Looking Back: 4-23-26

130 Years Ago

April 18, 1896

Walton Bros. store was burned on Tuesday afternoon, the fire starting about one o'clock. Ten minutes after the fire had been discovered by Sidney Swarm, who had gone down into the basement, the store was a mass of flames. The fire spread with such rapidity that only a few armfuls of goods were carried out, and the lady clerks did not have time to save their hats and coats. The local fire company was assisted in the fighting of the flames by the Chenoa Fire Department. They got their hose cart on the tender of the train, arriving here about two o'clock, and the railroad men, catching the spirit of the occasion, pulled into Fairbury ahead of time, making the run of twelve miles in as many minutes.

Others who were in the Walton building and who lost by the fire were Jay Tyler, barber shop; Carrithers & Agard, attorneys; J. R. Rayburn, dentist; E. M. Phillips, photographer; Dr. D. Brewer; Robinson & Farr; Phelps & Moberly; C. W. Keck. The Bartlett building across to the east was injured, as was also the W. G. McDowell building. The Virgin Livery Barn across the alley, was saved by hard work.

120 Years Ago

April 20, 1906

One of the greatest calamities of modern times visited San Francisco and other southern California cities Wednesday, when that section of the state was visited by an earthquake which resulted in an appalling loss of life and property and the almost complete destruction of San Francisco. The earthquake took  place at 5:13 a.m. and lasted for a period of 30 minutes before the ground ceased to tremble. No sooner had the earth ceased to shake than fires broke out in many parts of the city. Firemen responded to the alarms only to find the water mains bursted in various places by the quake and the water supply cut off. The fire raged with increased fury all night Wednesday night and Thursday night and is still burning the few scattered residences which remain. Twenty square miles of business buildings and residences have been absolutely wiped out. Of the 400,000 population, 300,000 are homeless. The property loss will probably reach half a billion dollars.

A calamity so terrible has befallen San Francisco and our brothers and sisters there. The generosity of the entire nation can do no more than alleviate the immediate wants and necessities of those whose distress is so dire. A mass meeting of the citizens of Fairbury and vicinity will be held at the City Hall in this city, at 7:30 o'clock this Friday evening for the purpose of adopting measures to bear our share in the relief work now under way. I appeal to every man, woman and child in this community to be present and to come prepared to do their utmost and to do it quickly, to meet the situation. —E. A. Agard, mayor.

110 Years Ago

April 21, 1916

At recent meetings of the boards of education of the township high and the city schools it was decided that the school term next year should be nine months. For years past there has been only eight months and a half in each school year. The change was made on account of the amount of work the school pupils are required to do at the present time. Almost every year for a number of years past some new study has been added to the work required of the pupils until their time has become too limited to get the best results. With the extra two weeks for study this trouble will be eliminated to a marked degree.

Rev. J. C. Oranger, who is conducting the dedicatory services at the Baptist Church, is a very interesting speaker. Rev. Oranger has had many years' experience in evangelistic work which has given him a vast amount of knowledge about people, their religious attainments and home life, and he makes good use of this experience in his sermons each night. Rev. Oranger is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Minonk, one of the largest churches in the Bloomington association.

Miss Hazel Bane was hostess to the Delta Tau Sorority and a number of lady friends outside of the club last Saturday afternoon. The afternoon was spent at cards, followed by a luncheon. In the evening Miss Bane took her guests to the picture show.

100 Years Ago

April 23, 1926

City Engineer T. W. Burns received a bad gash some three or four inches long under his chin Wednesday evening about five o'clock when he went through the windshield of the car in which he was riding when the car took to the ditch after being blocked by a tractor. He also received a number of minor cuts and bruises. Ira French, who was driving the car, escaped with a scratch or two. Mr. Burns and Mr. French had been to Bloomington and were coming home by way of El Paso. When approaching a crossroad two miles west of Chenoa, a Caterpiller tractor approached the intersection at the same time. Mr. French, thinking he had the right of way, kept going. So did the tractor, with the result that he would have to hit the tractor or take to the ditch.

The Baptist Young People held their monthly social meeting at the home of Miss Edna Morris on Friday evening, April 6. The meeting, which was a postponed April Fools' party, was well carried out. The entertainment was kept moving at a lively rate and the refreshments were very delightful. Although no one was wearing an April Fool's tag and no rubber centered chocolates were served, the radio was apparently "fixed" and the spark plug wires were taken off of one of the waiting Fords. Nevertheless everyone was able to get home safely and no one felt any the worse for having been an April Fool.

