130 Years Ago
April 7, 1894
W. H. Chapman has bought out the share of Mr. Carter in the grocery store lately conducted by Chapman & Carter and will conduct the business himself.
The Chatsworth Creamery is to be sold to the highest bidder.
Smith Olney has closed a twenty-year term of service as superintendent of the M. E. Sunday School in Fairbury.
Emory Gregg has been appointed deputy town clerk.
120 Years Ago
April 8, 1904
For several years past the business of the iceman of former days has been decreasing steadily, and at the present rate ere long he will find his occupation gone. It is no longer necessary to wait for cold weather to secure a supply of the refrigerating product; it can be produced easily and cheaply in the warmest weather by chemical processes. The advantages offered by chemistry and modern machinery for the production of ice are crowding nature out of the field of competition and reducing the latter to chiefly local value.
The young ladies basketball teams of the Chenoa and Fairbury High Schools played a game at the opera house, Thursday evening, the Fairbury team winning by a score of 11 to 7. It was a fine game, well played, the Fairbury team winning only by superior team work. The score in the first half was 5 to 5. The Fairbury team never played better.
Miss Ola Bidwell, one of Chicago's most noted entertainers, will give an entertainment in the Baptist Church Monday night, April 11th. She is a pupil of Edwin Wareham, London's favorite grand opera singer, and critics pronounce her voice the deepest and richest known to the musical world. She is fine on the violin and is an adept in elocution. Such talent is seldom heard in Fairbury. Don't miss hearing her. Admission is 15 and 25 cents.
110 Years Ago
April 10, 1914
The voters were out in force Tuesday to vote at the township elections and the great majority were intent on voting the township "dry," which they did by a majority of 527. Two hundred and sixty women voted in the first precinct on the wet and dry question and of these, 237 voted dry and 23 wet; 291 women voted in the second precinct, 264 voting dry and 27 wet. The men also voted dry in the township by a majority of 71. The male vote of Strawn carried the town for dry by three. The total majority was 63. The T. P. & W. between Peoria and Effner will hereafter be known as the "dry line." Cullom voted wet by eight majority, being the only town in this county in the wet column. Chatsworth entered the dry column by 89 majority.
Walton Bros. Co. held their annual spring opening last Friday and Saturday afternoon. Those who acted as models were: Mrs. D. V. Beggs, Miss Myrtle Stafford, Miss Marie Fosdick, Miss Charline Baily and Miss Nelle Rudd.
Herbert Powell was knocked down by a team and run over last Friday. Several ribs were fractured and his shoulder badly bruised.
100 Years Ago
April 4, 1924
One of the very charming events of the week was the annual spring party of Inter Nos Club which was held Wednesday afternoon at the pretty new home of Mrs. Jos. Dailey. A one o'clock luncheon, at which covers were placed for thirty-six, each member bringing a guest, was served in which the club colors, yellow and white were shown in every item of the delicious menu. The favors were the club flower, daffodil. An attractive feature of the afternoon's entertainment was an Easter Fashion Show in which prizes were won by Mrs. Orel Drennen, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoker, Mrs. Estella Rudd, Mrs. Stafford, Mrs. W. C. Schmidt and Mrs. J. K. Huette. Another interesting number was the club song, "Inter Nos," written by Mrs. C. A. Bradshaw and sung to the tune of "Illinois."
The fire alarm was sounded Sunday afternoon when it was discovered that the N. J. Claudon house on East Hickory Street was on fire. The fire had started in the walls back of the fireplace and had a good start when discovered. It was put out without the assistance of the fire company, but damage amounting to several hundred dollars was done by smoke and water and in moving the furniture.
The siren whistle which has been here several weeks on approval and which has been on top of the fire bell tower, is being raised another twelve feet. This twelve feet in height is being added by placing a steel tower on top of the fire bell tower, and on top of this steel tower the siren has been placed. It is thought this will give the siren greater carrying power.
