130 Years Ago
September 15, 1894
The dining room conducted by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church did well. They took in about $225.
Lew Henderson and Henry Remington have been hard at work this week placing the new lamps in the Methodist Church. The auditorium is lighted by forty-two incandescent lamps, including six in the Epworth League room. The oil lamps are left to use in case of necessity.
Weston — Robert Henning is on a business tour in Iowa. Joseph Adam has sold his farm of 107 acres to M. K. Reedle for $100 per acre.
C. C. McDonald has bought a complete new electric light plant for Chatsworth to fill the growing needs there.
120 Years Ago
September 16, 1904
The receipts of the fair are being gathered in and it looks now as though $2,000 or over in profits would be realized from the fair of 1904. This still leaves the association several hundred dollars in debt on the new grand stand, but it looks like next year should finish paying for it.
The new grocery store of Carl Herzog opened this week in the Hale store room, formerly occupied by C. A. Purdum. Practically the entire stock of groceries is new and fresh, just from the wholesalers and the interior of the store presents a bright clean appearance. Mr. Herzog is an up-to-date grocery man who has been connected with the grocery business in Fairbury for a number of years and may be depended upon to conduct a grocery store that is first-class in every respect.
Robert H. Patton, prohibition candidate for governor, will deliver an address upon the issues of the day at the new Central Opera House Tuesday evening. The speaker should be greeted by a full house as he is one of the leading orators of the state. There will be music by the Fairbury band and a male quartette, and a good time is assured.
110 Years Ago
September 18, 1914
The Five and Ten Cents Store which has conducted in this city for several years past by Louis Kuehner has changed hands, S. B. Hirstein being the new proprietor. Mr. Hirstein's son Aaron will assist him running the business.
Invitations are out for the approaching marriage of Miss Agnes Stella Murtaugh to Leo Francis Harrity, both of Chatsworth, but well known here.
Carl Goudy captured the 100-mile race at Rockford Sunday in 904 minutes.
Miss Anna Loughran is now bookkeeper in the office of the Fairbury Blade, succeeding her sister, Miss Georgiana who has resumed her work at the school.
100 Years Ago
September 12, 1924
The Fairbury Township High School and the city grade schools opened on Monday with an enrollment of 516. Of this number 177 are in the high school and are divided into the following classes: Freshmen, 47; Sophomores, 39; Juniors, 55; Seniors, 36. It will be interesting to know that 16 pupils are taking the agricultural course. In the Edison School 168 are enrolled, 101 boys and 67 girls. In the Isaac Walton School there are enrolled 172 pupils, 104 boys and 68 girls.
The Alexander Bakery did its share toward feeding the crowds fair week. In checking up on his output Mr. Alexander finds that he sold 37,861 buns, 8,140 loaves of bread and 652 pies, besides quantities of cookies, cakes, cinnamon rolls and coffee cake.
Mrs. Robert Henning, Miss Elizabeth Smith, Miss Nelle Carrithers, Mrs. J. C. Dawson, Mrs. I. L. Harris, Miss Irma Waggoner and Mrs. M. A. Anderson, of the Welfare committee of the Woman's Club, were present at the adjourned meeting of the city council on Monday evening, at which time they presented a petition asking that the city council take steps to zone the town and prevent the building of places for commercial business in the residence district. They stated that already several shacks had been built along the Corn Belt Trail which were detrimental to the residence district in which they were located, and that they understood more were to be built.
90 Years Ago
September 14, 1934
Superintendent of Speed J. C. Hagen stated last evening that the entry list of harness horses was the largest in the history of the fair, he having received the entries of 81 horses. These 81 entries do not include the runners. Neither does it mean that some of the entries have been doubled up by entering one horse in more than one race. It does mean that 81 head of harness horses have entered the races here next week. These 81 entries come from seven different states and included in the list are some fast ones, all of which assures the race fans some fine sport next week.
