Looking Back 6-11-26

130 Years Ago

June 6, 1896

Will Masters, of northeast of town, has plowed up 20 acres of fall wheat, which had been a fine stand, but which was ruined by chinch bugs and rust.

Charles Schade and Joseph Kessler had a little accident on Sunday night. They had been to church at Cropsey and when they were returning home, the seat of the buggy became detached and fell backward. Joe escaped without injury, but Charles received quite a bump on the back of the head.

Fred Burch has a bicycle leg, caused by his machine running into a rut and dumping him.

Mrs. Jennie Meeker and daughter-in-law, Mrs. Arthur Meeker, and baby, of near Cropsey, had a bad runaway Tuesday in Fairbury. The horse started to run near Willhite's Drug Store. When near the Presbyterian Church, the elder Mrs. Meeker jumped out. The horse ran to the fair grounds, where Mrs. Arthur Meeker and baby fell out, but were not injured.

120 Years Ago

June 8, 1906

Last Saturday recorded the first milestone that Hinshaw Bros. have passed in their business in this city. This day was most fittingly observed by a general exhibit and display throughout the store. Upwards of a dozen demonstrators were present from the different factories and aided very materially in making the exhibit a success. Two grain dumps were shown in actual operation, being run by gasoline engines, besides a general exhibit of cream separators, binders, mowers, buggies, carriages, sewing machines, washing machines, lawn swings, stoves, etc. A lunch was served in the afternoon to a large crowd of over 400 people.

T. A. Beach expects his new Pope-”Waverly electric touring automobile here next week. The Pope-Waverly is the finest electric propelled car manufactured, is practically noiseless and leaves no bad odor in its wake. It is a beautiful car, about 12 feet in length, with black body and top, and will seat five people. Mr. Beach has fixed an arrangement in his barn for charging the batteries during the night.

Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Huntoon received a telegram Saturday announcing that their son, Orrin, of Los Angeles, had been seriously and perhaps fatally injured in that city by falling from his bicycle. Several telegrams have been received since that time giving his condition, which is extremely critical. An operation has been performed and the young man is in a semi-conscious condition. He is well known in Fairbury, having been raised here and his many friends hope for his recovery.

110 Years Ago

June 9, 1916

The new city well is now down to a depth of about 265 feet. They are now working a day and night shift and are getting along nicely.

A bad scare for a number of people and something that might have proven serious took place at the Christian Church Sunday evening. It was the annual Children's Day program and the church was crowded. The last part of the program was a tableau. Among the settings in the tableau was a good-sized cross covered with cotton. The powder, of which there was an “over-dose,” and which was to make the colored light effect, was put on a plate. When the match was applied to it the powder flared up and caught the cotton on the cross afire. The fire did not amount to much, but as usual in a large crowd of this kind, a number lost their heads and a panic almost took place.

The T. P. & W. employees of Peoria held their annual picnic here as scheduled last Saturday. There were about 800 of them. They came out on a special train of ten coaches, arriving here about 10:30. Thy were met at the depot by a number of our citizens in automobiles, and many of them were taken to the fair grounds in cars. Burch's band was on hand. They escorted the procession to the  fair grounds and furnished an excellent brand of music throughout the day. At noon a picnic dinner was served under the shade trees, and at one o'clock the program of events took place.

100 Years Ago

June 11, 1926

A number of members of John Joda Post are having built on the John Winslow farm, northeast of this city, a two-room summer cottage, 20x24 feet, which they will equip for their own use and use as a place of recreation.

Several young lads played a good joke last evening. They thought it would be fun to see the water splash from the drinking fountain in Central Park, so threw in a lighted cannon cracker. The discharge broke the bubbler from the fountain, which will be out of commission until repaired. In view of this and similar incidents, Mayor Chapman asks us to announce that such firing of explosives is a violation of the city ordinances.

