Pickings from Pike’s Past: 50 YEARS AGO: RURAL WATER DISTRICT BEING FORMED IN PIKE COUNTY
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150 Years Ago
June 12, 1875
The weather is still cold with much rain. The Mississippi River is about bank full and slowly falling.
A grand Sunday School picnic came off Thursday in Pittsfield and there was a procession with a brass band at the head reaching nearly half way around the square as it started for the grove. All the youngsters were happy and had a delightful time with all manner of plays and pastimes.
125 Years Ago
June 13, 1900
Plenty of rain, if not too much, all around the county and crops are growing finely. We had a big rain last night with much thunder and lightning, and today is very threatening.
Now that the census enumerator is in the field it is everybody’s business to stand up and be counted. Dr. J. D. Scott of Time is hustling around as a census enumerator.
Miss A. B. Porter, a pretty bunch of femininity who travels for a Chicago brush concern, was here last week on her wheel. She is a noted bicycle rider, has 21 century bars to her credit and had held the world’s 100-mile mark for seven years. She wore a short skirt and a snub nose and took dinner at the Mansion House.
The fifth annual commencement of the schools of Pike County will be held July 3 in the circuit court room.
100 Years Ago
June 10, 1925
Pittsfield and Pike Country are planning a tribute to John Hay and John G. Nicolay on June 24th, at which time a splendid bronze tablet, set in a native granite boulder will be unveiled in the southwest corner of the courthouse park, near the spot where Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas spoke in the memorable campaign of 1858.
Rev. W. H. Hill’s Ford coupe was stolen from the street in front of the Congregational Church during the picture show Friday night. It was found abandoned north of Kinderhook, with the key, spare tire and tools all missing. It is believed that the parties that stole the vehicle were headed to Hannibal and ran out of gas.
Soda water is made fresh daily at the Pittsfield Bottling Works. We have Grape, Cherry, Howdy, Strawberry, Cream, Lemon, Ginger Ale, Sarsaparilla, Green River, Banana, Peach, Root Beer and King Kola.
The June 10, 1025 Pike County Republican included news from The Hull Enterprise, The Pearl Broad-Axe, The Baylis Guide, The Barry Adage, The Pleasant Hill Messenger, The Perry Citizen, The Griggsville Press, The New Canton Press and The Nebo Banner.
A beautiful bathing beach is to be opened at Florence, with all conveniences for enjoyable water sports. Experienced life guards will be on patrol at all times and shallow water has been fenced off for the children.
75 Years Ago
June 6, 1950
Lyn and Linda Ator are the three-year-old twins of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Ator. They celebrated their birthdays May 30 with a dinner at their home west of town. Pictured with them is their brother Estell Wayne, who was four his last birthday.
Pleasant Hill High School graduated 29 seniors this year, 12 boys and 17 girls. Several of the class are from Calhoun County.
June 7, 1950
Larry Lee Ruble celebrated his third birthday May 17. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Ruble of Nebo.
June 8, 1950
Pike County is in for a jolt. Preliminary figures indicate that our population has declined around 3000 from the 1940 count of 25,340.
Pittsfield Unit 10 is selling five country schools at auction June 30. The schools are New Union, Greenfield, Pleasant Hill, Byerton and Cross Roads.
One of Pike County’s most promising new industries, Trio Manufacturing Company of Griggsville, is this week marketing a brand-new television antenna that has the exceptional ability to reject unwanted signals on the same frequency.
Make Bueter’s ButterKrust your daily bread.
50 Years Ago
June 11, 1975
Something new in rural development is taking place in the southwest part of Pike County. It’s the formation of a water district. Archie Wells of Rockport is chairman and Bob Robertson is vice chairman. Other trustees, all appointed by the County Board, are Clark Shinn, Philip Green, Wayne Ator, William H. McCartney, and Charles Harter. Art Ator, not a member of the board, is the secretary and William Lowry is the district’s attorney. Their hope is to provide an adequate supply of pure water for the area that includes Rockport, Atlas, Summer Hill, New Hartford and Pike Station.
Youth and enthusiasm, experience and training identify Pittsfield’s three new appointments to the police department. They are Glenn R. (Rick) Orr, Robert Yelliott and David W. Ealey.
David M. Parks, son of Mrs. Jane M. Parks and the late Donald Parks of rural Milton, received his Ph D degree in engineering June 2 from Brown University, Providence, R.I.
25 Years Ago
June 7, 2000
This year’s Relay for Life will be held in Perry. The Grand Marshals will be Glenna Hillman a 38-year cancer survivor, Pauline Gerard, a 13-year cancer survivor and Dryden Craven, who is still undergoing treatments for acute lymphatic leukemia, but has gotten along very well since he was diagnosed in April, 1998.
Jane Moore Parks, 77 of Milton, died early Friday morning at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield. Julia Jane Moore was the daughter of the late Rex Weller and Opal Lynn Dossett Moore of Cisco, Texas. She married Donald I. Parks on Sept. 13, 1947 in Cisco, and he preceded her in death, Dec. 10, 1966. Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Michael Boren of Pittsfield; one son and daughter-in-law, David Parks and wife Judith of Pembroke, Mass.; five grandchildren, Zachary, Braxton and Spencer Boren, all of Pittsfield and Andrew and Timothy Parks of Pembroke, Mass.
Ken D. and Dorothy Renoud of rural Pleasant Hill are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today, June 7. The couple was married June 7, 1975 in Barry. Dorothy is the daughter of the late Kenneth and Laura Lynch of Rockport. Ken is the son of Keith and Carlene Renoud of Barry.
10 Years Ago
June 10, 2015
With a 60 percent chance of rain predicted for Saturday, the Nancy Ross Chapter of the D.A.R. assisted by the Lincoln Project, has revised the schedule of a program to be held Saturday to honor all veterans. Kathy Zimmerman, who is helping coordinate the event, says that it will take place in the big blue and white tent on the courthouse lawn. Local historian and Vietnam veteran, Michael Boren will address the crowd at 3:50 p.m., followed by a special recognition of all Vietnam veterans.
Both the Barry and Pittsfield American Legion Posts, which have spectacular displays of flags for patriotic holidays, had damage over Memorial Day weekend, attributed to the rain, followed by strong winds.
Compiled by Michael Boren
