130 Years Ago
August 26, 1893
Saturday last, the firm of Perlee & Kelley opened their doors to the public, having recently purchased the hardware store of J. A. Stoller. The new firm is composed of Stanley J. Perlee and Peter Kelley.
An aggregation of ball players from Sibley, Melvin and Strawn came to town Friday and "Baldy's Babes" defeated them 18 to 10. Mellon's Food is doing its work.
Miss Anita Pence entertained the members of the picnic club at her home last Friday evening. Music and games entertained the crowd until a late hour. Refreshments were served and all departed for their homes thinking the evening had been well spent.
120 Years Ago
August 28, 1903
Three new rural mail routes will be started out of Pontiac next week. The farmers near McDowell are protesting because the route southeast of Pontiac goes to Lodemia and does not touch them.
H. A. Foster, of Pontiac, was here Tuesday. Mr. Foster says the wires will soon be put up from here to Forrest to operate the lights in that village.
Hugh Pence's horse was standing in C. A. Purdum's yard on Sunday hitched to a double carriage. The animal became frightened and pulling up the hitching post turned the carriage over. The carriage was damaged to the extent of about $50.
Everything is in readiness for the big Fairbury Fair to be held next week. A special train will be run Wednesday and Thursday from Gilman to Fairbury.
110 Years Ago
August 29, 1913
Perry Williamson, of El Paso, has accepted a position in the mechanical department of the Fairbury Telephone Company and commenced his duties Wednesday.
In the 100 mile motorcycle race at Columbus, O., Sunday, Carl Goudy, of this city, hung up a new world's record for 100 miles on a dirt track by clipping three minutes from the old record. His time for the 100 miles was 92 minutes flat, or an average of 65.21 miles per hour.
Walter Nussbaum ran a rusty nail into his hand while working at the city hall and is taking a vacation.
Cropsey — Mr. and Mrs. June McCullough and family left on Tuesday by auto for a visit in Indiana.
100 Years Ago
August 24, 1923
Sometime between 9 o'clock Sunday evening and 5 o'clock Monday morning, thieves broke into the Oak Armstrong railroad restaurant and ransacked that place of business, taking about four or five dollars in pennies, a fountain pen, several cartons of cigarettes, some cigars, etc. They also sampled the pies by breaking them in two, then taking a bite out of the center and then threw them on the floor. They also helped themselves to some ice cream, which they found in a freezer. They gained entrance to the restaurant by prying a screen off a west window. The work was undoubtedly that of local talent.
Notice is hereby given to all property holders in Fairbury that all the weeds must be cut down, rubbish cleaned up and alleys and streets put into sanitary and clean condition. The uncut weeds and accumulated dirt will cause disease, and it is the order of the city and state boards of health that these conditions, which are dangerous to the health of the community, be corrected at once. There is also an ordinance against keeping hogs within the city limits. Those having hogs are hereby notified to remove them from within the city limits of Fairbury —Joe Gerber, Mayor.
It seems that Fairbury has an embryo cartoonist, in the person of John Thompson. John is only 13 years old but he has the knack of making clever sketches from life, with a few strokes of his pencil, that look decidedly like the model. His grandfather, J. P. Cook, is helping him to develop this talent by seeing that he has the best of instructors and it is likely that John will be heard from some day in the artists' world.
90 Years Ago
August 25, 1933
A happy afternoon of play and supper served on the lawn with fourteen little folks as her guests, was the way Dolores Henning celebrated her fourth birthday last Friday afternoon. The fifteen children, wearing their pink cap favors, made a charming picture seated at the long table which was spread under a canopy of pink and blue. Pink picnic plates and pink and blue napkins were used in the service and each place was marked with an individual cake bearing a tiny pink candle.
Kenneth Headley, little son of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Headley, has a bad looking left eye, and a lip that looks little better. Kenneth had started to cross Maple Street at the Second Street intersection Wednesday evening, and he was so intent on making sure that he wouldn't get ran over by a car that he walked right in front of a bicycle, ridden by Charles Addis. The little fellow is getting along all right and apparently will suffer no permanent ill effects from the injuries.
John Dameron, of Weston, won first place in the World Fair hog calling contest which was held last Saturday afternoon on the World Fair grounds and broadcast over station WLS. The judges decided that Mr. Dameron's voice had the greatest volume, carrying quality and hog appeal, the things which are necessary to bring the hogs in from the back corner of the pasture. A great many of Mr. Dameron's Fairbury friends had tuned in for the contest, and after comparing his sonorous tones with those of his competitors it wasn't hard to understand why the judges decided in his favor.
80 Years Ago
August 27, 1943
A three-year-old registered Guernsey cow, Honeggerville Babe, owned by Honegger Bros., Forrest, recently completed a creditable Herd Improvement record of 11,515.7 pounds of milk and 589.0 pounds of butterfat and was milked 71 times while making this record. This is Babe's second official record. Her total production for the two tested lactations is 22,095.4 pounds of milk and 1,109.6 pounds of butterfat.