Mrs. C. A. Purdum entertained Art Club and several guests at dinner on Wednesday evening. The program was given by Miss Maribeth Sharp, who told of England's famous bridges and Mrs. Charles Veatch, who gave an article on “Radio.” Mrs. C. E. Amsler, of Royal Center, Ind., and Mrs. A. E. Chambers, of Indianapolis, Ind., were guests.

The roof on Bert Briggs' house in the southwest part of town, caught on fire on Wednesday morning from sparks from the chimney and damage to the amount of $50 was done. The fire department responded immediately, but the neighbors had organized a bucket brigade before their arrival and had done effective work in subduing the blaze.

90 Years Ago

June 5, 1936

Yesterday afternoon at about 1:30 o'clock a destructive fire visited the fair grounds, burning the large swine pavilion, the poultry house filled with baled alfalfa hay and a row of cattle sheds, sheep sheds, etc. In addition to burning these buildings several houses and barns were also jeopardized and it was only due to the fact that there was no wind blowing and hard work by the firemen and other citizens that they were saved. Several people in the vicinity saved their homes and other buildings by getting on top of them with garden hoses. The loss on buildings and contents alone will amount to several thousand dollars, to say nothing of the irreparable loss to trees and shrubs. The fair grounds belong to the Fairbury State Bank and the George Olm estate, and the buildings were partly covered with insurance.

In addition to all the members of the city council, the mayor and other city officials at Wednesday night's meeting of the city council, there were also present six citizens who reside in the vicinity of the Bungalow on West Oak Street, and before they left several of them had offered Mayor Franzen anywhere from one night to a week's lodging at their homes, so that he might hear for himself the noise they alleged was made at any and all times of the night at the Bungalow. This committee was composed of George Jessup Sr., John Finnegan, Earl Shover, Mrs. Dan Neth, Mrs. Reavis and Mrs. Tucker. When Mayor Franzen asked them how late the noise continued, the ladies vouched that some nights it lasted until two o'clock and sometimes all night.

Main street was opened to traffic yesterday afternoon from First Street east to the Sweney Oil Station. It will be opened the remainder of the way Tuesday of next week. As it is now the 20-foot slab and the brick pavement along the south side of it will be used until the north side is repaired. At the present time the north side of the pavement is torn up and workmen are digging down to the mains where lead service pipes will be installed in place of iron pipes. After the work on the north side is completed it will be put in use and the south side repaired. It will take some time to complete the job.

80 Years Ago

June 7, 1946

Fairbury people saw their first T. P. & W. train in more than eight months on Monday afternoon shortly after one o'clock, and there was an impromptu reception for it, quite a number of our citizens being on hand to greet the stranger. There had been no trains over this part of the road since September 30, 1945, when the government turned the road back to Mr. McNear and the various brotherhoods went on strike. The train stayed in Fairbury some 15 or 20 minutes and then went on east to their terminal at Effner, Ind. There they turned around and came back to Watseka, where the train and crew stayed overnight. Coming back through Fairbury on Tuesday morning, the train crew picked up several cars, one of these cars being a box car that had stood out back of The Blade office since last September.

Perry W. Swern, aged 57, of Oak Park, architect for the new addition which the Fairbury Hospital will build, was one of the 58 who died in a fire that swept the lower stories in the La Salle Hotel in Chicago early Wednesday morning. Mr. Swern had not been feeling the best of late and in preference to riding back and forth to his home, had taken a room at the hotel for the past two weeks. Mr. Swern, in his capacity as architect for the local hospital board, had visited in Fairbury on several occasions.

A history of Fairbury fresh from the bindery, compiled by Alma Lewis James from old Blade files and which she has titled, “Nicks from The Blade,” is the latest addition to the James library. It is a good-sized volume, about four inches thick, typewritten for the most part and illustrated with rare, hard-to-get photographs for which Mrs. James has made a diligent search. She spent many hours browsing through the old Blade volumes, selecting the stories that made a colorful picture of those days. Among the illustrations are photographs that show the old board sidewalks, the hitch-racks that lined the business streets, and the horses hitched to buggies and wagons, making use of the racks, early church edifices and other public buildings, the town pump and water trough, railroad station and downtown business sections and photographs of the leading citizens.

