Pickings from Pike’s Past
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125 YEARS AGO: BRAVE LADY FLAGS TRAIN AND PREVENTS DISASTER
150 Years Ago
April 13, 1876
It appears that we will have a good crop of peaches and political candidates this year.
The Griggsville Democrats don’t cool down worth a cent. They get happier and happier every day.
The new town of Douglass, bordering on the Mississippi, opposite Hannibal, was fully organized at the town election held Tuesday.
125 Years Ago
April 17, 1901
Glorious spring weather started on Sunday, but ended on Tuesday (election day) with steady rain nearly all day—great wheat and grass weather.
The latest popular exercise is house-cleaning; a sure sign that spring is here.
Last Thursday evening as the local freight, going west, was within about a half mile of the Towhead bridge, it was flagged by Mrs. Louisa Roy, a lady living near the bridge in the Pleasant Hill vicinity. She had seen that the bridge was on fire and she knew it was time for the train to reach that place, so she waded the slough and ran up the railroad track waving her red shawl and succeeded in stopping the train just in time to save it from running into the burning bridge, where it would surely have gone into about 30 or 40 feet of water. We think the company should reward Mrs. Roy.
W. H. Pringle, the Time merchant, has sold his stock of goods to a Mr. Brown.
A Hannibal man has purchased Perry Springs and will endeavor to run it as a first-class summer resort the coming season.
Friday, May 3 will be a great day for Pittsfield High School and her friends. On this date representatives from Jacksonville, Winchester, Beardstown, Ashland, Virginia, Petersburg and Pittsfield will assemble at Bates Park on the south end of town to participate in a splendid program of athletic sports and games, and at night a declamatory contest will take place at the K. P. Opera House. This will be the first and perhaps the last time this honor will come to Pittsfield.
Col. Matthews is back from Washington, and the Sni land case was postponed until November because the supreme court docket was so crowded.
100 Years Ago
April 14, 1926
Pittsfield school district voted in favor of three propositions to fund a $70,000 addition to Pittsfield High School, which was built in 1909, and is now much too crowded. Recently the state superintendent’s office has delivered an ultimatum to the Pittsfield school board, that if increased facilities are not provided, recognition from the state would be withdrawn.
Lloyd Stark, president of the Pike County, Mo. Chamber of Commerce recently notified the Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce that the passage of the bridge bill by the U. S. Senate will assure Pittsfield a good road to St. Louis by way of the planned Louisiana bridge.
The present high level of water in the Illinois River has made ferry service very difficult, and it is currently impossible for the ferry to run at night. This is yet another reason why we must have a bridge at Florence.
The building committee of the New Hartford Christian Church will meet will meet Wednesday to let the contract for a new church building. There are three contractors making bids.
75 Years Ago
April 10, 1951
Pfc William Harpole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Harpole of near Rockport. Has written to his parents some of the terrible Chosin reservoir fighting in Korea when his unit and many Marine Corps units were surrounded by large Chinese forces. He is now enjoying a rest camp after months of combat.
Dedication services will be held at the Pittsfield Christian Church next Sunday. The reconstruction work has now been completed.
April 11, 1951
The annual County Band Festival will be held in the Pittsfield High School gym Friday, April 13. The concert by the all-county band will be presented at 8:00 p.m.
The Pike County Insurance Agents Association met April 3, at the Community Center in Pittsfield. The dinner was given by Charles A. and Mrs. Barber for the agents and their wives in observance of Mr. Barber’s twenty-fifth year in the insurance business.
Lucky Boy “Good” Bread is now improved with seven full ounces of non-fat milk in every loaf.
April 12, 1951
Continuous rains are causing the Illinois River to be near flood stage. Temperatures April 4-10 ranged from a high of 74 to a low of 28.
Don Irving, 22-year veteran supervisor of Chambersburg Township, was re-elected by acclamation to a new term as chairman of the County Board of Supervisors.
The Hillerbranner room of the Pittsfield First Methodist Church is to be dedicated April 15. The room, formerly known as the church parlor, has been improved and redecorated.
The teachers of School Unit No. 10, their husbands and wives enjoyed a dinner-meeting at the Baylis Coliseum last night. Approximately 90 persons attended. The meal was served by the Baylis P.T.A.
50 Years Ago
April 14, 1976
A ground breaking ceremony was held Sunday afternoon in Griggsville for the new Regular Baptist Church to be built close to the present 103-year-old church. When the new church is completed, the old one will be razed.
Representatives of the UTTA (Unit 10 Teachers Association), led by Gary Woods and Jim Sanderson, met with the Unit 10 salary committee to protest the teacher dismissals that were recently announced.
PHS students are getting into the Bicentennial. Librarian, Mrs. Mary Lea Prentice suggested that the corridor outside the library be designated Bicentennial Hall and Miss Helen Harman, American history teacher, has offered extra credit for students who create projects that can be posted in the hallway.
Monday was “All aboard!” day at J. L. Wade’s Purple Martin Junction in Griggsville. Seven of the 30 or more old railroad passenger cars acquired over the past three or four years have been converted into a nature center and art gallery and were opened to the public.
25 Years Ago
April 11, 2001
Cummings Food Center announced Monday morning that it would cease operation in all of its three stores as of 6 p.m. Saturday, April 14. Cummings Food Center operated stores in Pittsfield, Pana and Brighton. The Pittsfield store employs 40 full and part-time employees in the store including meat, bakery and deli departments.
Pittsfield High School girls basketball coach, Matt Elledge, is resigning to accept the head coaching position at Highland High School for the class AA girls basketball team. Elledge graduated from PHS in 1987 and has been a coach and teacher at PHS for eight years.
10 Years Ago
April 13, 2016
As work on the new Pike County Animal Shelter nears completion, work has begun on the $3 million upgrade to the city of Pittsfield’s wastewater treatment plant. The project, which includes new lift stations and pumps, is scheduled to be finished by November or December, according to wastewater treatment plant manager Terry Leahr.
Concrete has been poured and steel beams set for the new firehouse in Milton for the East Pike Fire Protection District. A delay in the arrival of a crane has slowed work over the weekend.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