Harry Bledsoe was released from the county jail at Pontiac, Tuesday, where he had been held for the past two weeks. Bledsoe was arrested in this vicinity, where he was found wandering aimlessly about. It is said that he was a victim of "canned heat" and after being placed in the county jail, required the attendance of a physician for some time. Having regained his health and, there being no charge against him, he was released.

90 Years Ago

April 17, 1936

Wednesday afternoon at the annual spring convention of all of the federated clubs of Livingston County was heard a very fine program of music and readings gathered from the talent found in each club represented, or their guest. Club women from Pontiac, Forrest, Chatsworth, Emington, Saunemin, Dwight, Flanagan, Fairbury and several visitors were present. After the program the guests were invited to the round room where Miss Georgiana Brown, Mrs. Frank Gooding, Mrs. Roscoe Combes, Mrs. John Householder and Mrs. Charles Steinberg served tea. A bowl of daffodils with white candles at either side made a pretty spring setting for the serving.

John Langstaff, student at Fairbury Township High School, son of Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Langstaff, was guest-speaker at the Tuesday evening dinner of the Rotary Club. Last year during the summer vacation John made a tour of Europe, visiting most of the points of principal interest, and his talk Tuesday evening was a very interesting story of his observations while on the other side of the Atlantic. His narrative was illustrated with several reels of movies. Tuesday night was ex-members' night at the Rotary and all former members of the club were invited to be guests of the club on this occasion.

The grade and township school elections held last Saturday were both quiet affairs, there being no contests. In the township election just an even hundred votes were cast. For president of the board, Dr. E. F. Law received 99 votes; for members of the board, Joseph Gerber received 98 votes and E. T. Lange 96. In the city school election 119 votes were cast. For president of the board, T. R. Voorhees received 112 votes and for members of the board, C. A. Purdum and E. H. Odell received 119 and 113 respectively.

80 Years Ago

April 19, 1946

Thirty-one cities (so far) in Illinois will go on daylight saving time either April 28, or May 1, and more are joining the daylight parade every day. Included in the cities adopting daylight saving time are: Bloomington, Peoria, Normal, Champaign, Kankakee, Urbana, Chicago, Alton, Springfield, Aurora, Beardstown, Brighton, Canton, Dixon, Fulton, Jacksonville, Galesburg, Joliet, La Salle, Morrison, Quincy, Rock Falls, Rockford, Spring Valley, Dwight, Streator, Sterling, Vandalia and Waukegan.

Roy Carder, who recently returned from the service, had his car badly wrecked Wednesday night and knocked down an electric light pole dodging another car. He escaped serious injury. The accident occurred at the intersection of Locust and Sixth Streets. Mr. Carder was going east on Locust Street when another car came onto Locust from Sixth. In swinging out to miss this car, the Carder auto went up over the street curbing and then bumped into the electric light pole at the northwest corner of the intersection. The pole was broken off at the ground and the guy wire torn loose. The grill work, radiator and other parts of the front end were caved in, the frame sprung and the car otherwise damaged. Mr. Carder was shaken up but not badly hurt.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Adelman, who operate The Grill on West Oak St., have leased of Harry Klopenstein the cafe at the Standard Oil Station at the west edge of Fairbury, and will be in their new location May 15.

70 Years Ago

April 19, 1956

A "John Doe" warrant has been issued by Justice of the Peace H. B. Bedell for the arrest of the driver of a car which failed to stop for a Fairbury-Cropsey School bus while stopped to pick up children. The violation took place about 8 a.m. yesterday in front of the Lyle Ricketts farm two miles west of Fairbury. The warrant was signed by Mrs. Ricketts. Driver of the bus was Edgar Runyon. The Ricketts children were waiting at the side of the road to cross the road to board the bus when a car, driven by a woman, proceeded past the bus without stopping. Mr. Runyon took down the license number of the vehicle which was traced and found to be registered to Walter Lick of Onarga.

