Looking Back

130 Years Ago

November 19, 1892

Lou Shepherd has rented the room lately occupied by Mrs. Johnson in the east end and will open a first-class restaurant.

Master Fred Burch will give a dancing party at the opera house on Wednesday evening. The music will be furnished by Master Fred's orchestra, assisted by Prof. Ripley.

Now that the election is over, the people will begin once more to agitate the subject of good roads for Illinois.

The sparrow law goes into effect December 1, and from that time until March 1, the small boy and target gun will pursue that two-cent bounty with an assiduity worthy a better cause.

A new board sidewalk has been laid along a portion of the south side of Main street between Second and Fourth streets.

120 Years Ago

November 21, 1902

Next Thursday is a day set apart for national thanksgiving. At the present time, perhaps more than at any other time in the history of the nation, have the people of the United States cause to return sincere thanks to the Giver of all good for the many blessings which have come to our doors. We are, as a people, enjoying an era of prosperity and plentifulness never before equaled. The dove of peace has spread its wings over all; the tiller of the soil has an abundant crop; the toiler everywhere is busy; the factories and mills are working full blast and the businessman and merchant is prospering.

A very large audience attended the second number of the lecture course which was given by Carter the Magician, Tuesday evening. He gave a first-class entertainment and kept his audience interested throughout. Everybody was well pleased.

The new grain elevator of N. B. Claudon & Son is now completed and the firm is ready for business at their new stand. The new elevator is modern and up-to-date in all its appointments and equipped with everything for the expeditious handling of grain. The elevator is located in the east end just west of Perlee's cold storage building.

110 Years Ago

November 22, 1912

A man named Phillips, a car repairer on the Wabash, had part of his foot crushed off in the Forrest yards Wednesday night. He was inspecting cars on a freight train and stepped back to get out of the way of one train when a train on another track struck him. He fell with one foot under the car wheels. The Streator branch passenger engine took him to Decatur and that train was an hour late into Fairbury on Thursday morning in consequence.

Half of the members of the Shakespeare Club entertained the other half Monday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Walter Amsbary. Instead of regular roll call the ladies were presented with baby pictures of the members and requested to answer present when the name of the lady whose picture they had was called. This created much amusement and was followed by voting contests and other social pleasures.

In the language of the streets, W. H. Bartlett's lamps "were out of sight" the other evening. As was noted in last week's Blade, Mr. Bartlett contested his case before Squire Zimmerman last Saturday and after hearing the evidence the Squire decided that it had not been proven that the lamps on Mr. Barlett's automobile were burning at the time he passed Officer Demler and he assessed the defendant the sum of $190 and costs, the latter amounting to $5.75.

100 Years Ago

November 17, 1922

Odell was visited by a bad fire Sunday morning about 4 o'clock which did damage in the amount of $30,000. The buildings burned were of frame construction and were the old landmarks of Odell, having stood for the past 60 or 70 years. It was only from the fact that these buildings were surrounded by buildings of brick and also that there had been a rain Saturday night that the fire did not do more damage.

Sheriff Robert T. Gorman has received the final order of the Livingston County court in the case of the People vs. Myron Corbridge, found guilty of murder recently. The order commands the sheriff to hang the person of Myron Corbridge on the 15th day of December, 1922, within the jail or in an enclosure adjacent to the jail.

Last Saturday, Armistice Day, was far from being an ideal day for any kind of a celebration. It started to rain early in the morning and kept it up throughout the entire day. The program under the auspices of John Joda Post, American Legion, was carried out. Rev. W. C. Chapman, speaker for the occasion, had as his subject "Memories," and gave a splendid talk. On account of the inclement weather only a small audience was present.

90 Years Ago

November 18, 1932

Two auto loads of teachers who have been attending the teachers' institute at Pontiac, were in an automobile accident Wednesday morning, north of Chenoa, on Route 4. The cars belonged to Prof. E. G. Stevens and Miss Grace Schertz. Both cars were going north when Mr. Stevens came up back of Miss Schertz' car and went around it. In so doing his car went off the pavement and in getting back on skidded, the cars sideswiping each other. Both cars went into the ditch, but did not overturn. No one was injured and the cars were not damaged to any great extent.

Some towns have their gasoline wars in which the price of gasoline is knocked down to a place where there is no profit to the retailer, but it remained for Fairbury buyers of butterfat to stage a butterfat war. On Wednesday the dealers here were paying 22 cents for butterfat, which was more than they could get for it in Chicago. According to the quotations given us yesterday the war is still on.

