Pickings from Pike’s Past: 50 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL TEAM
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150 Years Ago
Jan. 7, 1875
The game law is again in full force, and he that killeth a quail shall himself be killed $3 worth.
The Pittsfield woolen mill is closed for the present, and great improvements and additions to the machinery are being made.
At Griggsville clear and cold is the way the almanac would describe it. The saloon, which had been for some time quite an institution in our midst has ceased to exist. The proprietor, like the Arab, has folded his tent and silently stolen away.
Christmas Day in Nebo passed off quietly as it came on. A shooting match for the turkey was carried on the day previous to, and also on Christmas Day. We saw several of the partakers wending their way homeward, toting a huge fowl on their shoulders.
Like sensible people, we in Milton have let our follies and vices die out with the old year and begin the new one with renewed friendships and a determination to live only for each other’s welfare.
The locals of your correspondent do not fully supply the demands of our people and they propose to edit a paper of their own.
125 Years Ago
Jan. 3, 1900
For the past ten days there has been little use for that part of the thermometer more than 15 degrees above zero.
Twas a good long holiday of 11 days for the teachers and scholars and they all had trouble commencing again yesterday.
Last Sunday Rev. J. O. Emerson closed his labors as pastor of the Congregational Church in Pittsfield.
An Illinois River fish vender was in Pittsfield yesterday with a lot of skinned dogfish which he worked off on the hotels as channel cat.
The Odd-fellows will serve a splendid supper in the new hall Friday evening from 5 to 7:45 at only 25 cents per serve.
The Old Fiddlers contest at the opera house played to only a moderately well-filled house, but fiddlers were thick.
100 Years Ago
Jan. 7, 1925
The Illinois River is frozen harder and thicker than any time in the past eight years. The ice is from eight to 24 inches thick. Cars and teams are being driven on the ice with safety. But in spite of the ice, the ferry company has kept open a 150-foot-wide passageway at Florence.
The executive board of the Pike County Farm Bureau has asked the County Board of Supervisors to consider an appropriation to buy the remaining right-of-way for route 36 through the county.
County Judge Mark Bradburn says he officiated at 23 weddings during 1924.
Sunday School at the Pittsfield Christian Church was fine last Sunday, considering the cold and icy weather. One hundred ninety-five came over the ice and the offering was $10.35.
Detroit is calling us to the Chautauqua they will put on in the Detroit town hall, Saturday night. You will get more than your money’s worth if you go—that’s their guarantee.
75 Years Ago
Jan. 4, 1950
Residents of the Milton area feared a tornado yesterday when the sky became very dark and rain fell in torrents, driven by the winds. Motors of cars on the road were drowned out and visibility was so poor drivers could not see the road.
Coston Clemmons, Milton merchant, was attacked about 9:30 Saturday night (New Year’s Eve) behind his store by thugs who sought, unsuccessfully, to rob him. Mr. Clemmons fought hard against the two assailants, and held on to the money he had with him. He was brought to Illini Hospital where Dr. Kraybill sewed up one head wound and picked glass from another. Milton has been visited by thieves several times in recent months and several places of business have been broken into.
Fifty-seven men gathered at the home of Mrs. Sarah Phillips for a “famous wood-chopping” for Joe Phillips, who had been seriously injured while felling a tree.
Four babies were born Jan. 1, 1950 at Illini Hospital, twin daughters to Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Ducey of Pittsfield, and sons to Mr. and Mrs. Felix Neese of Nebo and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Sparks of Pittsfield.
Mr. A. T. Nelson of Pearl reports that fishermen are making some fine catches in the Illinois River. Catfish are averaging from 40 to 60 lbs.
Jan. 6, 1950
The building boom in West Pittsfield is still going strong. The Tremaine greenhouse in West Pittsfield is nearing completion.
Despite near-zero weather and bad roads, a large number of people attended the opening of the Winston Motor Company’s new building in West Pittsfield Thursday. Two new Oldsmobiles were on display.
50 Years Ago
Jan. 8, 1975
The Cox Implement Co. open house in Pittsfield Monday was a clear success, attracting over 300 who enjoyed oyster soup or chili, pie and coffee and heard about the new line of Allis-Chalmers Equipment.
Mrs. Martha Lowry, acting administrator of the Pike County Health Department since it was organized in 1966, has been officially awarded the tile of administrator, which has been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Kami Lee Davenport, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Davenport of Summer Hill, celebrated her fifth birthday New Year’s Day. Guests included Karin and Christopher Davenport, pictured above.
Mr. and Mrs. Garold Elledge of Nebo have announced the engagement of their daughter, Rhonda, to Richard Houchins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Houchins of Pittsfield. The bride-elect is employed as an elementary music teacher in outlying schools of Unit 10. Mr. Houchins is employed with his father as a painting contractor.
It’s taken 60 years (the game was invented in 1895) but competitive volleyball has finally come to Pittsfield High School, “and the old Saukee wigwam jest ain’t the same no more.” The coach of the PHS team is Miss Rhonda Vinyard is a trim green-eyed blonde in her first year at Pittsfield High School as girls’ P.E. teacher. Despite what may be the trend in some places, the PHS coach takes a dim view of mixing the sexes on the same team in competitive athletics. She says, “The girls are not Amazons, they maintain a feminine quality and act like ladies.” Their current record is 5-2.
The members of the first-ever PHS competitive girls’ volleyball team are: Dona Houchins, Bona Ator, Debbie Dorow, Loretta Dobbins, Marcia Casteel, Teresa Lindsay, Susan Frazier, Debbie Workman and Kathy Leake.
25 Years Ago
Jan. 5, 2000
Just another ordinary New Year holiday—That’s about all this weekend amounted to in Pike County. Despite all the Y2K hoopla surrounding the coming of the new millennium, little occurred to actually mark the event.
Detroit Township farmer Terry Rush was elected the state president of the Illinois Beef Association at the November commodity conference in Urbana.
Illini Community Hospital has announced it will not provide an obstetrics department, effective Feb. 1, 2000. On the average it takes a minimum of 300 deliveries annually to cover the cost of operating an OB department. In 1998 Pike County moms delivered 178 babies, with less than half of these—83—being delivered at Illini.
10 Years Ago
Jan. 7, 2015
As a welcome start for the new year, the price for regular gasoline has dropped below $2.00 per gallon in Pike County.
Less than a week after dropping a close game to the Carrollton Hawks, 66-58, the Griggsville-Perry varsity boys got revenge in a 66-63 victory Saturday night. Joseph Myers, Skyler Miller and Kaleb Bradshaw were high scorers for the Tornadoes.
Compiled by Michael Boren
