Looking Back 9-24-25

130 Years Ago

September 21, 1895

Miss Nellie Lewis is attending the ladies' college at New London, Ontario.

Henry Remington has accepted a position with the Haas Electrical Company and departed for Springfield on Tuesday.

The fair for 1895 closed last evening. The weather was ideal, and on Thursday, 12,000 people were present. Old-timers do not hesitate to say that Thursday saw the biggest crowd ever in Fairbury. People drove here from 25 miles around, and the trains came in loaded with extra cars.

The Odd Fellows have moved into their new temple and now have one of the finest lodge rooms in the state.

120 Years Ago

September 22, 1905

The schools this year are unusually crowded and every room has a few more pupils than the teacher can successfully handle. It has been necessary to employ another teacher, Miss Anna Hull. At the present rate of growth in attendance more room will have to be provided next year. It has been suggested that steps be taken to erect a township high school here. If that is not done more room will have to be added to the present school buildings.

Last Friday Mrs. F. C. Sweet invited the members of the Women's Relief Corps and their husbands out to enjoy a fried chicken dinner and help celebrate Mr. Sweet's birthday. About 60 in all accepted the invitation and they not only enjoyed a splendid dinner of fried chicken and all the accessories but had a good old fashioned time as well. Mr. Sweet was presented with a fine easy chair as a slight remembrance of the happy occasion.

Sunday night Wm. Jones was held up and robbed of about $53 in this city. Mr. Jones had been on a visit to Bloomington and returned home on the 8:48 T. P. & W. train Sunday evening. He went north a block and a half to Maple Street, then turned north and it was at the alley in the rear of the Thos. Baker residence he was attacked. There were three men in the crowd and before he knew it they had him surrounded and guns leveled at him. They told him to throw up his hands and took all the money he had, somewhere between $50 and $53 and then made a hasty retreat into the darkness.

110 Years Ago

September 24, 1915

St. John's Church is at present undergoing a thorough redecoration.

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Darnaby and their assistant, Miss Clay, arrived in this city the first of the week and are at work on the new home-talent musical comedy, "Courting in Court," a play which will be given for the benefit of the city park.

Miss Ruby Reynolds entertained a number of her friends Saturday evening in honor of her fourteenth birthday.

The Tri-Gamma fraternity held a meeting on Friday night and received Charles Israel, a high school student, into their number.

100 Years Ago

September 25, 1925

George W. Westervelt, an old and well known resident of Fairbury, died very suddenly at his home in this city Friday morning. He had been mowing the yard, and feeling ill, sat down for a moment's rest. He succumbed almost immediately. Mr. Westervelt had been in poor health for some time and was under the doctor's care. Mr. Westervelt was an excellent citizen and made many friends during his long life here who will morn his death. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen for many years, had served on the city council and was a school trustee for several years.

Harry Mott, living on the Charles Miller farm, went to get some gasoline Saturday night, carrying a lantern to light the way. He set the lantern down to draw the gasoline and it was upset in some manner and started a fire which destroyed the coal house, cob house and meat house as well as the shed in which the gasoline was kept. In trying to extinguish the blaze Mr. Mott was somewhat burned. The buildings burned were partly covered by insurance.

There is movement on foot among Fairbury gentlemen to establish a golf course on land near this city. There are several very suitable locations that are being looked into and it is probable that grounds will be leased or purchased in time to have the links in operation early the coming year. There are already a number of enthusiastic golfers in Fairbury and many others have expressed a wish to join the clan.

90 Years Ago

September 20, 1935

George Weisser was considerably bruised by an infuriated bull at his home east of Forrest one day of last week. He was thrown to the ground and only by quick thinking managed to escape further injuries and even death by grabbing the ring in the beast's nose, and the twisting of same hurt so much, that he was able to subdue the bull. But George is "sore all over in spots" so to speak.

