130 Years Ago
July 8, 1893
Notes of the July Fourth Celebration — The program was ushered in in the early hours of the morning by the ringing of bells and firing of anvils. Senator Cullom made a fine talk. Hugh Salmon read the Declaration of Independence. A. F. Howard of Pontiac, took first prize in the bicycle race. Second and third money was divided between Joe Lord, of Pontiac, and George Clough, of this city. Harry Streeper won the foot race, with John Eddy second and Fate Word third.
During the fireworks display in the evening John V. McDowell, assistant cashier in the First National bank, met with an accident which resulted in the losing of his right hand. He was shooting giant firecrackers when he held onto one a second too long, it exploding in his hand.
T. D. Karnes took nine ball players over to Chenoa Tuesday, where they spent most of the time in the field dodging the balls that the other team rained on them. The score was 23 to 3.
Cropsey — There was no celebration at this place the Fourth, but the people followed the band to Sibley, where the boys furnished the music for the Sibley celebration. Allen Alford and Charles Weatherwax drove the band wagon.
120 Years Ago
July 10, 1903
Fairbury celebrated the Fourth last Saturday in a befitting manner. A large crowd of people were in town to help celebrate and it is safe to say that everybody had a good time. The speaking was held in Livingston Park and a large crowd of people assembled there to listen to the eloquent oration of Dr. Lyons, of Pontiac. The Fairbury Band furnished the music during the day and evening and there is not a band in the state that would have given such general satisfaction. The fireworks were as beautiful as usual and were seen by an immense crowd of people. Everybody had a good time as they always do when we celebrate in Fairbury.
The crops are not in a flattering condition in any part of Illinois in spite of the rather glowing accounts of a few of the correspondents to the Illinois Crop Bulletin which is published in the Blade each week. Anyone who travels over the country cannot help but notice the wide variance in the fields of corn. The corn thru this part of Illinois is not near up to the average. Usually the corn this time of the year is laid by because it is too high to plow without breaking off. This year many fields have been gone over three and four times and still the corn is not knee high.
Miss Stella Straight left Monday morning for Chicago where she will join two young lady friends from Santa Anna, Calif. and together they will make a tour of Europe. They will sail on the Arabic for Liverpool and will tour Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Italy. Miss Straight expects to be absent at least six months and perhaps longer.
110 Years Ago
July 11, 1913
Al Shroyer, living south of town, is the possessor of a new automobile, having purchased the same of H. H. Phelps last Saturday.
Among those who attended the motorcycle races at LaSalle on the Fourth were the following from this city who made the trip in an automobile: Misses Helen Voorhees, Marie Foster, Marguerite Cook and L. E. Dirks, Dean Voorhees, Francis McDowell and John Fugate. Miss Bessie Foster, of Pontiac, was one of the party.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren T. Stevens, who formerly resided here, but who for several years past have made their home in Texas, have moved back to Weston.
On the Fourth, many of our people went to the Hieronymus Grove, south of town, where Rev. A. Wirt Lowther gave the address. A picnic dinner was served at noon, following which sporting events took place.
100 Years Ago
July 6, 1923
Wesley Hanson had his little racer at Champaign July 4th, where he took second in the 20-mile race. Earl Worrick, of Indianapolis, Ind., drove for Mr. Hanson. Mr. Worrick is well known here, having driven on the local track a number of times.
Sheriff L. M. Shugart and Deputy Sheriffs Ives and Gorman came over from Pontiac Sunday evening, and together with Deputy Sheriff Codlin of this city, paid a visit to the home of James Eldridge, corner of Eighth and Ash Streets, where they captured a still, used in the manufacture of moonshine. The still was of sixteen gallons capacity and a twin to the one captured at the Davis house in the northwest part of town a couple of months ago. No mash or other evidence except the still was found in the house, and this, together with Eldridge, was taken to Pontiac.
