130 Years Ago
June 2, 1894
Last Saturday evening as Bert Rose and a lady friend were returning from a sociable at Forrest, the horse became frightened, broke loose from the buggy and ran away. It appears that at home the horse is stabled in an old house. She therefore ran at full speed into the dwelling house of Frank Hackley, breaking her way through a screen, knocking the lady of the house over, upsetting the center table, rushing into the dining room, where she collided with the table and instituted a general smash-up of the family china, and finally got into the pantry and couldn't get out. She kicked out one end of the pantry and probably would have demolished the whole establishment if Bert hadn't knocked the window out, got her by the head and succeeded in quieting her.
The frost of Monday night following those of the week previous has undoubtedly given corn a serious setback. As it is, the corn looks yellow and unthrifty.
The new money order which will be issued July 1, will be called "postal money order." The issuing of postal notes will cease July 1.
120 Years Ago
June 3, 1904
Joseph G. Swing has traded his grocery, hardware, implement and carriage emporium to Messrs. Payne & Bartlett for Indiana farm land, the new firm taking possession June 1. Mr. Swing's health has not been the best and he desired to retire. He has been in business in this city for a number of years and by strictly honorable and up-right methods has built up a splendid business. The new proprietors are well known in this city and vicinity and they have been in business here for years. They are excellent gentlemen and the store will be accorded a large patronage.
The marriage of Miss Goldie May Todd to Mr. John Hornbeck took place on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30, at the home of J. H. Moore. Justice A. E. Swap read the services. It was a quiet wedding, only the relatives of the contracting parties being present. The bride and groom are well known in the vicinity of Fairbury and have many friends. They will live on a farm southwest of this city.
The young son of Mr. and Mrs. Gottleib Steidinger was badly hurt this noon. Bud Mowery was moving his shelling outfit and in some manner the little Steidinger boy fell under the sheller and the wheels passed over him. At the time the Blade goes to press it is not known how badly he is injured.
110 Years Ago
June 5, 1914
The residence of G. Y. McDowell was discovered to be on fire Saturday morning about 7 o'clock and although the firemen responded promptly to the alarm, the roof was badly damaged before the fire could be extinguished. Water caused nearly as much damage as the fire, but most of the furniture and goods were removed.
Mrs. Richard Stratton, who is making her home with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Harry Wagenseller, met with a serious accident last Thursday when she fell down the cellar stairs.
Cropsey — Miss Lucile Pratt returned Monday from spending a week with Miss Mildred Scott in Colfax. Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Meeker spent a few days with their son, Earl, at Colfax previous to his departure for Gridley, where he has recently been appointed mail carrier. Jack Thompson, of Fairbury, shipped a load of cattle from Cropsey Saturday night.
100 Years Ago
May 30, 1924
Clean up! Hear this, ye people – Think! Act! Come on, let's put things in order. Our whole city can and should be made as clean and orderly as the cleanest home. Then we will have a safe, happier, healthier city. Ambition in its highest conception is to dream big dreams and make them come true. The splendid ambition to have a city clean and beautiful is soon to become a reality by the cooperation of all the people. Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor, and with the hearty approval of many far-seeing and zealous citizens, we hereby proclaim the week of June 1st to June 5th as the opening week of a continuous Clean-Up Campaign. Away with the rubbish piles! Banish the plague spots! Clean up streets and alleys! Cut the weeds, mow the lawns and trim the hedges! We need this thorough cleaning and renovation. It is the sensible thing to do – for the health, safety, pride and happiness of our people. It is everybody's job. Every man, woman and child will be expected to help. Let there be no slackers. —Joseph Gerber, mayor.
Ewing Hurt decided Monday to see the world and left home without notifying his parents. Police here were notified and they in turn notified the police departments in other nearby towns. The boy was picked up by police at Bloomington and held until his parents went after him.
Wing — The rain came up the hardest just at church time last Sunday, consequently several that were planning to come did not get there. Only a few were present. Rev. Schreiner preached a fine Memorial sermon to a very small audience.
90 Years Ago
June 1, 1934
Three spring brides, members of the Christian Church, were given a kitchen shower last Friday afternoon at the church by the combined societies and classes of the church. The honored guests were Mrs. William Renken (Edna Scheer), Mrs. Harold Green (Marie Runyon) and Mrs. Carl Goembel (Helen Barnes). The hostesses served refreshments during the afternoon.
