Looking Back: 4-30-25

130 Years Ago

April 27, 1895

Sunday night a burglar broke into the residence of A. B. Claudon through the bath room window and got away with Andy's watch and chain.

Mrs. Clemens has rented her property to A. Boffsky and will go to Galesburg to educate her children. Mr. Boffsky, who is the proprietor of the Chicago Clothing Store, has rented the O'Malley building and will move his stock of clothing into it.

The class pins for the twelfth grade are quite swell. The pin is a six-cornered star, with fancy edges and ball points.

The cyclers of Fairbury have gotten into a scheme whereby they are enabled to enjoy a day's run without waiting for the country roads to dry up and get smooth. The T. P. & W. recently laid new steel on their track and the dirt in the center has not settled below the ties and makes a smooth path. A half dozen of the Fairbury riders came over on the railroad Sunday and were greatly pleased with their ride, some of them not even dismounting at the bridges.

120 Years Ago

April 28, 1905

The Pyane and Bartlett stock of implements, buggies, hardware and groceries is being invoiced preparatory to transferring the entire stock and good will of the business to Hinshaw Bros., of Saginaw, Mich., for which Payne and Bartlett will receive 160 acres of land in Lee County.

The Schlitz Brewing Company has purchased the Coomer building adjoining H. J. Ramsey's store and will fit it up for a saloon, which will be run by Charles Blevins.

H. B. Taylor will soon commence the erection of a fine residence on his lots, corner of Fifth and Elm Streets.

Strawn — The Modern Woodman band is now a reality and band concerts in Strawn will soon be quite common. Miss Kathryn Koss has been engaged to teach the Leopold School the coming year.

110 Years Ago

April 30, 1915

Dr. Ford Drum, a veterinarian of Saunemin and well known in Fairbury, left last Monday for Saybrook, where he will practice his profession.

The Fairbury Sunday School Athletic Association met Wednesday evening and proceeded to organize by re-electing N. L. Wann president, and Perry J. Keck, secretary and treasurer. Henry Weber and T. D. Karnes were elected as members of the board of control. All the Sunday schools and St. John's Catholic Church were represented and it is thought there will be a five-team baseball league again this year.

Miss Bertha Klopfer, who has been in the employ of D. N. Bittner in his grocery store, has resigned to accept a position in the Model Grocery.

Oscar Nussbaum has accepted a position with the A. W. Murray Plumbing and Heating establishment at Hoopeston.

100 Years Ago

May 1, 1925

Gibson Harris, son of Mrs. M. E. Harris, of this city, and a former resident of Fairbury, had his arm broken Wednesday. Mr. Harris is engaged in the ice business at Chatsworth, and it was while loading his ice truck that his arm was broken when he fell. It was the left arm and was broken above the wrist. In the fall a gash was also cut on his head.

John Wessels has received the appointment of maintenance man on this section of the Corn Belt trail known as Route No. 8, to take effect today. He will have 18 miles of roadway to look after, it extending from the east line of McLean County to the west line of Ford County. Mr. Wessels has been working on this stretch of road for some time past and has proven himself a fist-class man for the job.

The members of the local lodge of Odd Fellows and their families to the number of 150, met Monday evening at Odd Fellows Hall, where the 106th anniversary of the founding of Odd Fellowship was celebrated in an appropriate manner. The speaker of the evening was Rev. Decker, of Kempton, who gave a very interesting and timely address on things pertaining to the Order of Odd Fellows. Following the program, refreshments and a social hour were enjoyed.

90 Years Ago

April 26, 1935

Ira French on Tuesday of this week started drilling the test hole at the site of the proposed new coal shaft, a mile northwest of this city. When they reach the rock a hole will be drilled down to the bed of coal for samples and thickness of coal bed. Already 200 acres are under lease for coal rights.

A wild crane made itself at home around one of Fairbury's lily pools for several hours Tuesday morning. It was shortly before ten o'clock that Mrs. Ernest Kurth, residing on East Locust Street, looked out the window and saw the crane standing near their large lily pool. Later the bird got down into the water of the pool, where it spent some time trying to catch the goldfish. It was about noon that the crane flew to a nearby shed and then rose into the air and went on its way. During its stay here a number of the neighbors of the Kurths dropped by to see the crane.

Chicken thieves are busy over this section of the country and numerous chicken roosts are being depleted. Last Thursday night Rem Heins, of near Weston, had 150 chickens stolen, and a few nights previous William White, residing east of Weston on Route 24, had between 140 and 150 chickens taken. The thieves also took Mr. White's German police dog, but it returned home a couple of days later. Monday night John Tyler on Route 47, a mile south of Wing, had around 50 chickens stolen. The same night John Barber, residing two miles south of the Tyler farm on Route 47, also lost over 50 chickens.

80 Years Ago

April 27, 1945

Fairbury did their part in the National Clothing Drive in a big way, boxing and sending out 4,080 pounds. Practically every piece of clothing received at the local receiving centers was clean, in good shape and practical for wearing purposes. The Rev. A. Willard Helmbeck was chairman of the drive, and Mrs. Lillie Herndon, secretary. They reported a one hundred percent cooperation from everyone from whom they asked assistance. The churches were the receiving centers and from them were collected and shipped last Saturday 26 bundles of clothing. The clothing will go to thousands of destitute men, women and children in the lands ravished by the present war.

