Looking Back: 6-17-26

130 Years Ago

June 13, 1896

Work has begun on the foundation of the new Walton Bros. Palace of Trade building. The firm has not let the contract to anyone for the building, but will be their own contractors.

Dr. Brewer has a young apple tree in his yard that is a phenomenon. It has apples on it about the size of hickory nuts and last week burst into bloom again.

The installation of Rev. Charles S. Davies as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Fairbury took place last Friday evening. Rev. W. S. Ward, of Lexington, presided; Rev. W. G. Connell, of Chenoa, preached the sermon, the charge to the pastor was given by Rev. J. G. K. McClure, of Lake Forrest, and the charge to the congregation was given by Rev. Hunter of Clinton.

120 Years Ago

June 15, 1906

Patrons of the Fairbury post office were made thoroughly aware of the fact that the new fixtures had arrived Thursday morning and there was some tall hustling around by the renters of boxes before they could locate themselves. Up-to-date in every way, and so much more convenient than those taken out, there is no comparison. The general delivery window is in the northeast corner and the registry window in the southeast corner. The lock boxes are all of the newest design combination locks, requiring no key. The only thing is to remember the combination.

According to the decision of Judge Myers, of Bloomington, last Saturday, the Village of Weston has been wiped off the map and the people of that place may now settle down to business. Whether or not this will end the matter it would be hard to say. Part of the people of that place believe that incorporation means progress, while the other part believes that Weston is not large enough to incorporate. The progressive element filed a petition several months ago in the McLean County Court, which showed that there were enough residents in the specified limits of the village to incorporate and this was done. An election was held and a set of officers took charge of the infant village. After due deliberation the opposition took the matter into court with the result that the town organization was knocked out. The decision was rendered on the grounds that many of the names signed to the petition presented to the county court were not bone fide residents of the town to be incorporated.

110 Years Ago

June 16, 1916

The married men and single men pitted against each other Tuesday afternoon in a game of baseball, but before the game was half over the single men wished they were married, too, or at least they looked that way. The single fellows are laying the cause of their defeat to the fact that the game was played on the 13^th, but the facts are there was “too much Woodward.” Woodward, who was on the slab for the married men, pitched a whale of a game. He was also accorded excellent support, only one error being made behind him.

Citizens who are in the habit of laying in their hard coal in the spring are confronted this year with the highest opening price in the history of the anthracite market. Hard coal started in April at $8.00 a ton, which is the lowest price for the year. The May price was $8.10 and today, the first of June, the price automatically advances another dime. By next October, when the time comes to light the fires again, the price will be $8.60 or thereabouts, and hard coal users will have more inducement than ever to shift the ashes for stray lumps that have gone through the grate without burning.

The streets in Chenoa are being put in shape for oiling. A tank of oil has been received and work will be commenced at once. The main business street will be the first one oiled and the streets in the residence portion of town will be oiled later. The oil costs considerable more this year and the expense of oiling will be quite a little more than last.

100 Years Ago

Friday, June 18, 1926

The Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway which has a total of 242 miles of road, a terminal at Peoria and many other valuable assets, was sold this morning at a public sale in Peoria for $1,300,000 to George P. McNear Jr., of New York City. Edward P. Allen, master in chancery, had charge of the auction. As in the case of such transactions brought by means of equity cases, approval of the sale must be made by higher governmental authorities. The master will make a report of the sale to the federal court at Springfield on June 16. It is expected that Mr. McNear or some group which he may represent will be in possession of the road within 60 or 90 days. Just after the bidding closed, the purchaser deposited $65,000 in checks with the master in chancery.

Although Ernest Bess has been serving customers at his oil station at the corner of Oak and Seventh Streets for the past few weeks while the station was under the course of construction, he will have an official opening on Saturday, June 26. Mr. Bess has one of the best equipped and finest oil stations to be found anywhere. It is not only attractive in appearance but it is thoroughly equipped for the comfort and convenience of Mr. Bess' patrons.

A deal was closed this week whereby the property of the Illinois Hotel becomes the property of Robert Mack, residing north and west of town. Up until a short time ago the property belonged to G. Y McDowell, who secured it from Charles Blevins, who had the building erected. For several years past the property has been considered a good piece of real estate, as Mr. Mohler, the present proprietor of the hotel, has put the business on a paying basis. Mr. Mohler has not only done this, but he has also conducted the hotel in a manner that has brought credit to himself and to our city.

90 Years Ago

June 12, 1936

About nine families in Fairbury and vicinity have agreed to provide vacations for needy children from Chicago, but those in charge would like to have offers from several more homes. The vacation to be furnished is for a period of two weeks. The children are selected by the United Charities of Chicago – youngsters whose families are poor and who need a chance to build up their health in a place where there is plenty of fresh air, sunshine and wholesome food. The children are from five to 12 years of age and either boys or girls are available.

