Looking Back in the pages of The Blade
130 Years Ago
June 11, 1892
A meeting of the Fairbury Driving Association was held recently, the outcome of which was that it has been decided to hold its summer meeting on July 1, 2 and 4. John Mapel was elected president of the association, J. H. Odell vice-president, F. E. Odell treasurer and H. B. Taylor secretary.
The public well has now reached a depth of 1512 feet, but work on it has been stopped on account of a broken cable.
This week witnessed a change in the boot and shoe firm of Merit & Son, who for the past nine years have enjoyed the enviable reputation of being one of the leading firms of this city. Charles Sims, well known to the people of this community, has purchased the interest of C. D. Merit. The firm will be known as Merit & Sims. C. J. Merit will continue traveling for the firm he is now with until July, when he will give his entire time to the business here.
N. E. Fulton has accepted a position on the News at Sheldon and left for that place Monday night. Newt is a good printer and a nice young fellow and we heartily commend him to the people of Sheldon.
120 Years Ago
June 13, 1902
Gov. Yates has issued a proclamation designating Saturday, June 14 as flag day. He asks that citizens, merchants and state officers in all cities and towns decorate their homes, places of business and public buildings with the stars and stripes on the commemorative occasion.
One of the worst storms that has visited this section in years swept thru McLean and Livingston counties Tuesday night. The lightning was something fearful and for over two hours it was almost possible to read a newspaper it was so continuous. Very little damage was done by the wind in this vicinity, but at Colfax and Chenoa, it did great damage. The rain came down in torrents and it is estimated that fully three and one-half inches fell during the night.
Avoca — Members of the Free Methodist church are going to have a basket service in the grove adjoining the Avoca church Sunday June 15. Bring your well filled baskets and stay all day.
Wing — One of Mrs. Redd's little boys fell down the steps into Ray's cellar Tuesday and injured his head so that he was unconscious for awhile but is all right at this writing.
110 Years Ago
June 14, 1912
These sweltering summer months do you spend needless hours in that hot kitchen walking from table to pantry, store and refrigerator or will you join the army of over a half million women who use a Hoosier kitchen cabinet? It hands you things just when you want them. Come in and allow us to show you our line. —Walton Bros. Co., furniture dept.
Headed by Carl Goudy and Louie Dirk in their "Freak" the Fairbury Motorcycle Club made a run to Streator and back Sunday. It was expected that there would be 50 machines in the run, but only 20 made the start. They all made the finish, but were widely separated owing to mishaps of various kind. Will Goudy was the only one to get a fall and he was not injured. The club expects to go to Peoria next Sunday and no one will be allowed to travel faster than 20 miles per hour. This will keep the machines all together.
The committees of the Federation of Clubs who had charge of the sale of red cross stamps in this city, held a meeting this week and unanimously decided to place the red cross fountain in Marsh park. The fountain was awarded them for the sale of the largest number of stamps per capita, of any city in this congressional district. We understand that it will be put in as soon after its arrival as possible.
100 Years Ago
June 9, 1922
One evening last week as Stewart Ploense was well on his way to Fairbury driving his Willys six he discovered his car was on fire and just had time to jump as the flames burst out from beneath the seat. It was soon reduced to a mass of wreckage.
Frank Ripley, residing just a mile from Weston, suffered a stroke of paralysis last Thursday while driving home from Chenoa in his automobile, with his wife and two children. The stroke came on Mr. Ripley when near the Chenoa Cemetery, his right side being affected. He continued to drive the car until he got to Weston, using only one hand to steer the machine. Word from Weston yesterday afternoon says that Mr. Ripley is improving.
Some person or persons gained an entrance to the Moose lodge rooms at Forrest some time Sunday night. It is reported that they got away with about $70 worth of valuables. An entrance was gained by forcing up one of the windows.
The commencement exercises of the class of 1922, Fairbury township high school will be held at Central opera house next Thursday evening, June 15. The baccalaureate services will be held Sunday evening, June 11, at the Presbyterian Church. Out of this class of twenty graduates, four of them expect to return to school next year for a post-graduate course.
90 Years Ago
June 10, 1932
That Bob Harris handles his buildings with care while moving them, was demonstrated recently when a house he moved seven years ago was moved and reached its last destination in fine shape. The unusual part about the moving of the house the last time was that he moved it back over the same road he did seven years ago and then took it on two and a half miles farther. In bringing the house into town Indian Creek had to be crossed. With a large tractor pulling the house it was taken down the banks of the creek just east of the stone quarry bridge, and with planking sunk on the bed of the creek the house was pulled across without any trouble. A large audience was present to witness the moving of the house at this particular point.
Robert Tipton and Vernon Gibb, of this city; Frank Luhring of Weston and Glenn Martin of Forrest, formed a quartette which represented the 4-H clubs of Livingston county who took part in a state-wide musical contest held in the annual Junior club tour of the University of Illinois at Urbana, Wednesday. The Livingston county quartette made a good showing, placing third.
Mrs. Clifford Nussbaum entertained eight little folks Wednesday for her daughter Ruthelle, whose two-candle cake and ice cream were shared with the guests.
