Looking Back 10.4.23

By Editor | October 3, 2023 |

100 years ago

Oct. 4, 1923

The Eidred levee broke last Sunday morning near Spankey, Ill, due from the heavy rains of Saturday night and Sunday morning causing Cole Creek to go on a rampage breaking the levee and overflowing the lowlands. Three large pumps are working continually to drain the district which will take, at the rapid rate the pumps are now going, three days. Many acres are under water and quite a lot of damage has been done by the unexpected break, according to reports.

75 years ago

Oct. 7, 1948

Art Schulze, of the Schulze Bros. Feed and Seed Co. at Deer Plain, reports that they have picked a 12 acre field of corn that produced a little over 1200 bushels. He says that the state seed inspector thinks there are parts of the Schulze fields that may make 125 bushels per acre. John Suhling of Kampsville has a small field of 3.5 acres that is making a little over 100 bushels. He is husking this corn by hand and says the heavy ears cause his arm to tire quickly. Suhling plowed under a heavy crop of alfalfa on the land in June of 1947. It is the humus from the alfalfa that brought the heavy yield this year. Many other Calhoun farmers are expecting some of their fields to make around a hundred bushels to the acre, while eighty bushel corn will be common this season.

50 years ago

Oct. 4, 1973

A shrine in honor of the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel is under construction in St. Norbert’s Cemetery in Hardin. Father Roy Bauer chose the subject of a vision in which God placed this prophet in a field full of bones. God told the prophet to tell the bones to join together, which happened. Then Ezekiel was told to tell the bones to get flesh on them, and finally, he was told to prophesy “These bones shall Live.” This is described in the seventh chapter of the Book of Ezekiel. Bible scholars discuss the meaning of this vision, but in Christian art, it has been used to teach the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead. Father Bauer commented that the first time he saw the south section of the cemetery, although there are no graves there yet, he thought of this field someday being full of graves and the image of Ezekiel came to him. The central part of the construction of the shrine is completed, although many finishing touches will have to be done. The construction stands twelve feet high and is made of two and a half tons of reinforced cement. This was poured in a form on the ground and a derrick was used to raise it. On the face of this slab of concrete, an indentation measuring 8 1/2 feet high and 4 1/2 feet wide was made to receive the mosaic. The mosaic picture of the Prophet Ezekiel standing among the bones, receiving the message of God, was designed by a St. Louis artist, R. Kraus. The mosaic was made by the Ravenna Mosaic Company In St. Louis. This picture contains seventeen thousand pieces of colored glass, which are chiseled to fit together forming the picture. The pieces are glued lace down to paper in the shop. At the site, fresh mortar is prepared and the sections of mosaic. still on the paper, are pressed into the mortar.

When it is dried, the paper is peeled off. The mortar is then stained so the mortar between the pieces does not stand out. This work was done on the cemetery shrine this past Friday. Two wings will be added to the shrine, each 4 1/2 feet high and 2 1/2 feet wide. Plaques are being made to be placed on these wings, listing the names of the donors to the shrine. After These are installed, all exposed cement will be surfaced with black marble chips applied with epoxy. The picture is very colorful; many of the mosaic tessera are real gold, sealed between layers of glass. Actually, there are several dozen shades of gold mosaic used on this picture, as well as several thousand other shades of color. This can be noticed only by a close inspection of the picture. The design, Father Bauer feels, is a reasonable balance between traditional art and modern art. The simple lines definitely makes it 20th century art, but it is not way out. The picture seems very much alive, Father Bauer ob-serves, because of the eyes of the prophet. Certain exaggeration of the eyes can do much to depict the emotions of the subject. A new entrance to the cemetery is being planned. This roadway will begin near Chris Ledder’s driveway and will head north across the ridge. From this roadway, someone entering the cemetery will get a very impressive view of the massive shrine. The mosaic artist, Arno Heu-duck, does most of his work for churches and public buildings. Ravenna Mosaic Company Is the only shop in the United States that does mosaic work exclusive-ly. Some mosales, which are some of the most permanent art forms, date back to several hundred years before Christ. A dedication of the shrine will be held after its completion in about one month.

25 years ago

Oct. 7, 1998

Brussels proudly celebrated its rich history on Sunday afternoon, throwing a German style bash to commemorate its designation in the National Register of Historic Places. Hundreds of people enjoyed everything from the formal certificate presentation at the American Legion Hall to the food, refreshments and fun on the St. Mary’s School lawn and along Main Street. “The community’s enthusiastic response to this prestigious recognition has overwhelmed me and I am grateful that so many have come here today to celebrate with us,” said Mayor Sarah Kinder. State Rep. Tom Ryder was among those who were on hand for the ceremony at the Legion hall and he presented Kinder with one of the new brown road signs from the Illinois Department of Transportation that says “Brussels Historic District.” Ryder and State Sen. Vince Demuzio were instrumental in having IDOT make the signs. “The people of Brussels are special people,” Ryder said. “They have devotion to their community, families and churches that is unexcelled in any part of the world that I know Of. For those who pass through Once, monthly or annually, if you are a friend of Brussels once, you are a friend forever.” In addition to Ryder, other governmental officials were on hand for the presentation. Miss Calhoun County Kari Ringhausen, Little Miss Calhoun Kearston Baalman and Little Mister Calhoun Tony Hillen helped lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Joyce Schulte, who Kinder referred to as the “Kate Smith of Calhoun County,” sang God Bless America and the Brussels High School cheerleading squad performed a routine for the crowd gathered. Kinder presented Cindy Linn of Jerseyville with a gift for her work in the application process. Lin prepared a 50-page application for the project and Kinder calls her the “answer to her dreams.” Ann Swallow, the national register coordinator of the Illinois Historical Preservation Agency, then presented Kinder with the framed certificate. “The Brussels Historic District is an important addition to the Historic Register of Illinois,” Swallow said. “Each and every community has made a significant contribution to the history of Tinois. “But what sets Brussels apart from the other communities in the eyes of the federal government, is that the historic community center has been preserved to such an extent, that we can see, appreciate and experience Brussels the way it appeared more than 50 years ago,” Swallow added. “It is literally a time capsule.” After the ceremony, people took to the sidewalks and enjoyed a walking tour of the historic buildings on Main Street. Many got their picture taken while standing in the old village jail, known as the “cala-boose,” which has not held a prisoner since 1952. Restored Farmall “M” tractors and antique vehicles were on display as well. Others took time to relive the past of Brussels in the old Schleeper building, which was turned into a museum display of photographs, documents, clothing and other items that have been pertinent to south Calhoun County. A hundred years earlier, the Schleeper building was used initially as a saloon and dance hall before being used as a boarding house, lumber/hardware store, antique shop, telephone office, beauty shop and post office. Kinder said the museum will be open periodically during the month of October. “That has really developed into something” great,” she said. “It’s a real nice displav.” The historic buildings each had a certificate posted in their front lawns showing when each building was constructed. Outside the present Red and White Grocery, which was built in 1875, bratwurst and pork sandwiches were being sold while across the street people enjoyed the music and singing of a German band and the Alton Barbershop Quartet. The Brussels High School Desktop Publishing class under the direction of business teacher Lynne Jackson and Kinder, also the school district’s librarian, designed and produced a trifold brochure and pamphlet describing the buildings in the historic district.

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