130 Years Ago
March 2, 1895
The electric light people have been putting in a great amount of costly machinery. Among the improvements are engines and boilers that more than double the capacity of the plant.
The home of George Veatch, living northwest of town, was the scene of a jolly good time last Saturday evening. The occasion was his nineteenth birthday.
Ida Crull and Nellie Freeman have discontinued school indefinitely. They intend to teach school in the near future.
Forrest — T. G. Stuckey loaded his goods and left for Mapleton, Iowa, Friday. We are sorry to lose so honorable a citizen. John Metz moved on the Stewart farm adjoining Forrest the first of the week. He has rented it for five years at $5 an acre. F. W. Stewart has sold his residence property and 80 acres of land on the north side of the road to Mr. Sheldon. Consideration $1,100.
120 Years Ago
March 3, 1905
A large number of the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Patton gave them a very pleasant surprise last Friday evening. It was in the form of a farewell surprise, Mr. and Mrs. Patton leaving for Monticello, Ind., their future home, Wednesday. The surprisers brought with them baskets laden with eatables and besides making it one of the most pleasant social evenings during the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Patton in Fairbury they spread a splendid supper before them which all thoroughly enjoyed. During the evening Mrs. Patton was presented with a beautiful quilt in which were worked the names of 40 of her lady friends and neighbors in this city.
A man in a neighboring town, who secured his wife through a matrimonial agency, is trying to secure a divorce. Just another instance of finding that mail order bargains are not just as represented and that a much better grade of the same article could have been obtained at home. Good enough for him; he ought to patronize home industry. The home grown article is usually the best.
Forrest — J. Ross has been working for the Wabash Railroad for a few weeks and last Friday he received his money and immediately began to celebrate. He was locked up and on Saturday Deputy Sheriff Ives took him to Pontiac where he was fined $5 and costs and received a sentence of 30 days in jail.
110 Years Ago
March 5, 1915
Monday, John Hibsch purchased the cement block factory which was built by M. Kammerer a number of years ago and who has operated it since that time.
Col W. L. Bailey went to Secor on Wednesday, where he auctioned off the stock, implements and hardware owned by L. G. Dunn.
George Armbruster has purchased half interest in the plumbing business of W. J. Potter, and the firm will be Potter & Armbruster.
Marion Fugate returned on Saturday from Champaign, where he had been taking a short course in dairying and ice cream making.
100 Years Ago
March 6, 1925
Plans are going forward for the rebuilding of the free telephone line between this city and Forrest that was torn down by the sleet storm last December. Funds to finance the rebuilding of this line are being solicited among the business men of this city and very good results are being obtained. Steps have also been taken to see what can be done towards rebuilding the free line between Fairbury and Weston.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Abts, on Pine Street, in the extreme southwest part of town, was destroyed by fire last Friday afternoon. The loss is between $3,500 and $4,000, the greater part of which is covered by insurance. Mrs. Abts was not at home and Mr. Abts was working out in the yard. Looking up he noticed a blaze on the roof near the chimney. By the time the fire department reached the scene the flames had made great headway and the house was practically destroyed before the fire was gotten under control.
A Buick auto driven by Clifford Rudd, of Forrest, and the Ford delivery truck belonging to Alexander's Bakery, and driven by Fred Spillman, came together at the intersection of Oak and Fifth Streets Tuesday night about twelve o'clock. Rudd was going east at the time and with him were several young ladies from Forrest, who had been here to attend a dance. The Buick landed over in Mundt's yard with a broken wheel, bent fender and other damaged parts. The front end of the Ford was pretty badly damaged.
90 Years Ago
March 1, 1935
Clyde Martin, while digging in a ditch on West Hickory Street Wednesday morning, came across a reptile that had all the earmarks of a baby crocodile, except that it was spotted like a water moccasin and its covering was soft. It was a little over ten inches long. The reptile was taken to the city hall where it was given the once over, without anyone coming close to guessing what it was, and was then brought to The Blade office, where one who is authority on such things pronounced it a hellbender or mud puppy, a species of salamander, and native to the banks of small streams.
In spite of the snow and otherwise unpleasant day last Friday, the 8th annual community sale held at Cropsey was a success from every point of view, the bad weather seeming to stimulate rather than discourage the attendance. Col. H. J. Downs, the auctioneer, started the sale at eleven o'clock and did not get through until five. Among things he disposed of during that time were: Twenty head of horses, 50 head of cattle and calves, 200 hogs, 20 sheep, 1,600 hedge posts, farm implements, household goods, harness, automobiles, clover seed, baled hay and many small articles. The ladies who conducted the lunch stand took in over $30.
Bernard Bell, who has been in the employ of the Wiedman Store, received a bad fracture of his right arm last Thursday. He started to crank a tractor when it backfired, breaking his arm in two places – just above and just below the elbow.
