Pickings from Pike’s Past: 100 YEARS AGO: GASOLINE IN PITTSFIELD DROPS TO 19.3 CENTS PER GALLON
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150 Years Ago
Sept. 2, 1875
The weather is gloriously hot and well adapted to filling up the corn and rounding up the potatoes.
There is lots of ague this fall and shakes are cheap.
The baby crop in this section is pretty much all gathered in. A few patches planted late, yet to year from.
The M.E. Church in El Dara has been undergoing repairs. To help pay for it the ladies of the church gave a festival at Hornback’s Hall. It was well attended and the receipts amounted to $83. Next Sunday the church will be dedicated.
In a short time the new Christian church in El Dara will be completed and you have no idea how much this new edifice adds to the appearance of our town. I think they will have a festival, and if they do I hope they will have some corn cakes.
125 Years Ago
Sept. 5, 1900
It tried hard to rain last Friday and made a failure. Sunday made amends by heavy rainfall and lots of thunder and lightning. We’ll get enough afterwhile.
We are informed that Mrs. A. J. Westlake had 200 chickens stolen at one scoop last night.
The grandest “rootin” ever done on baseball grounds was done yesterday at Bates’ park in Pittsfield when Dublin fought Newburg to a standstill. It could be heard all over town.
If a man loses his wife out of a wagon, please tell him. Mrs. William Houelin of Nebo was thrown from a wagon Sunday morning and her husband drove for quite a distance before he knew she had fallen out.
100 Years Ago
Sept. 2, 1925
Florence voted to incorporate as a village. The area encompassed two square miles; the vote was 52 to 34.
Now we hear that a number of Rockport residents are interested in having their territory incorporated.
Pittsfield six-day Chautauqua failed to realize a profit. The Lions Club sponsored it, and when it was over they had $14 left to divide between two scout troops, after the expenses were paid.
John Caughlan and Martha Geisendorfer “stole a march” on their friends by getting married several hours earlier than was expected.
The last shovel-full of cement was dumped on the hard road into Pittsfield yesterday from the west about 10 o’clock yesterday morning and the new road and the old road are now joined near the tourist camp on West Washington.
The price of gasoline in Pittsfield dropped Tuesday from 21.3 to 19.3 cents per gallon. Standard Oil made the cut and all other oil companies followed suit at once.
75 Years Ago
Aug. 29, 1950
Miss Joy Hillman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Hillman of Pleasant Hill, reigned Friday night as queen of the Pleasant Hill Fair. Harris Franklin was master of ceremonies.
Aug. 30, 1950
Large crowds were present for each of the three performances of the Jay Gould circus in Pittsfield Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. It was a clean show with good acts that were enjoyed by everyone whom we heard comment.
Aug. 31, 1950
The county highway department told the Republican this morning that construction and grading are underway on the Nebo road. The new project involves the stretch between Pittsfield and Independence, measuring 5.12 miles. The road is being widened and improved and grade one gravel is being put on the road.
Ninety-three teachers, comprising the staff for Pittsfield Community Unit District 10 are meeting today at Pittsfield High School. Superintendent Harold Voshall told the Republican that despite a drop in county population, school enrollments are expected to exceed last year. Also, for the first time in this district, elementary music will be provided for schools outside Pittsfield. Martha Ann Daigh of James Millikin University has been employed for this job.
New construction in Pittsfield in 1950 includes the Zoe Theater, Dunham’s Zephyr station, Cate Oil Company, Pike County Service Quonset building, Tremaine flower shop and greenhouse, M. D. King Milling elevators, Winston Motor Sales and Wimpy’s Drive-In.
50 Years Ago
Sept. 3, 1975
Republican candidates for Pike County offices normally are few in number. Whether it’s the Bicentennial or whatever, 1976 promises to be different, according to word from GOP Chairman Roy Turner. He says the Republican party will field a full slate of candidates in 1976.
The first day of classes in Pike County schools this year indicates an enrollment that is basically stable compared to last year’s first day figures. Last year there were 1475 enrolled in high schools in the county and this year the figure is 1473. Last year the grade school enrollment was 2793 and this year it is up to 2832.
Mrs. Robert Brim of Perry received highest honors at the annual 4-H leaders banquet held last Thursday night at the Farm Bureau hall. She marked her 40th year as leader of the Perry 4-H Stitchers—a distinction achieved by only a half dozen others in Illinois. Her daughter, Mrs. Mervin Woods, has been a 4-H leader 28 years.
Announcing Pikeland International, Incorporated: International Harvester is pleased to announce that Taylor Steinberg has purchased the local dealership and has gathered together a well-qualified staff of 12 men and one woman to improve and extend services to you, the customer.
25 Years Ago
Aug. 30, 2000
Unusual, is probably the best way to describe the Friday night clash between Pittsfield and Warsaw. The Saukees, under Coach Jon Frieden, won the game 27-21 on a forfeit. The reason is a power outage that left both teams in the dark just as Pittsfield was about to run a play in the 3rd quarter. Chad “The Tank” Ferguson rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns before the game was called due to the power outage.
Michael Burlingame of Connecticut College spoke for the Pike County Historical Society meeting Saturday, Aug. 19. Burlingame is a Lincoln scholar and an expert on John Jay and John Nicolay, both of whom had Pike County ties.
10 Years Ago
Sept. 2, 2015
The Pike County Fair, as are so many county fairs, is struggling financially. Kristin Bess, board member and spokesman for the fair board said, “It was the one week of the summer that was really hot and then rain Sunday forced us to cancel the tough truck competition. Sunday killed us.”
The Saukee marching band debuted their new uniforms at the Saukee football opener Friday night and according to comments from the crowd, looked very sharp. PHS lost to Monmouth-Roseville 34-14 in their first game.
Compiled by Michael Boren
