Picking From Pike’s Past 1.25.23
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50 YEARS AGO: PIKE PRESS MOVES INTO NEW BUILDING
150 Years Ago
Jan. 30, 1873
Last Thursday we were visited with a snowstorm, the snow falling to a depth of 8 or 10 inches. The snow we have with us yet, and the sleighing is very fine. On Tuesday at 5 a.m. the thermometer stood at 7 below, at 8 a.m. it was down to 13 below. Wednesday morning it was 30 below. Some thermometers were 31 below.
J. D. McIntyre sold his farm of 222 acres in New Salem Township to Jonathan Starkey for $8,322. They say it is one of the best farms in that township. If so, the price was certainly low.
125 Years Ago
Feb. 1, 1898
This cold snap in Perry makes the ice merchants happy. At this time the thermometer stands at zero and indications are it will be 15 to 20 below by morning. There is getting to be a big demand for wood and coal during these cold snaps.
If you see G. W. G. Smith coming in Pearl Township don’t run and hide. He only wants the tax money you have been saving up.
Mr. Brooking and Herbert Vertrees started out this morning on a tour of the county with a graphaphone and will give entertainment to the various schools and church societies.
The new Evangelical Lutheran Church will be dedicated in Pittsfield next Sunday.
The Young Ladies Athletic association of Pittsfield High School will play basketball at the opera house. Patronize them. Admission 25 cents.
Two boys of Ben West’s, living northwest of Pittsfield, hold the championship belt for skunk hunters. One day last week they drove 15 of those odoriferous little animals under a straw pile then killed and skinned the whole load.
100 Years Ago
Jan 31, 1923
A number of New Canton farmers took advantage of the recent good weather and did some of their plowing, as the winter has been exceptionally mild and dry. A. V. Wills reported to the newspaper office that fifty years ago, until Jan. 29, 1873, there was unusually mild weather. He said, “Men went around in their shirt sleeves, the grass was green, there was no ice on creeks, and farmers were plowing. Then on the 29th came a big surprise, the temperature began dropping and reached 20 below zero and even colder that night, and the cold weather continued until spring.”
The question of organizing a building and loan association in Pittsfield has been discussed by businessmen in town. A. B. Whitlock, a representative of the Building and Loan Department of Illinois, is scheduled to speak to the Pittsfield Luncheon club to present information based on actual experience in the field.
The Pike County Farm Bureau is having a membership drive. Children have been asked to write a letter, “Why Dad should be a member of the Farm Bureau.” Giles Penstone, 15, of Griggsville is the first place winner out of many entries.
The new school at Bee Creek is completed and the old school was sold to T. B. Fisher, the highest bidder, for $50.
Dr. W. O. Skinner, for 46 years a practicing physician in the city of Griggsville, died at the Norbury private sanitarium in Jacksonville Friday. He had been in a serious condition for a long time. He began his medical practice in Griggsville in 1877.
Only two students at Pittsfield High School made straight “A” grades in all subjects for the first semester. They were Bernice Main and Winfield Scott, both sophomores.
75 Years Ago
Jan 28, 1948
William J. Thorton of Nebo, chairman of the Pike County Republican Central Committee, is announcing this week in the Republican as a candidate for the nomination for state representative from the 36th senatorial district, comprising Pike, Calhoun, Scott and Adams counties. He came to Pike County from Ohio in 1899 and has been very active in Nebo and the surrounding area in education and banking, and served as Nebo postmaster for 17 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Walton Lowry (Martha Voorvaart), Pittsfield, had a daughter born at Illini Hospital January 25, named Sandra Lee.
Emma Hillerbranner, youngest child of William and Katherine Yonch Hillerbranner, died at age 75 of a heart attack. Her parents came from Germany and lived most of their lives in the Pleasant Grove community.
The Pittsfield Saukees lost two tough games when they were defeated at Quincy Friday night and at Hannibal Saturday night by the identical score, 42-40.
It is hard to think of anything nice to say about the cold weather here. The Chamber of Commerce in California has been promoting so much sunshine and no rain that they are running short of water.
The Pittsfield Farmers State Bank has purchased a clock to be placed on the street in front of the bank.
50 Years Ago
Jan. 31, 1973
Pittsfield has three announced candidates for mayor: Mayor Frank Penstone, who has served five terms, Dick Bergman, Jr., and Dudley Williams.
Miss Betty Kreigshauser, managing editor of the Pike Press since 1967, was elected vice-president of the Pike Press, Inc. at a recent annual meeting of the board of directors. Other officers are Paul Findley, president, and Allan A. Seiler, secretary-treasurer and editor of the paper.
The Pike Press is now all moved into its new building at 115 W. Jefferson Street. Local businesses, such as Leon Smith Construction, B & R Mechanical Contractors, Pike County Lumber, Kamar Construction, Edgar Houchins Painting, G & W Furniture and Pike County Glass, were involved in the construction of the new facility.
County Board member Oral Bethard and Circuit Clerk Austin Altizer had a heated debate about salaries for county officers during Tuesday’s County Board meeting. Also in that meeting the board authorized $7,595 to make Pike County the second county in Illinois with a bus transportation for senior citizens.
Steve Dunham, the 17-year-old son of Mrs. Hilda Dunham of Griggsville and the late Leo Dunham, recently received the SAR award at Griggsville High School where he is a senior.
Loyal Order of the Moose, Pittsfield, will celebrate its 25th anniversary Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3 and 4 at the Moose lodge.
25 Years Ago
Jan. 28, 1998
Bob Dempsey of Pittsfield has been named the president of the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs. Dempsey was named to the post at the IAAF convention held recently in Springfield.
People in Pearl will finally be able to shower after 9 p.m. when a new water system goes on line in June. Village President Dee Holloway says that when a well went dry last summer the water plant had to be shut off at 9 p.m. so that enough water could be pumped during the day. Now one loan and two grants will allow the village of 178 people to get two new wells and a new water treatment plant.
Princess Di’s beanie bear sold for $325 at the Barry High School beanie baby swap meet and fund raiser Saturday afternoon.
10 Years Ago
Jan. 30, 2013
Pike County Board Chairman Andy Borrowman says the board’s labor committee is busier than ever as it attempts to negotiate the contracts of three separate entities at the start of the year. The three groups include the Fraternal Order of Police, the Pike County Courthouse Workers and the ambulance personnel.
Motel Pike is now named Knights Inn, as part of the Knights Inn franchise. Owner Neel Patel says the rooms are being redone and he hopes the new and familiar name will bring more business.
Samantha Deeder, daughter of Monte and Susie Deeder, and Wyatt Bradshaw, son of Brian and Marni Bradshaw, all of Griggsville, were crowned homecoming royalty at Griggsville-Perry High School Friday night.
ν Compiled by Michael Boren
