Looking Back: 5-8-25

130 Years Ago

May 4, 1895

Jay Tyler has resigned his position in Keck's barber shop and will probably locate elsewhere. Jay is a good barber and an honest young man and will no doubt succeed.

Edna M. Barnes is expected home this week from Boston, where she has been attending the Boston School of Oratory and from which institution she graduated this week.

The west end butcher shop has again changed hands, Monroe Bros. having sold out to G.W. Enslow.

The "Fairbury Commission Co." is a new concern to be located in the Franzen building. We are assured that a private wire to Chicago and facilities of that kind are contemplated.

120 Years Ago

May 5, 1905

The oratorical contest of the Fairbury High School pupils attracted a large audience at the M.E. Church last Friday evening. The contest was held to determine who would represent this school in the contest at Pontiac May 28. Each pupil rendered their part of the program with marked ability, the judges finding it a difficult task to decide who were the winners. Miss Emma Schnetler secured first on her essay, "Home Life in Japan”; Miss Lura Potter first with a recitation, "The Famine"; Miss Flo Bethard first with a vocal solo; Palmer Westervelt first on his oration, "Graft."

The long steel bridge over the Vermilion River in Newtown Township, Livingston County, has been in danger of collapsing for some time past. The south end has shifted towards the edge of the buttresses. It was at first thought that $11,000 would cover the total expense of repairs but the county will do well if it can complete repairs for $20,000. Traffic over the bridge has not been stopped. The work of repairing the structure has already commenced.

Harry Kline, the Illinois Central agent at Cropsey has recently purchased a fine young horse and is putting in his spare time training the animal in the way it should go. He has not had any automobile experience yet.

110 Years Ago

May 7, 1915

J. A. Franger, of Racine, Wis., has leased the B.L. Rose building, just across the street from the Central Opera House and has opened a garage.

Seven new members were taken into the Phi Chi Psi Corporation Monday evening. Those undergoing the tortures administered by this fraternity are: Charles Harper, Hugh Pence, W.C. Schmidt, Homer Fry, John Householder, Walter Nussbaum and G.A. Sutton.

Herman Wilken, who resides two and a half miles north of Fairbury, has a sow, that last Friday, gave birth to a pig with three heads.

The grocery store of Philip Hotaling was the scene of a small blaze, and might have been a bad one had it not been for the prompt action of Charles Veatch, an employee in the store. The fire started when Joseph Chapman, another employee, went into the back of the store, and there being no light, he struck a match. He fell over a box and in falling, the lighted match lit on the floor where some gasoline had been spilled, and in a few minutes a good sized blaze was going. A barrel containing 15 gallons of gasoline was in the midst of the blaze, with the plug in the top out. Mr. Veatch knew the plug was out and also knew what the result would be if the flames got into the barrel, so he ran in among the fames and screwed the top back in the barrel. When the fire company arrived they made short work of the flames.

100 Years Ago

May 8, 1925

Ross Pimpiano and Richard Devoe, of Forrest, were captured just west of town on the hard road last evening by Sheriff L.M. Shugart and Deputy Sheriff Scarrett. Pimpiano and Devoe were driving a Ford sedan, which was loaded with alcohol. Devoe just recently came to Forrest, where he is engaged in the tailoring business, but Pimpiano is an old offender, and Sheriff Shugart and his deputies have been laying for him for a long time. Sheriff Shugart had a number of deputies in this vicinity late yesterday looking for Pimpiano and when darkness came on several cars were stopped before the one containing Pimpiano and Devoe and their load of alcohol came along.

Don Karnes, University of Illinois, '25, has been engaged as football, basketball and track coach at the Illinois State Normal University for next year. He will teach a class in corrective gymnastics and have charge of the physical training classes. He is a product of Fairbury High School and a clean, all-around young man.

Lucien Carter, one of Fairbury's grand old men, celebrated his seventy-sixth birthday, Tuesday. His friend, Fred Spillman, baker at Alexander's Bakery, made him a huge white cake. Mr. Carter, wishing to share his gift with his friends, took it with him to the Woodman Social that evening, where his fraternity brothers joined in celebrating his birthday and also his forty years of membership in that organization. Mr. Carter has as steady a nerve as any healthy fifteen-year-old boy and lays it to a promise to his mother and kept, that he would never use tobacco or liquor in any form.

90 Years Ago

May 3, 1935

The garment factory is again in operation after several months of idleness. At present twenty machines are being operated. The manager is M.W. Wolkowitz, of Chicago, a gentleman thoroughly acquainted with the business. The factory itself is under the direct supervision of Carl Reinitz, of Gilman, who for the past seven years has operated the Western Dress Company in that city. There are approximately forty machines in the Fairbury factory, and Mr. Wolkowitz stated yesterday that the force would gradually be increased until all the machines were in operation.

Fairbury is going to have another series of free pavement dances this summer. These dances are sponsored by the business men of Fairbury and are under the direction of George H. Harris, who has charge of the event at all times. The dances are to be held on Second and Fourth streets, alternating each Saturday night regardless of the weather. No doubt there will be people from far and near attending these dances, and all citizens of Fairbury should join in to make this event a big success.

