Pike Pickings – 3.15.23
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
150 Years Ago
March 20, 1873
The weather is fine and spring-like with occasional showers, not very heavy ones, but yet enough to lay the dust. Duck hunting on the bottom has been very fine.
Abel Dunham bought 80 acres four miles west of Griggsville for $7000 and William H. Laird bought 80 acres in New Salem Township for $4000.
L. D. Paine is running a daily hack from Pittsfield to Nebo to connect with the Chicago and Alton Railroad there.
125 Years Ago
March 22, 1898
Oh! How it did rain last night, commencing right after dark and pouring down almost continuously until midnight. The Illinois River rose 6 ¼ inches at Florence last night.
Pittsfield Republicans Saturday set up the following ticket to be knocked out: supervisor, Gay Williamson; town clerk, Guy Hubbard; assessor, James A. Rhea (Mr. Rhea declines to run); collector, Herb Morton; commissioner of highways, Virgil Underwood; school trustee, W. R. Wills.
The Democratic primary called out 500 of the good and stalwart Democrats to select the ticket for town officers and the work was well done. The ticket is exceptionally strong and should get every Democratic vote and many Republican ones.
March 25, 1898
Wheat and clover are looking up to see where so much rain comes from. People are looking to see when it’s going to stop. The river is steadily rising and flooding the low bottoms.
People who have uncovered their roses and other plants have found it best to cover them up again. Tuesday night that wave came and it was a snollegoster, for ice of considerable thickness formed and the ground froze.
The attendance at the Detroit Christian Church Sunday School was 146 and the collection $3. Attendance at the Detroit Methodist was 87. “Keeps” is the all-absorbing game for the small boys. It keeps them out of Sunday School to play it.
It took a long time to stop the fraudulent sale of oleomargarine, but the law has triumphed at last.
100 Years Ago
March 21, 1923
Pittsfield had a spring fashion show at Armentrout’s Community House, despite a raging blizzard. Long skirts and long waistlines were the main feature of the dresses which were modeled by 28 of Pittsfield’s attractive young women, including several students at Pittsfield High School. Decorations, pretty lights and lovely music were the background for the engaging display of modes, and the weather outside was forgotten.
Sixty-four applicants wrote on the teachers’ examination. At the last preceding examination 72 wrote and only six passed.
Governor Len Small has proposed a $100 million dollar bond issue for road building purposes. Under the proposed project Pike County will be entitled to 40 miles of additional hard road.
Dr. T. M. Watson, Griggsville’s oldest physician, passed away at the age of 72. He held a long list of civic positions in his strenuous life. Dr. Watson made the history of Illinois and her wonderful achievements. Each town has had one or many such citizens who have been the pioneers in that village in all public enterprises.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank McCartney of Summer Hill spent Sunday with the Will McGreevy family.
A hot fight is on in the Milton Community High School district over the question of voting bonds for a new school building, which will be decided in Saturday’s election.
Pittsfield High School will graduate 44 students this spring, according to present class standing. Of the original 60 who were candidates for graduation, only 44 seniors remained in good standing.
75 Years Ago.
March 17, 1948
With only 10 seconds to play, Bob Dell sank a shot to put Pittsfield ahead of Quincy 51-50 in the Sectional at Jacksonville Thursday night, and it looked like they had won, but with only four second left, Walz hit the basket with a sensational long shot to give Quincy the victory 52-51. Coach Glen Smith’s fighting Saukees waged a brilliant battle which was as exciting as any basketball game can be. Pittsfield fans and players were very disappointed, as Quincy won all three of its games against Pittsfield this year in the final seconds.
The boundary for a new Pittsfield Community Unit school district will not be determined until March 20, but it may become a huge school district.
Last Friday was the coldest March 12 on record in Pike County. Reported temperatures ranged from zero to 19 below. The temperature went up rapidly over the weekend and brought a deluge of rain Monday night, which was somewhat helpful in raising the level of the city reservoir, which had been rather low.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hammitt, New Salem, (Lura Miller) had a daughter born March 11 at Illini Hospital, named Janice Kay.
50 Years Ago
March 21, 1973
In Pittsfield Unit 10 the terms of Phil Hoover of Milton and Wade Grimes of Nebo will expire. Hoover has taken out a petition. Grimes has said that he will not run again after serving on the board continuously since Unit 10 was organized in 1947. Running in his place will be Thomas E. (Gene) McKee of Nebo.
The Pike County Board last week accepted a bid of $2,229 to amplify the circuit courtroom. The idea is to provide better hearing in a room that has abominable acoustics.
A special meeting of the membership of Pittsfield Legion Post 152 has been called to discuss further plans for the sale of the American Legion building. Numerous individuals have expressed regret that the building cannot be utilized for some community usage, but nobody has yet come forward with a feasible monetary solution.
Mr. and Mrs. James D. Sanderson, Route 2, Pittsfield, had a daughter, Kerri Lynn, born at Illini Hospital March 13.
25 Years Ago
March 16, 1998
In contested GOP races, Leroy Leonard won the primary for Pike County Sheriff and Terry Leahr was victorious in the race for County Treasurer. Voters in the Barry school district voted to approve a $1.25 million referendum that promises to bring a facelift to the district’s aging facilities.
Pittsfield firemen were able to control a fire that could have been a disaster to Pittsfield Ford-Mercury Friday evening. Marshall Ford in Pittsfield was destroyed by fire in 1972, but there was only moderate damage to the current Ford dealership. Dene Lampkin, the owner, said, “We are so lucky!”
The Pittsfield Theatre Guild is presenting “Belles on Their Toes” as their upcoming mainstage production. Among the stars are Beth Willman, Nick Grote and Spencer Boren.
Marine Lance Cpl. Steven E. Lowry, son of William E. and Donna J. Lowry of Pittsfield, has arrived in the Arabian Gulf with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. President Bill Clinton ordered the unit there in response to rising tensions in the area.
10 Years Ago
March 20, 2013
Western and Pleasant Hill school districts are going to have to sell general obligation bonds to pay necessary bills this year. Superintendent Andrea Allen of Griggsville-Perry is not looking into selling any kind of bonds this year but may be looking at it next year.
Mary Ella Bunting, 83 of Kalispell, Mont., formerly of Quincy and Pittsfield, died March 8. She was the wife of Dr. Tom Bunting, who practiced medicine in Pittsfield for many years. Mary was involved numerous activities in Pike and Adams counties, including theatre, music and directing the Pittsfield First Christian Church choir for several years.
Highway 54 Car and Pet Wash at 900 West Washington St. in Pittsfield will offer car and pet owners some new opportunities. It is owned by brothers Robert and Richard Smith.
Compiled by Michael Boren
