Pickings from PIke’s Past: 150 YEARS AGO: CHILDREN NOT BEING TAUGHT TO SPELL
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150 Years Ago
Jan. 28, 1875
The weather remains very moderate and the roads are improving.
We are satisfied that in these latter days there is not half the attention paid to teaching children to spell correctly as there should be.
We do not know that we ought to speak about it, but it is a fact beyond all contradiction, that if a fire were to break out anywhere in Pittsfield the chances would be 99 to 1 that it wouldn’t be stopped until it burned all within its reach. Our neighboring towns have engines and other appliances for putting out fire—but we here at the county seat, priding ourselves on the beauty and loveliness of our town, go on day after day and week after week neglecting to adopt any means for our protections.
Allow me a place in your paper a few remarks concerning the New Hartford Grange, which was organized one year ago with eight members, and can now boast of 60. Our Grange is composed of as good farmers as Pike County can boast of.
125 Years Ago
Jan. 24, 1900
Ever since last Saturday there has been the very loveliest of weather, frost all gone, grass and wheat growing at a lively rate—a veritable spring right in the middle of winter. Unfortunately, with that, we have ugly mudholes in our roads in the Time vicinity.
Talk about your curiosities, Robert West killed a snake near Summer Hill last Saturday, Jan. 20.
The quarterly meeting at the Time M. E. Church will be Saturday and Sunday. Elder Short will preach Saturday night and Sunday.
Mrs. Zue Grigsby entertained a number of friends in honor of Miss Florence Newton, of Jerseyville, Thursday afternoon. Mrs. George Barber entertained Friday afternoon in honor of Miss Newton.
Editor J. T. Walker of the Nebo Signal, was in Pittsfield Monday and attended the meeting of the Democratic county central committee.
100 Years Ago
Jan. 28, 1925
Continued cold weather has caused hens to stop laying and egg prices as been as high as 55 cents a dozen.
The Pittsfield American Legion post has purchased from Miss Lucy Greene the 80×160 lot at the rear of the Congregational Church. The purpose in making the purchase was the erection of a large coliseum ample to accommodate the largest gatherings and serve as a community center, besides giving the Legion a permanent home and headquarters.
Hon. James C. Gay of Rockport died at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He had served as supervisor of Atlas Township and for many years was a member of the Sny Island Levee and district drainage board. He was well informed on levee problems and flood control. He was the son of James and Amelia Yokem Gay, who were among Pike County’s oldest settlers. Captain and Mrs. Hobart Gay of Fort Riley, Kansas, arrived Sunday noon.
An order of the Pythian Sisters, woman’s auxiliary of the K. P. Lodge, was organized in Pittsfield Monday night, thirty-two omen being present who wished to become members.
Edward D. Glandon, who for a number of years has owned and operated the Pittsfield Telephone Exchange, has turned over the property to the Pike County Telephone Company which controls practically all the telephone business in the county outside of Pittsfield.
75 Years Ago
Jan. 24, 1950
Heavy rains yesterday, more rain and fog and much lightning last night, and dense fog this morning, followed with sunshine by noon. Temperatures mild.
Burglars cracked the safe at Carl Spangenburg’s Red and White grocery store on West Fayette, making off with an estimated $135 to $150. This is the 6th safe-cracking around the Pittsfield business district in the past year, besides several burglaries that did not involve safes.
With the largest score of the season, Quincy High’s Blue Devils handed the Pittsfield Saukees a 72-28 defeat on the Q.H.S. floor Friday night.
Jan. 25, 1950
The Saukees recovered from their defeat at Quincy to defeat White Hall here in Pittsfield 80 to 30 Tuesday night, making their current record 10 wins and 3 losses.
Jan. 26, 1950
At the second annual meeting of the Pittsfield Community Center it was announced that Dr. Sidney Strauss has made an additional gift of $2000 to the center. This brings his total gift to $15,000.
Surveying is underway for a large motel in Detroit. An old brick home is to be razed to make room for a motel and garage space.
Dr. Walter W. Stevenson of Quincy addressed the largest group ever to attend an annual meeting of Illini Community Hospital. His subject was “Socialized Medicine.”
Maurice Neese celebrated his fourth birthday Wednesday Jan. 25. He is pictured with his little brother, Steven, who was one year old last Aug. 3. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Neese of Pearl.
50 Years Ago
Jan. 29, 1975
William McCartney of Atlas Township was elected president of the board of directors of Illini Community Hospital at the regular quarterly board meeting Tuesday night, following the annual meeting for the election of new directors. McCartney defeated the incumbent, Joe Gully, 18-5. A record crowd of at least 425 people attended the annual meeting.
Mrs. Mary Lea Prentice, media supervisor in Unit 10 schools, received on Monday, Jan. 20, her Master’s diploma from Illinois State University. She has been a member of the Unit 10 faculty since 1962.
Pike County residents 60 years of age and older can receive free help in filling out their federal and state income tax forms at Landess Terrace. Leaders from the Jaycees and Senior Citizens Council coordinating the service are Dan Chamberlain, Larry Fischer, Mrs. Russell (Eutha) Grimes of Pleasant Hill, Miss Ruth Caughlan of Pittsfield and Morrison Worthington of New Canton.
Roger Dunham of New Salem received honorable mention in the 1975 Superior Pork Award noted at the Illinois Pork Producers annual meeting held last weekend in Peoria.
25 Years Ago
Jan. 26, 2000
Paula Hawley, assistant principal at Pikeland Community School, will assume the duties of assistant superintendent effective March 1. Superintendent Delbert Scranton said Hawley will juggle work assignments at PCS and at the district office throughout the remainder of the current school year.
William E. Lowry has been named to the Board of Directors of Farmers State Bank, Pittsfield. Born and raised in Pittsfield, he is the son of Miriam Lowry and the late Ed Lowry, also of Pittsfield.
Phil, Linda and Todd Bradshaw have been named Conservation Farm Family of the Year.
10 Years Ago
Jan. 28, 2015
A local Civil War veteran has been honored by having his military grave marker place beside his civilian stone in Pittsfield West Cemetery. D. J. Westmaas and Mike Pierce installed the stone, for veteran Sgt. Charles Shaw, who was born in 1839 and died in 1912.
Ground has been broken in three different places and roadways built to those locations in preparation for a wind farm northwest of Pittsfield. But don’t expect to see construction any time soon. The Panther Creek wind project, which has been on the drawing board since 2009, is waiting on an essential federal tax credit.
Compiled by Michael Boren