80 Years Ago
June 12, 1942
Last Friday evening during the storm, lightning struck the home of Lester Somerville on the South Clay street road, doing considerable damage. The lightning hit the chimney and then coming down through the wall in the living room, came out just above the piano. It set fire to a number of articles on the piano. Mrs. Somerville, who was lying on a bed in a bedroom was not injured, but was badly frightened. The fire department was called, but the fire was put out before they arrived.
The group of farmers out in Belle Prairie, Cropsey and surrounding territory who devoted a small acreage to peas have been busy the past week getting the peas to the vinery. Edwin Gee had an unusually fine yield on the ten acres he allotted to the crop, having 19½ tons. John Roth, 12 acres, made one ton to the acre. Harry Pratt had seven acres that turned out 450 boxes, 40 pounds to the box.
The half dozen or so people from Fairbury who were on duty at the Elwood ordinance plant early last Friday morning when a terrific explosion at 2:40 o'clock destroyed one of the large loading plants, escaped serious injury. The city of Pontiac was not so fortunate, three from there being killed and two injured. In all, 26 were killed and 22 are reported "missing." The army reports those as "missing" who are not accounted for and it is believed that the total dead will be 48. The total number injured is between 50 and 60, some of them seriously.
70 Years Ago
June 12, 1952
Local fisherman, Bert E. Davis, Fairbury's most noted bass angler, and Frank Merrill decided to take off on a float trip early Sunday morning. Launching their canoe about a mile west of the Stone Quarry, they decided to float down the famous Indian Creek, fishing along the way in ease and comfort.
To "eat like a bird" would mean to eat one's own weight in food every day.
Sgt. Lloyd Metz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Metz, arrived here Monday morning after serving the past year with the 84th Engineer construction battalion in Korea. He was sent overseas May 26, 1951, after entering the service in January of the same year and receiving his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
With graduation time in our local schools just past, a bit of information from the scrap book of Mrs. Elizabeth Haner takes on added significance. Preserved in this very interesting book are the names of the first graduating classes of Fairbury high school. According to a clipping in the book, the first high school commencement was held in 1881 with three graduates, Ella Wade, Ora Phillips and Madel Rogers Couch.
60 Years Ago
June 14, 1962
The 10th annual Harms reunion was held Sunday, June 10, at Marsh Park with 73 members and three guests attending from Fairbury, Forrest, Chatsworth, Gilman, Morris, Yorkville, Rutland, Pontiac and Chenoa. Paul Sancken, president, presided. Th oldest member present was Harry Harms, of Forrest; youngest, Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Harms of Pontiac; those traveling the farthest distance, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sancken and family of Yorkville.
Louis Retter was awarded the State Farmer Degree at the Illinois F. F. A. convention in Chicago Friday. Five members of the Fairbury-Cropsey F. F. A. Chapter attended the three-day convention with their advisor, Mr. Harry White. Harvey Steffen and Dale Stoller attended as official chapter delegates, Louis Retter attended to receive his degree, and Tom Smallwood and Leroy Scherr attended as extra chapter representatives. The Fairbury-Cropsey chapter was awarded the Bankers plaque for the best program of work in F. F. A.
Bobbie Anderson, 16, missed the curve in front of the Otis Munz home one half mile south of Fairbury about 7:30 p.m. Sunday and the auto went into the ditch. The front and right side of the car were dented. Damage was estimated at approximately $200. Several teenage occupants were in the car, but no one was reported injured.
50 Years Ago
June 15, 1972
Judy Aupperle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Aupperle of Piper City and granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Aupperle of Fairbury, has been selected to participate in the 1972 American Concert Tour of the School Band and Chorus of America. She is one of 175 young American musicians selected from high schools and universities all over America. Judy is a junior in Piper City High school. Selection is made on the basis of auditions and recommendations. The tour of western states will begin Aug. 8 with the students involved in intensive rehearsals on the campus of Utah State University.
A machine shed and a garage, the latter containing their family car, was destroyed during an early morning fire at the Ivan Brown farm residence, three miles north and two miles east of Fairbury. The blaze was apparently started by lightening, but the Browns reportedly slept undisturbed until early-rising neighbors noticed the flames and drove to the farm to investigate. By that time the buildings had been reduced to rubble so no fire alarm was sounded.
Steen Finsen of Svendborg, Denmark, who was the AFS student in Fairbury-Cropsey High school while graduating with the class of 1969, is expected to arrive here in 10 days for a visit which will find him spending much of the summer in the U.S. He will arrive June 26 and spend a week in Fairbury. He will then go to Cokato, Minn., to spend an extended period with former Fairburians, Dr. and Mrs. George Fischer and family, who were his host family when they lived here. Later, Steen will journey to Scottsdale, Ariz. to visit with the Fischer's eldest son, Scott.
40 Years Ago
June 10, 1982
Replacement of the present Fairbury Community Swimming Pool with a combined pool and community center moved into the "go" stage during the past week when Prairie Lands Foundation of Fairbury sold approximately 177 acres of farmland for $504,450. The land had been donated to the foundation last Dec. 14 by Mrs. Floyd (Marion) Stafford, a Fairbury native who now resides in San Marcus, Calif., with the stipulation that the proceeds were to be used for a community center and swimming pool to replace the present pool, built in 1957-58.
