Looking Back
130 Years Ago
November 26, 1892
Bert John, son of Miles John, sustained a compound fracture of the left leg, between the hip and the knee, last Saturday by being caught in a straw press.
Charley Archer is ringing down nickels on a street car in Peoria.
G. W. Eckhart expects to get located in his new house on South Fourth street next week.
Instead of the regular preaching, the Baptist Young People's Union will give the "Carey Missionary Service" next Sunday evening in the Baptist church.
Cropsey — Aaron Putnam has purchased the W. L. Allen place at $80 per acre. New corn sold here for 24 cents last week.
120 Years Ago
November 28, 1902
Wing — Mr. Brown, when driving out of the elevator after unloading, met with an accident that might have been serious. The team crowded off the driveway and fell to the ground but escaped with a few breaks in the wagon.
The woods north of Fairbury are alive with possum and it's seldom the hunter with hounds goes out without bring home a nice fat animal. Saturday night, A. H. Mundt, Jesse Cumpston and Charles E. Gregg took Cumpston's dogs and went out and got two. They turned them over to Henry Babb whose better half knows how to cook them to a queen's taste and Henry had them dished up for Thanksgiving.
Weston — Wednesday November 26, brought us the first snow of the season. It seems more like Thanksgiving to see mother-earth with her mantle of snow, but our farmers who have from 100 to 125 acres of corn to husk yet, would just as soon it had not fallen until noon Christmas.
110 Years Ago
November 29, 1912
Last Sunday afternoon while visiting at Barney Kelly's, Charles, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. John Masching, who live west of Emington, in some manner got hold of a bottle of iodine and child-like, swallowed some of it, his throat being badly burned both in and outside. Dr. Richardson, who has the case reports the little fellow getting along nicely.
Squire Zimmerman will have served the city of Fairbury as police magistrate for twenty-five years next April and he says he is going to take off the harness at that time and retire from the duties of that office. A quarter of a century is a long time to deal out justice and during that time the squire has seen many of the "downs" of human life. The business of a police magistrate, in so small a city as Fairbury is more or less of a "trying" nature to both the culprit and the magistrate. Just how many drunk and disorderly cases Squire Zimmerman has disposed of in his 25 years on the bench is uncertain, but there has been a lot.
A number of young folks gathered at the Spence home last Monday evening to remind Mr. Thos. Green of his birthday. All had a very enjoyable time. Refreshments were served, consisting of popcorn, candy, bananas and apples. Games were indulged in until a late hour, all departing, wishing Tom many happy returns of the evening.
100 Years Ago
November 24, 1922
John Fortna and Elmon Fortna, farmers of Esmen Township, Livingston County, filed voluntary petitions in bankruptcy last Friday in Peoria. John, alleges he has a wife and four minor children, scheduled debts of $4,656.32, and assets of $741.50. Elmon listed debts of $4,061l.66 and assets of $429.50.
A very pretty wedding took place last Sunday morning just before Sunday School at the home of Rev. W. C. Chapman, when he pronounced the ceremony which united in marriage Clifton R. Harvey, of this vicinity, and Miss Gladys Ward, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Ward, residing south of Fairbury. Both young people are well known to a large number of friends in this community who wish them unbounded success and happiness.
There may be many gay rounds of festivities during the winter months, but we doubt if any can surpass the Japanese party given Monday afternoon by Mrs. Robert Henning, Mrs. Stuckey, Mrs. Phelps, Mrs. Bane, Mrs. Chris Garber, Mrs. Thayer and Mrs. Chapman, to the remaining members of the Culture club and a number of outside guests. Each was asked to come dressed as a Japanese lady in kimono and hair in Japanese style. The result was most pleasing and satisfactory as the ladies were most charming in their gay costumes.
