Looking Back 11.10.21
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25 years ago
November 13, 1996
An idea was discussed at the Calhoun Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 5, to have a visitor’s center in the Bank of Calhoun County building on Water Street in Hardin after it is vacated.
Earlier, the Calhoun Historical Society had checked into the Childs’ House (Joey Green’s home) also on Water Street, but the buyout process was too far along.
The Village of Hardin will be asked to see if this building could be a possibility since the village would be the owner of the property following the buyout.
The visitor’s center would be staffed with retired volunteer seniors.
It was felt that the building is sound, and all agreed that it would be a beautiful location.
50 years ago
November 11, 1971
The Calhoun High School Future Farmers of America chapter was recently awarded the Superior Chapter Rating for the 1971 school year. Officers of the FFA for the year are Mike Kiel, president; Randy Hillen, vice president; Marty Varble, secretary; Mike Camerer, treasurer; Kenny Friedel, reporter; Terry Narup, sentinel. Al Herter is the instructor.
75 years ago
November 7, 1946
Another wild deer seen in Calhoun
Val Hausman of north Calhoun County was a News office visitor Saturday, and he has our thanks for his renewal.
Mr. Hausman advised us that our article about the first deer being seen in north Calhoun recently by Wesley Gates was really not the first, because he saw one last spring near his home.
The deer he saw was a large buck with antlers. He came upon the animal at the top of a hill and moved to within 40 yards of it.
The animal saw him and jumped over a fence and ran into the woods.
Mr. Hausman said that persons around Kampsville reported seeing the large buck swimming the Illinois river near Kampsville, so that the presence of the deer was verified.
He was of the opinion that the deer had come from Missouri where there is an open season on the animals once a year.
100 years ago
November 10, 1921
The following letter was received by Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Haug of Golden Eagle, parents of Oscar Haug, the young soldier who lost his life in France during the world’s war, and who was buried with military honors at Brussels, in this county, October 24th last.
The letter was written by the young dead soldier’s buddy, who, with the dead hero, served all through the war, entering the service together, Sept. 12, 1917, and remaining together up until Corpora, Haug spilled his blood while fighting in battle, being wounded in action and dying in a hospital on the day the Armistice was signed.
The burial of Corporal Haug was the largest ever held in the county.
This letter is addressed to George R. Haug, brother of the dead hero and who, too, served in the world’s war and was a buddy of the writer.
The writer’s home is in New Mexico and the letter is dated at Stead, New Mexico. We publish the letter to show our readers the love and respect the dead hero’s buddy had for him.
Here is the letter:
Stead, New Mexico, Oct. 20, 1921.
G. R. Haug.
Dear Old Pal, brother of my Buddy:- Had your letter a few days ago and there is no need to say I was delighted to hear from you; am always anxious and glad to hear from you and yours at any time.
I suppose that you now have Oscar back and interned in the family cemetery where you can ever keep his last resting place in a fitting condition to correspond with the life he lived.
It is generally conceded that one is longer remembered by the immediate family and relatives; but in this case I take the liberty to say that his memory, his sterling qualities, his ideals in life, and his devotion and straightforwardness have embedded themselves in my memory so deeply that I shall long remember him when the world honors its dead in the abstract.
But friend “Golly” our memory, our mental vision of him shall remain as green in our dotage as it is now.
The Legion will try in a marked and methodical way to honor him and do homage to him; but at their best they cannot honor nor exalt him, for his life and his death have honored him far above any ritualistic ceremonies.
I am not saying that those things should not be done, for I sincerely think that they should.
They show and prove man’s weakness in his endeavors and ambitions. Man honors only after the sacrifices have been made.
The true hero must, in most cases, wait until his body smoulders in the grave before man can realize that greatness has fallen; that the pillar of beauty and strength is broken. The true hero never asks nor expects himself to be acknowledged; his only hope is that mankind shall be bettered by his having lived.
He expects and receives his reward when the cannon ceases to belch forth its message of destruction; when comrades are parted to the four winds and the poppies again bloom unmolested.
Then! And not until then, are our heroes to receive what is their just dues.
– Rock Stead.