One-half the members of the Cropsey Woman's Club entertained the other members and a guest at their meeting on Thursday afternoon in the M. E. Church dining room. A fine program was rendered and a good time was enjoyed by all present.
George Mowry was in Chenoa on Monday evening attending a group meeting of funeral directors from Livingston and McLean Counties, the meeting being held at the Pike Hotel. The McLean County morticians have been organized into a unit, but at Monday's meeting the two counties organized into a district unit, as a branch of the state funeral directors' organization. Raleigh J. Harris, of Pontiac, was elected president of the district organization; George Flynn, of Bloomington, vice-president; and C. M. Easton, of Chenoa, secretary-treasurer.
The Christian Apostolic Church people, who purchased the depot and tore it down in a week, are having plenty of hard work this week in leveling down the foundation. The contract stated that the purchasers had to wreck the foundation and certain parts of the platform. These are of cement and it takes all kinds of hammering to jar them apart.
80 Years Ago
June 2, 1944
Thursday morning found Newt Nylander somewhat confused when tractors, discs, harrows and planters pulled into his field and started planting corn. Mr. Nylander was injured two weeks ago in a runaway when the horses, hitched to a disc, became frightened. He is slowly recovering but unable to do any work. Neighbors came in and planted 120 acres of corn for him. Those assisting with the planting were Martin Alpers, Joe Goins, Wallace Alpers, Henry Bose, John Schroeder, Allendean Bose, Harold Schroeder, Wendell and Kenneth Nylander. Some hedge had been pulled and had to be piled before corn could be planted there and that was done by Ben Winterland and sons.
The sawmill which has been in operation in the Hieronymus timber south of town for the past several months, was moved yesterday to the W. A. Goembel timber four miles northeast of Fairbury, where it will be put in operation. During the time the mill was in operation south of town, approximately 100,000 feet of lumber was sawn up. This was hauled to the Caterpillar Tractor Company in East Peoria, where it is used in crating machinery for shipment. Most of this wood came from cottonwood, hard maple and elm trees. Around sixty trees went through the saw each day. Floyd Russell, of St. Geneva, Mo., has been operating the mill.
Glenn, nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Friedman, residing on East Hickory Street, has a pretty badly burned right arm from just above the elbow down to his wrist. He was trying to patch a bicycle tire, using some patching material that was in a can. He lit a match to soften it up and the can of material exploded. The fire, not only burned his arm, but set fire to the garage. Mrs. Friedman succeeded in putting the fire out and a doctor fixed the boy up. Several of Glenn's playmates who were present, escaped injury, but were badly scared.
70 Years Ago
June 3, 1954
The city council at its meeting on Wednesday evening of this week, voted unanimously to let the people of Fairbury say by vote at a special election, whether or not they want fluoride added to their drinking water. The city council's action came following a petition by the Citizen's Committee on Fluoridation asking the city to pass an ordinance "to provide the means and to proceed with the addition of approximately one and not more than 1.5 parts of fluoride to every million parts of water being distributed in the water supply system of the city of Fairbury, Illinois."
Helen Monroe Friday night was announced as the winner of the twenty-five dollar Blade citizenship award. The award has been given each year since 1938 to the student in the graduating class of Fairbury high school most deserving of the honor. It was presented this year by R. C. Todd, unit superintendent, at commencement ceremonies held in the high school gym.
J. K. Huette will celebrate 50 years with Walton's Friday. He recalls many changes in business since he began working at the age of 21 in the grocery department of Walton's, when it was owned by Isaac and Wesley Walton. In the grocery department, everything was received in bulk, and had to be packaged. Among the items sold by Walton's in those days were buggies, wagons and automobiles. An undertaking establishment rounded out the Fairbury department store. Mr. Huette began work for $35 a month, working from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week. Board and room cost $2.25 a week at the time.
