Pickings from Pike’s Past 9.27.23

By Editor | September 26, 2023 |

100 YEARS AGO: WORK BEGINS ON DAM ON PANTHER CREEK FOR PITTSFIELD WATER SYSTEM

150 Years Ago

Oct. 2, 1873

Sunday seemed to have been set apart for a most copious discharge of rain. It rained all day and most of the night and made glad the hearts of hundreds of farmers who had just finished seeding. An immense area of wheat has been sown and we never saw it coming up better.

We have withheld any remarks upon the schools under new management until they should get under full headway. There are now enrolled in the school 428 pupils, of which 45 are in high school. We desire to call attention to the fact that the primary department enrolls 176 pupils, with but three teachers assigned. Now, we care not how earnest and zealous a teacher may be, no one can do justice to 72 scholars, the number in the first primary. In the other primaries, one has fifty and the other 54.

A young girl of Pittsfield aged about 16 eloped on Tuesday. She had been left at home in charge of three smaller children, while their parents were at work, and took advantage of their absence.

We are pleased to learn that Mr. Thomas Gray, county treasurer, who has been confined at home by a severe attack of neuralgia, has received great relief from the application of leeches to the afflicted part, and expects to be in his office in a day or two.

125 Years Ago

Oct. 5, 1898

The people of the Christian Church in Milton have new song books and all sing with much more interest. The Methodists ought to improve the music at their church in some way.

The Democracy of Pike County turned out en-masse recently to hear a speech by ex-governor John Peter Altgeld and many prominent Democrats.

Women can vote for four of the five state candidates and for county superintendent of schools at the coming election in Illinois. A special ballot will be prepared for them in every voting place.

Oct. 7, 1898

The editor of the Quincy Journal paid a visit to Pittsfield and described it as an ideal country town. “As pretty a courthouse as has ever been built stands in the public park and around it thriving business houses cluster. We suspect Pittsfield is one of the very best towns of its size—and it numbers about 4000 inhabitants. There are very many fine residences in Pittsfield. The houses are well shaded and the lawns are well kept. We shall be glad when the people of Pittsfield take down more of their yard fences. Pittsfield has several miles of graveled streets and they are a grand thing for a town. Pittsfield is known abroad as an old, rich, handsome town, the home of an intelligent, cultured, hospitable people and the ablest and shrewdest politicians in the state of Illinois.” [Note: The Journal was a Democrat paper and Pike County was dominated by Democrats.]

The handsome and commodious cottage on the northeast corner of the Milton park by that representative citizen, John W. Boren, is now complete and to say the least, “It is a daisy.”

100 Years Ago

Oct. 3, 1923

The first shovelful of earth toward Pittsfield’s quarter-million-dollar waterworks system was turned yesterday morning. A crew of eight teams and 16 men began work on the dam for the reservoir to be located on lands purchased from John Ducey on the New Salem road. The dam will be across the south fork of Panther Creek.

More good news for Pittsfield. It now seems certain that Pittsfield will be placed on the new national trail highway map. We will be located on the Pike’s Peak Ocean to Ocean Trail that will cross Pike County via Barry to Pittsfield to Florence. The trail previously went from Barry to Baylis, New Salem, Griggsville and Valley City.

The Pittsfield board of education has leased a building on East Jefferson Street to relieve crowded conditions at the East School. Pupils of the sixth grade have moved into the building.

The Pittsfield Christian Church is greatly in need of more teachers for the Sunday Bible school. Let our people think of their responsibility in this matter and take advantage of this opportunity of striking a telling blow in the Lord’s work.

Birth control advocates in Chicago were balked again last Wednesday when the health commissioner denied their second application for a permit to establish a parents’ clinic to disseminate contraception information.

Dr. E. B. Berry is remodeling his home on West Washington Street into a bungalow type.

75 Years Ago

Sept. 29, 1948

The 1947 community unit district law has been upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court. The new law, thus validated by the court, has been exercised in five reorganized districts in Pike County—Pittsfield, Griggsville, Barry, Pleasant Hill and West Pike.

Pittsfield Unit 10, one of the largest school districts, in area, in the state, has a total enrollment of 2000 in 36 different attendance centers. The high school enrollment is: Pittsfield 360, Nebo 63, Pearl 49 and Milton 60.

PHS coach Glenn Smith spoke to the Pittsfield Rotary Thursday at the Cardinal Inn. He said, “There are other things besides winning. I want the boys first of all to be good sports. Winning at any cost is out so far as I am concerned.”

50 Years Ago

Oct. 3, 1973

The First National Bank of Barry will be open Sunday afternoon for friends and visitors to the Apple Festival to see the bank’s new addition and remodeling done over the past year. The bank board includes J. E. Gully, president; John C. Shover, executive vice president; R. L. Ownby, vice president; plus Everett Althiser, Richard Mosley and M. E. Williamson. The officers besides Shover include Mrs. Betty W. Kendall, cashier and assistant cashiers David Knepper and Frances Uppinghouse.

The Pittsfield Saukee Indians are still in business, though they no longer have the long winning streak to protect. Their offense is not exactly awesome, but they still have a mighty stubborn defense. Coach Mike McCartney’s Brown County Green Hornets held the upper hand all evening, but could never cross the PHS goal line. The final count was Pittsfield 6, Brown County 0.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dickerson of Pittsfield have announced the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Charlene, to Larry W. Gleckler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Winfred Gleckler of New Salem. A Jan. 5 wedding is being planned.

25 Years Ago

Sept. 30, 1998

A ribbon cutting for the new and improved and significantly larger Farmer Jack’s Amazing Maze was held at the Barry Apple Basket Friday. The Apple Basket also held a Medieval Festival, which had a high turnout. Karen Cruttenden, owner of the Apple Basket, said the turnout was so high that the nearby Wendy’s ran out of meat.

The Pittsfield Saukees and the Quincy Notre Dame Raiders closed the book Friday night on what has been one of Illinois’ most fascinating rivalries. Unfortunately for the Saukees this book had a bitter ending. Pittsfield lost their last regular season game to the Raiders 14-7. Pittsfield joins the West Central Conference next year.

Friday night the Pleasant Hill Wolves beat the previously undefeated Greenfield Tigers 17-6.

Jill Suzanne Dunham and Eric Allen Kunzeman were married June 6 at the United Methodist Church in Griggsville. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Dunham of New Salem. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Kunzeman, also of New Salem.

Kimberly Ann Burns and Michael Ray Merryman were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Louisiana, Mo. The bride is the daughter of Lindell and Lorraine Burns of rural Nebo. The bridegroom’s parents are Randy and Lisa Merryman of Bowling Green, Mo. and Peggy and John Marshal of Naples, Fla.

10 Years Ago

Oct. 2, 2013

Hannah Ward was crowned the 2013 Miss Corn Carnival Friday night at Milton. Amanda Booth was first runner-up and Jorie Reed was second runner-up.

Honored as parade marshals for the 2013 Milton Corn Carnival were Robert and Linda Springer. The award was presented to them by their granddaughter, Julie Mountain, who was the retiring Milton Corn Carnival queen.

• Compiled by Michael Boren