90 Years Ago
April 6, 1934
Easter and April 1 both arrived on the same day this year. The weather was typical of April and we had quite an assortment of it. Early in the morning the sun peeped through the clouds for a minute or two and the indications were that the ladies might wear their new Easter bonnets without fear of getting them wet. Later it started to rain and by the time church was out those who had not brought umbrellas wished they had. Later in the afternoon the sun came out and the day ended as an Easter day should end – with the sun shining brightly.
Walton Brothers Company Store, which has meant so much to this community in years past, and which this week has been staging a trustee's sale, will open following the sale as the Walton Department Store. Walton Bros. Company, like many other stores throughout the country the past few years, has found itself in financial difficulty, and in order to make a settlement with its creditors found it necessary to make an assignment of the business to a trustee. This trustee is H. M. Dodge and he is now conducting the sale in progress for the creditors. A new corporation has been organized by local residents of Fairbury for the purpose of retaining this business for the benefit of the people of Fairbury's trading area.
Fifty members from Livingston Lodge, I.O.O.F., of this city, went to Saunemin last Friday, where they attended a district meeting of Odd Fellows. Out of the 50 that made the trip, 39 went over on Ed Thomas' truck. The 50 from the local lodge made up about 50% of those present, there being 105 in attendance.
80 Years Ago
April 7, 1944
President Tarpy and the board of directors of the Fairbury Fair Association are making progress in their plans for the fair to be held from Tuesday through Friday, August 1-4. The race program has been completed, providing a good schedule of harness and running races for the entertainment of those attending. The catalog committee is now preparing the list of premiums for the several departments and the advertising solicitation will be made soon.
This city had two fires yesterday afternoon, both occurring at the same time, which naturally kept the firemen rather busy. One of the fires was at the C. A. Green home and the other was at one of the Logan Kring greenhouses. The first call came from the Green home about 4:15 o'clock and while the firemen were fighting that fire, a call came from Kring's, so a part of the firemen took what hose was not in use and left for the greenhouse. They succeeded in putting out both fires without much damage.
Eula Mae Bess will accompany Mrs. Winn to her home at Wood River for the Easter vacation. During her stay Eula Mae plans to visit Shurtleff College, located at Alton. Mrs. Winn has arranged an interview for Eula Mae with the head of the voice department, and Eula Mae will try for a scholarship. She is planning to study music at Shurtleff next fall.
70 Years Ago
April 8, 1954
Thuro-Bilt Products Co., Inc., local manufacturers of pre-built farm buildings, Monday moved into its new building, a quarter mile west of town. Production was begun there the same day, and the offices were moved to the new site yesterday. The new building is 80x160 feet, and of clear-span, truss-rafter construction. With 14 feet high side walls, the building affords 179,200 cubic feet of working space. Officials of the company stated the new plant is expected to be able to produce between three and four poultry houses a day. The plant will employ 53 persons in two shifts.
The cry of "Swing your partners 'round and 'round” will mingle with the bounce of the Hokey Pokey, the jump of the Bunny Hop and the smooth serenity of modern social dancing at the Community Square and Social dance to be held at the new high school gym tomorrow night, Friday. The dance is being sponsored by the Band Boosters, and is an outgrowth of the recent revival of square dance popularity being experienced by youth groups of the community.
Andrew G. (Oscar) Wahl, 77, was struck by a west-bound T. P. & W. freight train at the Webster Street crossing about 11 a.m. yesterday. He was taken to the Fairbury Hospital in the Cook ambulance where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Mr. Wahl was walking south across the tracks and was apparently almost over the crossing when he was struck by the left front portion of the Diesel engine. The impact sent Mr. Wahl about 30 feet down the track on the south side. The crossing is closed to vehicular traffic, but is open to pedestrians. It is, therefore, not protected by flashers.
60 Years Ago
April 9, 1964
Dave Steffen of Dave's Supermarket this week announces the installation of four new checkout lanes to his establishment at Third and Walnut. The change was made in connection with expanding from three to four lanes. The devices utilize twin belts and are of the latest design for greater efficiency in customer service.
