Looking Back: 6-11-25

130 Years Ago

June 8, 1895

Patton Bros. have sold out their produce business in Fairbury and Gilman to the well known firm of Perlee Bros., who will continue the business.

Married at the residence of the bride's parents in Fairbury, Saturday evening, June 1, Miss Mae Huntoon to George Clough. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W.L. Riley.

The trotting race Wednesday afternoon at the fair grounds between E.A. Eignus' "Dutch" and Carmon's "Sister Mary," resulted in an easy victory for the former. Sister Mary was distanced in the first heat and the race was awarded to Dutch. Time 2:45½. Dutch was driven by his trainer, P.C. James, and Sister Mary by S. Dixon. A large crowd was in attendance. Both horses belong to Forrest parties.

Willis Compton went to Peoria on Sunday morning on the early train and rode back on his bicycle.

120 Years Ago

June 9, 1905

Businesses in all lines will be suspended Tuesday afternoon while the ceremony of giving and receiving the Dominy Memorial Library is being held. It is the wish of the family of Mr. Dominy and library officials that everyone in Fairbury and vicinity be present. This beautiful library and books are given to the people of Fairbury and vicinity for their use, and every man, woman and child in the city and the surrounding country are most cordially invited to attend the dedication services to be held at the library next Tuesday afternoon and evening and help receive the gift.

Miss Editha Monroe and Mr. Geo. B. Decker, both of this city, were quietly married by Rev. C. S. Davies at his study Thursday evening June 8, at 8:30. Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Decker and Mr. and Mrs. N.J. Foster accompanied the young people and witnessed the ceremony. Both bride and groom are well known in Fairbury. The bride has been employed in the central office of the Fairbury Telephone Co. and is an excellent young lady. The groom is an enterprising young man and has the care of the Forrest end of the electric light plant and they will make their home in that city.

Weston — Our school closed Friday with a picnic dinner in the park that afternoon. Prof. Wise, the principal, for the past two years, has decided to quit teaching and will spend the next three months, traveling throughout the northwest, representing a publishing house. About Oct. 1st he will enter a Chicago medical college for a four years' course. He was a very successful teacher and we predict a brilliant future for him in the medical profession. The pupils presented him with a nice silk umbrella which was very thankfully received.

110 Years Ago

June 11, 1915

Rev. Fr. S.E. Aout is the new pastor that has been selected to fill the vacancy at the Catholic Church caused by the resignation of Father Sheedy. Father Aout has had charge of the churches at Loretta and Emington. He will hold his first services here Sunday, June 27.

Rev. C. S. Davies went to Carlinville on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning delivered the address at the commencement exercises of Blackburn College, located there. Rev. Davies had as the subject of his discussion, "A Liberal Education and a Practical Leadership." Following the commencement exercises the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon Rev. Davies by the president and faculty of Blackburn College.

Alda Foster, the newly elected baggageman at the depot, got into a wrestling match with a big trunk the other day, and before Alda knew it the trunk had him down. A traveling man came along about this time, pulled the trunk off and let Alda up.

Edward Pursley was agreeably surprised last Saturday evening when about sixty of his friends came in to remind him of his birthday.

100 Years Ago

June 12, 1925

What is known as the National Rifle Club of Fairbury has been organized here with 15 members. They are a branch of the National Rifle Association, a nationwide organization. The local organization is a part of the county program to cooperate with the Bankers' Federation in the suppression of bank robberies. They have a rifle range out south of town and hold practice shoots every two weeks.

Mrs. Robert Scurlock ran her Ford into the ornamental light post in front of the Claudon State Bank last Saturday afternoon, breaking it off at the base. The windshield on the Ford was broken and Mrs. Scurlock received a few scratches. She was driving north and, when she started to turn east, struck the post.

Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Powers entertained the teachers of the Isaac Walton and Edison schools last Friday evening complimentary to Miss Helen Martin of the junior high school faculty, who is to be married this summer, Miss Martin was presented with a set of silver fruit spoons. The party was a surprise on Miss Martin and the teachers made it a double one, presenting Mr. and Mrs. Powers with a floor lamp.