An ideal day and a fine program combined to make this year's Weston community picnic a big success. A large and enthusiastic crowd was present during the day and at night it was almost doubled, bringing to Weston possibly the largest gathering that was ever at this annual event. The building in which were housed the various exhibits attracted the attention of many people, who viewed the fancy work, the grade school work, the exhibits of grain, jellies, cakes, etc. A public address system made it possible for all to hear the program. Farm Adviser S. G. Turner of Livingston County gave the address of the afternoon.
The free pavement dances which Fairbury business men have ben putting on each Saturday night during the summer months for the entertainment of the public have become more popular than ever since the temperature has cooled down to a more comfortable degree. It is a Saturday night event to which a large number of people look forward. The dance tomorrow evening will be held at the Fourth and Main Streets intersection.
80 Years Ago
September 15, 1944
S/Sgt. Meurl Spence, who arrived home last Saturday evening to sped a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Spence, had his plans altered somewhat Wednesday when he had an attack of appendicitis and that evening submitted to an operation at the Fairbury Hospital. A part of his furlough will be spent there. Sg. Spence has spent the past sixteen months in North Africa and Italy with the U. S. fighting forces.
This vicinity was visited by quite a heavy rain Monday and Tuesday which was received with mixed enthusiasm. The farmers who had fall plowing to do received it with open arms, as the ground has been hard and hard to plow. Those who have late corn to mature are wanting plenty of sunshine.
The directors of the Fairbury Business Club have recommended for V-day the following points of procedure. If victory over Germany is announced during store hours, close as soon as possible. Open as usual the following day. If announced at night, remain closed the next day. If announced Sunday night, remain closed on Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dameron, Dale and Marjorie, were members of the birthday party given for Mrs. Dameron's grandfather, Thomas H. Richardson, at Flanagan on Tuesday, in celebration of Mr. Richardson's 100th birthday. There were 102 relatives present at the birthday dinner. His seven children were all present and relatives came from California, Iowa, New Jersey, Florida and Ohio.
70 Years Ago
September 16, 1954
Fairbury has been the home of the world's oldest living mason since Aug. 13, when Alfred P. Nute, of Rochester, N. C., died. He had been a Mason since Oct. 27, 1874. W. B. Decker has been a Mason since Jan. 21, 1876, when he joined Columbia Lodge 98 at Chatham, N. Y., more than 78 years ago. Mr. Decker will be 100 years old Nov. 27, and is the oldest resident of Fairbury.
Beverly Rapp, a junior high school student, who has been in a cast for the past four months, has been attending classes by means of the amplified telephone connection between her home and the classroom. By means of this service started last year, Beverly has been able to hear her classmates during their recitation, get her assignments and recite when called on by the instructors.
What about 1980? Some facts and figures on our growing school system: Ten years ago there were 169 students attending class in the high school building. Five years ago there were 187. This year, 350 boys and girls are using the same class rooms. The expected enrollment in 1959 has been set by recent surveys at 520. Approximately 260 pupils eat a hot lunch daily in the high school cafeteria.
60 Years Ago
September 17, 1964
An 18-cent hike since Friday in cash offers for soybeans at Fairbury elevators today reflects reduced crop yields, and has really excited area farmers. The overnight cash price being bid last night by Farmers Grain, Honeggers and Koehl Brothers in Fairbury was $2.62, which is up 18 cents above the $2.44 they offered Thursday night. The market jumped a full 10 cents on Friday, and was up three cents each on Monday and Tuesday, and closed up two cents Wednesday. This is a 38-cent increase from the $2.24 which was bid for new beans in the market report in the Blade for Thursday, July 24.
The Fairbury City Council, at their meeting last week, voted to erect four-way stop signs at the corner of South 1st and Chestnut, en route to Westview school, since First presently is the only access route to the school, and also because children must cross at this corner to stay on the sidewalk.
Dorothy Duggan received broken ribs and a severe scalp laceration when she fell Friday morning on the stairway to her apartment above the office of Dr. D. H. Johnson on Locust street. She was taken to Fairbury Hospital by Stiver Ambulance, which was called after persons in Johnson's office heard the noise of her fall. Her condition is now reported fair.