90 Years Ago
November 25, 1932
Will Morris came home last Friday night from a hunting trip loaded to capacity with ducks. He had them downtown before he went home, and they were just about as pretty a bunch as one would care to look at. However, the fact that people knew Bill had the ducks probably cost him seven of them, for about two o'clock Saturday morning members of the Morris family were awakened by the barking of the dog and the slamming of the back screen door. An investigation revealed that some thief had stolen seven of the ducks, and no doubt yesterday was exceedingly thankful that Bill is such a good shot.
On Sunday last, November 20, A. H. Mundt presented an electric clock to the Baptist Church. Mr. Mundt made the presentation in person and J. S. Denarske accepted the gift for the church with a few well chosen words. The clock is a handsome timepiece as well as a memorial of Mr. Mundt, who is one of our honored veterans of the Civil War.
The second of a series of pinochle tournaments that will be held by the Phi Chi Psi members during the coming winter months, took place at their club rooms on Monday evening. Nine tables were at play. High score for the evening, 6,240, went to John Purdum. This was made in six games of four hands each.
80 Years Ago
November 27, 1942
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fugate had a surprise visit from a swarm of bees last Friday that gave every indication of having come to stay over winter. They were a bit antagonistic when an attempt was made to shoo them out and an expert bee tamer was called in to subdue them, but not until both Mr. and Mrs. Fugate had been stung. It seems that for some time the bees had been storing up honey under the floor in a second story room. When the floor was taken up some 30 or 50 pounds of honey was found.
Commencing last Saturday night at midnight and continuing through tomorrow night at 12 o'clock no coffee has been or will be sold. Starting on Monday morning your coffee will be rationed out to you and your sugar rationing books will be used in the transaction. However, there will be a difference. The sugar book coupons were good for every member of the family, but not so with the coupons used for coffee – only persons 15 years of age or older will be eligible to receive coffee.
Clyde Blackmore, Cullom farmer, injured the middle finger of his left hand Monday when he caught the end of it in the chain of his corn picker. The nail and flesh were torn from the end of the finger, but the bone was not injured. He was practically through husking when the accident occurred.
70 Years Ago
November 27, 1952
James Dennis, grain buyer at Honegger's and Co., was taken to the hospital Saturday afternoon following a fall from one of the steel grain bins located on the south edge of town. Dennis suffered a sprained back when a ladder slipped and he fell 16 feet from the top of one of the bins. He was rushed by ambulance to the hospital and released Monday, but is still confined to his home. Glen Sparks, another Honegger employee, also fell from the bin, but was not injured.
About $175 in cash was taken from a steel vault at the Fairbury High School sometime during Saturday night or Sunday morning in the third such break-in here in recent months. Entry to the building was made by prying a ground-level window on the southeast side, giving entry to one of the grade school class rooms. The cash was taken from a total of three strong boxes and a number of envelopes and included lunch monies, receipts from a basketball game and other activity and club funds.
The driver of a Kelly Potato Chip truck must have had a load of rabbit's feet instead of his usual merchandise when he passed through Fairbury Tuesday. Just east of the bridge on the east side of town, the driver was forced to take to the shoulder of the road to avoid a two-wheel trailer, which was being pulled by a farm tractor and had come loose from its hitch. The shoulder, soft from the two days rain which was still falling, allowed the truck to skid over the embankment. The truck nestled on its side, and required two-and-a-half hours of work by the Fairbury Auto Co. wrecker to extract it from the ditch.
60 Years Ago
November 29, 1962
A 1959 Cessna Skylane aircraft was destroyed by fire about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Joe Kuenzi farm yard. The plane was not completely burned, however the interior of the cabin, instruments and part of the engine were destroyed. Kuenzi, owner of the plane and pilot for the past 20 years, told the Blade that an engine backfire ignited gasoline at the bottom of the cowling. He grabbed an extinguisher nearby the plane and almost had the fire under control when the extinguisher froze. Joe was preparing to take some neighbors for a ride when the incident occurred. However, no one was in the aircraft except the pilot when the blaze started.