Miss Delpha Harvey is the first member of the Class of 1936, Fairbury Township High School, to become a bride. At 9:30 o'clock on Thursday morning, May 23, at Watseka, Miss Delpha was united in marriage to Delbert McClure, the Rev. B. F. Prange, pastor of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, reading the service. The bride wore a floor length gown of white, a sliver belt and silver accessories and carried white roses. Mrs. McClure is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Harvey. Mr. McClure is the son of Mrs. Albert Erdman. He was graduated from Colfax High School with the class of 1932.

H. W. Pence and Charles Hugh Purdum were guests of Henry Waynick and family at Marengo, Indiana, from Saturday to Tuesday, and Sunday, attended the dedication of bronze tablets placed in the Welman family's private burial ground for two soldiers, one of the Revolutionary War and one of the War of 1812. The D. A. R. of Paoli had charge of the services. John Welman, uncle of Mr. Pence, was one of the speakers.

80 Years Ago

June 14, 1946

Decker's Cafe, which has been closed for the past week, will open next Wednesday, and their customers will see a decided change in the appearance of that popular eating place. The big improvements are the addition of a new kitchen and a new store room. Among the new equipment installed is a new gas range of the latest type and a new fryer for French potatoes. The dining rooms have been repainted and redecorated and the entire place from front to back has been given a thorough going over. When the customers return next Wednesday they will find the old personnel back on the job waiting to serve them.

Down at University City, Mo., on Sunday, a fiftieth wedding anniversary is being observed that will be of interest to the many Fairbury friends of Dr. and Mrs. H. A. Presler. They were married June 17, 1896, at Montpelier, O., and came to Fairbury to make their home. For some twenty-four years Dr. Presler was a practicing veterinarian. He served as mayor of the city for several years and the family was prominent in all departments of the Methodist Church. On June 1, 1920, Dr. Presler disposed of his practice to Dr. J. E. Sargeant and soon after the family took up its residence at Hannibal, Mo. Later they moved to University City.

Bob Stephenson, William Kibler, J. W. Heiken, Martin Brown and K. P. Porterfield, all of Chatsworth, left about 12:30 o'clock Sunday morning for northern Minnesota on a week's fishing trip. They were an optimistic bunch. They expected to drive the 700-mile trip up in a day. Then they took along a tub to bring home some of the fish they expect to catch, or buy, and after reading Saturday's news dispatches that Minnesota had just had a snow storm and cold weather, they added wool shirts, heavy underwear, caps with ear muffs, and confidentially, we are informed, a small hand axe was added to the fishing tackle – just in case they had to cut holes in the ice.

70 Years Ago

June 14, 1956

Some of the boys found it hard to suppress a chuckle when they saw Harry Carter planting corn April 24. Water had frozen the night before, and it wasn't any too warm on the planter, either. But Harry is well on the way to having the last laugh. This week his corn stood 30-inches high – well over a foot taller than most other stands.

The city council granted a request to sell the 1920 model Maxwell fire truck to the Fair Association. The price offered, and accepted, was $100. The vehicle will be used for publicity purposes by the Fair, and will receive a complete renovation. “I believe a local organization interested in civic affairs should have the truck,” Mayor Taylor told the aldermen. All agreed that it would be the thing to do to keep the relic in Fairbury.

The 28^th annual Illinois Convention of the Future Farmers of America was held at the fairgrounds and armory at Springfield Last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The Fairbury-Cropsey chapter received the State Gold emblem award for the third consecutive year, and the superior chapter award. The Fairbury chapter was one of seven in the entire state to be so honored. The award was based on the annual program of work activities carried on during the year. Richard Steffen was elected sectional vice-president of section IX which includes Livingston and McLean counties. His duties are to assist the 25 chapters in the area in carrying out the various chapter activities. Richard Steffen and Don Hish received the State Farmer degree Friday night.

60 Years Ago

June 16, 1966

A garbage can lid managed to plunge Fairbury into a 95-minute power blackout Sunday afternoon. This was no common garbage can lid, but rather one with visions of being a dancer, for it took advantage of a vagrant whirlwind to suddenly rise and whirl through the air. Over the barbed wire which restrains humans at the CIPS Substation on West Walnut it danced, and smack into a buss bar on the 60,000-volt main transmission line. While still touching this “top-line,” it grazed the metal tower frame and persons in the area thought the Fourth of July was here. Because it had shorted out what utility people call the “high” side, the automatic circuit breakers were not able to restore service and it was necessary to call out service crewmen.

