Pickings from Pike’s Past 5.24.23

By Editor | May 23, 2023 |

75 YEARS AGO: NEW COMMUNITY UNIT DISTRICT 10 SCHOOL BOARD ORGANIZED

150 Years Ago

May 29, 1873

John Perry informs us that last Thursday, during the rain, he picked up a hailstone measuring two inches square.

An Antiquarian Society of Pike County was established at the courthouse last Saturday. Hon. Wm. A. Grimshaw was elected president, with seven vice presidents.

The railroad bridge at Louisiana will be about 500 feet longer than the Hannibal bridge, which is 1580 feet, and the cost is estimated between $800,000 and $900,000.

The school excitement in Milton ran high with the many letters to the editor about the school board hiring poor teachers to save money. It has pretty well died down now. You can form some idea as to the height of the excitement when I tell you that at one time the Democrat met a ready sale at two-bits per copy in Milton.

Business has been lively in Milton this spring, in proof of which our hucksters say they have shipped 120,000 dozen eggs. We have two butcher shops in town, and for the money you can get a nice juicy steak anytime. I see men laying back in our new barber’s chair looking quite comfortable. Two millinery establishments are in full blast; other business fair; morals not quite up to Nebo, but a little better than Detroit.

125 Years Ago

May 31, 1898

A barrel of canned goods, cakes and jellies was recently shipped to the sergeants of Co. A, 5th Illinois by relatives.

A vagabond dog killed one of the squirrels in the courthouse square yesterday and it is to be hoped that this will lead to a dog ordinance, requiring a city tax and tag.

Decoration Day opened with gloomy and threatening weather. The forenoon was taken up with the march of the GAR post and many carriages with citizens to the West cemetery where the usual ritual service was held. At 2 o’clock the post marched to the school house where many citizens gathered and the high school rooms were soon stuffed to their fullest capacity. A considerable portion of the crowd was compelled to remain outside.

June 3, 1898

Bay Creek was two feet deep on the Bayville bridge near Pleasant Hill on the 21st, breaking the record for high water. Here it is the last of May and no corn planted. Ground so wet would mire a snipe. Thermometer was hunting 90 degrees yesterday and is doing the same today, with good prospects of catching it.

They say some of our young ladies have gone into mourning on account of the boys going to war. If the Spaniards don’t improve their marksmanship, no need to mourn, girls.

In order to settle the question of opening or closing the stores in Pittsfield on Sunday a vote of merchants was taken, and as a result the closing ordinance will be enforced.

100 Years Ago

May 30, 1923

The Pittsfield City Council has taken action relative to the paving of the Pittsfield square. Attorney L. T. Graham has been named as attorney to see the project through.

Carl Siegle is planning to open an amusement resort, “Whistle Garden.” It is to be located adjacent to Siegle’s Whistle bottling plant. It will include a dance floor and also will be equipped with a large screen for picture shows.

The 75th anniversary of the Mexican War of 1848 finds only seven of the veterans of that conflict still alive in the state of Illinois. One is John A. Reed, 96, of Perry, a well-to-do farmer.

El Dara will abandon its high school for the coming year. Those ready to attend high school next fall will probably come to Pittsfield or go to Barry. There is no high school building in El Dara, but they have a community high school board of education.

State’s Attorney Barry Mumford and attorney William Mumford are over at Virginia, Cass County, as attorneys in the Beardstown election contest suit, being tried in that court.

Dr. Richard O. Smith, age 63, a practicing physician in Pittsfield since 1884 and for several terms mayor of the city, died at his home here last night from heart trouble (angina pectoris).

75 Years Ago

May 26, 1948

Lt. Gene B. Moore of Pearl, holder of the Pike County record of bombing missions, crashed to his death in the Mississippi River about 20 miles south of St. Louis Sunday morning. He had joined the reserves and was flying one day a week. Gene, who returned from the Mediterranean in August, 1944, had 65 bombing missions as a pilot of a B-26 bomber, with many narrow escapes.

Larry Lee Ruble was one year old on May 17. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Ruble.

All retail establishments in Pittsfield will be closed all day Monday, May 31st, in observance of Memorial Day.

Milton High School has 14 graduates this spring; Griggsville has 21 and Pearl has 10.

Announcing a new drug store for Pittsfield and Pike County, Awbrey’s Rexall Drug.
Air conditioned for your pleasure. 116 W. Washington.

Organization of the newly-elected Community Unit District school board took place Tuesday evening. Ronald Sidwell of Pittsfield was elected president and Dean Sneeden of Pittsfield was elected secretary. Other members are Virgil Parks, Wade Grimes, Edgar Richards, Arthur Browning and A. C. Holloway.

50 Years Ago

May 30, 1973

If you’ve got a hankering to someday run for the Pittsfield Unit 10 board of education you’d better have a cast iron rear end. It’s one of the primary qualifications. Last week’s meeting lasted more than four hours, breaking up at 1:15 a.m. At the meeting bids were opened up to demolish the East School building, but the board ended up considering a request of Dr. Thomas Bunting and the preservationists for its continued existence and perhaps a start on its restoration.

Three Pike County teachers have been chosen Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America for 1973. They are Mrs. Betty J. Logan, seventh and eighth grade teacher at Griggsville; Mrs. Mildred Wendorff who teaches kindergarten at South School in Pittsfield; and Dale Willard who teaches history to seventh and eighth graders at Higbee, and also is the athletic director at Pittsfield High School.

Dennis Heiman is the new Pittsfield High School head coach. He will be serving his second year at PHS, having been assistant coach this past season. Heiman will inherit a state winning record of 63 straight victories and will be faced with the challenge of setting what is believed to be the national record if he can lead the Saukees through another winning season. He succeeds Fred Erikson, who resigned to take the head football coaching job at Monticello High School.

25 Years Ago

May 27, 1998

It its regular monthly meeting, the Pike County Board voted Tuesday to give elected officials a $1000 pay raise each year beginning in 1999 and ending in 2002. This involves the circuit clerk, county clerk and county treasurer. Each currently receives $28,690 annually.

U. S. Army veteran Michael Boren of Pittsfield, a history teacher at Pittsfield High School, was guest speaker at the Pittsfield Memorial Day service Monday morning in West Cemetery. He spoke about his childhood friends, Jay Shelby and Mike Benjamin, who both served in Vietnam.

Pittsfield’s baseball team took another step towards a regional championship Monday, with a thrilling 5-4 win over Bluffs in extra innings. Scott Riley, who was on third base, took advantage of a passed ball on a pitch that was ball four to teammate Jason Buss and made a dash to home plate to take the win.

A series of heavy storms swept through Pike County last week, causing heavy damage in numerous locations.

10 Years Ago

May 29, 2013

The death of a St. Clair County Assistant Judge who died in Pike County March 10 near Pleasant Hill has sparked an investigation into the death and resulted in the arrest of another judge. In his role as coroner, Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty played a key role in the resulting federal drug investigation.

Keith and Carlene Renoud of Barry will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on June 5. They are the parents of Carla and Gary Furniss of Barry, Randy and Myrna Renoud of Ottawa, Kans., and Ken D. and Dorothy Renoud of Pleasant Hill.

• Compiled by Michael Boren