L. P. Troehler, one of our local anglers, landed a carp early Monday morning at the Munz sandpit that was a whopper, being 32 inches long and weighing 15 pounds. It was also about 20 inches around and took some 15 or 20 minutes of skillful maneuvering on the part of Mr. Troehler to land it. But in spite of the size of the fish caught by Mr. Troehler they say the big one got away. L. C. Johnson was the unfortunate one in losing the large fish. It put up so much resistance when Mr. Johnson started to pull it in that the line broke.

Mrs. E. P. Greenough, residing four miles southeast of Saunemin, was critically burned Monday afternoon about four o'clock at the home of Mrs. Earl Perrine, of Wing, when a gasoline iron exploded. Mrs. Greenough was at the Perrine home while Mrs. Perrine was doing some ironing. It seems that the pressure became low on the gasoline in the iron and the flame was shut off while they pumped more air into the iron. In some manner some of the gasoline caught on fire and it was spilled on Mrs. Greenough. The flaming clothes burned her body badly from the waist down, as well as her left arm. She is also thought to have inhaled some of the fumes. She was rushed to St. James Hospital, Pontiac, where her condition has been of grave concern.

80 Years Ago

September 21, 1945

The Goudy Jewelry Store, which closed about two years ago when the manager, Dean Williams, was called to the service, will reopen with Mr. Williams in charge. Mr. Williams is busy now getting things in order. He will make some changes in the show windows and otherwise improve the interior. Mr. Williams expects to have the store ready to open within the next three or four weeks.

Fairbury has been named on the proposed route of planes of the Mercury Development Corporation, commercial airline which has applied for permission to use the new University of Illinois Airport. Fourteen commercial airlines have made application to use the airport. The proposed route which would include Fairbury as a stop would be from Indianapolis to Chicago via Lebanon, Frankfort, Lafayette, Attica, Williamsport, Indian, Danville, Champaign-Urbana, Rantoul, Paxton, Gibson City, Bloomington, Normal, Lexington, Fairbury, Pontiac, Streator, LaSalle-Peru, Oglesby, Ottawa, Marseilles, Morris, Joliet.

Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Langstaff, who have been visiting in California, have made a change in their plans and will not return at this time. The doctor has been advised not to resume his practice until help is available so he plans to remain in California until his older son, Lt. James H. Langstaff Jr. has finished his service in the Navy when they will return to Fairbury and resume their practice together.

70 Years Ago

September 22, 1955

Supt. R. C. Todd Saturday had the misfortune of losing the first joint and half of the ring finger of his left hand when he was moving a ventilating fan in the attic of his home.

The city council last night officially extended the length of daylight saving time in Fairbury to the last Sunday in October. This change from Sunday, Sept. 25, was made in order to keep Fairbury in line with other nearby towns which have also extended daylight saving time one month.

A flash fire swept through the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Nance on West Locust Street about 5 a.m. Saturday, but quick action by the fire department confined the flames to the interior of the structure.

Above normal temperatures were recorded here during most of the past week, as summer put up a better-than-usual fight before bowing out. Temperatures of above 90 degrees were recorded three days of the past week.

60 Years Ago

September 23, 1965

Most of the Mexican tomato pickers are leaving the Jim Goold farm this week now that the season is over. Goold shipped 70,000 boxes of tomatoes to the Campbell Soup Company plant in Chicago. Each box has slightly more than 30 pounds of tomatoes. Harvested tonnage compares about the same as last year, says Goold. He mentioned that he could have used another 10 pickers this year, however. His acreage was up to 47 this season, compared to only 35.6 acres in 1964.

An implication that the Fairbury-Cropsey High School gym was improperly engineered was contained in an inspection report read at Monday night's meeting of the Fairbury-Cropsey Community Unit School Board. The survey was made recently at the board's request after school officials became alarmed about worsening cracks in the masonry walls of the steel framed structure. The inspecting engineer reported that the supporting steel columns each had a load of 162,200 pounds, and a capacity of 170,000 pounds, so there was a safety factor of four tons on each column.