50 Years Ago
September 19, 1974
The drought ended abruptly is some parts of Livingston County Thursday evening September 12, when a rainstorm accompanied by high winds moved eastward across the area. The black, water-filled clouds quickly shed their weight locally and rainfall varied from ½ to 4 inches, falling in an hour's time. By 3 p.m. Friday, the south fork of the Vermilion River began to rise, when water from Indian Creek began to empty into its banks. Farmers contacted in regard to the sudden rainfall said it was too much too late.
The Shakespeare Club met at Knoll Lodge September 16 for a hobo picnic. Nineteen colorful hobos and one hobo queen enjoyed a luncheon and an afternoon of games and fellowship. Guests were seated at tables covered with newspaper. Apples tied in red kerchiefs marked each place and arrangements of weeds in tin cans served as centerpieces. A bar of soap, something every hobo needs, was awarded to Mrs. Esther Gooding for the most original outfit.
Apparently there are big fish waiting to be caught in some fish pond in or around Fairbury. George Ruhlander of Fairbury took his grandsons fishing Saturday evening, and David Drach, 9, hooked a 12 lb. carp. George helped him drag the monster up on the grass. Later Ruhlander caught an 8 lb. carp, which his grandson, Bobby Drach, 5, helped him haul in. David and Bobby's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Steve Drach of Fairbury. Ruhlander said he makes his own special bait and would not reveal the contents, nor where the fish were caught.
40 Years Ago
September 13, 1984
First reports on the 1984 harvest in the Fairbury-Weston-Cropsey and Strawn areas reflect the wide variations in summer rains, which in the most charitable terms possible, could only be termed "modest." And the results, if the early harvest figures hold up, will show soybeans ranging from 13 bushels per acre ("they're really buckshot"), to a high of 40 bushels; and corn yields of 80 to as high as 140 bushels. All of those figures are far below norms for this area, but four grain elevators and two farm managers surveyed Wednesday morning all agreed that they're "better than last year."
Kimberly Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Miller of Chenoa, has recently been informed that she is the winner of a $500 scholarship from the Illinois Business Education Association. The IBEA awards two statewide scholarships: one to a high school graduate, and one to a junior in college who will be majoring in business education in Illinois. Miss Miller, 1982 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High school, is attending Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, specializing in business education. The IBEA scholarship will be presented to Kimberly on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Illinois Business Education Association Convention in Springfield.
Zenith Electronics Corporation has named Bruce A. Huber executive director - marketing, consumer products. He also was named vice president - marketing, for Zenith's Sales company division. Huber, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Huber, is a 1967 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School. Huber joined Zenith in 1974 and has held a variety of positions in marketing and product planning. He was named color TV product manager in 1978; director, product planning, color television, in 1979; and served as director, TV product planning from 1981 until 1983. Huber was named director, marketing operations, Zenith Electronics Corporation, in July 1983, and vice president, marketing operations, Zenith Sales company, in Nov. 1983.
30 Years Ago
September 14, 1994
Heartland Head Start has announced the opening of a new classroom in Fairbury, to be located at 501 E. Maple St., the former home of Tree Top Nursery. The teacher and family resource specialist will be Margie Wyant and teacher assistant will be Johni Araujo. Morning session classes will be offered beginning around October 1. Head Start will offer bus service to children living in Chatsworth, Forrest and Fairbury. Head Start is a federal program offering free services for four-year-old children from low-income families.
Norval and Wilma Knapp of rural route 2, Fairbury, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a buffet open house on Sunday, Sept. 18 at Fairbury Apostolic Christian Fellowship Hall for all their friends and family. Knapp and Wilma F. Nussbaum were married Sept. 16, 1994 at Pontiac. Their attendants were Marjorie Nussbaum Stephens and Robert Herman. They are the parents of Mary Etta Mullen of Metamora, Charles of Bloomington, Dale of Seneca, Harlan of Chenoa, Art of Pontiac, Alvin of Fairbury and Marjorie Yoder of Forrest. They have 27 grandchildren.
