130 Years Ago
March 16, 1895
The vote on the question of the adoption by Fairbury of the city form of government was not very warmly contested, and resulted in a vote of 190 for city form of government and 41 against.
Miss Connet has resigned as assistant in the high school on account of ill health. Miss Alice Patterson has been engaged to fill the vacancy.
The election on the proposition to build a new school house on the north side carried 271 to 47. The proposition to issue bonds in the sum of $15,000 to build the school house carried 269 to 46.
M. Spence contemplates moving his tile factory to Fairbury. He has been running it southwest of town.
120 Years Ago
March 17, 1905
The reading matter in the Blade this week was set on a Junior Mergenthaler machine. Owing to a few miscalculations and delay in shipping of parts, Mr. Montgomery, the expert, did not get the machine in operation until Wednesday noon. Since that time it has been doing excellent work. Come in and see the machine work. It is a novelty.
Wednesday forenoon Thomas N. Smith, in company with his son-in-law, Arthur Deans, started for his farm in a double seated buggy upon which was piled a load of furniture, Mr. Smith being on top of the load, and Mr. Deans driving the horses, which were a pair of heavy Normans. Just as they came to the T. P. & W. tracks an engine came along and the engineer blew his whistle sharply. This frightened the team and they started to run at a rapid pace. The buggy came in contact with a wagon and Mr. Smith was thrown to the ground, one of the wheels passing over his foot. The team continued north until they came to Mrs. T. A. McKenzie's house and being unable to dodge it, they ran into it, tearing a hole in the side of the house. Deans was thrown out here. Mr. Smith was injured slightly, the horses were both injured, the buggy demolished and the furniture needs repairs.
Weston — Prof. Wise gave a reception to pupils of his room at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Graves, Thursday evening. George Brown and wife returned Tuesday evening from a sojourn of three months at Los Angeles and other points in California. G. E. Wild was in town last week making arrangements for the occupancy of his home recently vacated by Mr. Ledgerwood. He and family will arrive the first of next week.
110 Years Ago
March 19, 1915
C. C. Hollenback disposed of two city properties at auction Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenback and two daughters expect to leave for Deming, N. M. next week, where they will make their home on a ranch which Mr. Hollenback purchased a year ago.
The Masonic bodies of this city have purchased a Victrola for their lodge rooms.
One of the best and most exciting games of basketball ever seen on the home floor was staged Tuesday night by an all-star team (picked from the Methodist, Christian and Baptist teams of the Church League) and the Presbyterians, the undefeated champions of the same league. The game was not decided until Wharton made the final basket with only twenty seconds left to play, the Presbyterians winning 27 to 26.
Joe Foster, who has been in the employ of O. L. Veatch as blacksmith, has purchased the shop of Mr. Veatch.
100 Years Ago
March 20, 1925
Many rumors have been going the rounds within the past week regarding the change of ownership of the T. P. & W. Some say the C. B. & Q. was going to take it over, while others have it that the Pennsylvania was going to gobble it up. A special train over the road Tuesday kept these rumors alive. The train carried the officials of the thee roads above mentioned.
In an attempt to crank the Ford car last Thursday evening, Miss Bernice Dexter broke her arm. Miss Dexter teaches the Vail school southwest of town and was preparing to make the evening trip home.
The Chatsworth Manufacturing Company has made application to the secretary of commerce for permission to install a broadcasting station at their plant at Chatsworth. A ninety-foot tower will be erected and the studio will be located on the second story of the new office building to be built soon at the plant. The equipment has been ordered from the General Electric Company and it is planned to be ready to broadcast some time before September. At first it is planned to broadcast three nights a week and all the churches of the village will be offered the opportunity of broadcasting their services on Sunday.
90 Years Ago
March 15, 1935
At the regular meeting of the Chatsworth Village Board Tuesday evening an ordinance was passed prohibiting public dances on Sundays. A dance has been billed for March 17 and the new ordinance will not become effective by that time but will prohibit dances on Sundays hereafter. A request was made to the board to extend the Sunday night closing time for taverns in the village. This request was denied. The present Sunday hours for saloons are from 1 to 9 o'clock.
Will Householder will shortly commence the erection of a bungalow on his farm two miles east and one and a quarter miles south of Fairbury, which when completed, will be occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Owen Householder. The latter couple this week moved from the the home they have been occupying on North Fourth Street, to the country, and for the present are living with his parents.
Representatives from the Stiers Brothers Construction Company, of St. Louis, Mo., who were the low bidders for the waterworks contract here, were in Fairbury last Saturday, at which time the contract agreements between the city and the company were signed. With these papers signed all that is necessary for the work to get under way is for the government to send the necessary money. The equipment to be used here will probably come from Georgetown, where the Stiers company has just recently completed a waterworks project.
