130 Years Ago
September 8, 1894
At the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hilton in Fairbury, on Wednesday, September 5, at high noon, a quiet yet pleasant wedding was held, in which Rev. J. G. Rockenbach and Miss Emma Hilton were made one. There were two officiating ministers, Rev. H. O. Hubbard and Rev. F. D. Brooke.
Smith Olney has resigned his position as town clerk of the Town of Indian Grove. Emery Gregg has been appointed to fill the vacancy.
Today is the last day of the fair and in spite of rain it has been a good attraction with good crowds.
Some tramps who were prowling around the place of William Powell, east of town, were requested by him to move on. They attacked him and he shot one. The ball glanced around the ribs and was taken out behind. The tramps are under arrest.
120 Years Ago
September 9, 1904
The fair of 1904 will undoubtedly go down in history as among the most successful of the association. To size up the crowd on the grounds Thursday, it looked like the largest ever seen on the grounds, and old timers estimated the attendance larger than ever before. Every train coming into the city was crowded to the guard rails with jolly crowds of people. Every livery barn in the city was filled with horses and the streets full of carriages. At the grounds it was the same way and every available space was taken up with horses and carriages. People drove as far as 30 miles to attend the fair and they undoubtedly got their money's worth.
Cropsey — The program has been completed for the annual convention of the McLean County
Woman's Christian Temperance Union which is to meet in the Methodist Church in Cropsey on Thursday and Friday. The gathering brings together a band of noble women from all parts of the county and is looked forward to with more than ordinary interest, being the largest gathering for the Temperance Union for the year. Mrs. G. H. Read, of this city, is president of the association.
Forrest — Fire started in Donohoe's livery barn about 7 o'clock Wednesday evening. The whole interior of the barn was burned, leaving nothing but the walls standing.
110 Years Ago
September 11, 1914
The pump at the city waterworks station, which has been giving trouble for some time, went to the bad Monday, and the water was shut off. Two surface wells in the east part of town have been put in, with a traction engine being used to drive the pumps.
The Fairbury Fair Association did not make expenses this year. After the bills are paid they will probably be seven or eight hundred dollars in debt. This deficit is attributed to the bad weather the first of the week.
Miss Georgiana Brown, who has been bookkeeper in The Blade office for the past year, has resigned her position to accept the position of office girl in the office of the Fairbury High School.
Rev. G. S. Mills, formerly located in East Peoria, has been transferred to the Free Methodist Church here. He takes the place of Rev. Newcomer who has been transferred to Knox, Indiana.
100 Years Ago
September 5, 1924
A record run in threshing was made in the community threshing ring southeast of town last Friday, when 4,200 bushels of oats were threshed during the day. The threshing was done at the John and Debold Householder farms and three different sets of the machine were made.
On account of the small number of pupils in the district, the Beehive school has been discontinued for this year.
There are 22 automobiles entered in tomorrow's automobile races. Included in this list are the foremost dirt track drivers in the country, and they are coming here to fight it out for the $750 in prize money which the Fairbury Fair Association is offering to the winners.
Dr. D. Brewer moved Monday into his new quarters over the Claudon Bank. These rooms were formerly occupied by James Moran with his cigar factory. The rooms have been redecorated and repapered and the proper equipment added to make them first-class quarters in every respect. Dr. Law will occupy the offices over Wade's Drug Store formerly occupied by Dr. Brewer.
90 Years Ago
September 7, 1934
Many of the people who read this article are well aware of the condition of our library. Due to the lack of income of this institution it has been a problem for several years now to keep it going with nothing left to keep up the building. The paint has scaled off, plastering is off and the building is in a run-down condition generally. Several weeks ago an application for the redecorating of the library was presented to the Illinois Emergency Relief Commission. Word was recently received from the commission of their acceptance of the project. As is customary, the material must be furnished locally and the labor is furnished by the Relief Commission. The total cost of the project is something over $1,000, approximately one-fourth of which is for the material.
Glenwood Wagner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ned Wagner, had his right arm broken near the wrist last Thursday night, when a Ford car which he was cranking, kicked.
