Pickings from Pike’s Past: 25 YEARS AGO: ILLINI HOSPITAL TO TRANSFER TO BLESSINGCARE CORPORATION
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150 Years Ago
April 8, 1875
Twenty-seven hundred barrels of flour were shipped out of Pittsfield last month.
Elder Moss will speak at the Pittsfield Christian Church Sunday on “Woman’s position in the church.”
It vexes us exceedingly to see so many plows bought here from abroad for sale. There is no reason in the world why all the plows needed here should not be manufactured here.
William P. Patterson of Milton, thinking it was not good for man to live alone, popped the question to Helen (not her of Troy), who said yes, and the twain were made one by Squire Boren, Justice of the Peace.
Griggsville had her spelling match on the 6th. The prize, a beautiful edition of Walter Scott, was awarded to Mrs. Edwin Hitch as the best speller. Dan Turnbull, although a granger, went down on “fertile.” Ed Doocey did not use enough “g’s” in his “exaggeration.”
125 Years Ago
April 11, 1900
Tuesday morning found the ground covered with snow and the thermometer nearly at the freezing point.
Anyone wishing to embark in the grocery business in Pittsfield can buy the Grigsby and Kaeser stock and fixtures at a bargain.
Constable Charlie Main’s little black horse up and died last Wednesday.
The sale of the Pittsfield House hotel went through all right and Mr. A. D. Sanders of Virden is now the owner, he having purchased it of William Pringle for $12,000.
Prof. N. M. Clemmons, of St. Louis, Mo., was called home to Milton last Saturday, owing to the very serious illness of his mother, Mrs. S. P. Clemmons. We are always glad to see Nolan, but regret that his visit was made under the present circumstances.
100 Years Ago
April 8, 1925
Dan Moreland, who has been a residence of Pittsfield for 39 years, died April 4 at his home. He was a wagon maker by trade and after coming to Pittsfield worked for Henry Harder. While in Harder’s employ, Moreland built 800 famous Harder wagons. They were made in three sizes and sold for $63, $66, and $68.
Many local businessmen and ministers are promoting Wednesday afternoon baseball games in Pike County instead of Sunday games.
The home economics department of Pittsfield High School, under the direction of their instructors, Miss Mae Laird and Miss Florence Guild, wrote and presented a three-act play. The high school orchestra furnished music.
The Barry school district will be voting on a proposition to issue bonds in the amount of $33,000 to build a new grade school building and remodel the current school to accommodate grades seven and eight.
The Department of Public Health at Springfield has sampled the water from the Pittsfield reservoir, and has declared it “especially satisfactory.”
A large crowd attended the dance given in the Cozy Theatre at Nebo Friday night.
Pike County has been asked to raise $2000 to help rehabilitate farmers in southern Illinois who have suffered from the recent tornado in that area. Funds are already being raised. There are stories too strange to be believed in the storm’s wake, such as a cemetery with more than half its tombstones broken to fragments, and a tree uprooted all but exposing a grave.
75 Years Ago
April 4, 1950
William L. Fennell, County Supervisor of the Farmers Home Administration says that Mrs. Ruth L. Bunn of route 2, Pittsfield, obtained the first housing loan in Pike County under title V of the Farm Housing Act of 1949.
The second annual meeting of the Milton High School Alumni Association will be held in the high school gymnasium April 8. All alumni and their former teachers are urged to attend. Members graduating prior to 1916 are especially urged to attend and help to complete our lists of names and addresses of alumni and teachers.
April 5, 1950
About thirty local census enumerators started knocking on doors in Pike County last Saturday morning to take the 17th decennial census of the United States. They all have taken a thorough course of instruction to acquaint them with their job.
April 6, 1950
Samuel Adcox of Pearl, by far the oldest person in Pike County, observed his 106th birthday. He remembers well the discovery of gold at Sutter’s mill in 1848. He was old enough to ride a horse in a Lincoln parade in 1854. He lives with one of his daughters, Mrs. Della Trent in Pearl.
Eighty children from Pike County have received treatment from the University of Illinois’ Division of Services for Crippled Children during 1949, according to an announcement by Director Herbert Kobes.
Enjoy a delicious Easter dinner at the Cardinal Inn. $1.25 plus tax.
50 Years Ago
April 9, 1975
Mrs. Lucille Knapp was elected president of the Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce for the coming year at a meeting of the new board of directors this week. Lynn Stone was elected vice-president. Marjorie Nighbert was re-elected secretary-treasurer. New board members are Bill Raney, Don Mitchell and Dan Chamberlain. They succeed Randy Zimmerman and Don Hass.
In Pittsfield there are four candidates for ward one of the City Council: George Halpin, J. N. Bonnett, Randy Lemons and Chuck McCleery. There are three candidates for ward two: H. Don Foreman, Enoch Ham and Bud Johnson. There are three candidates for ward three: Harold Scott, Mrs. Donna Burroughs and Charles Huntley. George McGann is unopposed in ward four. He was also unopposed four years ago when he made his first bid for the City Council.
Griggsville City Council has two candidates for Ward one: Harry Clough and Lynn freeman. There are three candidates for ward two: Bruce Baker, George Vineyard and Joe Dunham. And there are three candidates for ward three: Bill Craven, Cliff Wainman and Wendell Eveland.
Girls, here’s your chance to try out for Little League. The Little League rules have been changed to permit girls to try out for teams this year just like the boys.
Dave Calvey underwent major surgery March 31 at Barnes Hospital. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Don Calvey and wife visited him Sunday and say he is improving although he is still in intensive care.
25 Years Ago
April 5, 2000
On May 1 operation of Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield will transfer to BlessingCare Corporation. Illini Board Chairman Blake Roderick signed a lease to that effect. Part of the announcement includes the introduction of Connie L. Schroeder, R.N., M.S.., M.B.A., as Illini’s new chief executive officer.
The annual Pike County Chamber of Commerce dinner was held at the Pittsfield American Legion last Thursday night. Honored as Volunteers of the Year were Sandy Wigington, Marsha Ingersoll, Vera Hayden, and Johnson and Gwen Stillwell.
The pending demolition of the Brown Shoe factory building in Pittsfield brings mixed emotions for those who used to work there.
10 Years Ago
April 8, 2015
Connie L. Schroeder, former president and CEO of Illini Community Hospital, will be the guest speaker at the 32nd annual Pike Press All-County Scholars’ Banquet to be held Wednesday at the Crossroads Center in Pittsfield. Schroeder is now vice president of Innovation and Integration with Blessing Corporate Services in Quincy.
State Senator Darin LaHood (R. Dunlap), who represents the Peoria area in the 37th State Senatorial District, visited Pike County Thursday evening. He received the endorsement of the Pike County Republican Central Committee for the office of Congressman for the 18th District. An election will be held this year to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of Aaron Schock. Meeting with LaHood were Pike County Republican Chairman Robert Browning, Republican County Vice-Chairman Kirby Hobbs and Pike County Board Chairman Andy Borrowman.
Compiled by Michael Boren