Recently we had a story concerning Howard Baylor and his singing activities with the Marine Corps. Howard took part in the Marine production, "Halls of Montezuma." His singing drew him rounds of applause. Now, word comes from the coast that Leo Lanardi, a Paramount Studio music director who heard the program, talked to him back-stage and gave his hopes encouragement. There is just a chance that the war has given Howard the chance he has been seeking. The movies may take him when Uncle Sam has finished with him.
C. W. Deputy and daughter, Mrs. Bessie Sterns, are still showing the effects of an auto accident that occurred last week. A car that Mr. Deputy was driving got out of control and ran across a neighbor's yard, bumped into a tree and did a few other things before it came to a sudden stop. Neither Mr. Deputy nor his daughter was badly hurt, although they received several bruises and cuts.
70 Years Ago
August 27, 1953
Jim Quick, of Davenport, Ia., was true to his name here early Tuesday morning, and because of it a serious fire and possible resulting tragedy was averted. Fire broke out in room 16 on the second floor of the Honegger House between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. Tuesday. Quick, who occupied the room with Earl Presby, of Moline, awoke suddenly to find the room in smoke. He dashed out into the hall, grabbed a fire extinguisher and doused the flames which had jumped from the bed and were eating at the wall and ceiling. Meanwhile P. E. Tetley, hotel manager, had been aroused, and switched on the alarm button, turning out the other guests. The Fairbury Fire Department was brought to the scene and extinguished the remaining flames.
Dick Phelps, playing on the local golf course Wednesday last week with Harry Morris, turned in a 27, which allows him to sit on the front bench with Wesley Hanson, who established that record June 21, 1942. In Harry's opinion Dick's approaching was the feature of the round. He laid 'em up close and missed no puts.
At last Wednesday evening's meeting of the city council, Mayor Taylor stated that Bill Weber had said the addition on East Hickory Street, known as the George Milne property, had been platted and the streets named, and asked that the platting be approved by the city. A blueprint of the new addition accompanied the request.
60 Years Ago
August 29, 1963
James Mowery, 82, received his traditional salutation from the Fairbury Fair crowd on opening day when he marked his 82nd year of attendance. He was taken to the fair by his parents as a babe in arms, and has never missed a year since.
A certificate of incorporation has been issued to Fairbury N. H. Builders, Inc., by Secretary of State Charles F. Carpentier in Springfield. With 400 shares of common, no-par-value stock, the incorporators are Ivan Stoller, Howard Maurer and J. C. Ebach. Stated purpose of the corporation is to build and construct family residences and other structures; to buy, sell and deal in property, and securities and evidences of indebtedness.
An uncommon number of mythical family crises are expected to erupt today as Fairbury golfing fans seek ways to absent themselves from their various business connections. The big attraction is the Indian Creek championship match slated between Ron Hanley and Ken Elliott of Cropsey. The youthful Hanley, who will be a junior when Fairbury-Cropsey High School starts the following day, is matched with the just-retired president of the school's famed Alumni Association. To get to the finals, both ousted top-flight competition.
50 Years Ago
August 30, 1973
A group of Chicago ladies, members of a club for those retired from business careers, chartered a bus and attended the Fairbury Fair Friday. They toured Floral Hall, the midway and spent part of the afternoon in the grandstand watching the harness races. They had written Fair President Buck Morris some months ago asking about such a trip. They really had a good time, Buck said Saturday.
Renee Metz of Fairbury was one of the 44 graduates of Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Practical Nursing program who were presented pins August 21. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Metz, Renee is employed at Fairview Haven, Fairbury.
Dr. and Mrs. Logan T. Wilson of Fairbury were surprised on the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary to become the recipients of a newly established Wilson Music Scholarship fund in their honor. Awards from the scholarship will be made to students in advanced music study. The idea originated with their sons, George and Bill Wilson, and was enthusiastically supported by friends and relatives, who aided in spreading the idea to others who might wish to participate. Following the family anniversary dinner celebration, the Wilsons were presented with a scrap book containing letters and congratulations to the couple. Inside the front cover, was the savings account pass book showing the balance to be over $700.00.
40 Years Ago
August 25, 1983
DeBold Householder, to who the premium list for the 107th Fairbury Fair is dedicated, will be making his 100th visit to the fair this week. DeBold, now a resident of Fairview Haven, observed his 100th birthday anniversary earlier this year, and as a babe in arms attended his first fair that year of his birth...and every one of them since. For many years he was a gate attendant.
Fairbury Police were to stage a photo lineup this week in hopes of getting positive identification of a man they feel burglarized the Byron Nussbaum home here and left town in the family's small truck. Chief Bill Spray said Tuesday a 27-year old escapee from the New Mexico penal system was being held by authorities in Des Moines, Iowa. Even if the photo lineup should not provide identification, Fairbury Police have hand prints lifted at the crime scene they feel certain will lead to identification.
The $3 million funding for the Bloomer Shippers Association Railway Redevelopment League is now official. President Reagan last week signed the 10.6 billion appropriation bill for the Department of Transportation for the next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, which included a subsection relating to the area railway. The association is comprised of grain elevators and other agri-businesses ranging from Barnes Station, just outside of Bloomington, then northeasterly through Cooksville, Colfax, Anchor, Cropsey, Chatsworth, Charlotte, Cullom, Kempton and Cabery to Herscher on the north.