A large sum of money has been left to charities by Mrs. Ida Shanks, who died here Feb. 1. $30,275 has been guaranteed to 10 charities, with the Fairbury Hospital almost assured of another large sum after the assets of the estate have been sold. The First Presbyterian Church of Fairbury and the Fairbury Hospital will receive $10,000 each, according to the will. Other legatees are the American Cancer Society, $5,000; the American Heart Association, $2,000; the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, $2,000; Dominy Memorial Library, Fairbury, $500; the Fairbury chapters of the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, $200 each; Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury, $250, and Odell Protestant Cemetery, $125.

Children between the ages of one and 15 years may now obtain shots of the Salk polio vaccine if their parents so desire. The vaccine, which here-to-fore had been available only for school children in the first and second grades, was released for use by the larger age group last week. It may also be obtained for expectant mothers. The Salk vaccine, made available for the first time only last year, has been credited with being over 90 percent effective in reducing new polio cases.

60 Years Ago

April 21, 1966

Fire Monday evening destroyed a building on the Stan Weeks farm, three miles east and a mile south of Fairbury. A so-called cob house, the blaze burned furiously, igniting two near-by trees. Weeks said the loss was minimal, and that the firemen were called principally since the flames were blowing toward his home. Sparks from a trash fire about 100 feet distant were suspected as the cause.

An Arbor Day ceremony was held at 8:45 a.m. Friday for all students at Westview School. Dr. James Patterson, a member of the geography department at Illinois State University, presented a slide demonstration on conservation. First grade students Tom Roberts and John Haas planted a tree in front of the school. The entire first grade participated by giving a poem and drawing pictures. Marlene Bushman, a sixth grader, read the poem, "Trees." Steve Turner led the student body in the conservation pledge.

On Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m., Miss Cynthia Louise Bahler, Peoria, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Urban Bahler, Fairbury, became the bride of Larry Dale Kaisner of Forrest. In the presence of members of the immediate families, the ceremony was performed at the home of the bridegroom's parents, with Rev. Henry Kilgus officiating. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Old Susannah.

50 Years Ago

April 22, 1976

Calvin C. Jackson, currently assistant superintendent of schools in Carterville, has accepted an offer from the Unit 3 Board of Education to become superintendent of the Fairbury-Cropsey District. The new superintendent survives an extensive search by the Board of Education, who started with more than 70 applicants to replace the retiring administrator, Lester Miller. Jackson and his wife, Veva, are the parents of three children, Scott, 21, a senior at the University of Illinois, Mark, 18, a senior in high school, and Lisa, 13. Jackson will assume his duties with the Fairbury-Cropsey District on July 1.

Records broke in mid-air as the Fairbury-Cropsey golf team drove their LeRoy opponents into Indian Creek after accumulating a score of 161, LeRoy 188, Tuesday, April 20, at Fairbury. The previous record of 162 was held by the 1974 golf team of Paul Kelson, Dennis Helmers, Tim Davis and Jay Sparks. By coincidence, that record was also set in a meet against LeRoy. Tim Davis, medalist for the meet, paved the way for the Tartar upset, as he broke a school record with an even par 35 in his round of play. The record had been held by present Tartar golf member Jay Sparks at 37.

Ray Hankes, a farmer and big hog producer from rural Fairbury, recently won second place in the national pork cookout contest at Indianapolis, Ind., with his entry "Spirit of 76 Revolutionary Pork Loin Roast." A college freshman from North Carolina, Cole Younger, won first place with his grilled pork loin. Hankes had earlier won the pork cookout title at the Livingston County 4-H Fair and then went on to take first place in the Illinois Pork Producers cookout held last August at the State Fair in Springfield.

40 Years Ago

April 17, 1986

Timothy B. Kiper, son of Randall and Marilyn Kiper of Fairbury, and a Fairbury-Cropsey High School graduate, was one of a select group of agriculturists recently initiated to the University of Illinois chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, the international honor society of agriculture. The initiation ceremony was held immediately prior to the chapter's 1985-86 recognition dinner and awards program, April 8 on the University's Urbana-Champaign campus. The 1985-86 Gamma Sigma Delta initiates included 49 undergraduate students, 25 graduate students, 5 faculty members and 1 transfer to the University of Illinois chapter.