80 Years Ago
March 16, 1945
Dr. N. M. Otis, of Santa Monica, Calif., has given to the Fairbury Hospital a gas machine and an assortment of surgical instruments. Dr. Otis, who was formerly a physician of Fairbury, succeeding the late Dr. S. M. Barnes, has been practicing at Santa Monica for the past 25 years. Retaining his interest in the local hospital, Dr. Otis is making this gift from his own equipment. It is understood that he will shortly retire from active service at Santa Monica and may come east again.
Lt. Comdr. and Mrs. Don Karnes, of Lake Forrest, are here for a few days' visit with his mother, Mrs. T. D. Karnes. He will be returning to duty soon and has been assigned to the commander staff of the service forces of the Pacific Fleet.
The Boy Scout-General Eisenhower waste paper campaign opened March 1 and closes August 30. Every Scout who during that time collects 2,000 pounds of paper for himself will receive the Eisenhower campaign medal. If the troop meets its required quota they will receive the 75-mm. shell container as an extra award. The Fairbury Scouts made a wonderful showing last year in their paper drive and should make an even larger showing this year. The troop is going to collect once a week as a whole, but will work individually on the project throughout the summer months. So let's all save our waste paper, which is essential in the war effort, and help the boys throughout their campaign.
70 Years Ago
March 24, 1955
Only traces of snow remained here this morning to remind residents of the "flash" blizzard which struck Fairbury along with the rest of central Illinois early Tuesday morning, which, for a few hours, brought a wave of accidents and snarled traffic.
Manuel Soria, I.S.N.U. exchange student from Ecuador, South America, spoke to Rotarians at their last meeting, describing his native land.
Jeanette Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Smith, recently was awarded a sweater for her three years of participation in the marching band at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Darren Cox, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hartzell Cox, has been placed on the dean's list for the first semester at Illinois State Normal University.
60 Years Ago
March 18, 1965
More than seven calls per hour, on a 24-hour basis, are being received by the newly-installed Dial-A-Devotion, it was stated today by Rev. Richard Brinkman, president of the Fairbury Ministerial Association which sponsored the local installation. Brinkman said that since it became operative a week ago, the counter has reported figures which show a daily average of 180 calls to hear the taped inspirational message which is changed every 24 hours.
William J. "Bill" Kelleher, who graduated with honors from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago last week, this week becomes a full-time member of the staff at Cook Funeral Home in Fairbury. From a class of 35, Kelleher captured three out of a total of 10 awards, including selection by the faculty as the best all-around member. Kelleher, a native of Chenoa, is married to the former Judy Thompson who, as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Cook Thompson, represents the fourth generation of the Cook family to be associated with the home.
50 Years Ago
March 20, 1975
Voters in Fairbury-Cropsey Unit 3 approved a 40-cent increase in the school district's educational fund Saturday by a 142-vote majority. An official canvass of the election by the Board of Education Monday night revealed 675 yes votes, 533 no votes and 26 spoiled ballots, a reversal from last fall when a similar proposition was defeated by a two-to-one margin. The 40-cent rate increase will generate approximately $160,000 in new revenue annually to the school system, based on current assessed valuations. The school district has been operating with an annual deficit of around $125,000.
A hush fell over the crowd. Former Miss Illinois Colleen Metternick stepped into the spotlight at the microphone, took the sealed envelope as it was handed to her and announced, "the new Miss Tri-County is..." and here a dramatic pause, "Miss Pamela Buell!" For Pam, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Estil Buell of Chatsworth, being selected from the eight contestants for the Tri-County title is just the beginning. This summer she will journey to Aurora to compete in the Miss Illinois pageant.
C. B. Stevens, a World War I pilot, was surprised Sunday with a dinner in honor of his 80th birthdate. Those attending were his wife, Emma, and a sister, Lillian Moran. Other guests were Margaretha Meyers, Mabel Marlar and Laura Wilson, all of Strawn.
40 Years Ago
March 14, 1985
A group of eight gypsies, who obviously knew exactly what they were doing, distracted an employee and a customer Sunday and took $1,521 from the 24 Grocery Convenience Store on Fairbury's east side. Store manager Mark Rathbun said the band was "here in a minute and gone." The group arrived in two separate cars and approached the store from opposite directions. Once inside the convenience store, they distracted the clerk and a customer. While most raised a commotion in one part of the store, someone got into the safe and removed the cash.
Eight Fairbury-Cropsey Jr. High students are all first place winners of the IESA State Solo and Ensemble contest held Saturday in Cornell. They are Natasha Secoquian, flute solo and flute trio; Penny Brucker, flute solo and flute duet; Jason Sprout, trumpet trio; Mike Coppinger, trumpet trio; Jacki Fehr, flute solo and flute trio; Kristi Paternoster, flute duet; Mary Rosenthal, alto sax solo; and Stephanie Schuette, flute trio and trumpet trio.