30 Years Ago
August 26, 1993
Alice Rabe of Fairbury will celebrate her 100th birthday Friday, Aug. 27, with cake being served at noon with all the residents at Helen Lewis Smith Pavilion, Fairbury, where she has been a resident since February. Mrs. Rabe was born Aug. 27, 1893 in the Illinois town of Washington, but lived in Fairbury her entire life. After completing her education at Fairbury schools, she worked as a telephone operator for about 30 years. She also played piano music to accompany the silent pictures at a theatre in Fairbury, which she did for five years. After Mrs. Rabe married her husband on June 12, 1919, she helped him at his business, Model Grocery.
If you're wandering around the fairgrounds today and tomorrow, you are likely to run into several county officials of the Republican Party, who will be happy to answer any and all questions from constituents during the Fairbury Fair. On Thursday, County Treasurer Sylvia Bayshore, Circuit Clerk Judy Cremer, Sheriff Don Wall and 87th District Representative Dan Rutherford will be on the grounds. Friday, Senator John Maitland will be available at the fair from 2 to 7 p.m., according to Les Abel, Republican Committee Chairman for Livingston County.
Sam and Teri Wenger of Fairbury, are parents of a daughter, Kimberly Jo, born at 1:59 p.m. August 13, 1993, at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. She weighed seven pounds, three ounces and was 21 inches long. Helping to welcome her home is a sister, Nicole Marie, age 15 months. Grandparents are Ron and June Slagel and Nathalia Wenger, all of Fairbury. Great-grandparents are Russell and Rosy Mowery, Fairbury.
20 Years Ago
August 27, 2003
Fairbury City Superintendent Leroy McPherson was seriously injured in a freak accident last Thursday while crews were installing new sewer piping in the city. McPherson apparently slipped on loose soil and fell into the ditch and landed on top of the piping. He was transported by SELCAS Ambulance to OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center in Pontiac, and later transferred to BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal, where he is being treated for two fractured vertebrae.
Francis Harms of Fairbury will celebrate his 90th birthday with a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at his residence on Saturday. The event will be hosted by his four children and their spouses, Norma and Dic Vanderbosch, Normal; Jan and Bob White, Palos Heights; Harvey and Candy Harms, Bloomington; and Lisa and Joe Hartzler, Springfield; and his nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Harms was born Aug. 30, 1913 in Pleasant Ridge Township, Livingston County, and married Hilda Miller on Nov. 29, 1941. She died on April 4, 1998. He is brother to Ralph Harms, Forrest; Phoebe Miller, Fairbury; Margaret Smith, Naples, Fla.; Edith Sancken, Henry; and Eunice Rich, Fairbury. A sister and brother, Ollie Head and George Harms, are deceased.
Aaron Ifft, son of Jeff and Cindy Ifft of Fairbury, and a recent graduate of Prairie Central High School, has been recruited by the University of Illinois to play baseball in 2003-04. Ifft, who was a three-year starter in high school, helped his teams compile an 86-22 record, capture a conference championship in 2002 and 2003, and win three regional championships.
10 Years Ago
August 28, 2013
Construction delays for the new Brian J. Munz Public Safety Complex prompted some finger-pointing and confusion at Wednesday's meeting of the Fairbury City Council. An Aug. 15 memo addressed to Jim Hargitt of SELCAS from Farnsworth Group describes various delays that have been experienced throughout the course of the project which ultimately led to a new work schedule from Tartar Construction received on Aug. 9. Alderman Doug Hibsch asked if the city went with the wrong contractor and Mayor Lynn Dameron replied, “Yes.” Dameron and Street Superintendent Martin Steidinger both agreed that Tarter Construction is holding up the project. The city has planned a special meeting for all the parties involved to address these issues.
Henry and Marjorie Friedman of Fairbury will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, at a later date, with their family. Friedman and Marjorie Kyburz were married July 5, 1953 at the Methodist Church in Forrest. Their attendants were Evelyn Kyburz Knapp and Alvin Friedman. They are the parents of David (Wynne) Friedman, JeanAnn (Mike) Wenger and Curtis Friedman, all of Fairbury; Mark (Crystal) Friedman, Cape Fair, Mo.; Teri Kidd, Chenoa; and Scott (Anita) Friedman, Fairbury. They have17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He retired from farming in 2005. She was a part-time secretary at Country Financial in Fairbury, retiring in 2008.
The 48th annual Holland reunion (Harry, Frank and Ralph) was held on July 14 at North Park in Fairbury with 104 in attendance, including guests. Families came from the states of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Virginia, and the Illinois towns of Batavia, Bloomington, Catlin, El Paso, Fairbury, Fisher, Granville, Gridley, Phillo, Pontiac, Rockford, Urbana and Weston. The oldest member present was Jerry Holland and the youngest member was Bailey Jo Block, daughter of Brody and Tarah Block and granddaughter of Penny Bressner Clem.
(Looking Back from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home with locations in Fairbury, Chenoa and Colfax)
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