Pickings from Pike’s Past
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100 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD TO HAVE ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTS ALL NIGHT FOR FIRST TIME
150 Years Ago
June 8, 1876
Candidates still love the people and are earnestly seeking their welfare.
The weather is very dry, and rain is sadly needed to push ahead the corn, which is very short for this time of year.
At a public meeting held at the court house in on May 27, it was determined that the approaching Fourth of July should be celebrated in an appropriate manner on the public square in Pittsfield by a basket picnic, with addresses, music and fireworks by night.
It is evident that the celebration of the 4th to be held here, is to be no mere hundred-year affair. There won’t be another such for ten hundred years. If you don’t come you will always wish you had.
Charley Obst, Pittsfield’s skilled photographer, has at last succeeded in getting himself located in a suite of rooms fitted for carrying on his business.
125 Years Ago
June 12, 1901
The long drought prevailing in the section was broken June 5 by a very copious rainfall and several have occurred since. A much better feeling prevails among farmers since the rainfall. Both Friday and Saturday were very cold, but yesterday and today old sol is playing a heated term with a vengeance.
Don’t forget the county graduating exercises to be held at the K.P. opera house next Tuesday at 8 p.m. Your presence will encourage both teachers and pupils.
Few people took enough interest in the Fourth of July meeting to attend at the court house and nothing was done. So far Milton and Pearl are the only Pike County towns to announce celebrations.
The Pittsfield chapter, No. 195, OES, was 10 years old last night and the event was duly observed.
Judge Jefferson Orr has been housed for a week with the mumps. We doubt whether anyone ever wished that he should have mumps, but there’s been many a one who would have been pleased had he had the lockjaw, when he was after them in court.
The Nebo Banner has a new boy in the person of Clarence Bradburn, who is the assume the role of “printer’s devil.” We will say for our paper that the force from chief editor on down to the smallest attache are young folks of good habits and gentlemanly demeanor.
100 Years Ago
June 9, 1926
The Pittsfield board of education has almost completed arrangements with a contractor from Nokomis for construction of a $70,000 addition to the high school building.
The board also voted to create a department of physical education for boys and girls in the East School. Miss Maxine Swan was employed for this position at a salary of $990.
Pittsfield patrons are using the library more and more. The library, established in 1879, has over 5000 volumes and 1115 borrowers. Reference books a special need in the library.
The choir of the Pittsfield First Christian Church will give their second vesper of music for the season at 5:30 next Sunday afternoon, directed by Rev. Booker. Miss Irene Stout will play the organ.
Architects from Champaign are drawing plans for the enlargement of the Zimmerman garage. It will include a ground floor display area, basement for storage, and a second story.
The Pittsfield water and light committee met with the resident manager of the C.I.P.S. Co. and have announced that Pittsfield will have street lights all night, instead of ending at midnight as it is at present. It will only cost around $1.20 per night for the extra lighting.
75 Years Ago
June 5, 1951
Corman Scranton Friday morning sold his firm, Scranton’s Clothing Co. to R. O. Emrick, manager of Service Finance Co. and Nick Haskins, owner of Nick’s Clothing Shop. The new partnership named Don Luster as manager of the store and states that it will continue to operate under the name, Scranton’s Clothing Company. Mr. Luster has been a member of the staff at Scranton’s for more than two years.
C. W. Losch was highest ranked graduate of Pittsfield High School, with Richard Lacy, second. Danforth Foundation good citizen awards went to John Petty and Dorothy Gleckler.
June 7, 1951
Temperatures May 30 to June 5 in Pittsfield ranged from a from a high of 92 on June 1 to a low of 34 on June 3. Precipitation totaled 1 inch during the period.
The Atlas Community Church has called Leonard Larson of St. Charles, Minn. To be its new pastor.
A union Bible School is being planned by four Pittsfield churches, Congregational, Christian, First Baptist and Methodist.
A new 4-H chapter was formed in Nebo, May 28. The leaders are Mrs. Velva Grimes, Mrs. Frank Hubbard and Mrs. Maudine Turnbeaugh. Joyce Fields is program chairman.
50 Years Ago
June 9, 1976
Griggsville has acquired a volunteer industrial development ambassador for the summer. Tony Zilic, chemistry and math teacher at Griggsville High School has offered to make contacts and put together materials which can be used in attracting new business and industry in Griggsville.
Bill Sheppard, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Sheppard of rural Pittsfield, has been recommended by the state FFA executive committee to receive the Illinois State Degree during the annual state convention being held this week in Urbana. Bill is a 1976 graduate of PHS.
Pike County Savings & Loan would like you to meet the newest member of our staff, Mrs. Sue Barger. She joins Terry Denison and Dolores Dempsey in handling your account transactions courteously and efficiently.
Mrs. Tim Belford of Pittsfield graduated with honors from WIU May 29, receiving a bachelor of science degree in education. Mrs. Belford, the former Linda Wilder, a 1972 graduate of PHS, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Wilder of Pittsfield.
Five students were honored for their academic achievements at the Pittsfield High School graduation. Those honored were Jane Borrowman, Joyce Griggs, Brian Ervin, Karen Beard and Dan Dobbins.
Travis Ryan Puckett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Puckett, celebrated his third birthday May 26 with an outdoor party. Those helping him celebrate were Angie Groom, Brandon Gerard, Jacque and Julie Lierly, Chris and Pat Miller, Mike Myers, Jeromy Smith and Angie McAdams.
25 Years Ago
June 6, 2001
Don Capps and his wife, Patti have opened the Spring Creek Café in Nebo. Capps, a Nebo native and former Quincy Police Chief, has returned to open some businesses in the village. He was a member of the last class to graduate from Nebo High School in 1954.
Terry Oitker, owner of Oitker Ford of Barry is branching out to a Pittsfield location at 804 West Washington Street.
Debbie Van Antwerp, of the Pittsfield Main Street group is trying to preserve the Congregational Church building in Pittsfield, if grant funds can be obtained for the project.
10 Years Ago
June 8, 2016
Utilities remain shut off for three state offices after the city of Pittsfield cut them off due to nonpayment. Water, gas and sewer services were shut off June 1, after months of nonpayment and excuses, according to Mayor John Hayden.
Members of the Pittsfield Fire Department, along with city officials and personnel from USDA, broke ground Tuesday for the city’s new $765,000, five-bay firehouse.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