A pair of Fairbury youths, Diane Harms and Harlan Geiser, took wing yesterday morning on the first leg of a month-long tour of Europe as members of the American Youth Band. Although each student is paying their own expenses, $898 each, membership in the 75-piece band was gained only by testing and a taped audition. Tartar band director, Wayne Bradtke, said that selection of the two Fairburians was a distinct honor, since every one of the states is represented in the band's makeup. Geiser is a trombonist, Miss Harms a clarinetist.

What do you do with a two-day layover when you're hauling a 48-foot sailboat, complete with a 60-foot mast, cross-country from Cost Mesa, Calif., to Stamford, Conn.? Well, Lee Forney timed things just right and rolled into Chatsworth Friday night, so that Saturday and Sunday, when such over-sized loads are prohibited on the highway, his truck was parked at home. And a good thing too, for Saturday night he was toastmaster at a banquet, and Sunday he spent in Bloomington, showing three horses at the Appaloosa horse show, winning two classes and placing third in another. He left California on June 1 and Monday Lee left with the sailboat to continue on to his destination, Stamford, Conn.

50 Years Ago

June 17, 1976

Livingston County has approximately 90 iron-frame, or truss, bridges whose safety concerns county highway superintendent Jon Bourne. The older truss bridges, many of which still have wooden decks, have maximum posted weight limits of eight tons. Most of those in the county are posted to handle only six tons and the load limit on others goes as low as three tons. Bourne's remarks come on the heels of a report out of Springfield that less than one-half of the 12,000 township maintained bridges in the state are capable of sustaining a loaded school bus. Rural bridges are a concern in Livingston County, which has more miles of township roads than any other county in the state, according to Bourne.

The Fairbury-Cropsey FFA chapter and individual members picked up a number of awards last week at the 48^th annual Illinois FFA convention in Champaign. The top chapter citation was the bronze state medal for community service, while recently graduated senior Mark Erdman topped the individual achievers, winning a State Farmer designation. The chapter also received a Cooperative Activities Award for promoting cooperative business understanding. This award entitles the chapter to send one delegate to the annual American Institute in Blacksburg, Va., July 25-31. Tim Pickett will represent the chapter at this conference. A Farm Bureau-FFA Heritage Award was also given to the chapter in light of its work to promote citizenship within the school and community. This award enables the chapter to send a representative, Jim Schahrer, on the annual FFA Heritage Tour next week to the historical sites along the east coast.

Mr. and Mrs. Eli Moser of Fairbury will celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 27 with a reception to be held at their home. The former Bertha Steidinger married Eli Moser June 24, 1926 in Fairbury. They are parents of Robert Moser, Columbia, Mo., Mrs. Shirley Irion, Normal, and Mrs. Karen Wenger, Carson City, Nev. They have eight grandchildren. Mr. Moser was a car and implement dealer in Fairbury before his retirement.

40 Years Ago

June 12, 1986

A long silence Wednesday night followed Mayor Maurice Cox's reading of a letter from Fairbury Street Commissioner Virgil Kyburz submitting his resignation to the city council Alderman Lynn Dameron moved to accept the resignation and the council approved. After the meeting, Kyburz said he planned to move to Tucson, Ariz., where he will be employed as a floor-covering salesman in a department store. Kyburz operated a floor-covering business in Fairbury for many years, prior to being appointed commissioner by former Mayor Jim Steidinger. Before having his own firm, he had been employed by Walton's Department Store as an installer. He also served eight years as an alderman before resigning to accept the city post.

“I wanted to learn the French language, and I figured the best way to do it was to travel abroad and live in France,” commented Jennipher Trowbridge of Fairbury, a Prairie Central High school student who graduated this year. Jennipher's parents, Gary and Dorie Trowbridge, supported their daughter when she saw her opportunity in a television advertisement. She realized that she met the requirements of the American Intercultural Student Exchange, and with her parents' encouragement and financial help, followed through with the application. Jennipher began her trip to France in early August, 1985, going first to Cannes where she stayed for two weeks during the famed Film Festival. She lived in Lyon with the Moutots and attended LeLycee la Martinaire School during her stay with the Moutot family.

The Chenoa Baptist Church will observe its 120^th anniversary with special services on June 22. Rev. W. Herbert Scott of Grand Rapids, Mich., a former pastor, will deliver the sermon. Following a salad luncheon at noon, there will be an afternoon fellowship service at 2. Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Tyler of Fairbury and Rev. and Mrs. Earl King of San Diego, Calif., former pastors of the church, will take part in the service.

30 Years Ago

June 12, 1996

Fairbury letter carriers, angered over policies and tactics of the U. S. Postal Service that are endangering quality mail delivery to homes and businesses, will join in a national day of picketing June 19 to “Save the Postal Service,” it was announced by Eugene Smith, president of Branch #5522 of the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO). Fairbury's NALC branch is one of more than 3,000 union locals from across the nation that have been urged by NALC President Vincent R. Sombrotto to participate in the informational picketing to deliver a message to the public of what is happening inside their post office. Smith emphasized that the union's goal is not to harm the postal service, but rather to save it.

