Pickings from Pike’s Past

By Editor | July 7, 2026 |

100 YEARS AGO: PERRY SUFFERS FROM DYNAMITE INSTEAD OF FIREWORKS

150 Years Ago
July 6, 1876
The weather is still most unfavorable for farm work, and the rain continuing daily. Farmers’ faces are gradually lengthening at the gloomy prospect before them.
The Centennial Fourth has passed with a great display of patriotism. The tremendous rainfall both before and after daylight threatened to drown out the entire affair, but at about half past ten the sun came out, and all hands went heartily to work to arrange for the procession and other exercises. The Stewart’s Station and Kinderhook bands made most excellent music during the day. Pretty girls in costume to represent each state and a large number of young men dressed in the old Continental style made a very fine and imposing appearance.
The fireworks were very fine and gave general satisfaction. But the great feature of the day was the crowd itself, which far exceeded in numbers the expectations of the most sanguine, and which was remarkable for the general good order that prevailed in it. Nothing of a disorderly character occurred during the day.

125 Years Ago
July 10, 1901
Still no rain, and no prospect as far as mortal man can see, and at 1 p.m. today the various thermometers on the west and south sides of the Pittsfield square registered from 98 to108 in the shade. You can take you choice and still be a warm member of the community.
Fires are reported as an almost daily occurrence in wheatfields along the railroads in the county, and considerable grain has been destroyed, to prevent which, the Burlington RR has a gang of section men follow up their trains on a hand car.
It was a quiet 4th in Pittsfield. Many of our citizens took to the cool woods on the river, or to the hot drinks on the bars of neighboring towns. Those who remained at home watched the thermometer or prayed for rain. During the afternoon the mercury got up to 106 in the shade and the day closed with numerous lawn parties enlivened with patriotic displays of fireworks. [Compilers note: my records show the highest official temp. on July 4 in this area was 105 degrees in 1954, a terribly hot and dry year, which I remember.]
Last Sunday’s observance of communion at the Pittsfield Congregational Church was with great solemnity, to which the introduction of the individual communion cups added not a little. The innovation was received with approval and satisfaction by all. This service is a gift to the church from one who ever has its welfare at heart.
The “hot spell” was broken Saturday night, without thunder, lightning or rain. By morning there was a fall of 20 degrees, and Sunday was a cold day in July.

100 Years Ago
July 7, 1926
It seems certain that Pike County’s biggest celebration of the 4th was at Ocean Trail Park at Florence. The crowd was estimated at 8000-10,000 at various times during the day. Hundreds of people saw the best baseball game of the season. Dave Altizer, famous big-league player, and his Pleasant Hill team lost to the Ocean Trail aggregation in 12 innings by the score of 10-9. The Florence ferry handled all the cars without difficulty.
Opposition to Perry Mayor Fred Bergman’s order prohibiting the shooting of fireworks until the morning of July 4th seems to have brought considerable destruction to Perry. An explosion of dynamite shortly before 5 o’clock on Sunday morning awakened people of the town and did considerable damage. Several window lights and glass doors were shattered at the Charles Liehr store, the Masonic temple, the I.O.O.F. Hall, and the Robert L. Brim store. All that is known at present is that two young men in a Ford had made a getaway before the explosion.
Roy D. Plattner, who rounded out 30 years in business June 10, has added a Studebaker funeral coach to his equipment. It has been 63 years since his father, Andrew Plattner, started his undertaking business in Pittsfield.
On July 4th the El Dara baseball team defeated Pittsfield in Pittsfield by a score of 5 to 3, with all but two of the runs coming in the 9th inning.

75 Years Ago
July 3, 1951
Floyd Yaeger, owner of Floyd’s Jewelry, Pittsfield, has purchased Likes Jewelry in Barry from Ray V. Likes. Mr. Yaeger plans to continue operations of both stores.
Super Food Mart in Pittsfield has Colored Oleo for 33 cents per pound.

July 4, 1951
Final tribute was paid to Perry’s beloved retired merchant, John F. Read, by hundreds of old friends and neighbors Sunday afternoon, July 1, 1951 at the Perry Methodist Church. Memorial services were beautifully conducted by Joe Maynard of Pittsfield, a long-time friend. John Franklin Read was born in Perry in 1882, the son of John A. and Nancy Bradbury Read.

50 Years Ago
July 7, 1976
“O beautiful for spacious skies” rang true Sunday, July 4, as some 600 sang together at the Bicentennial worship service held on the courthouse lawn in Pittsfield, a joint effort of seven local churches and the Bi-Fest Committee. Three generations of Barbers were in the choir: Merle, 82, Chip, a teenager whose father, Chuck, directed the group. In the audience was Mrs. Paul F. Grote, Sr., 93, whose father, William A. Grimshaw, had delivered the Centennial address in 1876. Paul Grote, Jr. spoke briefly. Congressman Paul Findley was the featured speaker.
Many Pike County communities had their own Bicentennial celebrations. In Pearl A. C. Holloway and Son Red and White Store won the trophy for most outstanding float, with Clyde and Dee Holloway and a butcher’s meat block on the float. Julia Hatcher, wife of Mayor Roger Hatcher, won the trophy for the best costume.
In Pleasant Hill Jerry Hoagland, who says he started his beard on March 29, won the prize for neatest beard. No doubt, had there been an Abe Lincoln look-alike contest, Jerry would have won that too.
In the horse shoe pitching contest, Deana Graham, the only woman to enter the event, received a $25 savings bond for her efforts. Winners were Glen Smith, Casper Steinberg, Jerry Hoagland and Merlin Winchell, in that order.
Miss Terri O’Brien, 1975 Pike County Fair Queen, extends a warm welcome to all to enjoy the fun, shows, exhibits and contests at your County Fair, July 12-17 in Pleasant Hill.

25 Years Ago
July 4, 2001
Pike County, along with 12 other counties in the state, has been placed on the “poverty watch list for Illinois.” Per capita income and birth mothers without a high school diploma are two areas that have caused Pike to be placed on the list. Per capita income in Pike was $19,002 in 1998 and the percentage of birth mothers without a high school diploma was 22.5 percent. The state average in 1998 was $29, 853 and 21.8 percent of birth mothers did not finish high school.
In a related story, Stark Brothers Nursery in Louisiana, Mo., closed its doors Friday, laying off hundreds, many of whom were Pike County, Ill. residents.
The Pittsfield Business and Professional Women’s Organization elected officers for the 2001-2002 year. President is Kathie Cawthon, vice president, Ellen Lowe; secretary, Jeanne Howard; and Ann Ferguson, treasurer.

10 Years Ago
July 6, 2016
The rainfall the area received over the weekend was a “game changer for the crops” in Pike and Scott Counties, Blake Roderick, executive director of both counties’ farm bureaus, said by phone Tuesday morning. Most areas received between 2 ½ to 3 inches of rain over a three-day period, which was very helpful to the crops that have been stressed both by heat and drought.
Marge I. (Weir) Zimmerman, age 95 of Pittsfield, passed away June 29 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. She married Vincent Zimmerman in 1941 and he preceded her in death in 2010. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Pittsfield for nearly 80 years, singing in the choir most of that time.
During World War II she was a “riveter” on the tail section of B-17 bombers, being very conscientious about her work, thinking that one of her brothers might have to fly that plane.

■ Compiled by Michael Boren

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