Miss Edith Mitten, who left yesterday for her "Y" training in New York City, was the honored guest of the Shakespeare Club Tuesday evening at a party. Miss Mitten has been a much valued worker in the club, giving much of her time and talent to its work and social activities. As a parting gift the club presented her with a traveling case. Wednesday morning Mrs. M. A. Anderson gave a charming breakfast party in Miss Mitten's honor.
90 Years Ago
July 14, 1933
Jimmie Rathbun, ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rathbun, who reside about five miles southwest of this city, suffered the loss of one of his toes Tuesday, when his pony stepped on it, completely severing it from his foot. It is the toe next to the little toe on his right foot.
The interior of the Larkin store has been undergoing some changes this week. Some of the shelving is being changed to make it better adapted to the needs of Manager Heubach and his efficient assistants. The store will also be redecorated.
This afternoon, under the direction of E. L. Meeker, one hundred twenty-four young people, all students of high schools in Livingston and McLean Counties, and known as Meeker's World's Fair Band, will give a concert in the court of the Hall of Science at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. They are making the trip to Chicago on a special train on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which left Chenoa at 6 o'clock this morning, and are accompanied on the trip by a large number of friends. The party will spend three days in Chicago visiting the exposition and viewing other sights of the city.
The fire department was called to the Streib Service Station on West Oak Street Monday afternoon about 3:30. A truck driven by Thomas Harris, of Bloomington, had stopped at the station for gas, and while standing at the station, the oil and grease about the motor of the truck became ignited. All of the fire extinguishers about the premises were used in an effort to put out the fire, and some of the neighbors donated extinguishers, but the fire continued to burn, and it was decided to call the department.
80 Years Ago
July 9, 1943
Do you remember "way back when" one minute after 12 o'clock on the morning of July Fourth there was the boom of giant firecrackers, the noisy small cannon or the anvil with charges of powder between them? And from then on throughout the day and far into the night there was a continuous round of noises of all descriptions? Well, it wasn't that way here this Fourth of July. There wasn't enough noise to awaken a cat. There were a few family gatherings and a few fishing parties and a few who came back to visit the home folks. That was the extent of Fairbury's celebration of July Fourth, 1943. Next year, with the war over, and we can spare some ammunition for something besides fighting the Axis, Fairbury will start its celebration where we left off a couple of years ago and never miss another one on account of war.
During a hail storm that visited the eastern part of the county, Tuesday afternoon, corn, oats and beans to the extent of thousands of acres were damaged. East of Emington the damage was particularly heavy, this damage covering around 16 square miles. The hail storm, which was accompanied by considerable wind and rain started in the vicinity of Dwight and was about four miles wide and went southeast. Corn was stripped and the oats and beans were flattened and in some instances driven into the ground.
Lyle Ricketts was playing in a game of softball at Weston Monday night when he saw enough fireworks to last him until next Fourth of July. He was running after a fly ball when he ran into an electric light pole. The bump he received on his nose and forehead required medical attention.
70 Years Ago
July 9, 1953
Burglars sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning broke into the Frank's IGA Market and escaped with seven dollars in cash from a petty cash box. About six dollars in cash in two nearby unlocked cash registers was overlooked, and no merchandise was discovered missing. Entry was made through a rear door by breaking a glass and removing a number of wooden restraining bars. The sheriff's office at Pontiac investigated and obtained a number of clear fingerprints.
Herbert Enderli paid $126,000 for 465 acres of Avoca land sold at auction last Saturday. The land was part of the Sadie Gilpin estate. Several persons bid on the land when it was offered in separate tracts, but Mr. Enderli was the only bidder for the land as a unit. The sale was one of the largest sales of a single tract of land in this community in many years. Another 160 acres of Avoca and Owego Township land in the Gilpin estate was acquired by Richard Leathers previous to the sale.
One Fairbury firm is among the many exhibitors who will have displays at the Illinois State Fair to be held in Springfield from August 14 through August 23. James E. Tays, general manager, announced today. It is Honeggers' & Co., Fairbury, which will display poultry feeds and a pig hatchery. Exhibitors from New York to California have leased space at the coming Illinois State Fair, Tays says. He predicted that the 1953 exposition would establish a record for the number of exhibitors and concessionaires at the exposition.