The death of General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur in Washington D. C., Sunday, recalled the fact that a Fairbury youth was his room-mate at West Point. According to Jay Claudon, 80-year-old Fairbury Chrysler dealer, Truman Carrithers, who was educated in the Fairbury schools, went to West Point after that, and was MacArthur's room-mate. Claudon was a year or two behind Carrithers in the local schools. He recalls that Carrithers took a post graduate course in high school and was also the "office boy" and Claudon succeeded him in that role. MacArthur and Carrithers entered West Point in 1899, were room-mates throughout the four years, and graduated in 1903.
One of the Wanders Three was in town last week. John James, 30, and his wife, Sharon, were guests at the Chuck West home. James and his fellow folk singers, Tim Evans and Ernie Mills, have been traveling about the country for the past 3½ years, making a name for themselves. West and James were Marine Corps buddies from 1953-56. Fact of it is, the pair used to strum up the guitars, ukes, and banjos and play for the troops. "John used to dream of going on the road with a singing group" says Chuck. That was 10 years ago and only recently the Wanderers Three performed for President Johnson and German Chancellor Erhard in Texas. The group has been all over the U. S., Puerto Rico and Australia.
50 Years Ago
April 11, 1974
A new record price for Livingston County farm land was set Saturday afternoon when Ivan Steidinger of rural Forrest paid $2,275 per acre for an 80 acre tract. Owned by the estate of Bena Broquard, the 80 acres, located five miles south and a mile east of Forrest was snapped up in a matter of about 15 minutes during bidding conducted by Ivan and Stanley Metz, the auctioneers, of Forrest. The contending bidder was Joe Broquard of Fairbury, one of the heirs, which are estimated to number about 25 in all.
Plans of King Development to erect a 99-bed nursing home under the name of King's Manor on Fairbury's northwest side have apparently fallen through. The firm has failed to pick up the option they held on five acres of ground that touched on both North First street and Stanley Drive.
Masons this week were closing exterior walls on the new Coronary Intensive Care unit at Fairbury Hospital. The four-bed area with supporting services, as well as a new nursing station and a records room for doctors, is expected to move toward more rapid completion now that it is being enclosed. Stoller & Maurer of Fairbury are the general contractors on the nearly $400,000 addition.
Anchor — Six farmsteads in the Anchor area were completely destroyed or extensively damaged by a tornado that roared through about 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, causing $700,000 total damages. Miraculously, no one was injured. The tornado dissipated as it moved east.
The Fairbury City Hall, 101 East Locust, is one of 17 local structures cited as historical monuments by Illinois Historical Society. The building was built in 1888.
40 Years Ago
April 5, 1984
Traffic was restored Sunday morning on the Santa Fe Railroad's east-west line through Fairbury just 20 hours after their westbound Train 1175 "split a switch" as it approached the Seventh Street crossing Saturday. The spectacular derailment was logged at 9:50 a.m. The line was re-opened at 6:15 a.m. Sunday when a work train, after spreading rock ballast over the newly laid replacement rails, reached the remainder of the disabled train and pulled them west to Peoria. The derailment was blamed on a faulty switch stand where the south siding from Fairbury Farmers Grain Co., returns to the main line. The train came to a crashing halt as two of the three power units and 12 freight cars derailed, bucking and jumping as they tore up roadbed, splintering ties and twisting rails like spaghetti.
Talk of school consolidation is back in the air. And this time, several area districts may be willing to talk seriously about merger, long an issue considered loathsome to those who cling to the concept of the hometown high school. The Chatsworth board of education has already agreed to invite representatives from neighboring districts to meet to discuss consolidation. Moreover, Fairbury-Cropsey and Forrest-Strawn-Wing board members have been talking informally about reviving talks between those two adjoining districts.
The sunshine and mild temperatures Saturday made it a perfect day for Fairbury's annual community sale. Buyers and sellers, young and old, lined Locust Street from First to Sixth Streets for the sale which lasted from 11 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. Everything from bicycles to birds was sold to 1,236 bidders, 250 more than last year. Pay-out to sellers totaled almost $17,000. The only thing that dampened the day was the train derailment which occurred an hour before the sale began.
