130 Years Ago
August 11, 1894
Dr. J. R. Rayburn has just added an electric motor to his dental parlors. It is a most perfect working machine and is used to run the drill in fixing teeth. It is a great improvement over the old foot power.
J. G. Swing has purchased the Simon Baechler residence in the southeast part of town for $2,500.
Austin Harrington has returned from New York, where he has been detained for some time by a broken leg, the result of a runaway horse, which threw him against a lamp post.
A threshing machine belonging to H. L. McCullough, who lives on the Ed Meeker farm just west of Cropsey, was burned Wednesday, having caught fire from a spark from the engine. A new wagon belonging to Jacob Worrick, 100 bushels of oats and 80 acres of straw belonging to Mr. Meeker were also burned.
120 Years Ago
August 12, 1904
J. H. Crumbaker, of Avoca Township, had a field of wheat which averaged 15 bushels per acre. The kernels are nice and plump and it looks like it would grade at the top. There was a time when considerable wheat was raised in this section, but a field of that cereal is getting to be a curiosity.
Rural carriers have been notified that they are to receive $720 per year.
John Dietiker, Jr., and Orval Payne returned from the World's Fair Saturday. They say the show is fine and there is no attempt to rob the people by high prices. Mr. Dietiker expressed the opinion that one could see the fair and live well on $2.50 per day.
Bert Slaughter was held up and robbed in Chicago Sunday night. He was seized from behind by one highwayman, while another pressed a revolver against his head and told him to deliver his valuables. The robbers took $35 in cash, a diamond ring valued at $225 and his watch.
110 Years Ago
August 14, 1914
The two threshing runs, Steidinger's and Lange's, finished their respective runs a few hours apart on Wednesday and they assembled at George Jessup's place that afternoon, and played ball, the losing side having to buy ice cream for the winners. The job of buying fell to the boys in the Lange run, they losing 6 to 19.
Carl Goudy won the 100-mile motorcycle race at Rockford Sunday. His time was 96 minutes.
R. E. Simpson is moving his family to this city from Monmouth, having rented the Mrs. Burch property.
Miss Mae Deputy left Monday for Ackron, Ind., where she will visit Mrs. Gautz and attend a house party.
100 Years Ago
August 8, 1924
The Choy Ling Foo Troupe of Chinese Athletes and Jugglers, five in number, give a series of distinctive feats peculiar to the Oriental world. Plate spinning, knife throwing, juggling of water, contortion feats, diving through hoops of knives, and most wonderful tricks performed while suspended in mid-air by their pigtails, form part of the program. The Choy Ling Foo Troupe is a "big time" act engaged by the Fairbury Fair, because critics have pronounced it the best Chinese act that has ever appeared in this country.
The Jones auto accessory store at Chenoa was robbed by a gang of burglars about midnight Wednesday. A number of tires were taken. The gang was surprised while at work and some shots were exchanged, but all got away.
Next Sunday, August 10, marks the 137th anniversary of the Chatsworth wreck. It occurred on the night of August 10, 1887.
The work of redecorating the Dominy Memorial Library started this week. The color scheme chosen by the committee in charge, together with the new lights, give an added beauty to that beautiful building. It will probably be a couple of weeks before the upper part is reached, the workmen having only started on the basement.
90 Years Ago
August 10, 1934
When workmen opened a corn crib out at Oscar Vail's Tuesday, preparatory to shelling, they were routed by a swarm of bees and decided to wait until the next day when the bees had time to cool off so that they could be smoked out. A large quantity of honey was found in the crib.
The store building formerly occupied by the Sims Shoe Store has been brightened up with green and gold, the Gamble Store Company's colors, and Manager Herman Huber is getting the stock in place as fast as it arrives, in the built-in cases. The store is a fine improvement for the east block and Fairbury.
Little Dorothy June Robb, demonstrator of the correct thing in toe and tap dancing, and winner last Saturday evening in the finals of the Central Theatre's "Search for Talent" contest, danced for the Rotary Club at the Tuesday evening meeting of the club, much to the delight of the members of that organization. Miss Dorothy Thompson was her accompanist. Dorothy June's home is in Bloomington, but she is spending the summer at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Haymond, south of this city.
The Saturday night free street dances are increasing in popularity each week. There were approximately twice as many dancers last Saturday evening as there were the week previous.
80 Years Ago
August 11, 1944
Miss Effie Mae Brown, who lives with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Nosek, had a narrow escape last Thursday. She was walking around the house when she stepped on the covering of an old cistern that was full of water. The covering gave way, but as she started to fall, she fell forward and did not go entirely into the cistern. However, the fall rendered her unconscious for a short time, but fortunately enough of her body was above the top of the cistern to keep her from going down. Edgar Zook, a neighbor, happened to see her and pulled her out, and outside of shock and some bruises, she was soon herself.
Harry Bedell F1/C, who was here this week visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Bedell, was in the thick of things when the American forces started taking over Saipam, and states that he is very fortunate to be in the land of the living. He has a 30-day leave while his boat is in port being repaired. Accompanying Fireman Bedell to Fairbury was Miss Marie Hollister of Los Angeles, Calif. They, together with Miss Lois Bedell, of Chicago, and Muriel Bedell, left on Wednesday evening for Chicago.