Two area students are among 45 of the most academically talented new first-year students at Illinois State University, who have been designated as Presidential Scholars for 1996-97. On the list are Laura Steidl of Forrest, a Prairie Central High School graduate, and Ross Meiners of Anchor, a Ridgeview High School graduate. Selection as a Presidential Scholar is the highest honor ISU can bestow upon students entering their first-year class. Designation as a Presidential Scholar carries with it a substantial scholarship award of either $6,000 annually-renewable award or a full tuition waiver plus $500 annually. Both types of awards are renewable for four years.

It's been nearly a month since the 50^th racing season opened at the American Legion Speedway, but this past Saturday was only the second week of racing after rain postponed the previous two weeks of scheduled action. As if to help make up for the past weeks, the field of drivers numbered over 100 and some of the hottest action in recent years took place, highlighted by a clash in the first feature race of the night. A total of nine cars were involved. Five were able to get back in the race.

20 Years Ago

June 14, 2006

Sixteen teen members of the Fairbury United Methodist Youth Group and six adult chaperones departed for Moss Point, Miss. Friday, where they are spending the week helping rebuilding efforts in one of the areas damaged last year by Hurricane Katrina. The group made the 10-hour trip by bus and traveled, complete with their own cook, better known as Donna Sands, Prairie Central High School Librarian, whose homemade pies are known by every person that ever set foot into one of Prairie Central's hospitality rooms over the years, and who just happened to board the bus carrying a batch of homemade yeast rolls for Saturday's breakfast.

Dan Eisenmann, resident of Forrest, spoke to the Fairbury Rotarians at their weekly meeting on Tuesday, June 6, about his experiences as a pilot for United Parcel Service (UPS). Eisenmann, a graduate of the University of Illinois, has flown for UPS since 1995 and, at present, is based out of Louisville, Ky., one of the main hubs for the company. During his career as a pilot, Eisenmann has worked at the U of I as a flight instructor, for CETEL, again at the U of I, for Continental Express and finally at UPS. Presently, he flies as a first officer or co-pilot and by virtue of his work experience and seniority with UPS is able to choose his own schedule, working every other week. He commutes to Chicago and then flies to Louisville to work, where he pilots a DC8.

Mark and Tania Bazzell of Fairbury are parents of a baby girl born at 5:19 a.m. On May 9, 2006 at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. Summer Elaine was middle-named after her maternal grandmother. She is the sister of Cody 15, Dakota 7, Justus 5 and Cheyanne 2. Grandparents are Fred and Helen Voeste of Forrest and Donald and Carol Bazzell of Fairbury. Great-grandmothers are Norma Hoffman and Paulette Bazzell, both of Fairbury.

10 Years Ago

June 15, 2016

The Prairie Central Trap team competed in the IL Clay Target League's State Tournament held at Brittany Shooting Park near Bunker Hill on Saturday, June 4. Thirteen of the 18 PC trap team members participated in the inaugural tournament. Prairie Central's top five scorers finished in 2^nd place behind Edwardsville in the overall team scoring. Junior Skyler Hall received a 25-straight patch for a perfect score in one of his rounds. Senior Dakota Hall received 3^rd place overall individual in the varsity competition. Several PC students received plaques for their performances in the Jr. Varsity division and many PC shooters attained their best scores of the season at the tournament.

Several Prairie Central FFA teams recently won state champion judging honors: The Ag Communication team of Laine Honegger, Michael Conlisk and Kylie Miller; the Ag Business Management team of Monte Schaffer, Laine Honegger, Brent Edelman, Caitlyn Ifft and Sam Weber; the Poultry team of Hunter Bolen, Mitchell Lanz, Clay Zimmerman, Harmony Slagel and Tyson Stork; the Livestock team of Trever Plenert, Kylie Miller, Laine Honegger, Rachel Hankes,  and Grayson Cottrell; and the Ag Mechanics team of Laine Honegger, Trenton Edelman, Brandon Edelman, Monte Schaffer and Grayson Cottrell.

Prairie Central High School graduate Luke Sieving was chosen as an Illinois State All-Star running back/wide receiver and will be playing in the Shrine game at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at Tucci Stadium (Illinois Wesleyan University). Sieving is currently being recruited by dozens of teams, but is still un-committed as a college football player. He was a two-time All-State football player (junior year as a kick/punt returner, senior year as a running back). He has been All-State Academic both years and sports a college test score of a 32 ACT with a 3.86 GPA and a 95% average. While only playing nine games, he broke the season record for touchdowns, total points, average yards per carry and average yards per game.

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