60 Years Ago
July 11, 1963
Workmen at the Fairbury Hospital are installing television sets for each patient room, it was announced by Gene Baxter, administrator. The project will be completed in about three weeks. A 70-foot master antenna will bring in the signals through a cable to every room where an outlet will be provided. The Hospital Auxiliary will lease 40 Sylvania TV sets. The sets will be complete with AM-FM and pillow speakers.
Monday afternoon, July 8, exactly 14 months after plans for Fairbury Industries, Inc., were officially announced at the Chamber of Commerce banquet on May 8, 1962, the first tubing was rolled in the firm's new $2 million plant a mile east of the city limits. By supper time, the 90-foot-long mill was ready to start in earnest, and the first crew of employees was transferred from the temporary training site to the mill to work a six-hour turn until midnight.
A 14-year-old Indiana cyclist, with $24 in his pocket, pedaled to Fairbury last Wednesday night after a grueling 130 mile journey from Valparaiso. It was his first leg of a 1,000 mile trip to Creston, Iowa, and back. Atop a 45 three-speed bicycle, Don Vandrey expected to arrive in Creston Saturday morning. When asked how he felt upon reaching Fairbury, he replied, "All worn out, sore and sunburned!" He mentioned that the longest trip he has ever made before was 46 miles on his bike. Folks worried? "Man, I'll say," he quipped.
50 Years Ago
July 12, 1973
Fairbury-Cropsey High School's Marching Tartars captured first place in open competition at the Benson Centennial Parade Sunday. This was the first of several summer appearances the band will make including at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 11 and the Pekin Marigold Festival on Aug. 25.
Residents of Fairview Haven celebrated Independence Day with a picnic, program, contest and games. A special program of patriotic songs and readings was presented by a Sunday school class from the Apostolic Christian Church. The residents and staff participated in a Red, White, Blue contest for the person with the most patriotic dress. The winners were John Pittman, most patriotic male resident; Mrs. Hazel Barclay, most patriotic female resident; and Donna Russell as the most patriotic staff member.
"I promised her the world when we were married 42 years ago," pronounced Perry Burroughs, T. P. and W. Railroad agent who is due to retire Friday, "and now I'm going to show it to her!" That retirement, July 14, comes 48 years after he started railroading, the last 25 as the Fairbury station agent for the Toledo, Peoria & Western. Now Perry Burroughs is going to live up to that promise he gave his bride 42 years ago. Fay, on July 1, also retired from the office as Secretary to Community Unit 3 School board and their superintendent, Les Miller. Together, they're going to be setting out in a few days in their house trailer to see the world that Perry promised her way back then.
40 Years Ago
July 7, 1983
George Rath of Fairbury will celebrate his 90th birthday anniversary on Sunday, July 17, with an open reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church parish hall. Born July 12, 1893 in Sibley, he is a retired farmer, having farmed in the Sibley and Strawn areas. He retired and moved to Fairbury in 1973. He is the father of John Rath of Fairbury and has two grandchildren, Laura and Tim.
Ruben Giraldo, former American Field Service exchange student from Columbia, will be visiting his host family, the Gary Elliotts of Cropsey. Ruben attended Fairbury-Cropsey High School during the 1972-73 school year.
Former Fairburian Jeff Stiver was promoted from 1st Lt. to Captain in ceremonies Friday, July 1 at Ft. Benning, Ga. Capt. Stiver is enrolled in the Advanced Infantry Officers school there. He is the son of Mrs. Sara Stiver of Fairbury and the late Keith Stiver.
Jane Moulton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Moulton of Fairbury, recently left Fairbury via Lincoln for the United Nations Youth Delegation. She won the all-expense paid trip from the Odd Fellows IOOF and the Rebekah lodges of Fairbury.
