Pickings from Pike’s Past – 50 YEARS AGO: BILL McCARTNEY COMES TO PITTSFIELD
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150 Years Ago
Jan. 4, 1872
The knell of Time is ringing the requiem for the departed year.
Nate Adams has succeeded in laying up for the summer months 350 tons of ice.
Will Dr. Shastid, Sam Hirsheimer, Ev Burt and all the others on the east side of North Monroe Street put ashes on the sidewalk so that pedestrians therealong may walk upright? We are aware the Holy Writ says that, “The wicked stand on slippery places.” We do not desire to offer ourselves as a proof to the contrary.
There was shipped from Pittsfield, during the month of December, 56 carloads of hogs.
125 Years Ago
Dec. 30, 1896
“Never saw such a December in all my life!” is the universal cry. And there have been several such mild Decembers, only they do not remember them.
The weather still continues mild. During the last few days there has been some rain and a lot of damp mist. Without snow, Christmas isn’t what it usually is, and the boys and girls don’t get have the fun out of it. Santa came into Newburg in a buggy.
Will Barney of Time ate Christmas dinner with his best girl at Pittsfield and attended services at the German M.E. Church at night.
The rabbit market is rather overstocked at 10 cents a head or three for 25 cents, and yet they are big, fat and corn fed.
Menu for the New Year’s dinner at the Congregational Church: Roast turkey and dressing, cranberries, celery, chicken pie, boiled ham, mashed potatoes, turnips, baked beans, pickles, jelly, white and brown bread, plum pudding, mince pie, coffee and tea, 50 cents.
100 Years Ago
Jan. 4, 1922
Engineers Caldwell and Miller of the Jacksonville Engineering Co. were present at a special meeting of the Pittsfield City Council to explain the plans recently submitted to the council for a waterworks system for Pittsfield. Estimated cost was $146,000.
State highway officials say that high cement prices might cause a rejection of all bids for highway construction.
Capt. Hobart Gay, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Gay of Rockport, and Miss Alzina Orndorff of El Paso, Tex., were married at the home of the bride’s parents.
Christmas greetings from Mr. and Mrs. Henry Petty and son, Hicks, of Tucson, Arizona convey the news that they are all well and having a delightful brand of weather that is not the least suggestive of Christmas.
75 Years Ago
Jan. 1, 1947
J. Harold Voshall, Superintendent of Pittsfield schools, was elected president of the Illinois Education Association at their annual meeting. Voshall taught school in Pike County for 23 years in Kinderhook, Pleasant Hill and Pittsfield, and he has served as superintendent of Pittsfield Schools since 1935.
Congressman Sid Simpson reports that Pearl has been assured of federal aid in repairing damage done by Hardy Creek in the flood of Aug. 15, 1946, and also to prevent repetition of such a disaster.
More than 400 attended the annual Vesper Service at the Pittsfield Christian Church on Dec. 22. The climax of the service was reached when worshippers lighted individual candles and held them high as all joined in singing “Silent Night.”
The engagement of Miss Jean Maynard and Scott Randahl was announced at a tea given at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe T. Maynard, last Saturday afternoon. The wedding is planned for next April.
Mr. and Mrs. Judson Hoover of Milton have enjoyed a grand vacation and a wonderful trip throughout the west during most of the month of December, as part of a group of 320 persons on a conducted tour planned by the Illinois Agricultural Association.
50 Years Ago
Jan. 5, 1972
Bill McCartney, formerly of Ottawa, has assumed his duties as project coordinator for the Two Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Project, encompassing the counties of Pike, Adams, Brown, Calhoun and Schuyler. McCartney has been with the Soil Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 12 years.
Merlyn Barton is retiring from the Stabilization and Conservation office in West Pittsfield, commonly called the ASC. He knows most of the land of Pike County, as he has worked in the office for the past 36 or 37 years. He started working with government farm programs in the mid-1930’s under the Roosevelt Administration.
Future Farmers of America leaders from Pike County attended the annual FFA-Farm Bureau conference in Springfield last week. Attending were Dan Allen, Griggsville; Mike Barton, Pittsfield; Craig McGlaughlin, Griggsville; John Borrowman, Kinderhook; Monty Logsdon, Perry; Roger Akers, Pearl; and Steve Schmidt, Barry.
25 Years Ago
Jan. 1, 1997
Workers from the work camp at Pittsfield are building an ice skating rink at Lowry Park in Pittsfield. It will be 140 X 50 and will be lined with plastic.
Calvey’s Time and Find Gems is moving to 1159 West Washington Street. Their neighbors at Piper’s Cleaners are sorry to see them go.
The Saukee basketball boys won the consolation bracket of the Macomb tournament over the holidays, defeating Metamora, losing to a highly touted Warsaw squad, then defeating Macomb and Knoxville to wrap up a busy schedule. Coach Bennett said, “You always want to play four games, and winning three of them is not too bad.”
New Pike County Shrine Club officers for 1997 were sworn in at the final meeting of 1996 at the Pittsfield Legion Hall. New officers are Keith Elledge, president; Blake Roderick first vice president; Randy Zimmerman, second vice president; Jim Denison, secretary; and Cecil Burroughs, treasurer.
Hundreds of people enjoyed the live nativity scene featured at the Chambersburg Christian Church Dec. 20 and 21.
10 Years Ago
Jan. 4, 2012
A 25-person advisory committee has been selected to help guide possible changes to the Florence Bridge. Vince Madonia, of the Illinois Department of Transportation, says, “The group will delve into multiple options.”
Doug Daniel, owner of Pikeland Motors in Pittsfield, has announced tentative plans to purchase Zimmerman Brothers, a Buick dealership in Pittsfield for the past 98 years. Rick Zimmerman said the decision to sell was a relief to him. He says he is staying on with the new ownership as an employee.
Crossroads Center, a community center serving the Pittsfield First Christian Church as well as the community, is nearing retirement of the facility’s mortgage.
Dalton Hoover scored his 1000th point for PHS during the Saukees 47-26 win over West Hancock Friday at the Macomb tournament. The Saukee’s win clinched third place in the tournament for the second straight year.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
