Looking Back 5.18.22
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25 years ago
May 14, 1997
Vandalism to the house at Godar Landing has been reported by the owner Elois Simon to the Sheriff’s office and also to the State’s Attorney.
Vandals have been systematically tearing off the weatherboard from the north side of the house.
This went undetected until recently. Also, several months ago, someone ran off the highway and damaged the northeast corner of the structure.
This house is over 100 years old and is built on the sills of the historic DeGerlia house erected by Calhoun County French Pioneers around 1817.
The structure was renailed and put in solid shape before the Flood of ‘93 by August (Doc) Simon and the late Albert Weishaupt.
It is not disintegrating of its own accord.
50 years ago
May 18, 1972
Three Kings’ Night by Susan Siemer
Calhoun had its traditional customs just as other places. One of the very familiar customs was the “Three Kings Night” which took place each year on January 6th.
The “Three Kings Night” was a German Catholic tradition which went on in Meppen for a long time.
This night was looked forward to and prepared for, for several weeks.
The men in the community got together and decided who was going. The group usually consisted of 12 to 19 men, increasing as they went along, with three of them representing the three kings.
Practically every year the same men acted as the kings.
They dressed up so they were totally unable to be recognized.
They wore old clothes, long overcoats and each carried a gold cane.
The other men that followed simply dressed in their normal everyday clothing and carried corn stalks as canes.
The group started off early in the evening down past Mary Droege (Pete) and went as far as the top of Tepen Hill.
As they went along they sang an old German song, which no one seems to know the meaning of. They were taught only how to enunciate the words.
People alway knew when the group was coming because they could be heard over half a mile away and when they arrived at someone’s home, they each shot off one shot or firecracker.
Someone came to the door and let them in.
They started singing the song I mentioned and one of the men carried a silver star.
The star was made on a frame with a candle reflecting off of it and a crank was attached to the back to make it revolve.
During the song, two masked kings knelt down and at a specific time in the song another king walked in. The reason for this is not known. It was strictly a tradition.
After the song, the men were all invited for cookies, apples and doughnuts, which were prepared for by the women.
A barrel of cider was then brought out. After talking and drinking for a while, they moved on to the next house.
By the end of the night, everyone had plenty to eat and drink.
About 2:00 in the morning, all of the men were home or at least on their way.
Based on interviews with Hubert Siemer and Robert Siemer on February 28, 1972.
75 years ago
May 15, 1947
Sugar Spare Stamp No. 12 will become good for 10 pounds of sugar on June 1st as originally planned by the Agriculture Department, but it must last until Oct. 31 instead of Sept. 30, or five months. Sugar rationing is to end Oct. 31 unless extended by Congress.
100 years ago
May 18, 1922
We note with pleasure, word from Brother Joe Page of the Jersey County Democrat, in reference to the hard road between Jerseyville and the edge of the Illinois River opposite Hardin, in which he assures us, through advice of Governor Small and Col. Miller, Director of Public Works, that this Jerseyville-Hardin road, five miles at least, starting from Jerseyville and headed this way, is now outlined and is a part of the 1922 program of road building in the state, consisting of 362.84 miles of surfaced road and 150 miles of heavy grading.
This is good news to Calhoun folks, as although the completion of this road is far away in the distance, nevertheless the road will be started and this fact alone should give us hope and encouragement and cause us all to rise up in a body and give three cheers for Brother Joe Page who has used every ounce of his influence and energy to have this road placed so close to the top of the 1922 hard road program.
If you want anything Brother Page, just let us know and we’ll vote for you.