John Schick, who for several years past has been in the employ of Dan Schlipf, left yesterday for New York City, where next Wednesday he sails for Germany for a visit with relatives. On Wednesday evening some 45 of the friends of Mr. Schick gathered at the Schlipf home, the party being a farewell affair for Mr. Schick.
80 Years Ago
September 8, 1944
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cooper have leased of Ted Underwood the Green Lantern Safe at Gilman. The invoicing of stock will take place on next Thursday and Mr. and Mrs. Cooper will take over the following morning. Although Mr. Cooper has been employed as a guard at the Wilmington ordnance plant the past 23 months, he and Mrs. Cooper have had much experience in the restaurant business. Mr. Cooper terminates his work at Wilmington next Monday, and Mrs. Cooper is giving up her work in the Fairbury Cafe.
Mrs. Emerson Russell (Olga Hlavas), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hlavas, of this city, has accepted a position as organist in one of the largest churches in St. Louis, Mo., taking charge of her new position Sunday. The services for which Mrs. Russell plays Sundays are broadcast over a St. Louis radio station. Mrs. Russell is a graduate of F.T.H.S. and Wesleyan School of Music, and is a musician of exceptional ability.
C. B. Day, the plumber, was badly burned on his right leg and arm on Tuesday afternoon about 1:30 o'clock. While his burns are quite serious, he is making a satisfactory recovery. Matt Rapp had brought in a gasoline pump on which he wanted Mr. Day to do some soldering. When Mr. Day started to work on it, the pump was tilted slightly and unknown to the men, there was some gasoline in the pump which ran out, some of it getting on Mr. Day's right leg. In an instant the spilled gasoline caught fire from the torch Mr. Day had ready to use and the flames were shooting up Mr. Day's right pants leg. Before he could tear his burning clothing off or get the fire out, his leg and hand were badly burned.
70 Years Ago
September 9, 1954
The Louis Hoffmans gave a family dinner Monday in honor of Miss Peggy Hoffman, who is leaving this weekend for New Zealand, as part of the International Farm Youth Exchange program. She is flying out to California Friday, where she will meet other exchange students, who will go to New Zealand and Australia and other points in that part of the world. After that she will fly to Hawaii for a two-day stay. From there she will fly to New Zealand. She will stay there for six months. New Zealand's seasons are the opposite of ours and she will be there during their summer.
C. C. Thompson Monday became the first three-time winner of the Fairbury City golf tournament by downing Perry Munz 3 and 2 in the tourney finals. Thompson thus retired the original traveling trophy which he won in 1949 and 1950 and which has been presented to the winner of the tournament since 1948. A new traveling trophy will be activated next year and will be awarded each year until any one person again notches three championships. Thompson won six of the 16 holes played in the final match. Munz captured three and seven were even.
Charles Haberkorn, of Chatsworth, Thursday, won two contour plowing contests on the F. L. Livingston farm just south of Chatsworth, and by so doing will compete in the state plowing contest at Olney Friday, Sept. 17. Haberkorn Thursday morning won the eighth annual county plowing contest with a score of 83 points out of a possible 100, and then duplicated that score in the afternoon to capture first place in the council area plowing match against other county champions. Haberkorn ousted seven other contestants, including George Myers and John Mehrkens of Fairbury, to win the county title, and bested the Grundy County and Iroquois County champions for the council title.
60 Years Ago
September 10, 1964
Marshall Fitzgerald, 61, a veteran Fairbury contractor, was reported in fair condition at Fairbury hospital Wednesday, after being badly injured in a construction accident south of Chatsworth on Friday. He received six broken ribs, a bruised shoulder and a compound fracture of the right ankle with both bones being disarticulated. Fitzgerald's crew was erecting a pre-fabricated corn crib, when part of it collapsed on him. He was unable to get clear after being warned of the impending collapse moments earlier by one of his men.