90 Years Ago

June 7, 1935

First and second place in the amateur night contest at the Central Theatre Tuesday went to young contestants. Eldon Hack, 5-year-old soloist from Cullom won first and Jimmy Abbey, 7-year-old soloist from Cropsey, was second. Third place was won by a local string band composed of Eldon Alt, Clifton Hurt, Raymond Carter and Welby Harvey. The prizes were ten, five and three dollars respectively.

Christian Gerber, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Gerber, who live near Cropsey, had a thrilling experience last Saturday morning about seven o'clock. He was discing in one of his father's fields when his team became frightened and ran away. Horses and colts running loose on the highway scared them. As the team lunged and began running, Christian was thrown from the disc and it passed over him. His right leg was badly lacerated, his body bruised and he received minor cuts on the head. Luckily there was quite a pile of stalks in front of the disc that formed some protection when the implement hit him. The horses ran home. Passerby saw the lad lying in the field and took him home. He was removed to the Fairbury Hospital, where he is making a good recovery.

With twenty-two of her young friends to help her, Vivian Schmidt had a happy birthday celebration last Friday. It was a picnic party at Marsh Park with Vivian's teacher, Miss Gladys Crouch, and her aunt, Mrs. Helen Garber Bennett over from Saunemin, to supervise their play, it was a grand party. The birthday cake had eight candles and it was served with generous helpings of ice cream.

80 Years Ago

June 8, 1945

In the southeast show window of the Walton Department Store is a large German flag, it being around 6x10 feet. In the center of it is the swastika emblem. The flag is one that was taken from a building in Berlin V-E day and was sent to Russell V. Brandt by Pfc. Henry A. Brandt, who evidently must have been right on the ground floor on that day.

A fire that destroyed the tool shed on the farm tenanted by Stewart Ploense, a half mile north of the Fairbury Township High School, Monday afternoon caused damage estimated at between twenty-five hundred and three thousand dollars. The farm is owned by Mrs. Walter Ficklin, of Madera, Calif. The loss is only partly covered by insurance. In the shed, which was 30x36 feet, were a tractor, a binder, an oats seeder, a single-row and a double-row cultivator, a two-bottom plow, a harrow and numerous shop tools, grease guns, etc. Adding to the fire were 200 gallons of gasoline, 100 gallons of cylinder oil and a quantity of grease.

Herbert Lee Shaw, aged 19, a sailor, was taken into custody at Forrest Wednesday by Deputy Sheriff Don Morrison, charged with being absent without leave. He was taken to Chicago by Morrison.

70 Years Ago

June 9, 1955

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Roth will close the final page of their chapter of life in Fairbury Saturday night, when they entertain their friends at a barbecue at the Fairbury High School from 1 to 8 p.m.

Floyd Hill, general agent of the George W. Cole 3-Ring Wild Animal Circus, was in Fairbury Monday to complete arrangements for the circus to show here on Wednesday, June 29. The Cole name is one of the oldest and most honored in the circus business.

Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Green of Fairbury celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary the 25th of May.

The Rev. Stanislaus F. Kubiak, paster of St. James Catholic Church in Fairbury, for the past 18 years, died at 8 p.m. Friday at the Fairbury Hospital, where he had been a patient for 10 days.

60 Years Ago

June 10, 1965

Three Fairbury fire trucks and 16 men reported to the Jack Wells home about 10:35 p.m. Monday night to fight an hour-long blaze in the garage and residence. Wells, his wife and their two daughters were all home when the fire started. All but Wells were asleep. The whole family escaped without injury. Estimated damages have been stated at $3,000. There was heavy smoke and water damage to the residence, a 1949 Plymouth was destroyed and the garage was heavily damaged. Wells lost considerable fishing gear in the garage as well as rifles, shotguns and hand tools.

