Pickings from Pike’s past: 100 YEARS AGO: DEDICATION OF RECONSTRUCTED PITTSFIELD FIRST M.E. CHURCH

By Editor | May 17, 2022 |

150 Years Ago
May 22, 1872
All report the best stand of corn throughout the county ever yet seen.
The Belle of Pike, the favorite old packet under Captain Abrams and Clerk Watt, will receive the praise of all who travel thereon.
Language fails us in attempting to express our hearty detestation of the present mail arrangement in Pittsfield. The deep damnation of taking off some of the trains from the railroad and setting us back into the dark ages, will, we trust, return with tenfold power to plague the inventor.

125 Years Ago
May 25, 1897
The thermometer was down to 45 degrees yesterday. Saturday night’s rain was a blessing to all humanity and the farmers in particular. Corn plowing will begin this week although some are not done planting.
All members of Company A are requested to be at the armory Saturday morning in full uniform and gloves to take part in the Decoration Day exercises.
The city is laying out the work of graveling East Washington from the southeast corner of the square to the Newburg line.
Home grown strawberries were put on the market here yesterday. They are large and fine and sell at 15 cents a box.

May 28, 1897
On the evening of May 26, Col. and Mrs. A. C. Matthews were present for a reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank M. Lewis on East Washington Street for the 15th anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. Mrs. Lewis is the daughter of Col. and Mrs. Matthews.
The fish fry that springs into vigorous life twice a year will open again next Thursday at the Goodin Spring, and they will all be there.
100 Years Ago
May 24, 1922
Farmers throughout the county are well behind with planting due to the cold, wet weather we have been having.
Russell Keys of Montezuma Township was the boys’ winner in the annual Pike County declamatory contest held in Pittsfield. Sarah Virginia French of Milton was the girls’ winner. Pleasant Hill won the athletic meet by three points over Perry.
The Pittsfield American Legion will be in charge of Memorial Day services. All veterans organizations will meet at the Legion Hall at 9:30. Soldiers will wear their uniforms.
The dedicatory services of the Pittsfield First Methodist Episcopal Church, reconstructed at the cost of $40,000, will be held next Sunday, May 28 in the Sunday School assembly.

75 Years Ago
May 21, 1947
There will be 82 graduates at Pittsfield High School this year. There were 66 in each of the two previous years.
The third wage increase in less than a year is coming to Brown Shoe Company in Pittsfield. The new rate is to be a 7 ½ percent blanket increase.
Time, Fish Hook, and Summer Hill are tied for the lead in the Pike County baseball league. There are ten teams in the league.
Milton High School will graduate 22 on Thursday night, May 22. Harlan Sidwell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sidwell who live south of Milton, has been named valedictorian.
Evelyn Jane Bonnett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bonnett, celebrated her second birthday May 15.
Pearl Community High School will graduate 14 seniors Friday evening, May 23 in the school gymnasium.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Boren of Pearl (Leona Smith) had a daughter born at Illini Hospital May 14, 1947, named Sandra Kay.
Mr. and Mrs. Leland Ruble, Pittsfield, (Pearl Blacketter) had a son born at Illini Hospital May 17, 1947, named Larry Lee.

50 Years Ago
May 24, 1972
The Memorial Day parade from the Legion Hall, down the west side of the square, and then to the West Cemetery, will be led by the recently re-organized American Legion color guard. Also, flags will be around the square for the second year in a row.
Unit 10 graduates included 108 from Pittsfield High School and 24 from East Pike.
Mrs Lee Takahashi, the former Elizabeth Schimmel of Pittsfield, has completed her law degree. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Schimmel, Jr. Both her father and grandfather, A. W. Schimmel, Sr., are well-known attorneys in Pike County.
Miss Ellen Borrowman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Borrowman of Nebo, was among some 125 students who received their bachelor of arts degree at Blackburn College’s 103rd commencement exercises Saturday morning, May 20. Her degree is in psychology.
Miss Pamela Sue Zumwalt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hal Zumwalt of Pittsfield, was one of the 340 students graduating from Harding College in Searcy, Ark. on May 14. Her degree is in elementary education.
Alice Lightle Cripe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Lightle of Griggsville, graduated May 21 from Quincy College with a degree in elementary education.

25 Years Ago
May 21, 1997
The Pittsfield City Council Tuesday night agreed to condemn land owned by Hyk Farms to extend an airport runway to 4000 feet. Alderman Andy Borrowman said the advantage to extending the runway to 4000 feet was that more jet fuel could be sold because larger jet planes could land at the airport. In addition, some insurance companies will not insure a jet aircraft that that lands on a runway shorter than 4000 feet.
The council also voted to annex a four-acre plot in west Pittsfield, near the Farmers State Bank satellite facility. The plot is owned by Callender Construction Company.
West Pike High School will graduate 19 seniors June 6 in the gymnasium. Pleasant Hill will graduate 28 the same evening, in the park, weather permitting. Pittsfield High will graduate 91 on June 7 in the PHS gym. Barry High will graduate 32 May 24 in the school gym. Griggsville-Perry will graduate 19 May 30 in the Griggsville gym.

10 Years Ago
May 23, 2012
The Pittsfield High School track team won the sectional title last week in Rushville, and several received a sendoff courtesy of the Pittsfield Fire Department, as they are heading for state competition. Going to state are Mitchell Barton, Coltyn Pease, Dillon Butler, Jeremy Mallinkrodt, Seth Petty, Kennedy Kattelman and Cody Kindle.
Lillian Ellen McAllister, 90 of Pittsfield and formerly of the Detroit Toll Gate area, died May 18 at Illini Hospital in Pittsfield. Lillian was born in Valley City in 1922. She married Richard Asa McAllister in 1941 and he preceded her in death in 1986. Lillian was involved in many activities in her life, and is survived by two sons and a daughter and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Paul Grote, son of Stephen and Loretta Grote of Pittsfield, has recently joined Riezman Berger general practice law firm in St. Louis.

■ Compiled by Michael Boren