Now you can give a gift to the community that will benefit many and give you something in return besides that warm, fuzzy feeling. A donation of $100 or more to the not-for-profit All-Weather Track Building Fund will get your name inscribed on a ceramic tile that will be built into the Prairie Central Wall of Fame. The Wall of Fame will be erected in the vicinity of the track and football field at the conclusion of the fund-raising for the new track.
20 Years Ago
September 15, 2004
Workers have been clearing the way for a 2,000 square foot addition to Nussbaum Ace Hardware in Fairbury. According to owner Bob Nussbaum, the new space will house an expanded lawn and garden department and will also allow the expansion of the store's hardware department. An expansion project just three years ago, added 9,000 square feet to the building at the corner of Maple and Fourth Streets. Nussbaum Ace Hardware added a rental center about 1½ years ago, and in addition to the other departments, also carries a full line of work clothing, shoes and boots, and a variety of Prairie Central clothing.
When off-duty District Six State Police Sgt. Mark Harris of rural Dwight arrived to help with the remodeling of the new Walton Centre banquet hall early Friday morning, he opened the door to a smoke-filled building. The sprinkler system was working and had set off the alarm that brought the Fairbury Fire Department to the building about 6 a.m. One of the investors, Dave Johansen, said that the fire started with staining rags that had been tossed into a bucket. He said there was some water damage and some smoke residue on the ceilings, but no real fire damage to the building.
Don and Mary Mitten of Forrest will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 14 with a family dinner and a cruise to the Bahamas in November. Mitten and the former Mary Linton were married Sept. 19, 1954 at the Nazarene Church in Shelbyville. They are parents of Doug of Moline; Evanna (Dan) Zaiss, Annawan; Tammy and Eric of Moline. They also have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mitten worked for Farmall for 21 years as a machinist. Mrs. Mitten worked for John Deere, retiring after 11 years.
10 Years Ago
September 17, 2014
Saturday, Sept. 27, the Village of Forrest will celebrate the 10th annual “WaBash” Festival. The Wabash Railroad was always an important part of life in Forrest. Many of its citizens made their living working for the railroad, most of the mail was brought in by the train, and the Blue Banner passenger train carried people in and out of the community. In 1964 the Wabash Railroad merged with the Norfolk & Western. The North/South Railroad was shut down and the depot was abandoned in the mid-1970s. The Town of Chatsworth donated a Norfolk & Western caboose to Forrest and, in the summer of 2004, work began to restore the caboose. Once the work was finished, there needed to be some kind of celebration. A chili supper/bake sale was held the last Saturday of September. That was the beginning of the “WaBash” Festival.
Geneseo resident Janet Mathis recently participated in an executive training program with the other 36 emerging leaders chosen to be 2014 Edgar Fellows. The initiative, started by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar in 2012, is an effort to stimulate cooperation across regional, political and ethnic lines as the state continues to face major challenges in the years and decades ahead. The members of this year's group were chosen from a competitive pool of more than 160 nominees. Mathis is the daughter of Paul and Carol Hoffman of Fairbury. She is a 1985 graduate of Fairbury-Cropsey High School and a 1989 University of Illinois graduate.
Sylvester Fosdick of Forrest was around when the Threshermen's Reunion began many years ago and was on hand for this year's reunion opening ceremony near Pontiac. The show was organized in 1948 and the first show was in 1949 at Pontiac's Chautauqua Park. Fosdick recalls four steam engines at the original show where his dad had a Port Huron engine on display. The show later moved to 4-H Park prior to the current location north of town. Fosdick's dad died 30 years ago and he took his place as a director for the reunion – a position he would hold until recently. After 65 years helping with the Labor Day weekend tradition and 30 years as a director, Fosdick decided to step aside.
(Looking Back is sponsored each week by Duffy-Pils Memorial Home with locations in Fairbury, Chenoa and Colfax)