Bids for the construction of Helen Lewis Smith Pavilion at Fairbury Hospital were taken under advisement Tuesday afternoon by the foundation bearing her name. The lowest set of bids exceeded the architect's estimate by a considerable figure. The low bids totaled $474,969, which the foundation president Hartzell Munz said "was more than we planned on paying, especially since this figure doesn't include the electrical portion of the work." For some unknown reason, although 15 bids on the job were received, not one firm bid the electrical portion.
An empty hopper car on the northbound Streator local of the Wabash Railroad derailed Thursday morning in Fairbury as the train switched to Wabash trackage from the T. P. & W. rails. The car was pulled two locks until the train was stopped just behind Honeggers' and Co. main offices. Some damage was done to ties, and also to the planking in crossings at Third and Second streets. The car was cut out of the train, and maintenance crews repaired the broken switch near the depot, while a car man from Forrest replaced the derailed unit.
50 Years Ago
September 12, 1974
The reduction of state aid, under the one-man, one-vote formula which favors the urban and suburban districts, and the concurrent loss of local taxing power due to the elimination of the personal property tax, were among factors outlined by Supt. Lester Miller as he discussed the fund shortage facing Fairbury-Cropsey Community Unit schools as he spoke before Fairbury Rotarians Tuesday night. Those two factors, plus inflation, are the principal factors in the district's deficit financing situation which has developed in the past four years.
Mrs. Hattie Ziller, 77, one of four ladies from Weston overcome by carbon monoxide gas Wednesday evening, September 4, remains a patient at Fairbury Hospital, where her condition is listed as good to fair. Four women were passengers in a car driven by Mrs. Margaret Bauman, 79, which apparently had a faulty muffler system. They were en route to a John Joda Post 54, American Legion Auxiliary meeting in Fairbury. When they arrived at the Legion home, they were violently ill. Mrs. Bauman and Mrs. Flora Keleher, 70, both became unconscious after they entered the meeting room, while Mrs. Ziller and Miss Aldine Harrison both suffered severe nausea. SELCAS ambulance attendants brought the ladies to the hospital where Miss Harrison was treated and released, while the other three were admitted. Mechanics checked the car and found a hole on the top of the exhaust pipe, which was allowing fumes to enter the passenger compartment of the car.
Indian Creek Country Club's ladies golf chairman, Mrs. Dennis (Jane) Righter of Forrest, won her first women's championship golf tournament September 10, when on the 18th hole she edged out Mrs. Maurice (Alice) Herzog of Fairbury. If Alice had won the 18th hole, they would have gone into a sudden death play off. Jane won the match two up. This is the third time Alice has been in contention for the crown.
40 Years Ago
September 6, 1984
An unknown gunman entered the residence of a Fairbury woman Saturday night, demanded cash and then struck her before fleeing out the back door. Fairbury Police said that Betty Babbs was robbed of approximately $20 sometime around 9 p.m. Sept. 1. The suspect, who concealed his identity by covering his face, entered the Babbs' residence through the front, door, which was unlocked, displayed a firearm and asked for cash. When Mrs. Babbs didn't respond as quickly as the assailant wanted her to, he struck her and knocked her over the bed. She was taken to St. James hospital after the incident, but was later released with no injuries.
After eight years as president of the Fairbury Fair, Art Walter is stepping down. He made the announcement Tuesday night to about 200 people who attended the fair's annual appreciation dinner for workers at the just concluded 108th fair. "I can pretty much sum it up in one word, 'Thanks'," Walter told the group. He then announced his decision to step down as president, saying it was time to pass it on; and also that he would be going off the board after 35 years as a director, having first been elected in 1949. "That's long enough," he said later.
Fairview Haven Dietary Supervisor Sue Rinkenberger has been awarded third prize in Food Management's 1984 fruit dessert recipe contest. Food Management magazine is a special publication for healthcare facilities, schools, colleges, business and industry. Her prize winning recipe for Peaches Ambrosia Pie will be published in the forthcoming Fairview Haven Cookbook.