City Council members voted to purchase a $900 snow plow Wednesday night from a Streator company. The plow will be mounted on the Fairbury truck in about two weeks, Mayor Roy Taylor commented. The mayor reported that the old snow plow is over ten years old and was used when the city bought it. The new plow will be equipped with a three-inch cylinder to raise and lower the blade.
Approximately 75 Masonic lodge members and guests were present Monday night when Drs. H. C. Sauer and C. G. Shaddle received 50-year jewels. Worshipful Master Carl Goembel presented the jewel to Dr. Shaddle, Forrest dentist. Si Moser pinned on Dr. Sauer's jewel. Earlier in the evening, members and guests enjoyed a ham and oyster supper.
50 Years Ago
November 30, 1972
The reigning duo for this holiday season is Miss Judy Haberkorn and Master Randy McCulloh. Judy, 5, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Haberkorn of Chatsworth. Randy, 6, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stan McCulloh of Fairbury. Thy were selected by a drawing of the Fairbury Association of Commerce. More than 2,500 people registered children's names in this year's annual holiday drawing. Both Master Jack Frost and Miss Merry Christmas and her attendants will be in Saturday's holiday parade scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, at 1:30 p.m. when the Santa Claus parade steps off, the participants will march to the beat of eight different bands. Perry Burroughs, the parade director, earlier enlisted the aid of F-C band director Bruce Hammitt, who called upon his contacts in the world of music to provide entertainment and judges for the parade. After the Marching Tartars will come bands from Melvin-Sibley, El Paso, Gridley, Forrest-Strawn-Wing, Chatsworth, Flanagan (the defending champions of this parade) and Minonk-Dana-Rutland.
A Fairbury seamstress, with a lot of talent, has just completed an 8½ foot long "Stitch 'n Stuff" sofa, which sits on the floor proper. The entire project took about 25 hours of labor and sewing, according to Miss Lu Ann Hish of Fairbury, the young lady who has spent most of her spare time the last couple of months working on the sofa. Tuesday evening Lu Ann finally took a few minutes off from her job to relax on the new sofa.
40 Years Ago
November 25, 1982
Burglars forced their way into four Fairbury businesses in the pre-dawn hours, Tuesday, taking money, tools and even about 50 pounds of mozzarella cheese. Fairbury police said Tuesday Paternoster Ford, Addis Auto Parts, Paul's Place and the Pizza Palace were broken into between 12:30 a.m. and dawn. "They used the same M. O. at each place," Chief Bill Spray reported. "And it is the same method of entrance used a week ago Monday night to burglarize Westgate."
Fairbury's century-long reputation as a retailing center got a boost last week when Walton's Department Store observed its 114th anniversary sale. Walton's is not only the county's largest retailer both in terms of merchandise and also floorspace, it is also the oldest firm in the county under the same name. During the anniversary week, company sources said Thursday after all the counting and tabulating was done, they had experienced the "largest week in their entire history," including both anniversary sales and also any week of Christmas shopping!
Gary Stephens of Fairbury is persistent. Spending all day Friday and Saturday trodding through the cold, rain-drenched woods along the Vermillion river north of Fairbury in search of deer and not seeing a sign of any at all would send most men heading for home. But not Gary. He decided to give it a final try Sunday and, at 8 that morning, was confronted with a 10-point buck which he quickly brought down with his shotgun. Gary said that he has nabbed small bucks and does in previous years, but never one such as this which weighed in at a hefty 210 pounds.
30 Years Ago
November 26, 1992
Heather Dameron, a student at Southern Illinois School of Medicine, was recently a delegate to the 77th annual meeting of the American Medical Women's Association. She was among 700 other medical women from across the United States who met with political leaders and public health authorities to address the major health issues confronting women in the U.S.
McDonald's Restaurant, Fairbury, was recently presented the 1992 Restaurant Award from the Illinois Pork Producers Association and the Livingston County Pork Producers. To be nominated, a restaurant had to have more than one pork item listed on its menu and/or served as a featured item on a regular basis. Twenty-five restaurants throughout Illinois were selected by pork producers who felt that pork entrees were being prepared and served in a highly visible and attractive manner.
