Pickings from Pike’s Past 3/6/25
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150 Years Ago
March 11, 1875
Our winter has been unusually severe and still continues without any abatement, though Spring is March—ing along.
Pleasant Hill, our city though “set on a hill,” is deserting its ancient landmarks, and is gravitating down the hill toward the center of our planet, [and toward the railroad] and at no very remote period in its history will doubtless be entirely under the hill.
J. B. Hall is getting along swimmingly in his new mill in Pleasant Hill, and he is courteous and kind to all, making the very best flour in town, and in fact it is hard to beat anywhere.
The scarcity of wood, corn, hay, goods and greenbacks in Milton has caused several of those articles to go up in price.
125 Years Ago
March 14, 1900
The Mississippi River has been on a high old tear for some days past, but is now falling. The Illinois River is 15 feet above the normal mark. Big ice gorges have been destructive by damming up the water.
On account of the high water in Bay Creek the Clover School dancing club did not meet last week.
It is reported that a new paper to take the place of the Nebo Signal, which last week moved to Elsberry, Mo., will soon be in operation at Nebo.
The new fire bell in Pittsfield does not answer the purpose for which it was put up, that is, the alarm cannot be heard many blocks from the square, particularly on the south side of town.
100 Years Ago
March 11, 1925
The Pittsfield City Council has voted to proceed with the paving of the four sides of the square and a block in each direction, a total of 12 blocks.
The engineer who recently examined the steel tank on the Pittsfield water tower reports that the “ancient institution” is liable to collapse. It was built 50 years ago and is badly corroded. The water came from deep wells that were highly mineralized and corroded the iron tank.
The Pittsfield American Legion is planning to build a coliseum 80×120 feet on the lot across the street from the Christian Church. It will provide room for a standard basketball court of 80×56 feet, with additional seating capacity for approximately 2000 people.
The pastor of the Pittsfield Christian Church will be away for the next ten days holding special meetings for the Rockport Church.
Quincy High School basket ball team emerged with the district championship in the tournament at Quincy, defeating Payson 18-17 in the hair-raising final game last Saturday night. In their march to the finals, Quincy defeated New Salem 28-14; Hull 26 to 15; and Barry 32-10. Pittsfield lost their first game to Payson 27-20 on Thursday night.
There are more empty houses in Pittsfield than at any time for several years. A number of working men have quit their jobs and are moving their families to nearby farms.
The girls’ basketball team of Pleasant Hill High School, accompanied by their coach, Miss Dinsmore and a good sized number of boosters, went to Louisiana Friday evening and played a game with the Louisiana girls in the Central School court, losing by the score of 20-14.
75 Years Ago
March 7, 1950
Winchester’s Wildcats finally grabbed the regional basketball title after three seasons as runners-up to Pittsfield. They upset the Saukees Friday night by the score of 41-37.
Oliver R. Barrett, greatest of all collectors of Lincoln relics, who as a boy in Pittsfield got his first Lincoln inspiration in the old East School building, died Sunday at his home in Kenilworth, suburb of Chicago.
The Valley City frozen pie plant has a crew of 18 employed in making and shipping pies to classy restaurants in and around Chicago. One roadhouse near the Indiana line takes 1500 pies a week.
The Pleasant Hill Messenger announces that the night mail trains through Pleasant Hill have been discontinued, and a mail truck, operated by Keith Donohoo of Pearl, will serve Pleasant Hill, Nebo, Pearl and Hillview. The route originates in Roodhouse and one trip is made each night.
8 March, 1950
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Gress (Lucille Parks) Pearl, Rt. 1 had a son born at Illini Hospital March 4, named Randell Kaye.
The Griggsville Tornadoes won the Pike County Conference championship with an unblemished record of 8 wins and no defeats.
9 March, 1950
This area was in the grip of a roaring March storm which started Tuesday and brought bitter temperatures on the heels of springlike weather. The winds were up to 60 miles an hour and the temperature at Pittsfield dropped to 14 above zero yesterday morning.
50 Years Ago
March 12, 1975
The new Community Care Center in Barry, which opened its doors to patients Feb. 22, has the appearance and atmosphere of a friendly resort lodge. The 76-bed skilled care facility reflects the philosophy of its administrator, John Hubbard. In a brochure describing the Center, Hubbard states, “….elderly people living here share the same problems as they live together, remain as well as possible, and retain their individual self-respect and independence.” The first patients admitted were transferred from the nursing home Hubbard and his wife, Mary, have operated in Barry the last 15 years. There are now 29 residents. Mrs. Hubbard serves as executive secretary at the new Center.
Barry has a new physician—the former Joan Peterson, M. D. who became the wife of Dr. B. J. Rodriguez March 8. The couple was married in Barry. Dr. Joan Rodriguez plans to practice medicine here and will be associated with her husband, who has an office in Barry and is on the medical staff of Illini Hospital.
25 Years Ago
March 8, 2000
Jessica Geiselman won her bid to be queen of the Hill Saturday after defeating the Class AA 3-point champion in a one-on-one showdown at the Redbird Area in Normal. Geiselman was honored by the city of Pittsfield last week as Mayor Larry Snyder declared it Jessica Geiselman week. Her royal highness is pictured with her plaque.
Pittsfield fans had plenty to cheer about this week as the Saukees advanced to the Sweet 16 on Friday after defeating the Brown County Hornets, 56-42, allowing PHS to return to the Sweet 16 for the second time in two years. It was the 16th sectional championship for Pittsfield. The Pleasant Plains Cardinals defeated the Saukees in Super-Sectional action 71-54, ending Pittsfield’s season with a 27-4 record.
Pleasant Hill students are mourning the death of Tony Merryman, 36, who died Sunday of cancer. He was a 1982 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School. He had been a teacher and coach for the Pleasant Hill school district since 1991.
Despite Wal-Mart associates in other states voting to unionize, the 104 associates working at the Pittsfield store seem content to stay union-free.
10 Years Ago
March 11, 2015
The Pike County Board agriculture committee Thursday night opened to public scrutiny a new host agreement it is currently negotiating with the owners of the Hickory Ridge Landfill near Baylis.
Grain Belt Express Clean Line presented its preferred and alternate routes across Pike County to the public in its third and final round of open houses Thursday morning.
The Griggsville-Perry basketball team won the regional, but lost to Springfield Lutheran in the semi-finals of the sectional tournament in Lewistown, ending the season with a record of 22-9.
Compiled by Michael Boren