30 Years Ago
September 7, 1994
The big squeeze is on for the Prairie Central School District as Board of Education members learned of the high enrollment cramming classrooms this school year. During a special board meeting held Friday morning in Fairbury, principals at all five district buildings were asked what it would take to ease the crowding at their schools. Superintendent Dr. Larry Copes explained that when the district formed nine years ago, there was a total enrollment of 1,700 students. Present enrollment stands at just under 2,200. "We're looking at 2,700 by the year 2004," he said, adding that current enrollment is three years ahead of the 1992 projections on the number of students.
Becky Barker of Chatsworth left quite an impression on art judges at the 118th Fairbury Fair this year. With what she says was a difficult water color scene, judges awarded her Best of Show. In a silhouette perspective oil painting of a John Deere tractor, her husband Rusty's two small boys and a man who represents a composite of three men, she won the Judge's Choice Award. She works with oils, pastels (chalk) and recently started with water color and pen and ink. The owner of Rainbow Trail Studio in Chatsworth, she currently takes orders.
A surprise 90th birthday party was held Saturday for Hazel Travis of Fairbury, hosted by her 10 children. One hundred twenty-eight attended from Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky and Missouri. She has 45 grandchildren and 84 great-grandchildren, and is still very active. She enjoys baking "goodies" daily for those who stop by for a visit.
20 Years Ago
September 8, 2004
Arnold Ifft has been selected as the 2004 Citizen of the Year by the Fairbury Junior Women's Club. Ifft, who has volunteered his time and services to many organizations in the community of Fairbury, will be honored with a special presentation at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 during Patriots Day, sponsored by the Fairbury Junior Women's Club. Ifft's name will be added to the plaque at Dominy Memorial Library, and a book will be donated to the library in his honor. Those chosen for the Citizen of the Year honor unselfishly volunteer their time to make the Fairbury community a better place in which to live.
Pvt. Iris Jeanette Layne, a 2004 graduate of Prairie Central High School, will graduate from boot camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on Sept. 16. Layne entered the U. S. Army in late June of this year. She will continue her training in Georgia for another nine weeks before being stationed at an unknown location.
The Prairie Central Tennis Association recently received a generous gift from Prairie Lands Foundation. Two backstops, one at the tennis courts at Forrest Park in Forrest and another at the courts at North Park in Fairbury were given to the tennis association. The backstops provide the capability for one person to practice hitting, etc. During the past season the PC Tennis Association has provided free activities for the Boys & Girls Club centers in Fairbury, Forrest and Chatsworth.
10 Years Ago
September 10, 2014
Fairbury has received a $10,000 donation from Bluestem Bank, a division of Bank of Pontiac, to purchase electronic equipment for the city's emergency operations center. During Wednesday's meeting of the Fairbury City Council, Mayor Lynn Dameron and council members accepted a check for $10,000 from Bank of Pontiac President & CEO Bill Kaufman. According to ESDA Director Rick Barrera, the agency is aggressively testing its disaster response plan as an effort to improve emergency readiness and response. The donation will be used to purchase a camera which will be installed on top of the Prairie Central Co-op grain elevator in Fairbury.
Tom Aaron of Fairbury will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the John Joda American Legion Home in Fairbury. Friends and family are welcome to celebrate this milestone with him. Aaron has three sons, Doug (Charlene), Roger (Sue Taylor) and Terry; and one daughter, Jill. He also has four step-daughters, Debbie (Carl) Bottoms, Anita Gill, Linda (Kenny) Carter and Lisa (Donnie) Biyerly; and one step-son, Scot (Michael Ann) Bryant. He has five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, 15 step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. Aaron served his country in the Army, stationed in Korea, before a long career at Pittsburgh International for 30 years.
The food pantries of Fairbury and Forrest will benefit from the efforts of some Prairie Central High School students. Ag students spent a recent morning digging up potatoes, which were donated to the pantries. The potato patch is a collaboration of the high school and Stewards of the Land, while Bank of Pontiac is a sponsor for the project. Stewards of the Land is a group of 25 families in the Fairbury area that grow and raise things that are chemical free. Many of the group's products go to Chicago restaurants through a co-op effort.
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