Indian Creek Golf Course is now open and ready for business. Some delay was caused in mowing the grass owing to necessary repairs to the machinery. Caretaker Sutter and helper, Monk Downing, have worked the greens, and other things generally. The green fees are the same as last year – 50 cents per day per person. Attention of motorists is called to the fact that the golf course is private property and not a public highway. Driving across the course to the sandpit is prohibited.

80 Years Ago

May 4, 1945

Miss Jean Hurt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hurt, for her outstanding scholarship at the University of Illinois, will be among the students recognized today in the university's twenty-first annual honors day convocation. The day and ceremony are dedicated to those excelling in classroom and laboratory. Miss Jean has also been named as one of four members of the May Day Queen's Court.

Mannie Johnson, who lives on the George Schneider farm three miles west of town, while disking Monday, ran onto a fox den containing two young foxes, several weeks old. The two foxes have now joined their ancestors and Mannie is six dollars ahead. That the mother fox, or both parents, had rustled well for the family is proved by the well stocked larder nearby. It consisted of a quail, a crow, a rabbit, a pheasant and about a dozen field mice.

Important Notice — The War Production Board has issued another call for tin cans. Boy Scouts of Fairbury will collect cans this Friday afternoon starting at one o'clock. Please leave all cans on the curb where trucks can pick them up. Tin cans only will be picked up in this collection, so do not include any other salvage. Prepare cans by putting out both ends, mash down flat and remove the label.

70 Years Ago

May 5, 1955

John Piercy, who two weeks ago made public his purchase of the Williams newsstand, took over operation of that business Sunday.

The area countryside echoed with the "click-click" of corn planters this week, as the temperature rocketed to a high of 92 degrees on Tuesday afternoon and many farmers took advantage of the clear weather to get beans and corn into the ground.

Frank's I.G.A. market this week installed a new self-service meat counter. He states that the counter will be stocked with the freshest and finest meats.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Henning were married April 3 at Long Beach, Calif. Mrs. Henning is the former Nadine Hutchinson of Long Beach and Henning is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Henning, Fairbury.

60 Years Ago

May 6, 1965

Illinois Route 116 will be detoured through Fairbury and Forrest for a minimum period of three months in the wake of a three- to six-inch rainfall which sloshed down on south-eastern Livingston County Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. A runaway creek washed out two sections of a bridge of State route 116, three miles west of route 47. A pier gave way about midnight and two sections of the bridge flooring collapsed. The state highway department said it would be at least three months before traffic was restored. All traffic on 116 is being routed south on route 47 to Forrest, then through Fairbury on U.S. 24 to Chenoa, and north on U.S. 66 to rejoin route 116 at Pontiac.

North Texas State College at Denton today tapped Fairbury's basketball coach, Dwayne "Moose" Roe, to be assistant to their newly hired hardwood coach, Dan Spika of the University of Minnesota. Roe is regarded in many quarters as one of the most astute students of basketball in Illinois. Spika and Roe have been close friends for nearly a decade, since they both went to Rockford in 1957, Spika on the Rockford College staff and Roe at Rockford Harlem High School.

Nearly $1 million in assets is being acquired this week by Fairbury Hospital, from the estate of the late John Wesley Walton, Jr., 81, who died May 24, 1963, in California. Walton was the last immediate member of the family by that name which built a mercantile fortune in Fairbury starting nearly a century ago. With a total value of at least 2¼ million, the bulk of the estate was left jointly to Fairbury Hospital and the Shriner's Hospitals for Crippled Children. The estate included California assets which were placed at $1,080,394, while real estate and some cash in Fairbury was valued at $255,000. The Shriner's Hospital did not wish to assume title, even jointly, to any real estate, so Fairbury Hospital has purchased the two pieces of local property, which includes the Walton Building and a 324-acre farm, located three miles east of Fairbury and 2½ miles north.

50 Years Ago

May 8, 1975

Farmers' Grain Company has purchased the property at the northwest corner of Sixth and Walnut, which long housed the Huette Cabinet Company. The business in recent years had been owned by Prairie Industries, headed by Phil Thames, and a few months ago, after they purchased property from Bach Lumber Company, and also expanded their existing plant just north across the T. P. & W. tracks, the Huette building was vacated. Almost immediately upon purchase of the Huette building and ground from Prairie Industries, Farmers' Grain last week razed the structure and will revamp the approach to the south side grain receiving structures, which support their buildings on the north side of the tracks.

Weighing the implication that the recent Charles Lane verdict might lead to statewide "permanent" school administrative appointments, the Fairbury-Cropsey School Board is considering appealing the court decision against Unit 3 announced last week. Board members will decide May 19, just three days before the 30-day statutory deadline, whether to take the case to the Illinois Appellate Court, as advocated by the board's attorney, Kenneth Strong. Strong appeared before the board and urged an appeal of the recent verdict by Circuit Judge William Caisley in favor of former FCHS principal Charles Lane in his suit against the Unit 3 Board of Education. Lane filed his suit in 1973 after the school board voted not to renew his contract as high school principal and reassigned him to classroom teaching duties.