60 Years Ago
June 4, 1964
Of the 33 drivers in the Indianapolis "500" competition Memorial Day, nine of them have appeared once or more in midget races at the Fairbury Legion Speedway. Here they are in order of finish at Indianapolis: Lloyd Ruby, 3rd; Bob Wents, 8th; Bobby Grim, 10th; Don Branson, 13th; Len Sutton, 14th; Parnelli Jones, 24th; Bobby Marshman, 26th; Ronnie Duman, 30th; and Eddie Sachs, 32nd. Speedway Superintendent Spud Schlipf remembers that Sachs was here in 1947 as a rookie driver. He and Dave McDonald were killed in a spectacular pile-up two minutes after the start of the "500" at Indianapolis this year. Jones, who was the "600" winner last year and raced at Fairbury, also last year, was forced out of the Memorial Day event this year, when his car caught fire in the pits at the 135 mile mark.
Leon R. Follmer has won the Arthur Tillman award at Western Illinois University. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Follmer of Forrest. Follmer will receive his bachelor's degree in geography-geology on June 14 and will do graduate work at the University of Illinois on a graduate research assistantship and scholarship. He will major in soil science and will begin his study June 22, working with soil conservationists at the University of Illinois Department of Agronomy in mapping the soil of Stephenson County. The Tillman award is presented to the senior who is outstanding in his field of study on a basis of scholarship, leadership and service.
Dave's ad — Domino pure cane sugar, 10-pound bag, 99c; Heinz ketchup, large 20 oz. family size, 4/$1; Joy liquid detergent, giant size, 49c; Sealtest ice cream, half gallon, 59c; Center cut pork chops, 59c/pound; Oscar Mayer luncheon meat, 29c; Bananas, 10c/pound; Handi-wrap, 100ft. roll, 4/$1; Wishbone dressing, 8 oz. bottle, 19c; Mandarin oranges, 11oz. can, 5/$1; Ground beef and pork for meat loaf, 45c/pound.
50 Years Ago
June 6, 1974
Mrs. Albert Meyer of rural Fairbury is in good condition in Fairbury Hospital with burns suffered Monday morning when a farm tractor exploded while she was refueling it in a field south of Weston. Mrs. Meyer had been working in the field alone but was expecting her husband, who had been working with their son on their home place northeast of there. When she stopped to refuel the tractor, the gas bubbled over and the fumes were ignited by the hot engine. The tractor was destroyed, but the gasoline storage tank from which she was pumping did not burn.
A five-run first inning highlighted Fairbury-Cropsey's Saturday afternoon 7-5 win over invading Gibson City. Ronnie Thompson, the winner, went the distance for the Tartars on the mound, giving up three hits, but getting nine strikeouts to win Tartar "star of the game" kudos. The non-conference win elevated F-C to a 3-1 season mark.
Funks Grove Chapel of the Templed Trees was the setting for the 2 o'clock wedding ceremony held Saturday, May 18, 1974, that united in marriage Miss Martha G. McRell of Bloomington and Carlos G. Bahler of Normal, formerly of Fairbury. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Carl McRell of Minonk and Mr. and Mrs. Urban Bahler of Fairbury. The new Mrs. Bahler was a 1970 graduate of Minonk-Dana-Rutland High school and is a dental assistant to Dr. Robert Eaton, Normal. Mr. Bahler attended Fairbury schools and is employed by Ervin Kahler, Inc., of Morton. When they return from a two-week honeymoon in Hawaii, they will reside at Hilltop Court, Bloomington.
40 Years Ago
May 31, 1984
Kevin Mills Jeffries, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Jeffries, has been named valedictorian of the Fairbury-Cropsey high school Class of 1984. Mark Allan Seifert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Seifert, is the class salutatorian. Kevin and Mark, each of whom plans to attend the University of Illinois next fall, will speak to the FCHS graduating seniors during commencement exercises Friday, June 1, in the high school gymnasium. According to school officials, Kevin graduates with a grade point average of 96.23 and Mark's grade point was 95.916.
The Chatsworth Board of Education experienced a change of heart last week, reversing an earlier 5-2 vote not to join in a consolidation effort with the Fairbury-Cropsey and Forrest-Strawn-Wing districts. The reversal came on Thursday afternoon at a meeting with the Chatsworth Citizens Advisory Committee, less than 48 hours after the board's first vote.