70 Years Ago

June 7, 1956

After 37 years behind the keyboard of a linotype machine at the Fairbury Blade, Frank Phelps has retired. Mr. Phelps ended his career as an operator on May 31, almost exactly 37 years to the day after taking the position. It was June 2, 1919, that Frank, just discharged from the army after seeing action in France in World War I, stopped to talk with J. A. Patterson, then part owner of the Blade, along with the late G. A. Sutton. Frank entered into a partnership in The Blade with Mr. Patterson, Cora Evans and the late I. L. Harris on Jan. 1, 1924, when Mr. Sutton sold his half of the business. Frank continued to hold his interests when the others sold to the Kramer family in July, 1948. He disposed of his share of the business to the present owners in January of last year.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bolliger with sons Jon and Donnie left this morning for Oregon where they plan to make their home. Their daughter, Sharon, who is a student nurse at Bloomington, will remain here. The Bolligers have always lived in and near Fairbury. Elmer was associated with his father and brothers in the well drilling business for many years. Mrs. Bolliger was Verna Yergler of Gridley. A few years ago they purchased a farm south of town and moved there from their home on East Elm. Elm' showed up the old timers by entering the corn shucking contests and winning the national championship the first year he farmed. He and the boys have concentrated on building up and maintaining a fine large laying flock. They expect to continue in the chicken business in Oregon.

Jerry Bazzell, 14, of Cropsey, was recovering in Fairbury Hospital this week from injuries received in a mower accident Friday evening. Jerry was using a rotary mower to cut grass near the Cropsey Cooperative Elevator about 5 p.m. when the right wheel of the machine came off. The blade went into the ground, somehow causing a section of the whirling metal to break off. It flipped backward, striking Jerry in the left leg, just above the ankle. Despite the fact he was wearing a “combat' type boot, the blade cut through the leather and entered the leg, fracturing the bone. Jerry's cries for help brought Carl Bennett to the scene, and he summoned Dewey Demler, manager of the elevator. Mr. Demler brought him to Fairbury Hospital.

60 Years Ago

June 9, 1966

The state's best pony-tail, as determined at last year's Illinois State Fair, bit the dust Tuesday in Fairbury, as Julie Ann Davis of rural Cropsey got the first haircut in her life. Her hair was almost to her knees and Nancy Johnson severed it. Shop personnel said that the hair would easily “be worth $75” in the beauty market. Julie said her hair had become too much to cope with, especially trying to put a swim cap over it.

Arthur E. Smith, formerly of Paxton, has been named Utility Foreman for the Fairbury area operation of Central Illinois Public Service (CIPS) Company. A native of Paxton who graduated from Paxton Community High School, Smith served with the Air Corps during World War II. He joined CIPS in September, 1951. Smith will assume his duties as foreman at Fairbury on June 13 and he and his wife and children will move in the near future. He replaces Herbert L. Miller who has been transferred to Grayville.

Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Holloway left Cropsey Tuesday, June 7, by plane from Champaign to Chicago and on to New York where they will join a group with Travel Service Bureau on a conducted tour for the next three weeks to Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The group left New York's Kennedy Airport Tuesday evening via trans-Atlantic jet for Hamburg, Germany, and will be touring the three Scandinavian countries by bus, spending a week touring each. They will arrive home June 29.

