Pickings from Pike’s past: 10 YEARS AGO: PHS CLASS OF 1954 RECEIVES FARM WORTH MORE THAN $1 MILLION
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
150 Years Ago
Nov. 2, 1871
Rain has visited us in copious quantities and we now have a rain that we do not relish—a reign of mud. Yesterday morning there appeared on the margin of various little pools and ponds a slight incrustation of ice.
The sportsmen are making good use of the opportunities offered for game on the Mississippi bottom. A party of seven or eight enjoyed (?) the cold rain. If they went ducking, they got what they went for.
As terrible as were the scenes at Chicago during the great fire, they were almost insignificant compared to the loss of life in the pine regions of Wisconsin and the northern part of Michigan.
125 Years Ago
Oct. 28, 1896
Beautiful weather today. The temperature stands above 78, and the weather was never finer. Such a day for the election would allow all the farmers to come out to vote.
Last Friday Barry scored another big day, and this time it was the Republicans with the governor’s flying squadron. A big crowd, some five or six thousand, assembled early in the day, all intent to have a look at least at the venerable men who have served as governors of our state.
School work will improve after the election. The rallies cause so many absences, which, in time, cause poor lessons. The whole class suffers. Parents can aid their children by buying tablets instead of slates. The latter are not clean, are noisy when used, and we find that pupils with tablets do better work.
The Board of Supervisors has asked the people to say whether the $51,000.62 indebtedness incurred for the courthouse, and now drawing interest, shall be paid by a levy for the full amount. The voter will find the question submitted on the ballot.
100 Years Ago
Nov. 2, 1921
Work has started on the new elevator for the King Milling company at New Canton on the same site as the one that burned. It will have a capacity of 15,000 bushels.
Women of the M.E. Church of Pittsfield are planning to serve their annual chicken pie dinner Nov. 17. Cost 50 cents.
People who have not been to church in ten years are attending Sunday night services at the Congregational Church. This is one result of the church’s recent introduction of moving pictures. Every good picture points a moral, and none but good pictures are shown.
The elegant new pews at the Christian Church will have been installed by the church school time of 9:30 a.m. this Sunday. Since the church is renovated and redecorated, make next Sunday a new beginning by coming to worship.
75 Years Ago
Oct. 30, 1946
Pittsfield High School’s first homecoming was a grand success. A parade led by the band and twirlers, and consisting of numerous floats and dozens of boys and girls on horses and ponies and decorated bicycles making a procession four blocks long, went around the square twice, giving every one an opportunity to see them. The students decorated all the lamp posts around the square with red and black crepe paper.
Carolyn Butler was Homecoming Queen. Her attendants were Thelma Puterbaugh, Betty Ann Ducey, Ramona Long, Jeanne Stumborg, Marilyn Yaeger and Helen Garoutte.
The homecoming football game was a tough football battle staged Friday night by Pittsfield and Roodhouse, the two top teams of the Illinois Valley Conference. The tense and thrilling contest ended in a 7-7 tie. Between halves of the game, Miss Butler was crowned by football captain Albert Ransom.
Miss Isabel McEwan of Blairmore, Scotland and Charles William Giger were married at the Detroit Methodist Church. They met in Scotland when the groom was in foreign service in the late war.
John Ray Akin and Miss Kathleen Carmine of New Zealand were married at St. Mary’s Church in Pittsfield.
It was announced today by M. D. King, president of Pittsfield’s pioneer milling company, that M.D. King Milling Co. will sell its local coal business to Wlliam G. Grote, the son of Mrs. Paul Grote and the late Paul Grote.
Reformation Sunday will be observed by Pittsfield non-Roman Catholic churches Sunday, Nov. 3.
50 Years Ago
Nov. 3, 1971
Clay L. Irick, 44, a Pittsfield High School teacher, held in high esteem by both students and colleagues, died early Saturday morning, Oct. 30, of a heart attack. A native of El Dara and graduate of Barry High School, he began teaching at Higbee Junior High in 1958.
Fourteen Democrats and six Republicans have filed as candidates for the new nine-member Pike County Board.
Miss Sharon E. Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clemmeth J. Johnson of RR 1, Barry, and Ronald Lee Springer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Springer, of RR 1, Pearl, were married Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Green Pond Christian Church. Rev. Joe T. Maynard officiated. Miss Becky Boren of Pearl was the pianist, accompanying her mother, Mrs. Maurine Boren.
Several thousand people in “the largest crowd ever to witness a football game in Pittsfield,” saw the Saukees roll over undefeated Beardstown 40-6 in the PHS homecoming game for their 52nd consecutive victory. The Tigers actually scored first in the contest.
25 Years Ago
Oct. 30. 1996
There are local contests this year for State’s Attorney, Circuit Clerk, Treasurer and five seats on the county board. Incumbent State’s Attorney Brett Irving of Pittsfield is being challenged by Republican Elizabeth Miller of Pittsfield. Incumbent Circuit Clerk Ben Johnson is being challenged by Republican Eileen Syrcle. The race for County Treasurer is wide open, as Democrat Jeff Gerard is running against Missy Borrowman, who was appointed interim treasurer to fill out the last two months of Bob Capps, who resigned the office in September.
The candidates for County Board are John Sheppard, Tom Dell, Richard Myers, Ron Hoskin, Dan Long, Rick Orr, Don Apps, Harry Wright, Bob Dieker and Dan Lundberg, Jr.
Potential parking and traffic problems at Pikeland Community School will be discussed tonight at a special Pikeland School Board meeting.
Eight Pittsfield High School students were selected for the All-District jazz band recently. They are Becky Barger, Zack Boren, Justin Dodd, Ryan Stauffer, Dee Collins, Jessica Carmitchel, Jason Jones and Jeff Ruble. Kendall Carrier is the band director.
The Saukee football team ended the season with a 32-0 victory over North Greene. The team record was 4-5, but they lost their first two games by inches.
10 Years Ago
Nov. 2, 2011
The Pittsfield High School class of 1954 has always been known to give out scholarships to PHS students each year. The class of 1954 was recently gifted a farm in the area from a fellow alumni, Robert F. and Tineke Grammar, who now reside in Irving, Texas. The class sold the property recently for more than $1,000,000. Mary Ruth Kendall, another member of the class, said that this was the largest gift that has been given to the class.
Richard and Paul Myers of Rockport, David and Kelle Reid of Bluffs and Parker and Beth Zumwalt of Pittsfield, are pleased to announce the engagement of their children, Kris Reid and Trevor Zumwalt. The couple plans to be married Nov. 19 at the Pittsfield First Christian Church.
Compiled by Michael Boren
– Compiled by Michael Boren