Tuesday night, Mrs. Wayne Hish of rural Fairbury, successfully got through to Gov. Jim Thompson on his weekly hour-long audience participation show on Chicago's WBBM radio station. After she got an answer to her question, "Big Jim" asked, "From where are you calling?" "Out in the country near Fairbury," Helen responded. "How's the Fairbury Blade doing?" was, to Helen's surprise, the Governor's next question. "Doing just dandy," she manages, as a one-time ace of the Blade's typesetting staff. "Good," concluded the Governor, "tell everyone down there hello!"
30 Years Ago
June 1, 1994
After 16½ years of serving as Chatsworth's Town Clerk, Janet Honegger has turned her resignation into the Chatsworth Village Board, effective July 8. She laughingly told board members at the May 24 meeting that she had "enjoyed most of it." The board entered closed session to consider hiring a replacement for Honegger. Sharon Birkenbeil, present deputy clerk, was hired as clerk to work a 35-hour week, receiving a salary of $7.75 per hour.
"I've always wanted to take a ride in a limousine" was the lifetime wish of Florence Dameron of Fairbury. Friday, thanks to her four children, her wish came true. Florence thought she was having lunch with her daughters, Peggy Vaughan and Carolyn Gerber, but when she opened her door, she was surprised to see the extra-long, white limousine parked in front of the house. The chauffeur opened the car door for her, to reveal five of her friends seated in the car. The eight women were driven to Jumer's for lunch, which was the third surprise of the day for Florence, who celebrated her 69th birthday over the weekend. Her two sons are Lynn and Barry Dameron, both of Fairbury.
May was a variance of highs and lows with light showers on eight days. There were three days that saw the thermometer at 90 and above, and eight days that the air dropped into the 30s.
20 Years Ago
June 2, 2004
Sgt. Jeremy Shipley presented the address to a huge crowd at the Memorial Day service at Forrest Cemetery Monday. Shipley, the son of Mike and Lynn Barnett and the late Dan Shipley, served four years active duty and four years as a reservist in the U. S. Marine Corp. He served his country in Iraq from January to June 2003. Shipley's time as a reservist was finished on Monday. His future plans include pursuing a college degree.
Blood donors from 12 area communities came within seven units of breaking a 103 unit record set immediately after Sept. 11. The May 26 blood drive collected 96 units from 111 people. The drive was held in memory of Carolyn Zimmerman, an active Red Cross volunteer who died in an auto accident in October 2003.
Prairie Central was held to only two hits, but managed to squeeze across a run in the fifth inning to capture its fifth straight regional championship on May 24. The Hawks defeated Princeton 1-0 to move into Wednesday's sectional semi-finals at Putman County.
10 Years Ago
June 4, 2014
A trio of Prairie Central High School FFA Judging Teams recently won the state contest and advanced to the national contest to be held this fall during the National FFA Convention. The Dairy, Ag Mechanics and Envirothon teams all won their respective state contests. Envirothon team members are Jesse Leman, Ryan Steidinger, Tyler Edelman, Ryan Steffen and Weston Stork. Dairy team members are Will Taylor, Logan Slagel, Sadie Ropp, Monte Schaffer and Arthur Moser. Darren Ropp is advisor for both the Envirothon and Dairy teams. Kyle Miller is the advisor for the Ag Mechanics team which consists of team members Jesse Leman, Tyler Edelman, Clayton Teubel, Seth Miller and Camden Yoder.
Justin and Shana Koehl of Fairbury are the parents of a baby boy born Thursday, May 1, 2014 in Bloomington. Monroe Oliver weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and was 20 inches long at birth. Paternal grandparents are Jim and Diane Koehl of Fairbury. Maternal grandparents are Mike and Debbie Kaye Craddock, also of Fairbury. Great grandparents are John and Kay Casey, Jim and Juanita Walter and Gladys Koehl. The new arrival was named after his great-grandfather, Virgil Monroe Koehl, his grandfather, James Monroe Koehl and his father, Justin Monroe Koehl. He was welcomed home by his big brother, Tate.
Fairbury residents should finally start to see some construction activity taking place at the future site of the Brian J. Munz Public Safety Complex in the near future. During a special meeting last Tuesday night, the Fairbury City Council passed an ordinance authorizing the execution of a mutual settlement agreement between Evans-Mason, the city and Tarter Construction, which withdraws Evans-Mason from the project and allows the city to proceed with a different mason.
(Looking Back is sponsored each week on Fairbury News by Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes)
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