Pickings from Pike’s Past
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100 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD FOOTBALL TEAM DEFEATS HANNIBAL, QUINCY AND JACKSONVILLE
150 Years Ago
Nov. 16, 1871
The church at Milton wants to have a southeast Pike Sunday School convention. It is hoped that Hardin, Spring Creek and Pearl townships will join with the churches in Montezuma, and that all will be well represented.
125 Years Ago
Nov. 11, 1896
Now that the election is over, we hope as soon as the defeated party recovers from the shock and the victorious side gets over their jollity, to be able to secure news items of interest. Just at the present we are too sore over the result to write fluently.
Saturday some wheelbarrow bets were paid, occasioning considerable sport. Several men wheeled others around the Pittsfield square. Suitable placards adorned the actors.
The state tax as certified to the county clerk is 55 cents on the $100. Last year the rate was 52 cents. Previous to that, since 1880, it has been 35.5 cents.
Farmers around Nebo are busy gathering corn and they say the yield is very light. Nebo has a new dry goods and clothing store, just opened up by some Jews in the new Bagby building. Quite a number of teams are at work making a levee on the north side of Bay Creek just below Bayville.
Time has a reading circle in full blast and every person interested in education should be member.
100 Years Ago
Nov. 18, 1921
Playing before the largest home crowd of the season, and under almost ideal weather conditions, the Pittsfield High School football team played their best game of the year to defeat the highly touted “wonder team” of Hannibal 41-0. A crowd estimated at 1000 witnessed the game. Pittsfield’s record this year is 6-1-1, with victories over Hannibal, Quincy, Jacksonville, Barry, Palmyra and Roodhouse, a tie with White Hall and a defeat at the hands of Waverly.
Armistice Day passed off very quietly in Pittsfield, a great many people, including the American Legion football team, being out of town. In the afternoon, Deputy Dan Moreland of the local order of the Knights of Pythias, superintended the planting of an elm tree on the south side of the courthouse park in honor of the K. P. boys who lost their lives in the late war. A solemn salute was fired by a squad of Legion boys. Only the cold rain that fell kept many others from sharing in the service.
The new high school building in New Salem is nearing completion and will be ready for use in a short time.
Last week 10,000 bushels of corn were delivered to the Bluffs Grain Company at 30 cents per bushel.
75 Years Ago
Nov. 13, 1946
Four newly-elected county officials are named Lee, and will be installed on Dec. 2. They are Judge Lee Capps, Circuit Clerk Lee Wombles, Treasurer Lee Johnson and Deputy Circuit Clerk Dora Lee Wombles.
More than 200 persons attended the third annual football banquet held at the American Legion hall in Pittsfield. Bruce Peebles and Clarence Richards were named as co-captains elect of the 1947 team.
Ray and Silvia Vanatta have purchased the Pike Café at the northwest corner of the square from Alderman Ed Knight.
An extensive remodeling project has just been completed at the Aldrich Drug Store on the Pittsfield square. “Doc” Aldrich started in business in February, 1934. The Aldrich Drug Store is a favorite “hangout” for the young people, many of whom are in the habit of congregating there after school.
Mayor Charles A. Hooper reports that the City Council is in favor or building a city hall on the vacant lot between Gray’s Garage and the Congregational Church, the back portion of which is the site of the new water tower recently constructed by the city.
Coach Glenn Smith’s Indians finished the season with a 7-1-1 record, tying with Roodhouse for the Illinois Valley Football Conference championship.
Mr. and Mrs. Mayo C. Shelby, Nebo (Vera Joslin) had a son born at Illini Hospital 11-8-46, named Jay Clayton.
50 Years Ago
Nov. 17, 1971
Nearly every gallery seat in the Pittsfield City Council chambers was occupied by a businessman at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. They were there to show support for an airport, and to express their interest in having the airport question voted on by the citizens as soon as possible.
Steve Lang is the new pastor at the Detroit Christian Church, replacing Rev. Delmar Poe. Rev. Lang and his wife Charlotte are the parents of a six-month-old daughter, Stephanie. They are living in Pittsfield.
If the money-raising effort is successful, two eight by 16 foot signs will be erected and the west and east edges of Pittsfield, proclaiming the Saukees as “Illinois’ winningest football team.” The cost for the signs will be around $600. Pittsfield completed their sixth consecutive undefeated season at Mendon Friday with a 46-0 victory over Unity.
The Nebo PTA ended their membership drive last week with David Barton winning the student prize for signing up the most members.
Services were held Sunday at the Perry United Methodist Church dedicating the new Sunday School annex.
25 Years Ago
Nov. 13, 1996
The Pike County Veterans of Foreign Wars may end up with the former East School cafeteria with the city of Pittsfield getting the present VFW building for the Little League Park. The VFW building joins the Little League Park. Harry Gleckler, who is Pikeland School Board president and also VFW commander, says both parties want to complete the trade.
Four major league baseball players will hunt Pike’s hills and sign autographs at Nebo’s Whitetail Days, Nov. 16 & 17. The players are Jim Thome, Jeff Kent, Ben McDonald and Charlie O’brien.
The Lady Saukee cross country team completed their season, finishing fifth in the state, their best finish to date. The team members are Megan Kattelman, Shaylon Siepker, Brittany Bergstrand, Krystal Kremer, Suzanne Bagent and Brooke Kattelman.
10 Years Ago
Nov. 16, 2011
Naomi Fern Wahlgren, 103, of Pittsfield, died Nov. 13 at the Eastside Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsfield. She was born in Pittsfield in 1908, and married Henry Wahlgren in 1935. She is survived by two sons and spouses, seven grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Roger and Julia Hatcher of Pearl are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple was married Nov. 28, 1951 in Louisiana, Missouri.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
