Pickings from Pike’s Past: 100 YEARS AGO: NEW MOTOR BUS RUNS ON PITTSFIELD TO MAYSVILLE RAILROAD
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150 Years Ago
April 1, 1875
The weather has been spring-like and the frost is mostly out of the ground. Corn is worth 50-54 cents and wheat sells for 90 to 95 cents per bushel.
The steamer Fannie Keener made her first trip up the river this season. She has been refitted and refurbished, and is in excellent running order.
Great preparations are being made for the exercises to be connected with the dedication of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsfield, which is to occur April 25.
In the village of Time money is scarce, but business is pretty fair. We learn that at the end of the present school term, the old school is to be torn down and a new one erected.
125 Years Ago
April 4, 1900
Spring is here sure enough and the gardens are rapidly being made while the farmer sows his oats. The lilacs and maples are putting forth their buds in good shape.
The ferryboat at Pike Station has again made its appearance for spring and summer trade. And we have a new store on the corner of Hazel and High Street.
In El Dara eggs are coming to our market in a lively fashion. Some of our farmers have sold their hogs for $5, the market they’ve been anxiously looking for.
Quite a number of our young men in Time and some older ones too, were partaking too freely of intoxicating juice Saturday evening and thereby making spectacles of themselves, which did not meet with the approval of respectable citizens.
J. W. Boren, undertaker and furniture dealer in Milton, supplied our friend John Kenedy with a full outfit of household goods one day last week. Mr. Kenedy’s house and contents were destroyed by fire some time ago.
100 Years Ago
April 1, 1925
The new motor bus on the Pittsfield Wabash branch made its first run to Maysville March 27 without mishap or accident. Junior Lewis, who had made the installation of the flange wheels and truck equipment, was in the cab on the trial run. A battle to suggest the best name for the bus wagon wages merrily on, and there have been many interesting ideas.
Between 30 and 40 southern Negroes who had been working on road construction on US 36 east of Barry, left after a demonstration staged by some 300 Ku Klux Klan members the night before. Arthur Leach construction had brought in the Negroes after he had become dissatisfied with white labor.
John M. Jordan is recovering from lockjaw which resulted when a tack in his shoe rubbed a small abrasion on his foot.
Pittsfield Township is sending $1000 to the tornado sufferers of Southern Illinois. A huge auction, dance and food sale raised most of the money.
75 Years Ago
March 28, 1950
High March winds ripped through Pike County Sunday causing damage to numerous buildings. The winds were part of a great storm that in the Plains states stirred up immense dust storms, reminiscent of the dust bowl of some years ago. Local insurance agents report numerous wind damages in Pittsfield and over the county.
Mayor C. C. Hanks of Pearl has received a telegram from Congressman Sid Simpson reporting that $30,000 has been set aside for clearing work on Hardy Creek, which caused the bad flooding in Pearl.
The A and P grocery store, which has been in Pittsfield for 24 years, is going to be closed. The building is going to be leased to C. W. Aldrich for his drug store.
The Republicans held a rousing meeting in the courthouse Friday night. County Chairman William J. Thorton of Nebo said that socialism is the pattern being laid out for us unless we get up on our feet and smash it at the ballot box.
March 29, 1950
The Detroit church choir put on a musical recital at the Milton church Sunday night. They also had a duet by Rev. and Mrs. Lewis Arkema and solos by Paul (Bud) Ellis and Everette Pennock.
March 30, 1950
Dr. W. Maloney has purchased a small lot on South Monroe Street and plans to build an office here in Pittsfield. For several years Dr. Maloney has shared office quarters with Dr. W. G. Kraybill on the south side of the square. Dr. Kraybill will retain his present office.
G. and W Furniture and Appliance on the square has increased its floor space 9,350 feet.
50 Years Ago
April 2, 1975
Officials of the state junior college board recommend the “common market approach” aspired to by John Wood Community College. Which involves contracting with existing institutions of higher education in the area for services rather than acquiring its own faculty and establishing a campus. Dr. Victor Hopper, the academic dean, reported on recent visits he has made to Quincy College, Culver Stockton, Hannibal-LaGrange and Western Illinois University where he discussed programs and course offerings.
The Illinois attorney general has recently ruled that County Board members can no longer serve as township supervisors. Four of the nine board members, Bruce Boren of Nebo, Oral Bethard of Barry, Glenn Secrest of Perry and Ron Ehlert of Detroit are also township supervisors. Ehlert is chairman of the County Board, and he says he will discuss the matter with State’s Attorney William Lowry.
North Jackson Street is a mess now, but it is being widened to 44 feet all the way from Washington to Benson Street.
Jeffrey Scott Freesmeyer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Freesmeyer of Hamburg, celebrated his third birthday March 23. Jeffrey has twin brothers, Jason and Jeremy who are six weeks old.
25 Years Ago
March 29, 2000
Barry and West Pike are holding public hearings to consider combining their boys and girls high school and junior high school sports programs.
The Pittsfield Congregational Church at the corner of North Memorial and West Adams streets in Pittsfield was recognized in Springfield last week as a historical property in peril on the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois’ “Ten Most Endangered Historic Places” list. More than 20 delegates from several organizations in Pittsfield, led by Warren Winston, attended the announcement.
A new display room at Ideal Hardware has allowed the business to add a new line of appliances to its already varied selection. Don Hass has operated the business in the same location for the past 42 years. His son, Steve Hass is in the business with him.
10 Years Ago
April 1, 2015
The back room of the William Watson Hotel was full for three days last week as a group of women got together to help Charlotte Dunham of New Salem make a quilt for her granddaughter Madeline.
The All Wars Museum is making progress. The concept of a museum featuring artifacts from Pike County veterans of all wars took another step recently when officers were elected. Lloyd Lawber will serve as president, Denny Dodd as vice president and John Gleckler as secretary/treasurer.
Compiled by Michael Boren
