Pike Pickings – 2.1.23
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10 YEARS AGO: ROGER YAEGER DONATES 160TH PINT OF BLOOD
■150 Years Ago
Feb. 6, 1873
The north side of the Pittsfield square now adds to its business a first-class harness and saddle shop under the management of David Foreman.
William Gillis, Esq., of Chambersburg Township, fed and sold this winter one lot of 44 Chester White hogs, averaging 437 pounds. C.D. Green sold one hog weighing 785 pounds gross, and T. B. Dunn 15 hogs, averaging 492 pounds.
The best price we have heard paid for hogs was $4 gross, paid to Jacob Hendricks of Griggsville for 54 head of his own raising and averaging 396 pounds.
Farmers are saying the heavy snow before the extremely cold weather probably saved the wheat from being frozen.
■125 Years Ago
Feb. 7, 1898
In spite of inclement weather the “Blueback” spelling school gotten up by the library trustees drew quite a large attendance. Prof Jon Shastid was on hand with his spelling book in hand and anxious for the fray. Mrs. C. R. Swan and Mrs. R. T. Hicks were selected as captains of the opposing contestants. There were 20 on a side and the spelling commenced at 8:45 and continued fast and furious until 10 o’clock when all had gone down except Miss Caroline Grote, who amid much applause, was awarded the big blue championship badge. The men were the first to drop.
It is expected that by this evening Pittsfield will be on speaking terms with Jacksonville and some 22 other towns on the other side of the Illinois River.
■Feb. 11, 1898
The Mid-winter Fair and Poultry Show have been a much greater success than anyone had reason to expect, in view of the bad weather and utterly impassable roads. People living within two miles of town find great difficulty in reaching it by buggy, wagon or even on horseback.
The smoke stack at the Pittsfield electric plant blew down last Wednesday and the streets have been in darkness since.
The doll carnival going on at the Pittsfield Christian Church, as well as being pretty and interesting, is proving quite a money-maker, some $30 being realized yesterday and last night.
■100 Years Ago
Feb. 7, 1923
The M. D. King Milling Company received two cars of hard coal (base burner size), the coal arriving coincidentally with the cold wave. The city’s coal bins were getting low, some householders having put in their last bucketful the morning the coal arrived.
Joseph Hickman, a farmer living near Baylis, mined 200 tons of coal from strip layers on his property last fall and sold it for $4.50 a ton.
Andrew W. Plattner, a resident of Pittsfield since 1858, died unexpectedly at his home. In 1863 he formed a partnership with C. E. Winans in the undertaking business. They added a line of furniture in 1875. In 1896 his son, Roy Plattner, joined the business and was made a partner in 1899.
The second annual American Legion Minstrel show was given Monday and Tuesday nights at the K. P Theatre, and the boys were greeted with the usual enthusiastic crowds. Attorney George Weaver, as interlocutor, was the right man in the right place. Harry Barber made his usual hit as a ballad singer, and the quartet joined him on the chorus each time.
Illinois veterans of the World War will receive a bonus computed at $15 for every month of service. Prof. Ernest E. Orrill, teacher at Cottonwood School, received a check for $208.35 as his share of the bonus.
Rev. Homer Brown of Pittsfield has been appointed to a preaching circuit embracing the Christian churches at Time and New Hartford, each of which he will give half time.
■75 Years Ago
Feb. 4, 1948
Fans hung from the rafters, overflowed onto the playing floor and jammed the corridors, attempting to watch the Pittsfield Saukees finish fast and trim Griggsville at the Griggsville gym Friday night, 45 to 33.
Nebo and the surrounding area were shocked early Saturday morning by the news of the tragic deaths of Darwin Looper and Ervin Harpole. They were killed early Saturday morning when their car crashed into a bridge abutment near Pike Station in a driving snowstorm. Funeral services were held for both in the Christian Church Monday, Darwin’s at 10 a.m. and Ervin’s at 2 p.m. with William Guthrie conducting the services.
Work on the Pittsfield sewage disposal plant has been stopped for 60 days, but the engineer thinks the plant can still be completed in 300 days, which was the previous estimate.
Carlos Stillwell and Rev. H. Eason of the Milton Christian Church went to the state of Louisiana for some of the surplus war material to make barracks for the Christian youth camp near Pleasant Hill. Due to the zero weather over much of the nation they have been held up on the return trip by icy roads.
■Feb. 7, 1973
Mayor Frank Penstone has withdrawn from the race for mayor of Pittsfield, a post he has held for 15 years. In his statement he said, “The determined stands I have taken in the past on civic issues have caused some division in our ways of thinking, but I am sure that future generations will be grateful for our determination and foresight.”
Bradford J. Rodriquez, 14-year-old son of Dr. and Mrs. B. J. Rodriquez and a Barry High School senior, has been named as one of the top 40 high school students in the United States in the 32nd annual Westinghouse science talent search. He is a student of Mrs. Melinda Fagan, Barry High School science teacher.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sheppard of RR1, Pittsfield have announced the engagement of their daughter, Sandy, to Larry Wigington, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Hammitt of RR 1, Pittsfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Workman, Rt 2, Griggsville, had a son, Darin Duane, born at Illini Hospital Jan. 31.
■25 Years Ago
Feb. 4, 1998
Carolyn “Lyndy” Wilson-Burrows has been named the administrator of the Pike County Health Department, replacing Judy Schlieper who is retiring in May. Schlieper was named administrator in 1990 and has been with the health department since 1972.
Beginning this week, the Pike Press will feature a historical cartoon, drawn by resident artist Bill Beard. The historical cartoon is one of a series of 100 and will appear every week through the year 2000.
■10 years Ago
■Feb. 6, 2013
The Pike County Sheriff’s Department and the West Central Illinois Drug Task Force shut down an active meth lab in Barry Monday night. Corporal Matt Frazier of the Pike County Sheriff’s Department was quick to commend all those involved in the investigation.
St. Mary’s Church and the Pittsfield Church of the Nazarene joined to make a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. for the annual March For Life. This was St. Mary’s third trip and a first for the Nazarene members.
Roger Yaeger’s donation to his home town American Red Cross blood drive on Dec. 28 was his 160th or the equivalent of 20 gallons. The 69-year-old Yaeger has been giving blood since his teenage years. Yaeger says he donates blood because he wants to assist others.
Compiled by Michael Boren.