Pickings from Pike’s Past
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50 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD WINNINGEST TEAM IN ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
150 Years Ago
Nov. 9, 1871
Last Saturday was an eventful day for the denizens of Rockport. Election day, considered the most exciting of all days, was laid in the shade. A train of cars, pulled by a locomotive, hissing and screeching, made its appearance and saluted the auricular orifices of Rockport folks with a sure enough regular steam squeal. Maidens shuddered, housewives wondered, little children scampered and yelled while old men and young men stood in speechless astonishment.
Horses snorted with fright and reared and plunged at the sight. Zack Ogle was there, and his horses broke loose from their hitching place and fled, leaving “no trace” behind. The wagon to which they were attached was transformed into a thing of pieces. The critters took to the brush as quickly and naturally as a duck takes to the water.
125 Years Ago
Nov. 4, 1896
Halloween depredations were brought to a timely end in Barry by landing four boys in the calaboose. After giving them a scare for a couple of hours they were let go home.
Last Saturday night being Halloween, the boys in Perry tried to see how much mischief they could do.
Saturday night in Pittsfield the spirits of the invisible world or some other kind walked abroad and detached gates, removed wagons and caused much confusion on the highways and byways.
Pittsfield closed the campaign for Bryan and free silver with the greatest demonstration ever witnessed in Pike County. Three thousand people, 225 vehicles, numerous floats, bands and uniformed marching clubs, making a procession three miles long, paraded the streets of Pittsfield.
100 Years Ago
Nov. 9, 1921
President Harding has issued a proclamation asking people to pause in silent prayer for two minutes at noon on Nov. 11 in memory of all who gave their lives or were wounded “over there.”
The people of Chambersburg have good reason to be proud of their new school building, now being erected. Their famous spring, bubbling forth from the side of the hills, affords a never-ending water supply which has already been piped to the new building.
Report cards for the second month of school revealed that 24 per cent of the students at Pittsfield High School were failing in one or more subjects. On girl, Bernice Main, had the distinction of making “straight A” both months.
Pittsfield High School met Quincy High School at the Bates Park gridiron last Saturday, and Pittsfield held Quincy without a score, 36-0. Captain Paul Dolbow, Pittsfield’s gritty right end, broke the small bone in his left ankle when he collided with a Quincy player.
Burglars blew open the safe of the Bolin State Bank in Milton around 3 a.m. last Friday morning, secured around $2100 in cash, and made their getaway on the Montezuma Road. Previously, they had climbed a pole and cut the telephone lines from the Milton exchange.
75 Years Ago
Nov. 6, 1946
Pike County’s Price Control Board was discontinued Nov. 1. Members of the board stayed on the job for more than a year after the war ended in order to see that everyone got their fair share of scarce commodities during the days of rationing.
Wage increases of 5 cents per hour were granted to all Brown Shoe Company employees last week. The new minimum wage for the first 13 weeks is raised to 57-1/2 cents per hour.
Only four Democrats were elected in Pike County, as Republicans gained locally, in the state of Illinois, and nationally. Democrats elected were Clifford Windsor, sheriff; Virgil Durham, county clerk; Ross Nichol, superintendent of schools; also Lee Johnson was elected county treasurer by a slim margin.
Lillian Harpole and Dallas Barton of Nebo were married at the bride’s home Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Harpole of Nebo and Mr. Barton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Beach Barton, Jr., of Nebo. He will continue to farm and Mrs. Barton will work in the office at Nebo High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Duggins, Jr., Pittsfield (Wilma Sheppard) had a daughter, Cheryl Ann, born at Illini Hospital Oct. 30.
50 Years Ago
Nov. 10, 1971
A total of 17 Democrats and eight Republicans have filed petitions to run for the new nine-member county board. The number of Democrats will be reduced to nine after the primary election.
Route 107 between Pittsfield and Griggsville has been widened to 24 feet and resurfaced with asphalt. Two bridges on the highway will be widened in the spring.
Val Rumple of Pittsfield killed a six point buck Nov. 6 with a bow and arrow. This makes the second consecutive year Val has got a buck with a bow and arrow. The buck weight 146 pounds field dressed.
The Saukees defeated Carrollton 40 to 12 Friday night to win their 53rd game in a row. This definitely establishes Coach Don Pollard’s team as the winningest ever in the state of Illinois. The Unity Mustangs, in 1966, were the last team to post a victory over the Pittsfield Saukees.
25 Years Ago
Nov. 6, 1996
Democrats Brett Irving (State’s Attorney) and Ben Johnson (Circuit Clerk) were re-elected, and Jeff Gerard was elected County Treasurer. Republicans gained control of the County Board by a 5-4 margin, the first time the GOP has controlled the board since 1980-82.
Illini Community Hospital board officers elected Oct. 15 are Peter Heaton, chairman; Bill Belt, vice chairman; Blake Roderick, secretary; John Teuscher, treasurer; Mike Schneider, assistant secretary-treasurer. Other board members are Dennis Dodd, Dr. Andrew Boshardy, Mike Kinscherff, George Claus, Robert Brown, Gwen Stillwell, Jim Filbert, N. D. Harrison and David Plattner.
The PHS girls volleyball team won their 8th Regional Tournament in a row Saturday night at North Greene. The team members are Marlena Braungardt, Michelle Irving, Cory Zimmerman, Lisa Farrell, Jessi Speckhart, Katie Swartz, Morgan Nevius and Amy Smith. Diane Zimmerman is the coach.
10 Years Ago
Nov. 9, 2011
Local skaters now have a new and safe place to skate thanks to the new Pike County Skate Park, located in King Park.
Irvin Dean Franklin, 76, of rural Nebo, died Nov. 1 at the Eastside Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsfield. He was the son of Lynn and Ruth Brian Franklin. He married Betty L. Johnson in 1998, and she survives.
Pleasant Hill is now co-oped with Pittsfield High School in girls basketball, with Jeff Shireman as the coach.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
