130 Years Ago June 20, 1896 The new pump at the city well is in position and working smoothly. The supply of water seems ample. Last Wednesday evening, Charlie Fitzgerald, on returning home, found 60 of his friends and relatives assembled at his residence for the purpose of helping him celebrate his birthday. Forrest has become a great baseball center. The nine there is in the habit of wiping up the scenery with any other aggregation that is rash enough to tackle them. They h

Several months ago, I wrote a story describing how pioneer farmers in the Fairbury area harvested corn in the 1840s and stored it in small wooden corn cribs. That article explained how every ear of corn had to be picked by hand, hauled by wagon, and then shoveled into the crib to dry. Farming in those early years was extremely labor-intensive, and even a modest harvest required many long days of work. Since publishing that story, I have learned that the earliest settlers som

130 Years Ago June 13, 1896 Work has begun on the foundation of the new Walton Bros. Palace of Trade building. The firm has not let the contract to anyone for the building, but will be their own contractors. Dr. Brewer has a young apple tree in his yard that is a phenomenon. It has apples on it about the size of hickory nuts and last week burst into bloom again. The installation of Rev. Charles S. Davies as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Fairbury took place last Friday

The mention of an electric dirt bike running up and down streets prompted a conversation on these types of bikes during Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Fairbury City Council. Alderman Charlie Hoselton pointed to new state laws which only allow them on streets with bike lanes. “The worst thing is they don’t stop at stop signs,” said Alderman Bruce Weber. Mayor David Slagel feels this is becoming more of a problem because they go so fast. “We need to look at that (law) a lit

The 1889 Blade newspaper published a long article about the history of Fairbury since its founding in 1857, when the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad laid its tracks from Peoria to Indiana. The arrival of the railroad transformed a stretch of prairie into a thriving village almost overnight. Businesses sprang up quickly along Locust Street, homes were built, churches were organized, and before long, the little town had developed the institutions that helped bind the community togeth

130 Years Ago June 6, 1896 Will Masters, of northeast of town, has plowed up 20 acres of fall wheat, which had been a fine stand, but which was ruined by chinch bugs and rust. Charles Schade and Joseph Kessler had a little accident on Sunday night. They had been to church at Cropsey and when they were returning home, the seat of the buggy became detached and fell backward. Joe escaped without injury, but Charles received quite a bump on the back of the head. Fred Burch has a

Early Fairbury had two major hotels, the Livingston House and the Fairbury House. President Ulysses S. Grant stayed in one of these hotels on two occasions in 1871. One hotel was burned down as a victim of the East Side-West Side town feuds. The other hotel burned down after 35 years of operation in one of the most spectacular fires ever witnessed in the young city of Fairbury. The history of these two hotels is closely tied to the early development of the town itself. Thei

Finishing touches are being put on the new D2 memorial basketball courts in Fairbury. Progress is being made on the memorial basketball courts at Fairbury’s Marsh Park to honor the memories of two young men. Members of the Fairbury Council received an update from Street Superintendent Lonnie Rhoads Wednesday night on the “D2” courts. Paint work is nearing completion but the logo still needs to be finished along with a clear coating for protection. “Then there is going to be s

130 Years Ago May 30, 1896 The Fairbury baseball club was reorganized Monday evening. The meeting was called to order by John Moran. Bert Schlaughter was made secretary. Henry Weber was elected president and manager of the club and T. D. Karnes, treasurer. The president and secretary were instructed to see the business men and raise money for the purpose of uniforms. The members are Robert Baird, Isaac Addis, Will Braun, Louis Weber, James Baird, Ralph Harris, Bert Slaughter,

For more than a century, thousands of Fairbury Fair visitors crowded around the racetrack to watch powerful horses thunder down the homestretch while drivers urged them toward the finish line. Long before carnival rides and automobile races became fair attractions, horse racing was the undisputed star of the Fairbury Fair. Even today, many older Fairbury residents who remember those races recall them with great nostalgia and wish they were still part of the fair. The Fairbur

Prairie Central High School graduate Will Skala will begin a career as a laborer with Vissering Construction. A signing event was held this month at PC High School in Fairbury. “We are excited to see all that he will accomplish in this new opportunity and wish him continued success as he starts this next chapter,” said PCHS Principal Wade Czerwonka.