50 Years Ago

June 10, 1976

An Illinois Appellate Court has reversed a Circuit Court ruling in favor of former Fairbury-Cropsey principal Charles Lane in his suit against the board of education. The appeals court overturned Judge William Caisley's earlier finding that Lane had a property interest in continued employment as high school principal. Lane and his attorney, Guy Fraker of Bloomington, were undecided Tuesday about taking the case one step further to the Illinois Supreme Court. Lane served as FCHS principal from 1967 through the 1972-73 school year. In March 1973, he was told by the board of education that he would not be rehired as an administrator. The school board later offered him a teaching contract for the 1973-74 year. Instead, Lane signed a pact to be principal at Bradford High School and filed suit against the school district, charging that he had been deprived of property without due process of law.

Fairbury's community swimming pool, which is only 10 days into the current operating season, faces the possibility of a shut down at any time. The root of the problem is money. The pool board, an independent community-wide group with no regular source of funds, reportedly started the current season with about $650 in the bank. “Today,” The Blade was told by a person reviewing their finances, “they probably have 'zilch' and they're right in the middle of their high-expense season … lifeguards … water … chemicals.” The pool's sole income for years has consisted of season tickets and single admission sales, plus donations from Lions Club, Jaycees, Fairbury 500 race and Community Fund. Despite that, for “five of the last eight years, the pool has lost money.” The pool, now in its 20^th year, was launched after a community-wide fund drive. The land was purchased and the pool built for about $67,000.

40 Years Ago

June 5, 1986

After 31 years in the practice of veterinary medicine in the Fairbury area, Dr. E. W. “Ernie” Flint has turned over the keys of the Eastside Veterinary Clinic to Dr. Philip Bane, 27. The sale was effective June 1, but Dr. Flint will stay on for the balance of this month “to ride shotgun,” explaining that his successor doesn't yet “know where anything is in the building, or too much about the geography.”  The new “vet” is a 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine after graduating from Tri-Valley High School. And if things go according to plan, in November there will be two Doctors Bane in Fairbury, for Dr. “Phil” confided that his fiance, Dannielle Jackson, who was a year behind him in college, also has her degree in veterinary medicine, and they plan to be married in Fairbury in November.

Sandra Schlipf of Fairbury, a graduate just last Friday night of Prairie Central High School, is one of approximately 1,600 students offered admission for next fall at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT chose its freshman class from among 6,000 applicants. For the first time in history, more than a third of the entering students will be women. Miss Schlipf is a National Merit Scholarship finalist. She also received a $1,700 stipend from the Don Karnes Memorial Scholarship Board. A member of the National Honor Society at PCHS, Sandra also was named recipient of the school's English award at commencement ceremonies Friday evening. She works part-time as a proofreader for The Cornbelt Press.

Fairbury pharmacist John Bellot and his family, along with their staff, next week, will be ready to take you on a nostalgia trip when on Wednesday, June 11 they open the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor and Soda Fountain in a part of their store which for the past 21 months has been under construction behind a temporary wall. The project began in September of 1984 when they expanded their drug store, moving through the wall which had previously separated them from Barth's Variety Store. In that time they have collected ancient and historic soda fountain equipment: a mirrored Oak back-bar, a black marble counter, wire-backed chairs, wood booths and other pieces of that period.

30 Years Ago

June 5, 1996

Four 50-year veterans were honored with framed plaques at ceremonies held recently at the Walter Clemons American Legion Post 613 in Chatsworth. Making the presentation was Post Commander Larry Gerdes. Honorees were John Bergan, Chatsworth; Traeger Rosenboom, Piper City; Richard Milstead, Forrest; and Otis Bargman, Chatsworth. The four veterans have recorded 50 years of continuous service.

A pink and lavender quilt sewn 62 years ago, has made it back to its home, Fairbury. The quilt, that contains 122 names, was the project of members of the Christian Church of Fairbury. It was started in January 1934 and finished that fall in October, as stated on the quilt. The quilt is now on display at Echoes Museum, Fairbury. The quilt was purchased by an Oklahoma auctioneer, and he returned the keepsake this spring to a Fairbury relative. “Since I am passing near Fairbury on the way to Chicago to attend a seminar this week, I thought this quilt should go home,” J. B. Robinson Sr., an auctioneer and  realtor, said.