Tammy K. Scurlock and Ernest Meister exchanged wedding vows at a double ring ceremony on March 22, 1986. Rev. Edward Haun and Rev. Arthur Campbell officiated at the 6 p.m. ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Fairbury before 230 guests. Parents of the couple are Mrs. JoAnn Scurlock and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Meister, all of Fairbury. A wedding trip to Las Vegas, Nev. was enjoyed by the couple who now make their home in Fairbury. Mrs. Meister is a 1983 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School. She is employed at RD's Drive-in. Meister is engaged in farming.

The Rotary Club of Fairbury has announced that Lisa Glendenning, a Prairie Central High School senior, will spend some months in Germany this summer as the Rotary exchange student. Lisa is the daughter of Thomas and Joan Glendenning of Forrest.

30 Years Ago

April 17, 1996

New Student Council officers from Prairie Central Jr. High School are Marty Colter, president; Matt Mills, vice president; Tim Aschraft, secretary, Roni Parmenter, treasurer; and Marcus Miller, social director. They will be attending the state student council convention in Collinsville on April 19 and 20.

Two Prairie Central area youth will compete in the State of Illinois Free Throwing championship, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Scott McGuire, 11, and Erik Kurtenbach, 14, will compete at Huff Hall on the University of Illinois campus. Scott, last year's 10-year-old champion, is the son of Tim and Wendy McGuire of Forrest. Erik is the son of Kenny and Cathy Kurtenbach of Chatsworth.

Firefighters from four area departments successfully stopped a downtown blaze in Flanagan from spreading Sunday night. The 5:45 p.m. five-alarm fire, however, could not be extinguished before one business, The Ole General Store, was destroyed and several others were temporarily displaced because of smoke damage.

20 Years Ago

April 19, 2006

Evelyn Yoder and Dave Harms were recently honored as Shining Stars by Life Services Network. Yoder is a volunteer at Fairview Haven Nursing Home and Harms is employed as a registered nurse at the facility. Harms was nominated for the Outstanding non-Management Nurse Service Award, and Yoder received the Volunteer Service Award.

Jason Hoffman, a 1997 graduate of Prairie Central High School, was recently awarded the Merwin Medal for the most outstanding work of art for this year's 79^th  Annual McLean County Art Competition Exhibition held at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. Along with his winning entry in the Sculpture category, Hoffman also received a first place for an additional art piece entered in the Skilled Craft category. Hoffman's winning sculpture piece is fabricated of wood and metal. Hoffman received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Illinois State University in 2005. He is currently teaching art classes at Lincoln Junior College.

Matt Roth, a sophomore at Washington High School has received many varsity basketball honors this season. The Panthers were the Mid-Illinois Conference champions with a 25-4 record. They were defeated in the sectional final by Peoria Richwoods, who placed second in the AA State Tournament. Roth is the son of David and Lisa Roth, formerly of Fairbury, and the grandson of Charles and Marjorie Maley, Fairbury; and Marvin and Dorothy Roth of LaSalle. Among the honors he received were Washington Tip-Off all-tournament team; Pekin Holiday tournament all-tourney team and tournament MVP award; Pekin Daily Times Class AA all-star team; All-Times Newspapers all-star team; honorable mention, AP Class AA all-state; IBCA Fourth Team all state; special mention, Champaign News Gazette all-state AA; Peoria Journal Star Class AA all area team (first player to make that team each of his first two years of high school).

10 Years Ago

April 20, 2016

Hospital Sisters Health System has announced that Charlene S. Aaron, PhD, RN, has been selected to serve as the new chancellor of St. John's College of Nursing. Dr. Aaron comes to St. John's College of Nursing from Illinois State University's Mennonite College of Nursing where she most recently served as an assistant professor. She has worked at ISU's nursing college since 2005. Prior to that, Aaron served as director of nursing for various nursing homes and retirement communities in Livingston County. She began her career in nursing as a post-surgical nurse in 1978 at St. James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac.

Prairie Central Upper Elementary participated in the St. Jude Math-A-Thon program and raised $3,141.39 to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The Prairie Central community sponsored students by pledging an amount-per-problem or a one time donation. More than 35 students and 15 local businesses and organizations participated in this event. Since beginning fundraising in 2001, the Upper Elementary has collected a total of $71,315.62 for the kids of St. Jude.

The geography classes at Prairie Central High School are engaged in collecting data from grave sites in the 20 cemeteries located in the school district to provide future generations with a database for research. A website has been created and as new maps become completed they will also be linked to the list.

("Looking Back" is sponsored each week on Fairbury News by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)