Looking Back: 1-3-24

130 Years Ago

December 30, 1893

The Bank of A. B. Claudon will add a new cashier to its force, January 1, to accommodate its increasing business. The new cashier will be Mr. H. F. Beers.

Friday afternoon a Pinkerton detective from Chicago arrested Martin Northcott, who has been working as a baker for W. R. Bane for about six weeks, on a charge of burglary about three months ago, at the office of Marley & Son, contractors, of Chicago, who built the Illinois building of the world's fair. The burglar got away with $1,200 or $1,500.

High school roll of honor — highest in scholarship, Myrtle Weeks, 95.6; Lura Kirby, Lizzie Nimmo, 95.1; Nettie Pulsipher, 94.2; highest in general average, Lizzie Nimmo, Myrtle Weeks, Nellie Brownson.

Last Thursday at the M. E. parsonage in Forrest, Miss Emma Neuenschwander was married to Nathan Powers.

120 Years Ago

January 1, 1904

One of the most terrible calamities of modern times took place in Chicago Wednesday afternoon between 2:30 and 3:45 o'clock and in those few brief moments upwards of 600 people yielded up their lives. It was the Iroquois Theatre, a new building and the finest in the United States, that supposed to be fire-proof. The building was packed to standing room to witness the matinee performance. The fire caught on the stage. Tons of flimsy scenery were ignited almost instantaneously. There was an explosion from some unknown cause and it is supposed that many people were choked by gas. The sheet of flame swooped down off the stage and enveloped the entire interior and the people fell in mangled masses. Most of the victims were women and children.

Wing — Mr. and Mrs. Al Stuckey, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Swarm and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Stuckey ate turkey with the W. W. Green family on the 25th.

J. F. Goudy and John Dietiker, Jr. left Thursday for Chicago. They had tickets for performances at the ill-fated Iroquois theatre.

M. M. Jacobs commenced to fill the large ice houses Monday and if the weather continues favorable the work will be completed next week.

110 Years Ago

January 2, 1914

Miss Marguerite Cook gave a handkerchief shower and dinner to sixteen young ladies last Saturday in honor of Miss Gladys Voorhees, whose marriage to James Patterson will occur early in the new year. Tuesday evening the Phi Chi Psi fraternity entertained at their club rooms in honor of Miss Voorhees and Mr. Patterson. A mock wedding, with C. E. Gregg as the minister, Dean Voorhees dressed as a bride and Scott McDowell as the bridegroom, was performed.

Miss Louise Bartlett was in Forrest Monday attending a party given by Miss Josephine Wingfield.

Miss Ruby Alford and Ray Ward were united in marriage on Tuesday evening, December 30, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Seth Alford, Rev. I. O. McCullough officiating.

100 Years Ago

December 28, 1923

G. A. Sutton, who for the past thirty years has been one of the publishers and editors of The Blade, disposed of his interests on Wednesday of this week to J. A. Patterson, who for the past ten years has been associated with him in business, and who ten years previous to that time had been an employee of The Blade. After purchasing Mr. Sutton's interest, Mr. Patterson immediately resold the same to Miss Cora Evans, I. L. Harris and Frank Phelps, who for a number of years past have been employees in The Blade office. The change in ownership will take place January 1, 1924.

The I. D. Lain Construction Company gets the contract for paving Oak and Third Streets. The board of local improvements met last Friday and so decided. His bid on Third street was $17,030.16, and on Oak street (city's share) $24,405.23. The board of local improvements did not let the contract until they had given it days of careful study and thought. The Lain bid was higher than the other two, but there were other things that were taken into consideration, the principal feature being that his bid was put in a clean-cut way, with no strings attached to it whatever, while at least one of the other two contracts did have a proviso attached to it, and possibly would not have stood in court had someone taken a notion to fight it.

Santa Claus was very kind to Miss Minnie Nussbaum, she receiving the Ford automobile given away Monday afternoon by the Fairbury Association of Commerce. The business section of Fairbury was jammed with people who were here to see the car given away, and automobiles occupied every available space within two blocks of Main St.