P. M. Hotaling is back from Tuscola, where he had been inspector for detasseling 7,000 acres of hybrid corn. Mr. Hotaling says he thinks he knows now what it means to be an inspector without looking up the definition in Webster.
70 Years Ago
August 12, 1954
Thomas Winslow and Bill Fugate, of Fairbury, were among winners at the 4-H Fair held at Pontiac last week. Winslow placed sixth in the second year electrical exhibit and Fugate third in forestry. Duane Elbert, of Forrest, won all phases of the Champagne De Argents department with five firsts. Beverly and Judy Steidinger of Fairbury, won 10 ribbons between them in the poultry department. Marjorie Brown captured second in white potatoes, and Lynn Wessels a third with his dozen eggs from a project flock.
L. F. Thompson, of Forrest, brought a two-pound tomato into The Blade office Saturday. Although Mr. Thompson is a modest man, his results indicate good tomato culture. Mallory tomatoes are his favorite, and have been for 25 years. He trains the plants, cuts off the suckers, and often has plants 9 feet tall. Many of the tomatoes weigh a pound apiece, he said. The 2-pound specimen was a double-looking tomato which had grown from one stem. Mr. Thompson is a retired railroad engineer. In 1911 he ran an engine on the T. P. & W. He retired as a Wabash engineer 18 years ago.
60 Years Ago
August 13, 1964
Purchased by Bill Weber of Oh Susannah Restaurant in Fairbury for 75 cents per lb., the grand champion steer of the Livingston County 4-H fair has at least two more dates. First is coming up this week when he competes at the Illinois State Fair in the 4-H and Junior shows, and the second is a similar quest at the Fairbury Fair. After that, prime blue-ribbon steaks for patrons of the popular Fairbury eating house are in order. The steer is a 925 lb. medium Hereford, shown to the crown by Joe Worthington, 14, of Pontiac.
In addition to the livestock exhibitors representing Fairbury at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield this week, a Fairbury Jaycee delegation will be in the opening parade tomorrow morning, presenting Miss Livingston County, Donna Roche. Stan McCulloh, Jaycee president, said that they are also preparing a pictorial display on Fairbury and will have it there throughout the 10-day run of the fair.
The tomato harvest began at the Jim Goold farm recently and is expected to last through October. Mexican workers scampered over the 40-acre field under the leadership of Lalo Chavez. As the season gets underway, the 35 field workers will keep four vehicles busy hauling tomatoes to Campbell Soup company plants in Chicago. Jim Goold has provided quarters for his workers by completely remodeling a metal shed. He put up partition walls, creating eight huge rooms and a recreation area in the center. Outside toilets were erected, a bath house was built and a laundry room was constructed. Goold also furnished all furniture.
50 Years Ago
August 15, 1974
A concrete sail boat is under construction in Fairbury, designed and built by Gerhard Heppner, a mason, who said Monday that building the 41 foot boat has been a weekend project since June of 1973 and will take possibly another two years to complete. When completed, the sailer will weigh 16 tons, have a 12-foot beam, 45-foot high mast and an auxiliary 4-cylinder Mercedes Benz diesel engine. The cutter rig sail will contain 800 square feet of material. While there have been others who have built cement boats, this will be the first twin keel cement sailboat. Heppner plastered the cement over a steel mesh, reinforced framework. The molded cement frame is 7/8 inch thick. An epoxy coating will be applied later.
Fairbury-Cropsey High School's second AFS student for the coming year arrived in the community last Thursday from his home in Puerto Deseado, Santa Cruz, Argentina, and the Don Pattersons found that they had received an exciting, vivacious and active son in the person of Marcelo Martinovic. Marcelo, whose father is a clothing merchant in Puerto Deseado, and whose mother is a kindergarten teacher, arrived in the U. S. just in time to view the historic resignation of President Nixon on the Patterson's TV set. By coincidence, Fairbury's Bob Nussbaum, who is now overseas in the AFS Americans Abroad program, arrived in Argentina two months ago just as their president, Jaun Peron, died in office, so both boys witnessed a change in heads of state just as they arrived in the other's country.
Four bridal showers were given for Miss Linda Iler, Fairbury, who will marry Robert Mack, also of Fairbury, Sept. 7, at the Fairbury First United Methodist Church. August 1, a bridal shower was held at the Lloyd Aberle home. Linda was guest of honor at a picnic for Walton's employees held at Lyle's Acres on August 5. On August 8, a shower was given for her by former classmates at Debbie Slayton's home. August 11, a miscellaneous shower was given by Mrs. John Reis, at the Reis home.
40 Years Ago
August 9, 1984
About 15 volunteers Tuesday night started erecting the Fairbury Fair's "temporary" stalls for the last time. This time, instead of going up in a tent, they're under the roof of a new pole building erected for the fair by H & W Systems of Fairbury. "Bud" Gerber, superintendent of the harness division said that they expected to finish the project next Tuesday night. And happily, they won't be facing the task of taking them down again when the fair is over as they are now permanent.
