Pickings from Pike’s Past: 10 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD HIGH SCHOOL TO BE AIR-CONDITIONED!
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150 Years Ago
April 22, 1875
We welcome to our newspaper exchange list the Milton Beacon, a new paper just started at Milton in the interest of temperance and reform.
There has never been such a time in our knowledge when so much sickness prevailed in Pittsfield as now, and yet it is almost confined to children. Occasionally a veteran who hadn’t luck enough to have the measles when young is now enjoying that luxury.
The Methodists are building a church in Summer Hill, something long needed. H. Peters is building a mill and Main Street gardens are being turned into building lots. Our energetic and obliging merchant, Lee Anderson, has secured a large stock of goods for the spring trade and has shipped several thousand dozen eggs this spring.
A physician would be welcomed by many in Summer Hill, a genuine one, not one that gives quinine, morphine and calomel. A thorough graduate would receive a warm welcome and a good practice, one like Dr. Hicks of Time, if you please.
125 Years ago
April 25, 1900
The Pittsfield Ministers’ Association was formed last Monday. The ministers of the surrounding country are invited to attend its meetings.
Has it occurred to the reader what a change of pastors there has been in the last few years among the various religious flocks in Pittsfield.? Elder Thrapp, who has recently commenced his third year’s service with the Christian Church, has been longer in ministerial duty here than any other preacher in the city. This spring has witnessed the advent among us of new Baptist, Congregational, Protestant Episcopal, Catholic and Methodist ministers. There have been changes too among the colored divines.
Railroad Station Agent G. S. Pennington this morning paid into the county treasury $10,731 Wabash taxes. Pretty nice little wad wasn’t it?
A fan drill by 10 of the prettiest girls in Pittsfield will be held Friday night at the opera house.
With the closing out of the Caley livery stable, a good livery barn is left vacant, for which Strauss and Bro. would like a renter. The sale of the livery stock drew a large crowd. The black hearse team was purchased by a Mount Sterling man for $198.
We are glad to report that the gentlemen recently elected to the Griggsville town board, although having the offer of $5,000 and $6,000 for the exclusive privilege of opening a saloon in our beautiful city, had the future of our citizens too much at heart to let that be any inducement. Hurrah for Pike County!
100 Years Ago
April 22, 1925
Rev. Homer Brown came near to setting a record when he officiated at three weddings in one day. Five of the six young people had been pupils at churches he had served. In a double wedding he married Morris Day and Mary Elizabeth Mooney, and James Wombles and Faye Reeder. The third ceremony united in marriage Roy Doyle and Nellie Orrill.
Barry is celebrating the completion of finally securing the right of way for route 36 through Pike County.
Robert B. Browne has been re-employed as superintendent of Pittsfield schools, making his fourth year in that position after two years as high school principal.
The Pittsfield Board of Education recently purchased a fine new electric dish washer for the Domestic Science house. The washer was tried out last week and gives entire satisfaction.
Prof. H. C. McCarrell, superintendent of the Nebo schools has chartered a car on the C. & A. for next Friday and will take all of the pupils of the Nebo schools above the 7th grade on a sight-seeing trip to the state capital. Virginia Dinsmore Wall and perhaps others will also accompany the students.
75 Years Ago
April 18, 1950
A chorus of 487 members, the largest since the Pike County Music Festival was organized, presented a fine concert Friday night at Pittsfield High School. The chorus was composed of students from West Pike, Griggsville, Pittsfield, Perry, Pleasant Hill, Milton, Nebo, Barry, Pearl and Hardin High School. The concert was directed by Mr. Henry Busche, member of the MacMurray College faculty.
April 19, 1950
Five-year old John Francis Hittner and Ronnie Rush were playing around an old cistern on North Monroe Street, which was covered only with piece of tin, and Johnny fell in. Kenneth Bonnett, who was unloading lumber from a railroad car nearby, hear screaming and he immediately ran to the scene, jumped into the cistern, holding onto a pipe in it, grabbed the boy and pulled him to safety. Other men arrived and gave Johnny first aid to get rid of the water he had swallowed, and in no time, he was as good as new.
April 20, 1920
Clausen Photo Engraving company invites everyone to attend open house all day Saturday, April 22, at its new building, 221 South Monroe Street. Ten people, including Mr. and Mrs. Gunnar Clausen, are employed in the company.
G. Byron Garrison of Pearl, after 35 years of school teaching, was ordained Saturday night at an impressive ceremony at the Christian Church in Pearl. Mr. Garrison was head of the Pearl schools for 25 years. Rev. Joe Maynard of Pittsfield was in charge of the ordination services.
50 Years Ago
April 23, 1975
Expenses of the Pittsfield Unit 10 athletic program for the current school year to date have exceeded receipts by more than two and a-half times. This was revealed in a report submitted to the board at its meeting last week by athletic director Dale Willard. In defense of the athletic program, Willard said nearly 1000 students are involved, covering 9 different sports at PHS alone. Board Chairman Johnson Stillwell said that considering the number served, the program was “darned reasonable.” At the meeting Stillwell was also re-elected to his seventh consecutive term as president of the Unit 10 Board of Education.
The drive-up window at Griggsville’s Farmers National Bank was opened for business, without a traffic snarl, last Friday morning, marking another phase of the bank’s renovation and building expansion program.
Come to Ideal Hardware’s 17th Anniversary Sale April 24-25-26. Take 17 steps up to our new Garden Room.
Karl William Meisenbach of rural Pearl died unexpectedly Friday, April 18 in Illini Hospital. He was born in Pike County in 1903 and married Katherine Vance in 1938 and she survives. He taught school and farmed in Pike County and was secretary of the Pike County Farm Bureau for nearly 40 years.
25 Years Ago
April 19, 2000
The Pike United Christians will sponsor the seventh county-wide Easter celebration this weekend. Jeff Korte has portrayed Jesus in each of the presentations. Does he find it challenging? “Absolutely,” responded Korte, “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it when you see the results.”
Casteel Color Wheel, Spoke of the Wheel, Casteel’s Inspiration Corner will be celebrating its 50th anniversary April 28 and 29. Employees, pictured with owner, Carolyn Casteel, are Matt Sealock, Debbie Roseberry, Barbara Hall, Marilyn Shields, Tracy Davis and Ermadel Capps.
10 Years Ago
April 22, 2015
Pike County and more specifically, Pittsfield, got an economic shot in the arm Monday morning with the announcement that ACE Hardware will be building a facility in Pittsfield. The 15,000 square foot building will be built slightly southwest of the present County Market near where the Pike County Sale Barn used to sit. Construction will hopefully be started this summer with the store open by fall.
The Pikeland School Board approved the sale of $1,350,000 in working cash bonds at the April 15 meeting. Superintendent Paula Hawley explained that all the bond money would go toward the upgrades and air conditioning at the high school and the elementary school.
Sheldon Howland is pictured holding up the half-dollar showing “heads” as he won the tie-breaker last Wednesday in the office of County Clerk Donnie Apps. Howland and Kenny Hubbard both received 28 votes in the April 7 election, forcing a coin flip to determine who will be a trustee on the Nebo village board.
Compiled by Michael Boren