90 Years Ago

December 29, 1933

The Christmas committee in behalf of the Rotary Club want to thank the citizens in general for the cash and toy donations and for the splendid cooperation received in helping to make the Christmas project a success. There were 237 children cared for and the committee endeavored to take care of their needs in a manner that was in keeping with general conditions.

A petition is being circulated which will be presented to the city council, asking that body to do away with the city wheel tax. This writer was asked to sign the petition but did not do so, not because we have any two dollars to throw away, but because we are of the opinion that the money taken in from the wheel tax has been wisely spent and to good advantage by the city council. Fairbury has thousands and thousands of dollars invested in its paved streets, and it is mostly for the maintenance of these streets that the wheel tax money goes.

Mrs. L. M. Baylor, of Weston, who was a guest at the Fred Craig home, north of town, Christmas Day, cut her hand quite badly that day. She was assisting in drying the dishes, when one of them broke and her hand was cut by the sharp and ragged edge, requiring several stitches to close the wound.

80 Years Ago

December 31, 1943

There was quite a scene enacted at Honegger's egg factory south of Forrest Wednesday afternoon as the million-egg goal for 1943 was reached. As the seven-figure mark neared, there were twenty trap-nested hens being watched and counted by an interested group of men – 999,998, 999,999 – then ringing cheers arose as the millionth egg was deposited. Even the hens seemed intent on their work, realizing that the deadline was not far away. The hen responsible for this golden egg received more than local honor. A man from the Prairie Farmer station was there with his camera and her photograph, with suitable publicity will soon appear in The Prairie Farmer.

It was slippery around this part of the country Sunday morning and no mistake. It got that way from a drizzling rain that froze as it fell and whether you walked or rode the going was uncertain. A number of people received falls, but none resulted seriously.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Popejoy entertained with a dinner Tuesday evening in honor of their daughter, Miss Imogene. Miss Imogene arrived here Tuesday afternoon from Stillwater, Okla., where she has completed her training with the WAVES. She is now a yeoman third class. After a week's visit here she will go to New Orleans, La., to take up her duties. Other guests present were her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Humphry, of Fairbury; Mr. and Mrs. Basil Tipple and Miss Kathleen; and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Ward.

70 Years Ago

December 31, 1953

The alarming increase in crime and the need for citizens cooperating with law enforcement officials were pointed out to Rotarians Tuesday night by William C. Hinze Jr., assistant special agent in charge of the Springfield office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There will be 1,800,000 major crimes in the United States in 1953, according to the rate set in the first six months of the year. This will be the highest number of crimes in history, he said. If the present rate of murder continues, more Americans will be murdered in the next generation than the total number of American casualties in World War II.

Some people experience difficulty in getting close enough to a pheasant to shoot it down with a gun. Then again, other people get so close that they can reach out with their hand and pick up a live, healthy pheasant and walk away with it. Saturday, Frank Holland was both people. While walking in the alley behind Zimmerman's hardware store, Frank spied a pheasant cavorting among some barrels. Frank strode over to the bird, grabbed it by both feet, and walked down Main street with his prize. Frank and feathered friend happened by The Blade, where Frank admitted he had been unable this fall to bring a pheasant down with a shotgun. He later released the bird on the Ed Metz farm just west of town.

Two Fairbury young people escaped serious injury last Wednesday night when the car in which they were riding was struck by a T. P. & W. freight train at the Fifth Street crossing. Howard Poshard and Miss Joan Huber, both about 19 years of age, were taken to Fairbury Hospital where they were treated for bruises and released a few hours later. Poshard was at the wheel and the pavement was icy. Mr. Poshard said he was unable to bring the car to a halt because of the slick pavement.

60 Years Ago

January 2, 1964

An era ended in local legal channels Tuesday, Dec. 31, when Justice of the Peace Harley Bedell held office in Fairbury for the last time. No more will local complaints on misdemeanors and traffic tickets be heard in justice or magistrate courts in Illinois. As of January 1, all such local courts are abolished under the new state judicial article, but those holding office for these courts will serve until their terms expire. Bedell, along with three other justices from Cornell, Dwight and Pontiac, will take turns in presiding in the new court which is being established in Pontiac under the jurisdiction of the circuit judges and circuit court.