Mrs. Dale E. Dameron will be participating in a five-minute shopping spree at Harve's IGA as soon as she returns from her vacation. She won the prize in a contest sponsored by Pepsi Cola. The grocery man indicated that Mrs. Dameron would be able to pick between $200 and $500 worth of groceries from his shelves in the five minute allotted period. She was the only big winner from Fairbury, however Betty Bellot won $10 and Mrs. Harold Haab won some Pepsi.

David Kelson, originally from Fairbury, stars in the latest full-length motion picture, "Victory at Midnight." Kelson, 22, played the male lead in the picture which premiered in Hollywood at a private showing before 2,000 people on Sunday, May 30. Two-thirds of the film was shot on location in the Philippines, Japan, New Zealand and China. While attending Illinois State University, area listeners heard his familiar voice on WJBC's "Radio Sunday with David Kelson." Kelson receives his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College this year in Los Angeles. He is a 1961 Fairbury-Cropsey grad.

50 Years Ago

June 12, 1975

After nine months, hooray!! Timber Ridge and Cropsey residents, not to mention Fairbury area golfers, will be able to reach their destinations with ease after next week, according to Livingston County Superintendent of Highways John Bourne. Bourne said Tuesday that Burnell Watson and Sons Construction Company of Chatsworth had informed him that the Seventh Street bridge adjacent to Indian Creek Country Club would tentatively be finished "by the middle of next week." The bridge, which has been closed to traffic since the last week in August, or close to nine months, is part of a major project by the county which will eventually see all of the Fairbury-Cropsey blacktops resurfaced.

A prominent Fairbury retailer, Dave Steffen, this week celebrates his 25th year in business here. With his wife, Emma Lou, he is operator of Dave's Super Market, which today employs 42 persons. They opened on June 1, 1950 after moving here from Congerville, and have since "remodeled umpty-'leven times." They had operated stores in Congerville and in Deer Creek. They are the parents of four children and their two oldest sons are active in the business, Alan in the grocery department and Mark in meats. Dave is a native of Elgin, and Mrs. Steffen is the former Emma Lou Huber of Fairbury.

Wednesday afternoon, May 28, 60 parents, relatives and area residents gathered at the Cropsey Grade School to attend the last school closing program to be held at that site. There were tears in the eyes of Mrs. Mary Lou BesGrove, elementary music teacher, as she announced the last Cropsey program and introduced the students. The Fairbury-Cropsey school board voted May 19 to close the Cropsey school, effective at the end of the current school term. The 100 sixth graders plus EMH students were aware they were giving the last school program at the Cropsey school and they presented the program with great enthusiasm.

40 Years Ago

June 6, 1985

Friday night's Fairbury-Cropsey graduation marked the 100th year that students have completed a four-year high school program in Fairbury. During its century, the high school had three names and three locations. Originally the Fairbury High school before the program was expanded to four years in the 1884-85 school year, it became Fairbury Township High school when a new building was erected on North Seventh Street in 1916. That first graduating class contained just two graduates, Ollie M. Filley and Ida L. Hallock.

Fairbury-Cropsey alumni Jerry Miller, who trains astronauts for NASA at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, recently did some teaching in Illinois-via telephone. Fifth through eighth grade students at Stanford Grade School talked with Miller about his job through a special teleconnection set up at the school on May 23. Miller, who has been teaching astronauts for 2½ years, told students about his job and about qualifications needed by prospective astronauts.

Kassandra Kathryn Kaisner, was born to Bob and Jane Kaisner, Fairbury, May 24, 1985 at Brokaw Hospital in Normal. Kassandra weighed six pounds 14 ounces and measured almost 21 inches long. Grandparents are Kathryn "Katie" Kaisner of Fairbury and Marvin and Carol Wunderlin of Pontiac. Freida Kathryn Wunderlin of Chenoa is Kassandra's great-grandmother. Brothers at home are Justin Robert, 3½ years old, and Calvin Marvin-Louis, 2½ years old.