For the first time in the history of John Joda Post 54, the Fairbury unit has received the annual Americanism Citation of the American Legion's National Commission. The award is for worthwhile and outstanding service during the year. Presentation was made Thursday, Sept. 16, at the county Legion meeting in Saunemin.

50 Years Ago

September 25, 1975

An apparent case of arson destroyed an automobile and damaged a residence on East Oak Street in Fairbury, about 3 a.m. Sunday. Both the car and house belong to Dave Soper. Flames were going up the northwest corner of the home when Fairbury firemen arrived, and the car was already gutted. Authorities said a flare pot had apparently been stolen from a sewer construction project a half-block away and placed in the car. There reportedly was evidence of oil being spilled as the pot was placed in the car.  One official source said "it may have started out as vandalism and turned into arson."

After 31 years as a Fairbury businessman, Roy Boles closed his tavern on West Locust Street Thursday afternoon and announced his retirement. He had been located at 202 West Locust for 26 years, and for 5½ years before that, was in the middle of the 100 West Locust block in partnership with Virgil Head. Known as Roy's Tavern, the business has been a social gathering spot particularly popular among older men of the community. Boles has sold his stock and fixtures to Mr. and Mrs. Randall Kiper who plan to open a package liquor establishment in the former Standard Oil Station on West Oak Street.

Much of Southeastern Livingston County was without long distance telephone service Tuesday afternoon after a farmer sliced an underground cable about five miles south of Pontiac. According to General Telephone executive Virgil Brown, the cable was inadvertently cut by a large plow at approximately 12:30 p.m. Long distance service for customers in the Fairbury, Strawn, Forrest, Chatsworth and Piper City communities was interrupted for nearly four hours while repairs were made.

40 Years Ago

September 19, 1985

Initial crop yield reports in the Fairbury area have been outstanding and Jack Kennedy, vice-president for the National Bank of Fairbury, feels the numbers should hold up across the board as farmers take to the fields in earnest in the coming days. Kennedy this week put the range of soybean yields at 54 to 64 bushel per acre with "dry corn" coming in between 145 and 190 bushel per acre.

Just in time to allow each and every one of the hundreds of new Prairie Central Hawk fans to serenade our still unbeaten football team, the high school this week is unveiling the words to the school fight song. The PCHS student body recently gave a two-to-one nod to the melody of "Mr. Touchdown, USA" over two rivals in the finals of the school song search. Here we go..."Oh go you Hawks and fly to victory. Show them who is the best team here. We will all join in the fight, for a great PCH win tonight. We'll show the world we're flying strong now. We are the hard-hittin' Hawks. And so it's fight, fight, fight for the PCHS Hawks, and a win for mighty blue."

Fairbury Hospital births — Kendra Lynette, born 7-3-85, daughter of David and Karen Margherio; Iris, born 7-7-85, daughter of Adrian and Maria Granados; Jessie Lee, born 7-13-85, daughter of Norma Encinia; Angela Marie, born 7-21-85, daughter of Terry and Pamela Birge; Leon Russell, born 7-28-85, son of Russell and Cindy Miller; McLane Arthur, born 8-6-85, son of Theodore and Sara Steidinger; Annette Kay, born 8-9-85, daughter of Lynn and Kathy Slagel.

30 Years Ago

September 20, 1995

Mrs. Gay Thomas celebrated her 102^nd birthday on Sept. 24 at Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury. She was born to John and Adeline Drenne Fewell of rural Colfax. She is the last of her family to survive. She was married to Paul Thomas on Jan. 21, 1914, in Fairbury, and they had two sons and one daughter. One son, Dean, of California, survives. There are also five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She and her husband farmed south of Fairbury until his death in 1968. She came to live at Fairview Haven on Nov. 4, 1984.

Two area students have been named among 15,000 semifinalists nationwide in the 41^st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Prairie Central High School senior Jason Dotterer and Ridgeview High School senior James Eckert Jr. are those named in the announcement. Jason is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Dotterer of Fairbury and James is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Eckert of Colfax. The students have an opportunity to continue in this competition and earn one of the approximately 6,900 Merit Scholarship awards, worth a total of about $26 million.

