Looking Back 7/24/25

By Editor | July 23, 2025 |

July 30, 1925

Comprehensive reviews of all of the most important activities of the state of Illinois will be presented at 47 county fairs this season through five State exhibits which are being prepared for the opening of the fair season the latter part of this month. The Home-Coming-Centinnel Celebration at Hardin, Aug. 18 and 21, is on the list for these exhibits. The five exhibits will each make a circuit of nine or more county fairs and expositions and will be on inspection until early October when the fair season ends. Agriculture, public health, public welfare and highways will furnish the material for most of the exhibits.

July 27, 1950

In both Jersey and Calhoun the respective county seats of Jerseyville and Hardin hold the title of county metropolis by a wide margin over the other urban center, but in Greene county, Carrollton holds business leadership by a relatively narrow margin. At least, that’s the picture given by the latest Illinois sales tax statistics, those showing the occupational tax obligations incurred through business done last March. In Calhoun with a total of 138 taxpayers and tax obligations of $6386.56; the capital of Hardin was far in front with 52 taxpayers and taxes of $3724.06. Kampsville was next with 22 taxpayers and taxes of $934.62. Then came Brussels, 18 taxpayers and taxes of $539.16; Batchtown, 13 taxpayers and $240.13; Golden Eagle, seven taxpayers and taxes of $284.89; and Hamburg, nine taxpayers and taxes of $185.31.

July 24, 1975

The formation of a Park District in Calhoun County will be discussed at a number of meetings and in a series of articles, according to George W. Carpenter, of the Hardin Lions Club. During the winter several speakers visited the Lions and explained how a Park District could be established, and how a swimming pool, tennis courts and golf driving range could be built. They also told of shelters, croquet and horseshoe pitching courts for the senior citizens. Jerry Corbett and George Carpenter were named as co-chairmen to study the plans, while later Leroy Hagen and carpenter were named to a special committee to meet with the Board of Education Unit 40. A tract of land, unused at the present, and located just south and across the county road from the high school football field and the fairgrounds was promised by unanimous vote of the Board, if and when a Park District is established. “This land would be an ideal place for a park, as the physical education classes of the high school could use the facilities. The school will need more facilities in the next year, as the school may be represented by girls’ teams as well as teams composed of boys. The school had considered the building of tennis courts several years ago, but nothing was done,” Carpenter said. In March the Lions Club and other groups decided to stop working on plans for about four months so they could concentrate on the historical society and plans for the sesquicentennial. In next week’s article, each step in forming a park district will be discussed and how it would be governed and financed. “A plan for a swimming pool and tennis courts was studied in 1970 by the Woman’s Clubs, but the present Park District may not have been available at that time,” Carpenter said.

July 26, 2000

A pleasant July 24 evening greeted those who were eager to see this new school construction begin. The date was set at a special Calhoun 40 school board meeting. This was the only time that both State Representative Tom Ryder and State Senator Vince Demuzio could attend for quite a while. “I’m glad to be here at this historic event. I applaud this school board and am glad I could be a small part to make this a successful project,” Demuzio said. The Illinois General Assembly provided Illinois First money, some of which went to school construction grants. Calhoun 40 will be the recipient of $2.3 million of this money. “I’ve never been in a groundbreaking ceremony with so many folks. By the voters passing the referendum to build this school, I know that you value your youngsters and education in this county. Because of what you did, we could be here to throw a little dirt,” Ryder said.

“On behalf of the school board, I thank the voters, who cast 819 votes in favor of building this project,” Strauch said. Demuzio also reported on the $300,000 given by the Illinois General Assembly to be used to build a county maintenance shed in Calhoun. “You needed help and we were there,” Demuzio said.

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