Pickings from Pike’s Past: 50 YEARS AGO: U OF I FOOTBALL GAME CALLED “PORK DAY 74”
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150 Years Ago
Nov. 26, 1874
A public meeting of the citizens of Pittsfield was held for the purpose of aiding the destitute citizens of Barton County, Kansas.
Rev. Mr. Jackson preaches the Thanksgiving sermon today at the Methodist Church. Let everyone attend—be thankful and show it by remembering the poor and destitute.
It’s a terrible false modesty to cut off the rear end of a dressed turkey before sending it to market. If there’s any part of a turkey that we do like, it’s that same rear end.
Good advice. When you use a postal card always write the address the first thing. Tons of postal cards without any addresses are destroyed in the dead-letter office because people write their message first and then forget to address the card.
Mr. R. C. Scanland caught in his kitchen a mink whose skin when stretched measured 18 inches by 8 ½ inches.
125 Years Ago
Nov. 29, 1899
The Perry roller mills, valued at $9000, burned to the ground Nov. 23, 1899.
The paper trust is doing its work. On every kind of paper the price has advanced, all the way from 15 to 150 percent, and there may be further advances.
We were yesterday shown a mammoth pumpkin grown by Harrison Meserve out near the old fairground in Pittsfield. It weighs 115 ½ pounds and contains enough material to make Thanksgiving pies for a small village.
100 Years Ago
Nov. 26, 1924
It seems likely that Pittsfield will have a community Christmas tree this year. The matter was agitated at a recent meeting of the Tea Club. Pittsfield has never yet had a community tree, but a lot of good folks have wanted one for many years.
Miss Helen Schadel, Pittsfield librarian, says that “Tom Sawyer” is still the most popular “kid book” in the Pittsfield library, followed by “Secret Garden,” “Boy Scouts of Bob’s Hill,” “Dutch Twin” series, and “Little Women.”
A 20-foot-wide gravel road connecting Nebo and Pittsfield, built to specifications of the Illinois Highway Department, seems to be assured. Samples of gravel, which is found in quantities along the road, particularly in the vicinity of Honey and Buckeye creeks, have been tested by the state highway department and declared satisfactory for road-building.
Get the habit of patronizing the Dr. J. H. Barber and Company West Side Drug Store, The Drug Store of Merit.
75 Years Ago
Nov. 22, 1949
The worst highway tragedy in Pike County since the Greyhound bus disaster of 1946 occurred Nov. 19 at the southwest edge of Griggsville. Loren Hyde, Jr., Garland Blevins and Leon Gerard, were killed in the one-car accident. The three men, all veterans, were employed by Leon’s brother, George Gerard in the Gerard Trucking Company in Griggsville. The car, driven by Leon Gerard, skidded in loose gravel and slammed into an apple tree on the E. M. Dunston property on the west side of the road. The bus accident in 1946 caused two deaths, but more than 30 were injured.
Men of the Milton neighborhood rallied to harvest the corn for Donal Daniels, whose twin sons, Jerry and Terry, born last Sept 27, have been victims of whooping cough and kindred complications some five or six weeks of their eight weeks since birth. The Danielses have three other children, Eleanor, Jean and Kay, who have had a tussle with whooping cough.
Nov. 23, 1949
Mothers served a fine turkey dinner last night at the Pittsfield High School football banquet in the Legion Hall. About 150 were present, including their fathers, special guests, cheer leaders, team managers and board of education. Mrs. Earl Zimmerman, mother of Richard Zimmerman, captain of the team, was banquet chairman.
Nov. 24, 1949
Pike County’s corn crop fell short of earlier estimates by thousands of bushels as a result of damage by corn borers.
Mayor Hooper announced that it will be at least mid-December before construction will begin on the new six-inch gas line connecting the city with Panhandle pipeline south of town.
A crowd of 714 pleased customers danced to the music of Clyde McCoy’s great band on Thanksgiving eve at Ocean Trail Park in Florence.
A sizeable herd of deer, including bucks and some very fine does is reported frequenting the region north and northeast of the Bethel Church in Newburg and along both sides of the Illinois River.
50 Years Ago
Nov. 27, 1974
What’s a good name for a new community college? That’s what the board of trustees of the western Illinois college, now unofficially called Adams-Pike or colorless district 539, wants to know.
Leslie a. Hayden, assistant Pittsfield postmaster since 1967, has been appointed postmaster in Mt. Sterling and assumed his new duties there last week.
The only continental newspaper published in North America is the Purple Martin News, published right here in Pike County at Purple Martin Junction in Griggsville.
The University of Illinois football game last Saturday Nov. 23 in Champaign against Northwestern was named “Pork Day 74”—marking the first time a major university had named a football game for a farm commodity. Many Pike Countians were involved in making the day possible, including Emmett Bagent, Phil Bradshaw and others who cooked the pork, and Kay Dehart and his wife, Marcia, who drove a truck load of 12 hogs that had been slaughtered at J. D. Liehr’s locker plant in Perry. Dick Alspaugh was the head roaster.
John Pont, coach of Northwestern’s Wildcats, sampled some succulent pork before the game. In spite of this nutritious experience, his Wildcats lost to the Illini 28-14.
25 Years Ago
Nov. 24, 1999
Following the lead of many surrounding counties and acknowledging concerns of local fire departments, the Pike County Board approved a burning ban Monday night. The ban will be temporary until the extremely dry conditions subside.
Brandon Douglas of Pittsfield snagged a 33-point buck that measured at 28. He was hunting east of Pittsfield for about two hours before finally landing the trophy. The rack has been the talk of two counties, according to his father, Dennis, and is a proud reminder to all hunters of why they try so hard every year.
Katie Zumwalt turned three on Oct. 5. She celebrated with a party for friends and family at McDonalds. Katie’s parents are Tammie Zumwalt and Donnie Myers, both of Pittsfield. Grandparents are Parker and Beth Zumwalt and Stan and Kandi Hull, all of Pittsfield.
10 Years Ago
Nov. 26, 2014
Chairman Andy Borrowman commended Justin Noble and Harry Wright, as they attended their last Pike County Board meeting. Noble served four years, and Wright served 18 years, including two years as the board’s last Democratic Chairman, 1994-1996.
Compiled by Michael Boren
