McDonald of Hayner Public Library and Mary Rose of the Madison County Historical Society.
Dahlheimer, a former television news anchor and investigative reporter, will also deliver a personal tribute reflecting on his grandmother's influence and the promise that inspired this celebration.
History Comes Full Circle
Guests will have an opportunity to view a specially curated three-part historical exhibit documenting Mary’s life through family photos, city directory research, archival advertisements, and newspaper clippings.
The exhibit, titled “Finish What You Started: A Centennial Historical Exhibit,” traces her journey from a young woman growing up in Alton to a business owner and beloved family matriarch.
Among the artifacts are a 1971 advertisement announcing Mary's Beauty Shop at the Elfgen Building and a 1984 newspaper photo showing Mary working inside her Elfgen Building salon.
A century after her birth, the family will return to that same historic location to celebrate her legacy.
https://www.haynerlibrary.org/https://madcohistory.org/