Area residents responded generously to the summer blood shortage appeal when 74 donors presented themselves at the Fairbury Chapter bloodmobile at Tri-County Health Services on Aug. 23. The goal for the drawing was 45 units. John Traub and Rodney White were first time donors. Multiple gallon donors recognized were: John Tredennick, 10; Judy Slagel, 8; Steve Metz, 6; John Rich and Trish Peters, 4; and Patricia Hardesty and LaRae Walter, 3.

20 Years Ago

September 21, 2005

Prairie Central Junior High and Upper Elementary Art Teacher Gene Riha told students at the Upper Elementary that he would shave his beard if they raised $1,500 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The students and faculty raised a total of $2,406, and you know the rest of the story. Riha's wife, Carolyn, also a teacher at Prairie Central, did the honors last Friday, as her husband kept his promise to shave the beard that he had worn for 20-plus years. The event took place at an all-school assembly.

Tyler Webster, a participant in the Prairie Central Boys & Girls Club, and a graduate of Prairie Central High School, has been awarded a $1,000 Presidential Freedom Scholarship, a national initiative that recognizes high school juniors and seniors who have made an outstanding commitment to community service. During junior high and high school Webster officiated for the soccer program, umpired for both little league and softball, and took care of the baseball and softball fields. He also coached a little league team for several years and was named co-youth of the year at the PC Boys & Girls Club for 2005. He is the son of Todd and Becky Webster of Fairbury.

Clarence and Clara Wessels' 40^th family reunion was held Sept. 2, 3, 4 and 5, in Mahomet at the Champaign Sportsmen's Club. It was hosted by Lois Wodzinski of Island Lake and Kathy Kelbel of Las Vegas, Nev. They are the children of Lucetta Wessels (Don) Way. Clarence and Clara had five children, Agarita "Rita" Wessels (Jerry) Vaughan, Lucetta "Lu", Dallas Wessels, Harlan Wessels and Lara Ann "Larry Ann" Wessels (Don) Wunsch. Rita, Lu and Dallas are deceased. The Wessels family has held their reunions in New Buffalo, Mich. for most of the earlier years and more recently in different areas in Illinois.

10 Years Ago

September 23, 2015

Lucy Whitfill won best of show with her arrangement entered in the “Rainbow Bouquet” category at the annual Westview flower show sponsored by the Fairbury Garden Club. Cora Morris took first place in the garden division. Each spring the Fairbury Garden Club distributes seeds to students who are  then invited to enter flowers in the fall show. Those students who wish to enter gardens grown from the Garden Club seeds are visited and judged by Garden Club members. Connie Kostelc was chairman of the show and served as one of the judges. Other judges were Paula Trainor-Rosenbaum, Andrea Lee and Dawn Baker. Lorraine Sellmyer was also on the committee.

Trevor and Kim Metz Maloch of Champaign are the parents of a baby boy born at 2:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2015 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Harrison Ivan weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 22 inches long at birth. Maternal grandparents are Steve and Sherry Metz of Fairbury. Paternal grandparents are John and Becky Maloch of Corona, Calif., and the late Jeannette Maloch. Maternal great-grandparents are Ivan and Wilma Walter of Arlington, Peggy Metz of Washington and the late Melvin Metz. Paternal great-grandparents are Pat Maloch of California, the late Cleo Maloch and the late Charles and Jewel Frederick.

The Prairie Central cross country team is participating in their annual charity run. This year the team has decided to raise money for Brent Edelman, a junior at Prairie Central High School. In the spring of 2015, he was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. Brent's parents are Kirk and Myra Edelman of rural Forrest. On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the cross country team will be starting at Locust Street in Fairbury and running loops around the town. The team will keep running until they feel their body cannot go any further. Each runner will then document their overall time (in minutes). The team are asking sponsors to pledge a dollar/cent amount per minute for a particular member of the team. Every donation the team receives will go to the Edelman family.

(Looking Back from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)