When volunteer staff members of South East Livingston County Ambulance Service (SELCAS) held their annual appreciation dinner Sunday evening in Forrest, they not only ate, but also found themselves right next to a real emergency situation needing their talents. The emergency arose when Mrs. Phil (Margaret) Sohn, 83, of Fairbury, attending the Sohn family reunion in the same pavilion at Forrest Park, fell and broke her hip. The SELCAS EMT's were able to give immediate first aid and use one of their two ambulances they had at the scene to remove her to Fairbury Hospital.
The sanctuary of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chenoa formed the setting for the July 6, 1984 wedding of Karen Brucker and Mark Heins, both of Chenoa. Rev. Paul Shropa performed the double ring ceremony in the presence of 310 guests. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brucker of rural Chenoa. Mr. and Mrs. Dorren Heins of Chenoa are parents of the bridegroom. Immediately following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Elk's Country Club, Pontiac. The bride is a 1982 graduate of Chenoa High school and will be a junior at Illinois State University. The bridegroom is a 1980 graduate of Chenoa High school and is engaged in farming.
30 Years Ago
August 10, 1994
Before a crowd that spilled into the street at Thursday evening's regular meeting of the Forrest Village Board, Pleasant Ridge resident John Teubel informed the board that "nearly 80 percent of the people of Pleasant Ridge have said they do not want the incinerator coming to Pleasant Ridge." Teubel stated that "all Pleasant Ridge officials are against it" and that an attorney has been hired to help the township through the technicalities of opposing the waste-to-energy plant proposed by the Forrest Village Development Corporation. Teubel also stated, "This (the percentage of Pleasant Ridge opposition) should help set a clear direction for the decision of the village board (on whether to annex an 80-acre tract into the village on which to build the plant)."
Richard and Terri Wells of Rt. 1, Fairbury, will celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with a trip to Kiawah Island Resort, SC. Wells and Terri Wenger were married August 16, 1969 at St. John's Catholic Church, Fairbury. They are parents of Clint, a recent graduate of SIU, Carbondale, with a bachelor's degree in commercial recreation, and Shawn, who recently received an associates degree in law enforcement from SIU. Wells is employed by Gardner's Sales and Service, Pontiac. Mrs. Wells is employed by Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury.
The former Moser & Son Downtown Mobil Standard station at 119 S. 3rd street, Fairbury, was demolished Aug. 1. The station was purchased by Dave's Supermarket to add more parking area for their grocery store.
20 Years Ago
August 11, 2004
District 6 State Police investigated a truck-train accident that occurred at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4 in Chatsworth on Old Route 24 (Walnut St.) east of First Street. The Bloomer Line's train engineer was Eric L. Webb, 42, of Danvers. A truck-tractor with semi-trailer was traveling east bound on Walnut Street, driven by Roger R. Smith, 52, of St. Anne. As the truck approached a marked railroad crossing, Smith failed to yield at the crossing, resulting in the train's locomotive striking the trailer unit of the semi. The trailer was empty at the time of the crash. The train consisted of 18 empty grain cars pulled by a single engine. Smith was charged with failure to use due caution at a railroad crossing.
Denver Slagel of the Prairie Central FFA Chapter attended FFA Leadership Camp at Allerton Park 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello from July 29 to July 31. Two-hundred fourteen campers and 22 staff members from around the state attended the three-day camp and participated in a challenge course, Ag Olympics, a Hawaiian Harvest Festival and various other team competitions.
A daughter was born on Thursday, July 29, 2004 at 2:35 p.m. to Charles and Kathy Fehr of Fairbury. Koryn Renae weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces at birth and was 20 inches long. She was welcomed by Kent Richard, 10 and Kamryn Christine, 6. Grandparents are Duane and Janny Schneider and Wayne and Norma Fehr.
10 Years Ago
August 13, 2014
Jim Paternoster owned and operated Paternoster Motor Company at the corner of US Route 24 and Second St. in Fairbury from 1954 to 2010. After selling the property, demolition began on Tuesday last week, and by Wednesday afternoon, the remains of the building were being loaded into a semi trailer. Family Dollar intends to build a new structure at the site in the near future.
A group of 80 farmers from Brazil filled Randy Aberle's machine shed in Ford County the other day. The Dekalb Seed Company informed the group about agricultural technology and products here in the United States. Dekalb's brand manager for Brazil, Leonardo Barbosa, noted the importance of learning about U. S. agriculture practices. Barbosa's group learned about the differences between the crops in South America and here. After visiting some area farms, the group headed to Chicago for a course on farm business management.
The Nutrients for Life Foundation announced Prairie Central FFA chapter as the 2014 Helping Communities Grow Illinois first prize winner. The first place prize of $5,000 was awarded to Prairie Central FFA. Prairie Central's three-part project consisted of an elementary educational program titled, “Sowing Seeds,” an informational breakfast for students and staff highlighting the role farmers play in feeding the world and the creation of a community booth titled, “Harvesting Hope.”
(Looking Back from Kari Kamrath is sponsored each week on Fairbury News by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home)
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