Pickings from Pike’s Past: 75 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD TO GET A TRAFFIC LIGHT!
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150 Years Ago
Feb. 11, 1875
The weather has been in the main quite cold during the past week. Tuesday night there was a very heavy fall of dry sleet, followed up with a good deal of snow and at night the sleighing was excellent.
We in Griggsville are not reliably informed as to what the traditional groundhog did on Feb. 2nd, but we are very much inclined to believe that he went back into his hole and pulled the hole in after him.
The Thomas H. Dimmitt farm 3 miles southeast of Griggsville, containing 214 acres, sold for almost $75 an acre, showing that land in this township is valuable.
The Milton Christian Church has engaged the services of Elder Lucas for the coming year. Altogether the church has been somewhat dilatory in this matter, yet it has not acted without discretion. If the elder’s zeal does not weaken before the year is out, we shall look for quite a revolution in the church.
Our Milton postmaster is making efforts for the establishment of a daily mail from this place to Pearl Station via Montezuma and Bedford, but we have little hopes of success.
125 Years Ago
Feb. 14, 1900
The heavy rain last Wednesday washed ditches down the middle of some roads, making it almost impossible to get through with a rig. The weather has been quite cold the last two or three days and now it is snowing this morning.
How many valentines have you received and how do you like them? A novel and interesting valentine sociable was given Monday evening by the Pittsfield Christian Church at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. George Barber. Little Merle Barber made a charming cupid and presided over the table where the valentines were sold.
Some of the young gentlemen of the vicinity of Clover School have proved themselves successful hunters by killing 55 rabbits in one day. This will save many a fruit tree and blackberry briar.
Everyone attending the Washington birthday celebration at the K. P. opera house next week is requested to appear in colonial costume.
100 Years Ago
Feb. 11, 1925
Edgar D. Glandon was re-elected president of the Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce.
The Brun-Mill aid society is one year old. Each member has paid 30 cents a month into the society and will receive $5 a week for six weeks in case of sickness or disability.
Charles Shadel, 85-year-old pioneer businessman of Pittsfield, died Feb. 10 at his home. He was born in Germany in 1840 and learned the butcher’s trade there, and came to Pittsfield in 1871. He sold his butcher business to Williams and Austin at the time of his retirement.
The Zimmerman Garage is headquarters for radio satisfaction. First, because we sell Atwater Kent Radio, which has no peer in workmanship, materials or performance—and secondly because we thoroughly instruct the purchaser in the fine points of its operation.
The Red and Black if Pittsfield High went to Griggsville last Tuesday night and defeated Griggsville High with a score of 16 to 9. Last Friday night the Red and Black defeated the blue and yellow of Barry at the local gym by a score of 15 to 14. The game started with a bang and was fast and furious throughout.
A contract has been drawn whereby the First National and Minier State Banks of Nebo will consolidate and hereafter do business under the name of the First National Bank of Nebo.
75 Years Ago
Feb. 7, 1950
M. D. King Milling Co. has been issued a permit to build four 120-foot, silo-type elevators on property adjacent to the milling plant.
Olliver A. McCann, tenth son of Washington J. and Laura Farrah McCann, was born near Milton Dec. 22, 1871 and departed this life Feb. 4, 1950, being at the time, 78 years of age. He was a member of the river family from which John Hay was said to have drawn his famous character of Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle in his Pike County Ballads.
This is Zimmerman Bros. 25th year with Frigidaire and they are showing the new 1950 models this week.
Feb. 8, 1950
Pittsfield won a fast and furious basketball battle from Jacksonville High here last night 53-46.
Death came to Harry Branch, veteran contractor and builder of Pittsfield Friday night at Illini Hospital. Mr. Branch was 79 and until last fall was actively engaged in the work he loved—that of building. Friday a large crowd attended the “John Deere Field Day” held at the Milton gym by the Hoover Bros. Implement Store.
Feb. 9, 1950
Installation of a four-way traffic light at the intersection of Washington and Madison streets at the southwest corner of the square, which has been under consideration for some time, was definitely determined by the city council Tuesday night. The city will buy the light and do the installation, all costs to come later out of the city’s motor fuel tax apportionment as it becomes available.
50 Years Ago
Feb. 12, 1975
Earl S. Grigsby, executive vice president of the Farmers State Bank of Pittsfield and lifelong resident of the community, died Feb. 8, 1975 at Illini Hospital.
By a vote of seven to one, with one board member absent, the Pike County Board last Friday selected Gregory L. Kelly, 22, of Quincy, to fill the $13,000 per year position of county supervisor of assessments. He made the top score in the Jan. 20 examination taken by 14 applicants.
Abraham Lincoln was famous as a rail splitter. Two young men of Pike County, Robert E. Evans and Jay Leahy, owners and operators of the Pike County Split Rail Co. at Pearl are splitting rails with a pressure-driven cylinder. Evans devised it with the aid of Anderson and Zumwalt Welding. Lafe Ramsey is the manager of the rail splitting operation.
In spite of very cold weather the attendance at the Milton Christian Church last Sunday was: Sunday School 88; morning worship 112; evening service 70.
Rev. Wallace H. Robinson, pastor of the First Christian Church of Pittsfield since November, will deliver the sermon in the first of a series of Ecumenical Lenten services sponsored by the Christian Church, United Methodist and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The executive board of the newly-formed aviation club in Pike County consists of Greg Carnes, president; Debbie Godfrey, secretary and members Kim Curry, David Englemann and Rex Fenton.
25 Years Ago
Feb. 9, 2000
The Pittsfield Saukees made history Saturday as eight wrestlers won regional action advancing the team and 13 individuals to sectional action in the class A boys tournament. The eight winners were Nic Evanson, Jaron Moss, Hayden Bonds, Jason Moss, Tyler Herron, Matt Henry, Michael Terpstra and Jason Butler, who won his fourth regional championship. Other team members are Patrick Dodd, Adam Ghrist, Travis Helkey, Josh Ottwell, William Grote, Marcus Crowder, Doug White and Billy Lipcamon. They are coached by Jon Frieden and Erik Anderson.
The PHS Scholastic Bowl team won the Pike County Conference tournament at Griggsville, defeating Pleasant Hill, Payson-Seymour, Griggsville/Perry and Payson. Team members are Josh Ottwell (captain), Doug White, Matt Booker, Billy Cammack, Jaime Bunn, Ryan Lawber, Tim Blacketer, Kent Frere, Adam Hyde, Lisa Bowman, Heather Reeder and Jason Moss. They are coached by Michael Boren.
10 Years Ago
Feb. 11, 2015
Illini Community Hospital unveiled its newly constructed consulting physicians facility Thursday afternoon. It has been named the Casteel Center in honor of Jean and Carolyn Casteel in light of the couple’s longstanding and continued contributions to the community.
Pike County lost an icon Monday morning as the former Cardinal Inn was torn down as part of plans to build a new convenience store. The Cardinal Inn was begun by Don Claus in 1930 at the current site of the Pittsfield Moose Lodge. Ed Lowry built the second building on West Washington in 1948. Carl and Luetta Swartz purchased that building in 2002, and Luetta moved the Cardinal Inn to 1299 West Washington last fall.
Compiled by Michael Boren