30 Years Ago
April 6, 1994
Livingston County Sheriff's deputies were called to Chatsworth last Thursday evening in response to a call that an older woman with white, curly hair, wearing red and driving a light blue car with "palm trees" on the license plate had attempted to abduct a four-year-old girl from the north side park. According to a 12-year-old girl, who was watching the four-year-old girl, the woman had apparently approached three boys who were throwing rocks at an abandoned house and told them to stop. The woman then grabbed the four-year-old by the shoulder and hair and began pulling her toward her car. "Five kids went running calling the four-year-old's name and the woman got into her car and left fast," the girl said.
Ronald Huddleston, a teacher at Lincoln-Way High School, New Lenox, was recently selected by the Illinois State Board of Education Department of Adult Vocational Technical Education as the recipient of the "Connections 2000 Award" at the fourth annual Connections Conference in St. Charles. The Pre-Employment Information Strategies Program Huddleston developed was one of 50 exemplary programs selected to receive a monetary award and be included in the Illinois Tech Prep Innovative Compendium. Huddleston is a 1965 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School and son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Huddleston of Fairbury. He has been a teacher at Lincoln-Way since his graduation from Illinois State University in 1969.
Michael D. Lorch, district manager in Fairbury for The Franklin, Springfield, has earned one of the company's top agency building honors. Lorch has qualified for Franklin's Circle of Champions Club, a national honor organization of the company's most successful managers. Lorch's qualification was based upon outstanding recruiting activity during the month of January.
20 Years Ago
April 7, 2004
The American Red Cross of the Heartland honored Calvin Teubel as Exceptional Youth Volunteer at its annual volunteer appreciation dinner in Bloomington on March 18. Teubel, son of John and LaVonne Teubel of Forrest, was selected from volunteers college age and younger throughout McLean, Ford and southeast Livingston County. Calvin Teubel, a Prairie Central High School senior, was selected for this honor for his consistent commitment to the health and safety of the community. His strong and consistent commitment to the blood supply is the first. Teubel has donated nearly a gallon and a half of blood, potentially saving dozens of lives.
In February, Westview first and second grade students participated in a coloring contest for the Illinois State Dental Society. This year, Westview Grade School had nine contest winners. The first grade winners are Desiree DeWeese, Shayne Doran-Chevez, Adriana Macias, Alana Ruiz, Sarina Steidinger and Kelly Waldbeser. Second grader winners are Susan Hish, Shania Scurlock and Leslie Zimmerman. Winners of the contest received a RoseArt kit, and all participants received bookmarks.
Pam Rathe, an art teacher at Ridgeview Junior-Senior High School, in Colfax, is one of 12 finalists for Illinois State Board of Education Teacher of the Year. Rathke was chosen from nearly 300 nominations from the teachers from the state of Illinois. Mrs. Rathke has been teaching in the Octavia/Ridgeview school district for the past 24 years.
10 Years Ago
April 9, 2014
Dean and Pauline Waters of Fairbury celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a reception at the Lexington Community Center on March 22. Waters and the former Pauline Leach were married March 21, 1954 at Rowe Lutheran Church. Their attendants were Lois Gibson and Gary Elliot. They are the parents of Penny (Terry) Rathbun, Bloomington; and Dean (Beth) Waters of Janesville, Wis. A daughter, Deanna Sue, is deceased. The couple also has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was a truck driver for Nussbaum Trucking, retiring in 1994. She is a homemaker.
The Prairie Central High School FFA Poultry Judging team recently won the state judging contest and will advance to the National FFA Convention this fall. Team members include Brent Edelman, Hunter Bolen, Kenton Edelman, Ryan Steffen and Grayson Cottrell. All were in the top 10 at state and Kenton Edelman was the first place individual overall.
Jake and Rose Dunahee of Fairbury are the parents of a baby boy born at 6:04 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at Gibson Area Hospital. Ignatius Alexander weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 21½ inches long at birth. Paternal grandparents are Keith and Jo Ann Dunahee of Fairbury. Maternal grandparents are John and Monique Strong of Fairbury.
("Looking Back" from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)