Leona Goodart will celebrate her 95^th birthday on June 8. Helping her celebrate at Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury, will be her 90-year-old sister, Ruth Mendenhall of Dallas, TX. Leona was born June 8, 1901 in Fairbury, a daughter of Gottlieb and Bertha Fehr Steidinger. She was born into a family of six children. She attended Fairbury schools, graduated from Fairbury Township High School in 1931 and later worked at the high school office as a secretary to the principal superintendent for 17 years. On Dec. 26, 1959, Leona Steidinger married Clarence Goodart who was the grade school principal. He is deceased.

20 Years Ago

June 7, 2006

The Livingston County Farm Bureau Young Farmers/Leaders' Committee adopted Natasha Schaefer's 4^th grade classroom at Tarkington School of Excellence, the beginning of the 2005-06 school year. The purpose of the program is to bring agriculture into the urban classroom and teach children where their food originates. During the year the Young Farmers/Leaders' have been corresponding with the students through a video they made during the harvest season, following the farmer from the field to the elevator. Last December, members of the Young Leaders visited Mrs. Shaefer's classroom in Chicago. On Tuesday, May 23 approximately 135 fourth grade students, parents and teachers arrived in Forrest to embark on an agricultural learning experience. The students visited Kilgus Dairy Farm in Fairbury, Sanders Hog Farm and the Stan and Kent Blunier Farm, both in Forrest.

The Spence Farm Foundation has achieved not-for-profit status recently as designated by state and federal officials. The foundation, which operated under the stewardship of Marty and Kris Travis, has a mission to preserve the oldest farm in Livingston County, for future generations. The foundation will provide education about preservation of buildings, trades, heirloom crops, heritage-breed animals, artifacts, local history and heritage and natural areas. Seven residents of the Fairbury area serve on the board of directors: Bill Fugate, Sara Hostetter, Jack Kennedy, Hersch Leffingwell, Marty Travis, Willa Virkler and Sharon Walter. The board meets periodically to discuss future projects, activities and fundraising for the foundation.

Mr. and Mr. Evart Taylor of Chenoa observed their 70^th wedding anniversary on June 6. A family dinner was held June 4 to celebrate the occasion. Taylor and the former Elverta Gerbracht were married June 6, 1936 at St. Paul Lutheran parsonage in Yates Township by Pastor F. A. Schole. The Taylor's have three daughters, 12 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. The Taylor's farmed in the Chenoa and Colfax area and he is also retired from Interlake Steel.

10 Years Ago

June 8, 2016

Jim and Lucy Slagel of Fairbury celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii last winter. Slagel and the former Lucy Meister were married June 5, 1966, at the home of Bud and Hazel Johnson. They are the parents of Anita (Ryan) Meyer, Kevin (Jodi) Slagel, Ryan (Jeanette) Slagel, Erika (Mark) Mueller and Kristin Slagel. They also have 15 grandchildren. The couple is owners/operators of Slagel Insulation and Slagel Monuments.

For the 2^nd consecutive year, Daniel Costa qualified for the IHSA State Tennis Tournament. Playing for the Illinois Math and Science Academy, he teamed with Joe Palakeel to qualify for the tournament by virtue of a 2^nd place finish in the West Aurora Sectional. At the State Tournament, the IMSA team earned victories over Sandburg High School and Lemont High School. They were eventually eliminated by a loss to Lyons Township High School. Costa completed his IMSA tennis career with 5 State Tournament victories. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Joe Costa of Fairbury.

Julie Smith, the senior branch office administrator of the Fairbury Edward Jones office, recently received the firm's 10-year service award. Smith works wth Edward Jones financial advisor Richard Nichols. Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company, provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through it's affiliate, in Canada. The firm's 14,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients.

Looking Back is sponsored by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home