Lt. and Mrs. Larry Ambrose and their son, Chris, are in Fairbury this week spending the holidays with his parents, the Charles Ambroses. Lt. Ambrose has been stationed at Fort Dix, N. J., for the past 1½ years where he serves as a company commander of 200 army basic trainees. He has been responsible for the development and training of men who have just entered the service. Ambrose graduated from the University of Illinois in June, 1961, with a degree in sociology. While at the university, he was in ROTC and he received his Army commission upon graduating.

Miss Kay Webel of Lafayette, Ind., and William Fugate of Fairbury were married at the Perry Methodist Church at Perry, Illinois at 3 p.m. on Saturday. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Webel of Baylis and he is the son of Howard and the late Mrs. Fugate of Fairbury. After the first of the year, the couple will be at home in West Lafayette, Ind.

50 Years Ago

January 3, 1974

Friday afternoon, December 28, 1973, Mrs. Margaret Foster of Fairbury retired from Record Printing Company, where she had been employed the past 20 years. Her time of employment has spanned three generations of the family owned business, beginning with the late M. A. Anderson and late A. Keith Anderson, and now the business is under the leadership of Richard C. Anderson. Mrs. Foster was employed in the bindery performing various duties.

Among horse and pony breeders and exhibitors, Fairbury's Ray and Hazel Morrow are unique, and today are faced with a problem that most of their cohorts would envy. Retired from the farm and just moved to a newly constructed home on East Locust Street, the couple's problem is "What to do with the silverware?" The silverware in this case are the four newest trophies won by their show ponies which represent high point awards for the just-concluded season. Morrow and his wife for the past 15 years have been successful exhibitors of ponies, and prior to that, had equal success with American Saddlebreds, English Pleasure and Parade horses. As a result, they have literally hundreds of trophies, and ribbons, the latter primarily blue, and the problem becomes one of "where to put them?"

Mr. and Mrs. Joe A. Freehill of Strawn will celebrate their 25th anniversary with an open house Sunday, Jan. 6 at the Strawn grade school cafeteria. The former Wilma Metz and Mr. Freehill were married January 8, 1949 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Strawn.

40 Years Ago

December 29, 1983

For the 31st year, area merchants join the Fairbury Blade in offering a raft of prizes for the first baby of the new year born in Fairbury hospital. The contest started in 1954 when Duane Ifft, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ifft, was the first recipient. Last year's winner was Darci Williams, born to Mr. and Mrs. Roger Williams.

Plumbers and tow trucks were the most popular people in town this week as the greater Fairbury area had its share of the bitter cold which pounded most of the nation over the Christmas weekend. The official weather thermometer at the Fairbury sewage treatment plant registered six consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures, five of them where the high for the day was in that category. Quickly forgotten were all thoughts of that popular season song, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas." It was no dream, it was a nightmare! Only the brave or the desperate (last minute Christmas gift shoppers) ventured out in those conditions, and Fairbury retail stores, usually a bee-hive on that final day, lacked both clerks and customers.

Well over 100 years of area service will join forces Jan. 1 when Steve Metz and Dale Stoller merge their insurance agencies to form Metz-Stoller, Inc. The new business will operate offices in both Fairbury and Forrest. Metz has 13 years experience in the insurance business, most recently with what has been known as the Bess-Metz Agencies in Fairbury and Forrest. Stoller is a 16-year veteran, serving most recently as a partner in the Slagel-Stoller Agency in Fairbury. But the business roots of the new business go back well over 100 years. Joe Slagel started his insurance business from scratch back in 1939, remaining active in the field until his retirement 40 years later in 1979. C. W. Veatch Insurance was established in Fairbury in 1932. In the late 1940's, the agency became known as C. W. Veatch and Son.