30 Years Ago

June 7, 1995

A merger of Fairbury Federal Savings & Loan of Fairbury and Citizens Savings Bank of Normal has been completed giving the institutions combined assets of $230 million. Under the merger, the institutions will be known as Citizens Savings Bank, with C. William Landefeld remaining president. Carl Borngasser, president of Fairbury Federal, will be executive vice president of the new institution. Fairbury Federal was founded in 1887 and has 26 employees. Citizens was founded in 1888 and has 65 employees, and all are expected to remain with the new institution.

Alicia Thompson, a senior at Knox College and a Prairie Central graduate, earned a varsity letter her final season on the Knox College Prairie Fire Outdoor Track and Field team. Thompson, of Fairbury, placed fourth in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles at the Midwest Conference Championships. Thompson is a psychology major and is the daughter of Michael and Margaret Thompson of Fairbury.

Doris M. Whitecotton, El Paso, was driving her vehicle south on 3100 East at approximately 9:02 p.m. Saturday, when her car collided with two cows. She told police the cows had wandered into the middle of the road and she could not stop soon enough to avoid an accident. One cow was slightly injured, and the other had to be destroyed. Skid marks 79'11" long were noted by the Livingston County Sheriff's Department police officer. No citations were given. The front end of the car incurred $500 damage.

20 Years Ago

June 8, 2005

Workers from Vissering Construction Company wasted no time beginning construction of the new cafeteria at Prairie Central High School. As soon as the school doors closed for summer vacation, work began to clear the area on the southwest side of the school, that will soon become a new addition. According to Vissering Site Superintendent, Roger Haab, the cafeteria will be ready for occupancy and operation by mid-term of the upcoming school year. Haab also said that renovation of the Chenoa High School building that will house grades K-4 is running ahead of schedule.

Matthew Aberle, 14, son of Dennis and Debbie Aberle of Chatsworth, a sophomore at Prairie Central High School, has been chosen by the Chatsworth American Legion Post to attend the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield June 19-24. Aberle is active in football, basketball, baseball, track, student council and scholastic bowl.

Neta Callaby of Livingston Manor, rural Fairbury, will celebrate her 105th birthday on June 11. She and her husband Charles farmed north of Fairbury for many years before moving to Saunemin where he worked for the postal department as the rural mail carrier. After her husband's death, Mrs. Callaby moved to Fairbury.

10 Years Ago

June 10, 2015

On Sunday, at 1:42. a.m., the Fairbury Fire Department responded to a call for a burning building at 11934 N. 2150 East Road. The building was a machine shed owned by Everett Meister, containing numerous tractors, planters and other farm equipment. The building, while still standing, suffered considerable smoke, heat and fire damage. The cause of the fire is unknown. Pontiac, Forrest, Chenoa and Saunemin Fire Departments were also on the scene. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Walter Clemons American Legion Post #613 will sponsor two boys as delegates to Illinois Boys State June 13-19 at Eastern Illinois University at Charleston. The delegates are Thomas Huisman, son of Bob and Joni Huisman of Chatsworth, and Cole Yoder, son of Kevin and Lori Yoder of Chatsworth. Thomas is a junior at Prairie Central High School and is involved in football, basketball, Spanish Club, DBL and is an active church member. He is a reigning DBL champion and is on the honor roll. Cole is a junior at Prairie Central High School and is involved in football, basketball, FFA mechanics team and Spanish club. He is a state champion in mechanics.

The Fairbury Police Department will soon have tasers after a vote by the Fairbury City Council Wednesday night. Alderman Jerry Hoffman made the motion to approve the original bid of three tasers for the police department at a cost of $3,554.55. Council members discussed the possibility of buying tasers with cameras but decided against it after consulting Police Chief Mike Frickey, who noted the extra expense if they are equipped with cameras and the added bulk of the cameras. Frickey said many problems can be avoided by having tasers. Some training will be provided by officers from the Livingston County Sheriff's Department and a Fairbury officer will eventually be sent to a taser school.

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