Representing 134 years of service, four retired members of the Fairbury hospital board were honored at a recent dinner at Westgate Supper club attended by 23 directors and their spouses. Receiving plaques from President Reuben Huber were Mrs. Hazel Metz of Forrest, 37 years on the board; Mrs. Margaretha Meyer of Strawn, 31 years; Hartzell Munz, Fairbury, 34 years; and Harry Bach of Fairbury, 32 years.
Terry Rathbun, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rathbun, rural Fairbury, is the recipient of the student recognition award in the agriculture department at Joliet Junior college. The faculty of the department chose Rathbun to receive the honor. Rathbun, a Dean's List student at the school, has been involved with the FFA sectional convention and in other projects, such as helping other students with their homework, aiding teachers with various projects and participating in class and panel discussions.
30 Years Ago
June 10, 1992
Test well drilling is being done by Albrect Drilling just north of the Catholic Cemetery in Avoca Township. Out of eight test holes drilled, the Avoca location, was the main remaining hope for a water source, according to Leroy McPherson, superintendent of public works for Fairbury. McPherson said the site needed to provide a minimum 300 gallons per minute to qualify for a new well, but on Monday, test results indicated the well was only yielding 75 gallons a minute. Other places to be test drilled will be the golf course and at the fair grounds.
Ruth Teubel, Fairbury, will be joining the staff of the Fairbury Hospital as Chief Financial officer. Teubel is a life long Fairbury area resident and a graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, major in accounting. Her duties as CFO will include budgeting, preparation of fiscal reports, supervision of the business office and materials management.
A total of 1,122 books were checked out of the children's section of Dominy Memorial Library during recent sign-up days for summer reading programs. One hundred sixty-five children signed up for the Summer Reading Program and 109 children registered in the Read-To-Me Program, with more signups coming in every day.
20 Years Ago
June 12, 2002
Eldon Steidinger, owner of Forrest Meats in Forrest and Steidinger Meats and Foods in Fairbury, was host to a group of people from various countries on Tuesday, June 2. The Illinois Pork Industry Tour consisted of persons from China, Malaysia, Mexico and the Philippines. The group toured Forrest Meats, Inc. earlier in the day and then lunched and toured Steidinger Meats. Before the tour Mayor Robert Walter welcomed the group to Fairbury and said he was pleased and honored to have them here.
At the closing meeting of the club year, members of Browning Club reluctantly voted to disband. Declining membership prompted the action. Named for poet Robert Browning, the club was established in 1912 for the mutual improvement of its members, and for the enjoyment of their fellowship. The final meeting was the spring luncheon attended by all 10 remaining members. Time was spent reminiscing in an atmosphere of sadness at the demise of one of Fairbury's fine cultural endeavors.
After studying quilts and quilt making, Mrs. Riha's fifth grade class at Prairie Central Upper Elementary made a patriotic quilt. Each student was given the opportunity to sew the individual block that he/she had designed into the quilt. Helping the students sew their quilt together were Mrs. Riha, Mrs. Dorothy Ashman, a quilter from Chatsworth, and Mrs. Monica Maurer of Fairbury, Mrs. Riha's daughter. Also assisting were Mrs. Kim Kovach and Mrs. Karen Steidinger, who are aides in Mrs. Riha's classroom.
10 Years Ago
June 13, 2012
On June 26, 2012, Archie Perkins will become a centenarian! A Birthday Open House will be held in his honor on Saturday, June 23 in the Fairview Haven Family/Activity Room. The world was still reeling from the April shipwreck of the Titanic when Archie Theodore Perkins was born on June 26, 1912. He was the second child of Elisha and Ida Deck Perkins. Archie had one sister, Verna Hoxworth, who is deceased, and one brother, Elery Perkins, of Chatsworth. Archie attended the Franey country school near Chatsworth through the eighth grade. He then went to Chatsworth Township High School, graduating in 1931. Archie married Myrtle Bailey in 1934. They had one son, James (Joanne) Perkins of Kempton, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In observance of June, the Dairy Month, the Livingston County Farm Bureau Young Leaders sponsored a “Breakfast on the Farm” on Saturday, June 2. Five hundred eleven (511) people attended the event held at the Kilgus Farmstead just south of Fairbury. The Young Leaders served a hearty breakfast of sausage gravy & biscuits, scrambled eggs, a glass of juice, a glass of Kilgus milk and a cup of coffee for 75 cents, the value of the breakfast ingredients. Tours of the Kilgus Dairy operation were given. Visitors got a chance to see calves and goats, the feeding operation and milking stations and the milk bottling operation.
Austin Rhoda, 14, of Chenoa, has been honored for his exemplary volunteer service with a state-level Certificate of Excellence from the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. He was nominated for this award by his 4-H club and Prairie Central Junior High. Austin, son of Todd and Janni Rhoda, earned his award through a service project he named “Route 66 Tree Planting.” Austin was responsible for coordinating efforts to plant trees along Route 66 in Chenoa, his hometown.
Kari Kamrath
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Looking Back in the pages of The Blade