A snow storm that was unusually heavy for this time of the year visited this section of the country Tuesday, covering the ground to a depth of around seven inches. The snow drifted considerably, especially on the east and west roads. John Wessels, highway maintenance man, and a force of men were out with a snow plow and succeeded in keeping Route 8 pretty well open, but despite their efforts a number of cars stalled Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

80 Years Ago

November 20, 1942

People who were up shortly after six o'clock on Monday morning and happened to be out of doors were attracted by an unusual light that lit up the western sky. The phenomenon was witnessed by a number in this vicinity and appeared to be a big ball of fire with purple and green colors radiating from it. The strange part of it was that it stayed in the sky for several minutes. All at once it appeared to burst and then formed itself into a figure 3 or capital E. As it went along it left a dark streak that looked like smoke.

The teachers and pupils for Fairbury elementary schools conceived the idea of having a stamp auction sale similar to the recent bond auction sale in Fairbury. Both pupils and teachers donated premiums to help inspire the bidding. It was anticipated that perhaps twenty dollars worth of stamps would be sold. Imagine the surprise to all when the enthusiastic bidding continued until a total of over $160 worth of stamps were auctioned off.

Everyone around here knows it, but for the benefit of those living in California and Florida, where the weather is supposed to be good, we will state that Illinois is enjoying some exceptionally fine spring-like weather.

70 Years Ago

November 20, 1952

Next Thursday, W. B. Decker will, with other people across the nation, celebrate Thanksgiving Day. However, Mr. Decker is putting on a little celebration of his own on that date – his 98th birthday.

Some hunters walk all day and fail to get a shot at a pheasant or fail to get a pheasant if they do get a shot. George Lorch is not troubled with the customary difficulties that plague hunters. He catches them alive. While spreading limestone, Mr. Lorch caught a cock pheasant which was caught in a fence. He then placed it in a chicken house with its domesticated relatives. On Sunday he presented it to W. E. Butcher, who took it home to show his daughter, Sally. Mr. Butcher, wishing to record the image of the pheasant, got out his movie camera. Sally had her father hold the bird while she operated the camera. The pheasant is now residing in the Butcher home freezer.

A/2c Thomas H. Keeley of Forrest, arrived at Iwakini Air Base, Japan, October 25, for overseas duty. As he entered the barracks he met Marine Pfc. Delbert Roy, also of Forrest, coming out. Although Delbert is stationed at Itami Air Base he had flown to Iwakini with the Itami football team for a game. Both are graduates of Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School, Pfc. Roy in 1951 and Airman Keeley in 1950.

60 Years Ago

November 22, 1962

Officials of the National Bank of Fairbury have announced that checks totaling over $16,000 were sent out last week to members of the 1962 Christmas Savings Club. The exact amount of $16,007.75 was paid to a total of 169 club members. The Christmas Club is set up to run for a total of 50 weeks, with the first payment being made the first week in December, and the last payment on Nov. 15. Payments in the Christmas Club are set up on a weekly basis, with the member setting the amount he wants to pay each week. The majority of this year's club members paid either $2 or $5 per week, giving them a return of either $100 or $250.

Justice H. B. Bedell sentenced two Fairbury youths to serve two-day sentences on drag racing charges Friday. Both boys were released from County Jail Sunday. Driver's licenses were taken away from both boys for one year. State trooper Charles McCarthy witnessed the racing event last Saturday on Eighth Street. Capt. Francis Mowery informed the Blade that the penalty on such a charge ranges from a minimum of one day to a maximum of one year.

Carbon monoxide poisoning caused the hospitalization of four workmen at the Fairbury Industries plant Monday afternoon. Admitted to Fairbury Hospital and placed under oxygen were Donald Dawson and Eugene Dennick, both of Fairbury; Irvin Nagel of Forrest and Vernon Shifflet of Chenoa. The men were stricken as they were welding in the temporary plant at the east edge of Fairbury. The four were released from the hospital Tuesday morning.

50 Years Ago

November 23, 1972

Monday, the Association of Commerce's Retail Committee closed its Miss Merry Christmas Court registration, and drew the names of five youngsters who will be featured in the annual Christmas parade set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Members of the court are Miss Tammy Mallon, 6, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merlyn Mallon of Fairbury; Miss Catherine Minogue, 6, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Minogue of Fairbury; Miss Mary Kay Maynard, 6, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Maynard of rural Fairbury; Miss Tammy Johnson, 7, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Johnson of Fairbury; and Miss Judy Haberkorn, 5, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Haberkorn of Chatsworth.

An apparent burglary attempt at Walton's Department store in Fairbury was thwarted Sunday evening. The overhead door to the firm's carpet warehouse on their dock was broken open, but the adjoining store wall was solid brick and had no opening into the store. Officer Curt Van Note, who discovered the jimmied door at about 9 p.m., and Manager W. W. Wessel theorize that the intruder had expected to find an opening into the store.

Vandals broke six windows in The Blade building late Saturday night or early Sunday while also smearing the building with catsup and eggs. Fairbury police are investigating the incident, and a possible connection with an editorial discussing the Fairbury-Cropsey football system in last week's Blade.