Eureka College senior Debra Kessinger, Chatsworth, is participating in a Marketing Management Internship with College Hills Mall, Normal. Through the experience, she will become familiar with marketing retail sales through multi-media advertising. Eureka College offers internship opportunities as a part of the college's academic program, providing students with a blend of academic and practical experience.
20 Years Ago
November 27, 2002
The Christmas court for the 2002 Fairbury Christmas Celebration has been named and includes Maria Dunn, 6, daughter of Brian and Teresa Dunn of Fairbury; Evan Rieger, 7, son of Jamie and Tina Rieger of Forrest; Cassie Curry, 5, daughter of Craig and Tricia Curry, Fairbury; Ed Shafer, 6, son of Tim and Becky Shafer of Fairbury; Alexis Kupferschmid, 7, daughter of Michael and Tammi Kupferschmid of Fairbury; Cody Tolbert, 6, son of Mark and Tiffany Tolbert of Chenoa; Kennedy Stork, daughter of Rich and Jamie Stork of Forrest; and Drake Robert, 5½, son of Mark and Beth Robert of Fairbury.
Nathan Mills, son of John and Karen Mills of Fairbury, and a 1999 graduate of Prairie Central High School, is one of several Eastern Illinois University students that were recently the recipients of Parents' Club Scholarships. The scholarships, established by Eastern's Parents' Club Board and administered through the EIU Foundation, are presented annually during Eastern's Family Weekend to full time undergraduate students in good academic standing. Mills is a career and technical education major with a technology education emphasis.
Army Pvt. Craig Jackson of the 1st-50th Bravo Co. has graduated from 14 weeks of Infantry training at Fort Benning Georgia. He will be stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo., where he will receive six months of mortar training. He is the son of Harold and Karen Jackson and grandson of Jim and Joann Wells, all of Fairbury.
10 Years Ago
November 28, 2012
Zoe Eulitt, daughter of William Eulitt and Jeri Pogue, was named Miss Merry Christmas of the 2012 Fairbury Christmas Celebration, and Owen Steidinger, son of Doug and Dixie Steidinger, was named Jack Frost. They will ride in the Fairbury Christmas Parade on Saturday, in a horse-drawn carriage, with Santa Claus. Also in the Christmas Court are Cassie Lane, daughter of J. D., and Jenny Lane; Ellie Strough, daughter of Jason and Laura Strough; Journey Mowery, daughter of Echo and Craig Mowery; Cole Weber, son of Todd and Jennifer Weber; Andrew Daugherity, son of Harrison and Katy Kamrath; and John Traub, son of John and Kristin Traub.
Tuesday morning classes at Prairie Central High School in Fairbury came with heightened security after suspicious posts on Facebook alarmed school officials. PC District Superintendent Dr. John Capasso said that there were no specific threats involved and the school wasn't on lockdown. He said, over the course of a couple of days, Facebook posts from a student claiming to be moving into the community and looking to make friends slowly turned odd and bizarre. “A number of kids started to unfriend this student, which caused a flurry of exchanges. The mother of this student basically took everyone to task for unfriending her daughter and bullying issues, making comments about how there are school shootings caused by bullying. No specific threats were made, but it was just enough for us to decide to take some precautions,” he explained.
The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) met at Lost in Time Restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 13 for its 117th anniversary party. Hostesses were Marjorie Mishler and Mary Lou BesGrove. Table decorations were done by Pam, Cathryn and Susie Frisby (Lange). Carol Hoffman presented a group participation program on the history of CLSC. In 1878, John H. Vincent formed CLSC to provide a means for people to improve not only their religious education but also their skills in secular fields. Public schooling ended at the elementary level. One-hundred-seventeen years ago on Nov. 16, 1895, a group of Fairbury ladies organized a study club known as the Bay View Reading Circle.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Looking Back history column from the pages of The Blade