The City of Fairbury has received the government priority on the equipment for the new fire truck which the city proposes to buy. The priority on the chassis of the truck is expected any time now. The city asked for the priority on the chassis first, but it was refused for the reason that the city has not shown that it had the priority for the equipment necessary for the truck. The city would have been in a bad way if the priority on the equipment had been turned down for the reason that they had no chassis priority.

Ten German prisoners of war, quartered at Hoopeston, were brought to Fairbury the first of the week to work at the Honegger Feed Mill. They were brought as far as Gibson City, where a number are also employed, and were brought here from Gibson City in a truck under armed guard. The bringing of the Germans here to work did not meet with the approval of all our citizens and adverse comment was heard. Ben Roth, mill manager, said the men were brought here to do essential work when no local help was available. The plan of having German prisoners of war help, when no other help is available, is one that is sponsored by our federal government.

70 Years Ago

April 28, 1955

A group of 50 farmers meeting in the high school gymnasium Monday evening agreed to go ahead with the formation of a Fairbury community fire unit. The group decided to begin at once with the solicitation of farmers inside the boundaries of the prescribed unit for a sum of $12,000.

Charles A. Holforty has been appointed manager of Honeggers and Company's Farm Buildings Department, President Sam Honegger has announced.

The Fairbury Grade School band, directed by William Wagner, was awarded a second place rating in the state grade school band contest held at Peoria Saturday.

Fairbury Hospital births: to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Fehr, Fairbury, April 23, a girl; to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bailey, Forrest, April 23, a girl; to Mrs. Wayne Farney, Forrest, April 25, a boy; to Mr. and Mrs. Roland Hensley, Fairbury, April 25, a girl.

60 Years Ago

April 29, 1965

Like the Biblical Joshua, whose drum beating dropped the walls of Jericho, Fairbury had some beating Tuesday evening which dropped the walls of the Methodist parsonage, but the old house didn't give up easily. The house, which is being razed to make way for construction of a new ministerial residence, was assaulted from front and rear by two end loaders of Howard Arnold, starting after 3 p.m. They cut away the front and rear of the building, using chains to pull out wall sections. Finally, it stood on one leg, until a cable sliced through the chimney in the heart of the building and it pitched forward at 6 p.m.

Work continued despite picketing of the Fairbury Hospital addition this week by three Pontiac construction unions. The pickets carry signs representing Local 34 of the Bricklayers; Local 862 of the Laborer's Union, and Carpenter's Union Local 728. They arrived on the site Thursday morning. All protested that the general contractor for the Fairbury project, Zimmerman Construction, does not employ members of or have a contract with, their respective locals. Work continued at the job site, with Zimmerman's employees, and also those of Fairbury Ready Mix, bringing in materials, and employees of Ben Kiger Plumbing and Heating in Pontiac were also reported on the job site.

The City Council of Fairbury met Wednesday, April 21, at the City Hall. Mayor Roy Taylor presided over the meeting, attended by Aldermen Johansen, Gerdes, Runyon, Rapp and Williams. The Council voted to limit dumping privileges at the city dump to persons living in the Fairbury-Cropsey School District No. 3. Mayor Taylor explained this step was necessary due to the misuse of the dump by people from surrounding towns.

50 Years Ago

May 1, 1975

Everett Sutter, long a wheel horse in the Fairbury Community Sale, a leader in his church and at the Fairbury Fair, and who just retired after serving 16 years as a member of the Fairbury City Council, where he often was tabbed as mayor-pro tem, is Fairbury's 1975 Man of the Year. Announcement of the award, the fifth since its inception, was made Monday night before a record-breaking attendance at the Fairbury Association of Commerce's annual banquet.

Alert response by the Fairbury Police and Fire Departments Sunday night thwarted an arson attempt at Fairbury-Cropsey School District's Lincoln Junior High School. Shortly after 10 p.m., Fairbury Police responded to a tip that a door was open on Lincoln's north side. This is in the combined auditorium-cafeteria area, and officers Curt Van Note and Tom Bray discovered smoke in the building as they arrived separately. Firemen were almost simultaneously on the way, and quickly doused three separate areas on the stage. Police Chief Maurice Cox said it appeared to have been done with an LP gas torch.

Sandra Kay Wessels, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Wessels of rural Fairbury and a junior at Fairbury-Cropsey High School, has been chosen by the Fairbury Legion Auxiliary to attend Girls' State at MacMurray College in Jacksonville. She is an honor student. Her school activities include G.A.A., Math Club, Crier year book staff, band, and a member of the spring play cast. Sandra is a member of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship, 4-H club for eight years, and on the Livingston County 4-H Youth Council and Executive Board.

40 Years Ago

April 25, 1985

Two Fairbury City department heads have received termination notices from new Mayor Maurice Cox, The Blade has learned. The notices came in the form of Certified mail Tuesday to Police Chief Bill Spray and Street Superintendent Virgil Kyburz. Efforts by The Blade to contact Mayor Cox Wednesday for comment were unsuccessful. Both men indicated they would continue their present positions pending the next meeting of the Fairbury City Council, set for Wednesday, May 1. City ordinance provides that the mayor may appoint city department heads with the "advise and consent" of the council.

