Pickings from Pike’s Past
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75 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO MEET IN ZOE THEATRE DURING REMODELING
150 Years Ago
March 2, 1876
Mixed weather prevails—Sunday forenoon most delightful—afternoon blustery—night cold and next morning—Greenland! Monday raw and cold—Tuesday medium—snowstorm at 11 p.m.; rain at twelve. Wednesday ground covered with snow—melting during the day and extremely slushy in the p.m. Mixed, isn’t it?
In general, we have had a beautiful winter, and were it not that we may suffer a little for lack of ice in the coming summer, there would be nothing to mar it.
The Rockport Mill, owned by Shaw and Rupert, burned last Sunday morning at about 2 a.m., its destruction being complete, and the store of Hesley and Bro., directly opposite, being saved only with the greatest difficulty and extraordinary effort. There can be no doubt that the fire was set.
A letter from Perry with reference to man’s fickleness and a widow’s duplicity is respectfully declined. It is too personal for publication.
Our tax collectors in Barry seem to be successful in their collecting, but they make a big hole in the pockets of those who were fortunate enough to have made some money the past year.
125 Years Ago
March 6, 1901
Saturday was such a lovely day that people just had to come into Pittsfield, and it was full with one of the largest crowds that had been within it for a long time.
The first three days of March came in lovely and lamblike, and everyone was happy. But the lamb’s wool flew Monday the 4th, and an old-fashioned March blustery day held the boards all day. Snow covered the ground before night after a day’s fall, during which most of it melted.
The DEMOCRAT understands that negotiations are in progress between the city council and W. F. Keeney of the Pittsfield Electric Light and Power Co. for the sale to him of the city dynamo, wires, poles, pump and heater, in fact the entire city lighting apparatus, save the engine, boiler and deep well pump. All over the country the tide is moving towards municipal ownership, except here, where it is proposed to turn the ownership over to a corporation. The DEMOCRAT suggests a referendum on this proposition.
Milton is to have a newspaper published here by H. T. Hum. We congratulate Mr. Hum in this undertaking and wish him grand success.
The Cross-roads school house south of Milton burned Friday afternoon. The cause is supposed to be from a defective flu.
The Pike County Telephone Company extended their line from Montezuma to Bedford last week.
100 Years Ago
March 3, 1926
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Zimmerman and her brother, Raymond Binns, attended an automobile show in St. Louis recently. They saw 300 cars of 47 different makes on display.
Despite the fact that the French hairdressers’ organization has declared that bobbed hair is doomed, about four-fifths of the working women in Pittsfield and most of the high school girls have bobbed hair. Among those who still have their “lovely long tresses,” are Elizabeth Mayo, Essie Yakley, Daisy Mayo, Bess Dunham and Helen Grigsby.
A census of the new Business and Professional Women’s club of Pittsfield shows a membership of 85 with all lines of business represented.
The 70 or 80 girls taking home economics in Pittsfield High School are happy because they have made sufficient money to purchase a new Victrola. The girls have a large number of records, among them many fox trots and waltzes and they enjoy dancing after school. At present the girls are making new brightly colored hats and dresses.
The Pittsfield Fireman’s Ball was given in the new International Shoe factory Friday night. The dance floor measured 160 x 100 feet, and was plenty of room for the crowd of 350 people. The factory is scheduled to open for manufacturing March 17.
75 Years Ago
Feb. 27, 1951
The interior of the First Christian Church of Pittsfield is being renovated under the direction of contractor Keenan Barber and architect Raymond Knox. A new baptistry, pulpit and choir loft will be installed to accommodate the new electric organ. New lighting facilities will be incorporated into the remodeling. Plans also call for the floors to be refinished and the dining room will be redecorated and refurnished. In the meantime, church services are being held in the Zoe Theatre.
Feb. 28, 1951
Little Betty Jane Koeller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Walter Koeller of New Canton, was two years old on Feb. 2nd. Her brother, Russell Edward was five years old on Feb. 2nd.
One big prairie wolf was killed in a rain-spoiled wolf drive near Fish Hook Sunday. The wolf was the sole trophy. It weighed 32 pounds.
Mar. 1, 1951
The Red Cross Bloodmobile visit to Pittsfield last Friday was the most successful of the series thus far with 156 pints of blood being collected. One hundred ninety-two persons were processed.
Pike County will send seven men for the draft March 16. Eight men were inducted last Wednesday morning.
50 Years Ago
March 3, 1976
Good progress is being made in the effort to secure for the Pike County Water District No. 1, according to President Archie Wells. The board of directors met Monday in Rockport.
Coach Kenneth Stauffer’s Griggsville grade school team won the District 16 championship in the Illinois Class A grade school tournament for the first time, but lost in the first round of the sectional to Augusta.
Coach Terry Robertson’s Griggsville High School team won the Pittsfield Regional Tournament, defeating Pittsfield High School in the championship game, 70-66.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Horton, Pittsfield, had a daughter, Kerensta Nikkole, born at Illini Hospital Feb. 27.
25 Years Ago
Feb. 28, 2001
After two years in the top spot in the Pleasant Hill school district, Steve Goodman has given the board his resignation after accepting a similar position in Astoria. “It was a tough decision,” said Goodman. “I started teaching here 31 years ago, worked my way up to principal for three years and am in my second year as superintendent. Add that to the 11 years I was a student here, I’ve got 42 years in the district.”
Mr. and Mrs. Kim Curry of Griggsville have announced the engagement of their daughter, Alicia Lynn Curry of Naperville, to Jeremy David Tate of Peoria, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Tate of Pittsfield. Alicia and Jeremy plan to reside in the Chicago area following their July 14 wedding.
Lucas Conkright holds the 34th Saukee regional plaque high in the air after Pittsfield clobbered Carrollton to win their 3rd straight regional championship. Conkright had 17 points in the victory.
10 Years Ago
March 2, 2016
Big River Fish has finally settled its longstanding loan with the county. The offer was for a $50,000 lump sum payment, which leaves approximately $10,000 of the original $95,414 principal of the balance for the county to write off.
Pittsfield High School’s season ended in a loss to Illini West at the Pittsfield 2A regional in Pittsfield.
The Pleasant Hill Wolves’ season ended with a loss to Calhoun in the 1A Greenfield regional. And Griggsville-Perry’s season ended with a loss to Triopia in the 1A Triopia regional.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