John Joda Unit No. 54 of the American Legion Auxiliary held a potluck supper March 6 honoring the local veterans and member of the American Legion on the 66th birthday anniversary of the American Legion organization. Unit President Louise Christensen introduced Post Commander Everett Sutter. A framed poster commemorating the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was presented to Commander Sutter as a gift to the Post from the Auxiliary Unit.
30 Years Ago
March 15, 1995
A multi-force police probe in a wooded area southwest of Fairbury Monday proved futile in an effort to unearth the remains of Lori Mae Peugeot, 2, whose body was thought to have been dumped in an abandoned well. Lori Mae and her 21-year-old mother, Mrs. Linda Mae Peugeot of Cumberland, MD, were believed to be the kidnapping and murder victims of Stanley Barton Hoss Jr. in early October 1969. The presence of Hoss with a small child in Fairbury just prior to his arrest in Waterloo, IA, led FBI agents to Fairbury in search of the missing child back in '69. The search 25 years ago also proved futile.
Fairbury Hospital has taken another in a series of hits with the resignation of its administrator, Dick Shelton. No reason has yet been announced for Shelton's abrupt departure. The hospital has undergone several changes in recent months, the most significant being its decision not to renew its hospital license in favor of transitioning to an ambulatory care center.
The Livingston County Health Department has given Westgate Supper Club, at U.S. Route 24 west, a clean bill of health following reports of food poisoning earlier this month. Connie Keelin, Health Department administrator, said her department has been investigating the reports of illnesses relating to possible cases of food poisoning of 54 persons who ate at the restaurant the evening of March 4. During the investigation it was learned that one of the food handlers had been ill on Friday, March 3, but was feeling better on Saturday, so returned to work. Keelin said she believes that person, who she refused to name, had a Norwalk-like virus which has an incubation period of 24 to 48 hours and a duration of 12 to 60 hours.
20 Years Ago
March 16, 2005
The Ridgeview School Board hosted a meeting with Zilkha representatives to discuss the proposed $500 million Arrowsmith Wind Farm project. The proposed project is located one mile west of the Ford County Line and will run to the west to road 2500 North which is west of Ellsworth; and is 18 miles wide. The majority of the turbines will be located in the Ridgeview School District, approximately 90 percent. Property tax payments by Zilkha will be approximately $1.2 million per year. Landowners will split $1.2 million each year for use of their property. The wind farm is also called "The Winter Crop" because landowners receive payments year round.
Julie Slagel, a Prairie Central High School senior, is a finalist in the 2005 competition for merit scholarship awards, according to an announcement by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Slagel received a Certificate of Merit, and is now being considered for a merit scholarship award.
Jimmy and Kimberly Beitz of Colfax are parents of a baby boy, born at 2:15 p.m. on March 1, 2005. Clayton James weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and was 20½ inches long at birth. The new arrival was welcomed home by siblings, Blake 17½, Amanda 16 and Chase 2. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Kessinger of LeRoy. Paternal grandparents are Norman and Shirley Beitz of rural Chenoa.
10 Years Ago
March 18, 2015
Marine Corporal, Dustin Parrish, son of Ron and Cindy Parrish of Fairbury and a 2011 graduate of Prairie Central High School, was promoted to his present rank on Oct. 1, 2014. His dad was able to visit him at Cherry Point, N. C. and “pin” him with his current rank. Ron said, “It was great to be able to pin Dustin as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. That was the rank that I had achieved prior to being honorably discharged back in 1980. My heart is swollen with pride for Dustin, Country and Corps.” Corporal Parrish has been stationed at Cherry Point since March 10, 2014.
Mark and Paula Beal of Forrest will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on March 22, 2015. Beal and Paula Cabbage were married March 22, 1975 at the Forrest United Methodist Church. Their attendants were Mike Baker and Lorie Gahm. They are the parents of one son, Michael (Angie) Beal and have two grandchildren, Dylan and Loryn. They are both employed at Selig Sealing in Forrest.
Tyler Schaffer of Forrest is a semifinalist for the Ronald W. Reagan Fellowship at Eureka College. He is the son of Nisa Schaffer and Brian Schaffer, both of Forrest. The fellowship, based on leadership, service and academic excellence, includes a full-tuition scholarship to Eureka College over four years. Students attended a competition for the fellowship Feb. 21-22 at Eureka College. Up to six incoming freshmen will be selected from approximately 100 semifinalists. Winners will be announced in April.
(Kari Kamrath's Looking Back is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)
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