80 Years Ago
March 2, 1945
Fred Singer and M. J. Mossberger, of Pontiac, have leased the Highway Cafe of George Goodpasture at Forrest. They will have their formal opening tomorrow and have been busy this week getting the place in readiness for that event.
Monday evening over one hundred men and boys attended the annual father-son banquet at the Presbyterian Church. A sumptuous dinner was served by the Twentieth Century Club. One of the pleasing features was the numbers by the high school boys' quartet – Howard Bess, Bob Nussbaum, James Hurt and Stan Weeks. Group singing was also enjoyed. Chaplain Theodore Pfieffer, a major in the U. S. Army and head chaplain at Chanute Field, was the speaker of the evening.
Fairbury and Indian Grove Township not only went over the top in their annual Red Cross drive, but they covered the top up completely. The quota was $2,000, but up to last evening the sum of $3,447.68 had come in and there is more to follow. This total is in excess of last year's record of $3,371.75. And what put the finishing touches on the whole thing was that the drive was completed in two hours' time.
Mrs. Charles Sweet, of near Colfax, is a patient at the Fairbury Hospital. Mrs. Sweet was helping to corral some pigs in the barn lot when she tripped over a wagon tongue and, in falling on the frozen ground, broke her kneecap.
70 Years Ago
March 10, 1955
The Fairbury Committee for Fluoridation met last Tuesday night to outline a program to obtain a favorable majority when the fluoridation question is brought to a vote April 19.
J. G. Drennen has declined to run for alderman of the second ward, having served for 20 years under four mayors.
From a high of 70 degrees on Thursday to a mid-winter eight degrees Monday and early Tuesday, the thermometer climbed right back to 62 by Tuesday noon.
Bob McGillen was welcomed as a new Rotarian Tuesday night by Secretary C. C. Thompsen.
60 Years Ago
March 4, 1965
Returning to Fairbury from a two-week vacation in Florida, two area couples were marooned for two days during last weekend's storm in Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ziegenhorn of Fairbury and Mr. and Mrs. George Kinate of Forrest had decided to return from Florida via the east coast. After traveling over icy roads from Cincinnati to Indianapolis, they were finally halted completely when roads were barricaded there until the storm blew itself out. Ziegenhorn said roads were still treacherous when they resumed their trip to Fairbury.
After a six week absence due to a blood clot in his leg, Albert Honegger has returned to the staff of Walton's Department Store in Fairbury. It was his longest time away from the job since he was "hired for three days" in 1931 by the late Marshall Gordon. His only other major absence from the firm's hardware department came when he was absent a month following major surgery a few years ago.
Yesterday was Community Sale Day in Fairbury, and every attic, garage and basement for 50 miles around yielded its remnants of other days and other plans, and victims of both the elements and progress. Bargain hunters had a ball. Antique hounds poked and prodded and tried to conceal gleaming eyes. You could find most anything you wanted, and plenty that you didn't. Manager Dan Schlipf and his crew of clerks started tagging items shortly after 6 a.m. By 10, they had a triple row covering five blocks.
50 Years Ago
March 6, 1975
The buildings at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets, formerly housing Record Advertising and Record Printing Companies, were purchased last week by a trust headed by Fairbury Attorney Henry Phillips. The graphic arts and printing equipment of the firm was sold at auction Monday. The east building, which originally housed Record Advertising Company, has been occupied in the south half for the last year by CTS of Fairbury, a division of CTS Knights of Sandwich. They have now leased the entire east building, and a portion of the west building, preparatory to expanding their production operation here.
Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Broquard, of Fairbury, whose 50th wedding anniversary was Friday, Feb. 28, were guests of honor on Saturday when one of their daughters, Mrs. Earl Feucht of Princeville, and her husband, hosted a family dinner for them. Mr. Broquard and the former Marie Schmidt were married in Fairbury on Feb. 28, 1925. For many years they resided on a farm just east of Fairbury on U.S. 24 and although they now reside in town, he continues some farm operations.
Ray Ellis, operator of the Ellis Canvas Shop in Fairbury, announced today that he had purchased the saddle and harness repair business operated by the late David Todd of Odell. Ellis said he would remove all the equipment and the rather large inventory to his quarters at 315 West Locust in Fairbury and would be open for business next week. Meanwhile, he plans no reduction in his canvas work, which enjoys customers, primarily truckers, from over a large area in eastern Illinois and western Indiana.
40 Years Ago
February 28, 1985
Janess Deal, daughter of Joe and Betty Deal and granddaughter of Rev. and Mrs. David Deal of Fairbury, will compete Saturday at the Illinois Jr. Miss America pageant held at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield. Janess' photo was selected from hundreds of applicants for the state's Little Jr. Miss Illinois pageant, which is a preliminary pageant to the Little Jr. Miss America pageant that will be held in Miami in October. Contestants will be judged on their poise, personality and appearance.