For the second year in a row, Fairbury-Cropsey High School's typing students captured the top school award at the Illinois State University Business Education Day, held Saturday. Out of 144 students from 22 schools, team members copped the following awards: Janet Hoffman, first place in word processing and Business English; Debbie Edwards, fourth in Typing;  Teri Slagel, third in spelling; and Lisa Craver, second in Typing II. They are all students in Carol Hoffman's business classes.

The Fairbury Lions Club elected officers for the 1985-86 year at its April 15 meeting. They are Eli Meister, president; Darryl Tinges, first vice-president; Jay Walter, second vice-president; Ross Joiner, third vice-president; Charles Sasse, secretary; Jay Goold, treasurer; Wayne Kurth, Tailtwister; and William VanAntwerp, Lion Tamer. Directors are Robert Swanson, Ira Grandon and George Fyke.

30 Years Ago

April 26, 1995

The Livingston County ETS Board will begin mailing letters to persons whose addresses are changing, under the new 911 program, in the Fairbury Post Office service area. These letters are going to be coming out over a period of about two weeks. Problems in the Fairbury area were found during a verification process and have to be re-mapped by the contractor, Hambric and Associates of Jasper, Ala. Persons have six months to display their new address once they receive their letter, however, they have up to a year to change all other correspondence including magazines, bills, etc.

Fairbury Hospital interim administrator Patricia Thornton has announced that the satellite clinic located in Piper City will be discontinued by the end of April. She said the closure is due to the closing of Fairbury Hospital. Doctor Secoquian, who saw patients at the Piper City clinic, will continue to see patients at his Fairbury office.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry Honegger of Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury, formerly of Forrest, will observe their 55th wedding anniversary. Honegger and Louise Martin were married on May 5, 1940 at the Apostolic Christian Church in Cissna Park. They have five children, Brenda Johnson, Nome, Alaska; Jack Honegger, Lafayette, Ind.; Joan Moser, Manito; Verna Rieches, Cissna Park and Walter Honegger, Otterbein. They have 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

20 Years Ago

April 27, 2005

The Fairbury Chamber of Commerce sponsored Fairbury's 54th Annual Community Sale on Saturday. The morning began with windy and cold conditions, as sellers from across the state and surrounding states began bringing their merchandise. Sunshine prevailed at the end of the sale. Central Park was filled with food vendors from local church and civic groups selling everything from pizza and pork chop sandwiches to pie by the slice. Big H Amusements brought carnival rides to entertain the kids. Sale proceeds will go towards maintaining the website; radio commercials, Rt. 24 signage and a donation will be made to the Clock Tower Restoration Fund.

Patti Walter of Chatsworth and Ed Meister of Peoria, both were recently recognized for their outstanding achievements at Fairview Haven Nursing Home, in Fairbury. Walter, an employee at the facility, received the Shining Star Award presented by Life Services Network, and Meister, who is a volunteer at the Fairbury facility, were honored at a special ceremony at Navy Pier in Chicago on April 20.

Special awards were presented to junior high wrestlers following completion of the season. Seventh graders winning awards were, Trevor Keneipp, quickest pin and coaches' Mat Rat award; Josh Smith, most improved; and Chase Mowery, most pins, most wins, most team points and best win percentage. Eighth graders winning awards were, Andrew Fisher, most wins, most improved, most pins, most team points and most valuable wrestler; Ryan Friedman, best win percentage; Seth Welch, coaches' Mat Rat award; and Ben Diller, quickest pin.

10 Years Ago

April 29, 2015

Spencer Allen Hurley signed to serve with the United States Army on April 9, 2015. He is the son of Julie Strowmatt and William (Teresa) Hurley, all of Fairbury, the brother of Justine Walters-Ehrhardt, Dalton Strowmatt and Miley Hurley, and the step-brother of Katelyn Dunn, Mariah Dunn and Drew Dunn. Hurley graduated from Prairie Central High School in 2012. From there he attended Lincoln College for two years, where he was on the dean's list both years. He received an Associates degree in Arts when he graduated in May of 2014. With a passion to do something better with his life, and wanting to serve his country, Hurley left for Fort Benning, Ga. on April 27 where he will serve as a Private First Class in basic training and straight into training for M1 Abrams Tank crewman.

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 premier center for the research and treatment of childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. The Prairie Central community sponsored students by pledging an amount-per-problem or a one-time donation. More than 40 students and 16 local businesses and organizations participated in this fun, educational event. Since beginning fundraising in 2001, the Upper Elementary has collected a total of $66,012.66 for the kids of St. Jude.

Joseph and Mary Todd of Chatsworth are parents of a baby girl born at 8:04 a.m. on April 10, 2015 at OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac. Littia Sue weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces and was 21 inches long at birth. She was welcomed home by her older brother, Waylon, 18 months. The new arrival is the great-granddaughter of Ida Lee Grant of Forrest.

(Looking Back is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)