40 Years Ago

November 18, 1982

Since June of 1981, Fairbury's Dominy Memorial Library has been receiving a facelift, the first repair and remodeling work on the building since its completion in 1904. Phased remodeling plans have been designed by the library's board members, and as funds become available, the valuable, historic building will be restored, improved and updated in order to extend more services and facilities to the people of the Fairbury community.

Highway superintendent Jon Bourne hopes to systematically replace each of the outdated, iron truss bridges in Livingston County before the flood of federal and state monies which make such projects economically feasible dries up. The need to replace outdated bridges is particularly acute in Livingston County, where the rural roads are used extensively by farmers, moving about with bigger and bigger machinery.

Electrical service will be interrupted for about 30 minutes in most of Fairbury, including rural areas, and also the village of Weston, early Thursday morning. The interruptions are to permit adjustments on transformers at the substation at Walnut and Webster streets. Excepted from the blackout is the northeast portion of Fairbury, an area which has been rewired during the summer by CIPS, and which was shut down for about 30 minutes last week.

30 Years Ago

November 19, 1992

Edyie Baker, of Bloomington, who has been selling advertising space locally for Today's Market Place Shopper, was named Advertising Manager of the Blade by publisher James Foster on Friday. Baker is a 1970 graduate of Illinois State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education. She taught second grade, remedial reading and primary art for five years in Chenoa, has five years experience as an insurance agent, one year in yellow page sales, five years with the Community News in Bloomington and this past year as sales manager with the Shopper in Pontiac.

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lehmann, Fairbury will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house reception Saturday, Nov. 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Fairbury United Methodist Fellowship Hall. Their children will host the reception, with five generations to be present. Lehmann and Frances Snively were married Nov. 19, 1942 at Cuba, Ill. Attendants were Marjorie Turner Copple and Alan Snively. The Lehmanns have three children, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.

Tom (T.J.) Posey is one of 23 men who have pledged the Sigma Chi Fraternity this spring at Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington. Sigma Chi, one of six social fraternities at Wesleyan, established the chapter in 1883. Posey, of Fairbury, is a freshman.

20 Years Ago

November 20, 2002

Prairie Central High School seniors Aaron Ifft and Amanda Slagel have been nominated to the Wendy's High School Heisman Program, that honors the nation's top high school seniors who best exemplify a supreme "scholar-citizen-athlete." Ifft and Slagel were nominated for their academic aptitude, athletic talent and tremendous display of commitment in and out of the classroom setting. The program, in its ninth year, was created through a partnership between Wendy's, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC)—the home of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, in 1994.

Twelve-year-old Dillon Hall, son of Steve and Wendy Hall of Fairbury, has been racing motorcycles since he was four years old. He just completed another successful season at tracks in Casey and Wapella. During the 2002 season, Dillon finished as champion — Illinois series in the 85cc junior division at Casey and Wapella; champion — Moto-X Track in the 85cc junior division at Casey; champion — Moto-X Track in the Mini 1 division at Casey; champion — Labor Day weekend in the 85cc junior division at Casey; champion — MX Extreme series in the 85cc division at Wapella; and currently leads the 85cc junior division points standings in Illinois.

10 Years Ago

November 21, 2012

Duane “Buck” Morris of Fairbury is celebrating his 95^th birthday with a family dinner. He was born Nov. 23, 1917 in Piper City. He married Mona Crews in 1948 and they had four children, JoAnn Morris, Jean Morris, Mark Morris and Judy (Dave) Surber. He married Mary Baltz in 1970 and has two step-children, Lisa (Bob) Gibson and Kevin Baltz. He also has one brother, Jack (Frances) Morris of Champaign. Morris is retired from the post office and the Air Force Reserves, and was very active in the Fairbury Fair Association and the American Legion Speedway for many years. He is also a 60-year member of the Fairbury American Legion and a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Chenoa.

Addison Bounds was the only player in the Corn Belt Conference to earn a unanimous first-team selection to the all-Corn Belt Conference football team for 2012. The Prairie Central quarterback led the Hawks to a 7-3 record and a play-off berth. He threw for 933 yards and 24 touchdowns on 177 of 188 passing. He also rushed for 616 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Amanda Maley and Kyle Todd, both of Kewanee, are announcing their engagement and approaching marriage. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Brad and Lori Maley of Fairbury. She is a 2012 graduate of Eureka College and is employed as an English teacher at Wethersfield High School. The future bridegroom is the son of Mark and Cindy Todd of Oakford. He is a 2011 graduate of Eureka College and is employed at Kelly's Medical. The couple is planning a March 30, 2013 wedding in Peoria.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Looking Back history column through the pages of The Blade