30 Years Ago
July 8, 1993
Fairbury Hospital Board of Directors voted June 29 to approve a formal affiliation and management relationship with BroMenn Healthcare, Bloomington. To cement this agreement, William H. Fugate, president of the Fairbury Hospital board and Dale S. Strassheim, president of BroMenn Healthcare signed a letter of intent during an 11 a.m. press conference June 30. Terms of the affiliation include a 10-year management relationship between the two providers; enhancing the emergency response system in cooperation with SELCAS; developing more outpatient services; and developing a stronger physician network.
Excessive ponding in fields is causing limited root development on both corn and soybean crops, said Marion Shier, Livingston County Extension Service Crop Education Advisor. With an area average of over 10" of rain that fell in June, southeast Livingston County farmers are finding bean fields too wet to cultivate, while corn is now too tall for field work.
Jeremy Huston, a student at Prairie Central High School, attended an all-expense-paid weekend leadership seminar at The Lodge, Oakbrook, on May 4. The seminar was conducted by the northern Illinois Chapter of the Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation (HOBY), a not-for-profit organization that seeks to recognize and reward leadership potential in high school sophomores, both in the United States and abroad.
20 Years Ago
July 9, 2003
Bob King of Forrest has been employed by four different owners (one twice) and has worked in the grocery business in the same building for 65 years. He was employed by Virgil Stewart, who later sold the business to Jamie Rieger, who sold it to Monte Gerber, who then sold it back to Rieger, his current employer. King said he remembers selling candy bars, ice cream and pop for 5 cents, compared to today's much higher prices. As for retirement, Bob King has no intention of giving up his job as "head checker" at the Forrest Grocery Store.
Robert and Marsha Slagel of Fairbury are parents of a baby girl born at 6:43 p.m. on June 12, 2003 at Gibson Area Hospital. Jenni Katherine weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20½ inches long at birth. Maternal grandparents are Martin and Marjorie Meister of Fairbury. Paternal grandparents are Daniel and Mary Slagel of Fairbury. Maternal great-grandparents are Rosemary Hoffman and Andrew and Elizabeth Meister, all of Fairbury. The new arrival was welcomed home by a sister, Kelli 6, and a brother, Clifton 3.
Forrest farmers have joined together to donate 40 acres of land as part of a local mission to help feed the hungry. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Forrest, and Plainfield United Church of Christ have joined as partners to sponsor a mission project through the Foods Resource Bank, of Kalamazoo, Mich. The mission projects start with landowners' donating acreage and farmers agreeing to give their time and equipment to grow a crop.
10 Years Ago
July 10, 2013
Ground was broken in Fairbury Tuesday, July 2, for the Brian J. Munz Safety Complex that will house the Fairbury Fire Department and SELCAS. Munz was a member of the Fairbury Fire Department, and lost his life on July 22, 2008, after being injured while fighting a house fire. His father, Jim Munz, his mother, Karen Munz, and his brother, Greg Munz, broke the ground in front of about 150 friends, relatives and townspeople. The new facility is expected to be in operation by the end of the year.
In a unanimous vote Wednesday night the Fairbury City Council removed the acting chief title from Mike Frickey and named him the permanent chief, replacing Jack Wiser who recently retired. Frickey thanked Mayor Lynn Dameron and the city aldermen for their confidence in him and said he will do his best for them. The department is taking things slow but will be making some changes, although nothing drastic. Frickey was originally appointed acting police chief following an executive session at the council's May 1 meeting.
At a time when many old barns are being demolished, Carlos Bahler is preserving the historic structure on his farmstead. The Fairbury farmer isn't exactly sure when the barn was built, but it was on the property in 1934 when the previous family moved to the farm. The barn has mill lumber in the frame and Bahler's father built the wings on the barn in the early 1950s, with dairy on one side and beef on the other. “It has a gambrel-style roof rather than a pitched roof. It holds more hay that way,” Bahler said. A metal roof was installed around 30 years ago and Bahler recently had metal placed on the outside of the barn rather than having to paint it every 8-10 years.
(Looking Back from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week on Fairbury News by Duffy-Pils Memorial Homes, with locations in Fairbury, Chenoa and Colfax)
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