Traditional end of year recognitions took place during the regular May meeting of the Prairie Central Board of Education. Retiring staff members Dawn Steidigner, Becky Hansen, Tammy Hoffman, Jonnita Vogel, Mike Goodwin, Kyle Miller, Brad Kilkullen, Rhonda Lamberth and Kim Kovach were honored for their service to the district. Board President John Wilken applauded all they have done for the kids, calling it a “job well done.” “I’m sure there were sacrifices for your families,”

Many longtime Fairbury residents recognize the two-story house with the four massive front porch columns that still stands along Seventh Street just south of the Indian Creek Golf Course. This house is a familiar landmark that has watched the town grow and change for decades. What many people may not realize is that the house did not begin as the distinctive residence we see today. It started life as a plain, ordinary wood-frame farmhouse, and it was Dr. Ervin who transforme

The previous Memorial Day Service shown at Graceland Cemetery in Fairbury, file photo. A message of remembering and honoring the legacies of those who didn’t make it back was shared with those attending the annual Fairbury Memorial Day service Monday at Graceland Cemetery. Fairbury American Legion Commander Gerry Brandt encouraged everyone to honor the fallen by telling their stories, speaking their names and ensuring children and grandchildren understand the freedoms they in

A crowd listens to a presentation on a solar farm proposal Thursday at Dominy Library's basement. A capacity crowd attended an informational open house Thursday at Dominy Library for a proposed solar farm near the northwest corner of Fairbury. Sol Source Power is seeking a special use permit for Indian Grove Solar 1, LLC, at a location along the 500 block of north Calhoun Street in a nearby farm field. The project parcel is 32 acres with fenced acreage of 24.67 acres, accordi

The top readers at Prairie Central Elementary were recognized by the Fairbury Rotary Club this week. The reading program at the school includes different awards for the second, third and fourth graders. Those attending this week’s meeting included: Carter Runyon, Emily Stoller, Hattie Fosdick, Parker Elliott, Ian Fehr, Mrs. Emily Wenger (PCE principal), Sullivan Taylor, Austin Steidinger, Andres Cordoba and Cal Parks.

The Fairbury City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the new 31.7-acre solar farm being proposed adjacent to Fairbury city limits on the northwest side of town. During the Public Comment portion of this week’s regular council meeting, Dale Maley voiced his opposition to the new solar farm. Mr. Maley said this project may technically be outside of the city limits, but it will directly affect Fairbury residents, Fairbury neighborhoods, property owners, and futu

130 Years Ago May 16, 1896 W. J. Bethard sold 200 straw hats one day last week for one cent each. Cheap enough. Dr. J. R. Rayburn and Dr. H. B. Bull attended the meeting of the state dental college at Springfield this week. Dr. Rayburn read a paper before the association upon subjects connected with the profession. William, four-year-old son of Henry Rudolph, northeast of town, while trying to drive a cartridge into a revolver cylinder Wednesday afternoon, was injured when th

Dr. Don Ervin and his family came to Fairbury in 1960. He practiced medicine in Fairbury from 1960 until the family moved to Colorado in 1970. During those ten years, he delivered hundreds of babies, performed many surgeries, and treated countless illnesses and injuries for families throughout Fairbury and the surrounding rural area. In 2012, when he was 82, Dr. Ervin published his autobiography, A Country Doctor: Small Town Medical Practice in the Nineteen Sixties. His book

Many Fairbury residents remember the Fairbury medical doctors in the 1960s, including Dr. Sauer, Dr. Marshall, Dr. Novak, Dr. Ervin, and Doctor Hudgens. Doctor Don Ervin published a book in 2012 describing his time as a Fairbury doctor from 1960 until he moved to Colorado in 1970. He recounted many humorous stories about his time as a Fairbury doctor in the book. Don Ervin was born in Effingham in 1930. His parents were Mark and Sylvia Pearl Bolin Ervin. Don graduated from V