Fairbury-Cropsey's next AFS student will be Catherine Gatel, 17, from the small rural community of Domloup in France. Her parents are farmers, and her host parents for the coming year are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Curtiss of Fairbury. Catherine is now attending a boarding school, but goes home to her parents each weekend. She speaks, English, Spanish and Russian in addition to her native tongue, but admits that she is least proficient in English. She is the youngest of three girls in the Gatel home.

40 Years Ago

May 2, 1985

Jay Walter took the gavel as the 34th president of the Fairbury Association of Commerce during the annual banquet Monday night attended by more than 200 persons in Westview cafeteria. In addition to Walter, other officers who will serve are President-elect Gary Huston, Secretary Rod Stevens, Treasurer John W. Gerber Jr. and the newly appointed Executive Secretary Gerry Fairclough. Gerber, executive vice-president of the National Bank of Fairbury, was named "Man of the Year" for his wide range of civic activity which extends from city treasurer to superintendent of harness racing at the Fairbury Fair to heading the association's Industrial Development Committee.

Airman Basic Paul D. Weber arrived home Monday for two weeks leave after completing technical school in the Air Force. He attended the U.S. Air Force Security Police Academy at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and graduated from it April 29. Airman Weber, who is in transit, will be assigned to Malstrom Air Force Base in Montana. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Weber of Fairbury.

Not every politician can boast that he won all but two votes from the registered voters in his party, but Everett McCullough of Cropsey can. For 32 years, McCullough served Belle Prairie Township, 19 as trustee and 13 as supervisor, and during that time he won elections with ease. Because he was capable and well liked, the residents of Cropsey eagerly went to the polls each election to show their support for him. A farmer for 58 years, he knew the needs of the township and worked hard to get them.

30 Years Ago

May 3, 1995

The J.A Folwell Unit #174 of the Forrest American Legion Auxiliary has chosen Jodi Lehmann of rural Strawn as their delegate to Girls' State. The 1995 session will be held at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston June 18 through June 24. Jodi is the daughter of Art and Jana Lehmann of Strawn. Jenny Haab, daughter of Dick and Vicky Haab will be the auxiliary's alternate.

Keepsake Corners card and Gift Shop in Chatsworth is the ideal place to pick up handcrafted items for a gift or for a personal touch in decorating your own home. Keepsake Corners will hold their grand opening on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6. There will be drawings for free merchandise and refreshments. The shop specializes in card and gift items for all ages, including a special children's section where party items and goodies can be purchased.

Prairie Central boys' track came away with a second place at the Master's Relays and a third at the Falcon Invitational last week, and at the Streator meet on Thursday, Paul Mann broke the Prairie Central 800 meter record. That record of 2:05.77 was set by David Travis, but Mann hit the tape in 2:04.47 to set a new winning time for the Hawks.

20 Years Ago

May 4, 2005

First grader Caitlin Wade spent Friday, April 29, as principal of Westview School for the day, replacing Principal Ron Schramm. Caitlin achieved 200 percent in the Accelerated Reading Goal program and was awarded with this honor for the day. She is the daughter of Terry and Cheryl Wade of Fairbury.

The Prairie Central Junior High Scholastic Bowl team advanced to sectional competition at Bloomington Junior High after winning the regional on Tuesday, April 26 in Pontiac. The team defeated Pontiac and El Paso/Gridley, losing to Gibson City-Melvin Sibley. Three teams tied with one loss each, thus having a tie breaker between GCMS and Prairie Central. The team is coached by Norma Harms and Chastity Pick.

Friday, April 29 was Arbor Day and third grade students at Westview in Fairbury celebrated it with a tree planting. In years past, Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation donated White Pine seedlings to all third graders, but this year a Ginkgo tree was given to plant in the school yard. Aiding in planting the oldest living species of trees was Prairie Central High School teacher, Darren Ropp and his landscaping class of juniors and seniors.

10 Years Ago

May 6, 2015

Aaron Hilgendorf has been named head football coach at Prairie Central High School. He and his wife, Jen, currently live in Watseka with their two sons, Jackson, 5, and Harrison, 3. Hilgendorf graduated from Donovan High School and Eastern Illinois University. While at Eastern, he was a Student Assistant Coach for three years under Bob Spoo, working primarily with the defense. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Education, he started as an assistant coach at Clifton Central High School for one season and then began his tenure at Watseka Community High School, first as Freshman Head Coach and then Varsity Defensive Coordinator under Tom Stark. He has been the Offensive Coordinator under Steve Lucas for the last four seasons.

Lucas Perry is this year's Sons of the American Revolution award winner at Prairie Central High School. He was honored along with 19 other area winners with a luncheon at Bloomington Country Club on April 9. The luncheon was also attended by his parents, Randall and Hope, and his guidance counselor, Mike Quinn.

OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac, recently announced the appointment of John M. Rinker, MD, as their new chief medical officer. Dr. Rinker, who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, joined OSF Medical Group in August 2012. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and his medical degree from the University of Illinois School of Medicine-Rockford. Dr. Rinker's residency was completed at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.

Kari Kamrath's Looking Back is sponsored each week on Fairbury News by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home.