30 Years Ago

December 29, 1993

The year 1993 will be remembered locally for several reasons, not the least of which were both the saving of Fairbury Hospital by its affiliation with BroMenn Health Care, and the unseasonable, record-setting rains that fell in June. New construction in Fairbury began with the building of a McDonald's fast food restaurant, which brought with it union pickets and property damage until Mayor Lynn Dameron declared the city would not tolerate destructive behavior. A bowling ball manufacturer also came to town. New water and sewer lines were laid in Fairbury, and highway construction was begun along routes 24 and 47 in and near Forrest. Construction was begun on Fairbury's Franciscan Family Health Center and a similar, smaller facility opened in Chatsworth.

Prairie Central's Hawks gave Coach Tom Posey his 400th victory in boys' varsity basketball last Tuesday at Herscher, though the 63-51 win may not have been pretty. Posey said that Herscher played exactly the way he would play us (if he was the opposing coach). "They switched up a lot and were very aggressive during the game."

Citizens Bank of Chatsworth concluded a "90-year-long run" with flying colors! Serving the Livingston County communities' businesses and individuals "in the proud tradition of the bank's founder, Stephen Herr I, service continues to be our motto." So declares Stephen F. (Bud) Herr III, who has guided the bank's affairs for nearly 40 years. Using hard-earned money from farming operations over a hundred years ago, the founding Herr used his own resources to organize what is now Chatsworth's lone banking facility.

20 Years Ago

December 31, 2003

State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac) reminds area residents that beginning Jan. 1, 2004, the State's new left lane law will take effect. Designed to help improve safety on highways and interstates, the new law makes a moving violation if a driver is in the left lane of a multi-state highway and detaining the traffic flow. Rutherford was the Chief Senate sponsor with State Rep. John Millner (R-St. Charles), a former police chief himself, taking the lead in the House. Illinois law already states that on interstate highways a vehicle must drive in the right lane, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle. The new law prohibits detaining traffic in the left lane on interstate highways.

Ten keys for New Year's weight-loss success — 1. Set reasonable goals; 2. Remember all the benefits; 3. Start with small goals that lead to big rewards; 4. Build in rewards; 5. Pick up the weights; 6. Avoid "get thin quick" schemes; 7. Don't go it alone; 8. Be aware of your choices; 9. Find the fun; 10. Remember that health starts at home.

Donald and Ruth Butler of Forrest celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 27, 2003, with a family dinner. Butler and the former Ruth Willey were married on Dec. 27, 1953 at Columbus, Ohio. They are parents of three children, Cheryl Ann Palen, Deborah L. Monahan and Randy L. Butler. They also have seven grandchildren. Butler is a retired Poultry Geneticist and Mrs. Butler is a secretary.

10 Years Ago

January 1, 2014

The Prairie Central school district is considering the possibly of cooperating with the Livingston Area Career Center once again.The district decided to no longer send students to the LACC in Pontiac a few years back but is reconsidering the move since the program could fill a need for Prairie Central students, according to high school principal Dan Casillas. New guidelines proposed by Casillas require students wishing to take an LACC course to complete certain prerequisite courses at PCHS and have a decent grade point average. Prairie Central would have to pay $1,500 per course for each enrolled student, however the dual college credit aspect of the program is free.

Ashley Fraher and Elijah Stork, both of Chatsworth, are announcing their engagement. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Daniel and Barbara Fraher of Pontiac. She is a graduate of Pontiac High School and Heartland Community College. She is employed at TSC Truck in Forrest and part-time at County Market in Pontiac. The future bridegroom is the son of Paul and Dawn Stork of Chatsworth. He graduated from Prairie Central High School and is employed at Stork Enterprises. The couple is planning a June 7, 2014 wedding at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pontiac, with a reception at The Walton Centre in Fairbury.

The Prairie Central 5th grade boys' basketball team participated in the Miss B tournament Dec. 14 in Toluca and received a second place trophy. Players are Ethan Weber, Patrick McGreal, Logan Goad, Brady Rieger, Trey Bazzell, Rylie Vaughan, Parker Mashburn, Nathan Reed, Jaden Lewallen, Wyatt Harms, Austin Sweich, Logan Steidinger and Payton Dunahee. Coaches are Alan Dunahee and Darin Bazzell.

("Looking Back" from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes with locations at Fairbury, Chenoa and Colfax)