Diane Elaine Hodges, of Fairbury, daughter of Cheryl Travis and Harlan Wessels, both of Fairbury, became the bride of Ronald Earl Williams, of Fairbury, in a 1 p.m. ceremony Saturday, Feb. 23, 1985, at the Free Methodist Church in Fairbury. The bride, a graduate of Parkland College, is employed by Dave's Supermarket in Fairbury. The bridegroom is also employed by Dave's Supermarket and is Operations Officer of South East Livingston County Ambulance Service.
There were plenty of students on hand, Feb. 20 at Westview Grade School, to help Smokey the Bear celebrate his 40th birthday. To commemorate the special day, students made posters of all shapes and colors. The three top award winners were fourth graders Chris Salrin, Greg Broquard and Trevor Moor. Greg was the grand prize winner.
30 Years Ago
March 1, 1995
It's that time of year again. No, not just time to look for that first robin, but time to get all that stuff in your basement and garage you no longer want, and ready it for the annual community sale. This year, the sale will feature hundreds of trophies, plaques, team pictures, an old autographed football and other memorabilia from Fairbury-Cropsey High School. When the Prairie Central consolidation took place, the F-C trophies were taken out of the school and put in the Honegger basement for storage. With the sale of the Honegger building last October, the trophies ad other F-C memorabilia had to be moved.
Winners of the Westview Elementary spelling bee held in early February for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students were Karissa Fehr, in first, and John Reis, as runner-up. They participated in the Livingston County Spelling Bee held at Pontiac last week.
Wesley Broquard, 18, a senior at Prairie Central High School was recently notified that he is a finalist in the 1995 National Merit Scholarship Program and has received a Certificate of Merit. The Merit Program is operated without government funding, and the scholarships offered are underwritten by some 600 independent sponsor organizations and institutions. Any award presented to a finalist must be used for a full-time attendance at a college or university in the United States. Broquard is ranked third in his class with a grade point average of 97.905. He is the son of Wayne and Roberta Broquard of Fairbury.
20 Years Ago
March 2, 2005
The Prairie Central boys varsity basketball team took on a strong Fieldcrest club in the championship game of the regional tournament last week. The game turned out to be a battle between the Knights' outside shooting and the Hawks' inside game. The score was tied at halftime, with neither club holding a lead bigger than four points. At the end of regulation, the score remained deadlocked at 54. The Hawks built a four-point lead in overtime, then tightened down defensively to preserve an exciting 60-59 victory, and the regional championship.
Tara Ann Nylander, daughter of Wendell Jr. and Carol Nylander of Fairbury, and Michael E. Norris, son of Gary and Gail Norris, also of Fairbury, were united in marriage on May 1, 2004 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairbury. The bride is a 2000 graduate of Prairie Central High School and is employed as a dental assistant for Dr. Tracy Taylor in Fairbury. The bridegroom is a 1995 graduate of PCHS and is employed by Dyers Top Rods in Forrest.
Lindsey Krippel, a fifth grader at Prairie Central Upper Elementary, has earned the title of Illinois State Champion after competing in the state "Free Throw Shooting Contest" sponsored by the Illinois Elks Association. Krippel competed in Decatur on Feb. 19, taking first place in the girls 10-12 year-old category. She will now advance to the National Regional "Hoop Shoot" contest in Iowa City, Iowa, on Saturday, March 5, competing against the state champions from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is the daughter of Kevin and Phyllis Krippel of Fairbury.
10 Years Ago
March 4, 2015
The Citizen of the Year (COTY) plaque will now be hung at Fairbury City Hall. This program was started by the Fairbury Women's Club in 1987 to honor local volunteers. Club members are asking for nominees for the COTY award to be given in June. Past winners include Rosie Mowery, Lynn Dameron, Barb Taylor, Everett Sutter, Nancy Ifft, Wendell Nylander, Florence Day, Gary Cooper, Cecelia Whately, James Paternoster, Donna Wells, Karen Harms, Terri Wells, Mary Ellen Nylander, Tom Golliday, Evelyn Yoder, Ruth Teubel, Arnold Ifft, Kay Dickey, Bea Tetley, Dave Kilgus, Chuck Whately, Marilyn Wells, Teri Wenger, Mary Streitmatter, Delmar Platz, Keith and Lois Coleman and Phyllis Eilers.
The Chatsworth Fire Department has received a $2,500 donation from Livingston County farmers Lial and Sherri Zeedyk and America's Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund. The donation will help the department purchase a new air compressor, which firefighters use to breathe when they are fighting fires. Zeedyk is a former firefighter with the department and his son currently volunteers there. For five years, America's Farmers Grow Communities has collaborated with farmers to donate over $16.5 million to over 7,300 community organizations across rural America.
City of Fairbury Sewer Superintendent, Frank McPherson, has won the IRWA 2014 Wastewater System Operations Specialist of the Year. McPherson was recognized for excellence in reclaiming wastewater, thereby protecting the citizens and waterways of Illinois.
(Looking Back from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)
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