Pickings from Pike’s Past
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75 YEARS AGO: PLEASANT HILL UPSETS SAUKEES 14-12 AT DEDICATION GAME FOR PLEASANT HILL FOOTBALL FIELD
150 Years Ago
Nov. 4, 1875
The ladies of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Pittsfield will give an entertainment on the evening of Thursday at Bush’s Hall, at which the appetite may be satisfied with an oyster supper, or turkey, or other supper as the hungry may desire. Admission and supper 50 cents.
Thomas Dilworth laid upon our table four magnificent sweet potatoes, each large enough for a meal—if too many were not present thereat.
The accounts of heavy hog losses on the west side of the county are numerous. Hogs at Chicago are selling at $6.50 – $8; cattle $4 – $6.50.
125 Years Ago
Nov. 7, 1900
Oh what glorious weather! Dr. Duffield told us yesterday of having green corn for dinner that day and has more of it ripening in his garden. J. G. Willsey had ripe tomatoes and green beans from his garden, and some chap smacked his lips over the nice mess of mustard greens he had the day before.
The vote for Pittsfield on the head of the tickets was as follows: For Democrat William Jennings Bryan 491; for Republican William McKinley 330. We hear of several persons who are willing to sell their votes at from $10 down to $2. Anyone so low and degrading should not be allowed to vote at all.
Do you want a good lunch for 15 cents? Come to the chrysanthemum show.
To their everlasting credit be it said that the boys of Atlas didn’t do any mischief on Halloween.
100 Years Ago
Nov. 4, 1925
The Pittsfield City Council voted to pave 12 blocks after 64 per cent of property owners have agreed to pay costs based on the frontage of their property.
Thousands of barrels of apples were ruined by a hard freeze. The loss will be about $3 a barrel.
The New Canton Methodist Church is working on raising a budget of about $1,660, of which $1,300 is to be the minister’s salary.
For the first time since the World War, Illinois has an adequate supply of school teachers.
Radio fans in Pittsfield who tuned in for Columbia, Mo. Monday night, had the pleasure of hearing Pittsfield girl, Evelyn Ransom, give several piano selections. Miss Ransom is a student at Christian College this year. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Ransom of South Madison. She is a graduate of Pittsfield High School and a former student of Prof. Joseph Shastid of Pittsfield.
75 Years Ago
Oct. 31, 1950
The folks around Pleasant Hill are still wearing smiles a mile wide, and with good reason. Pleasant Hill’s upset victory over Pittsfield Friday night couldn’t have come at a better moment—that is, from Pleasant Hill’s viewpoint. The south county boys stopped the Saukees 14-12 before a record crowd of at least 1,500. Before the game began, Ray W. Hanson of Western State Teachers’ College at Macomb, made a talk, dedicating the newly lighted football field.
Pittsfield Mayor Charles A. Hooper reports that the new street resurfacing, embracing some 20 blocks and which are being changed to a form of macadam black top, similar to new surfacing in Griggsville and Barry, is being completed today.
Nov. 1, 1950
Leaf and brush fires broke out on the bluffs above Rockport Friday and has been burning sporadically ever since in spots for three miles along the bluffs. The fire threatened several houses and the Christian Church in Rockport Friday night, when volunteers were called out twice to set backfires and fight the blaze with wet sacks. Most of Rockport depends on cisterns for its water supply, and due to the dry weather, all of them are dry or nearly so. All of the water came from three or four wells in the town.
Nov. 2, 1950
The English Dry Goods Store in Pittsfield has been newly remodeled, and will have a gala celebration Friday and Saturday. Bernice M. Zimmerman and Martha L. Deans are the owners.
Robert Estil Clark was two years old September 14 and his younger brother, Richard Wayne, will be one year old Oct. 31.
The new grade school of the West Pike school district in Hull is nearing completion. It is part of a $500,000 building program in the district.
50 Years Ago
Nov. 5, 1975
Pike Countians are taking advantage of the educational opportunities offered by John Wood Community College. Nearly 24 percent of JWCC’s total enrollment are from Pike. Total enrollment is 651; of these, 154 are residents of Pike County. The totals include both regular day students attending the so-called common market colleges, as well as those enrolled in the Project Outreach courses held in district communities.
Dr. Edward Brokaw of Corvallis, Ore. Is a new faculty member at Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Tex. He is assistant professor of agriculture. The 1967 graduate of Pittsfield High School is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gawain Brokaw of Pleasant Hill. He is married to the former Janice Hammitt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hammitt of Pittsfield.
25 Years Ago
Nov. 1, 2000
If the weather cooperates the Martinsburg/Pittsfield road should be open to traffic by the end of the week. “We’re priming it today,” said Charles Ingersoll, county engineer. In addition to re-surfacing, the project involved re-routing the road to avoid two sharp curves and a narrow bridge.
Eighth grader Eddie White, son of Bev and Jim White sold the most tickets for the raffle at the Pleasant Hill Halloween Carnival. Eddie has been the top seller each year since he was in kindergarten. Way to go Eddie!
Pittsfield Main Street is sponsoring an informational meeting Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Community Center. The chairmen of the Main Street committees are Kay Sealock, Sally Ward, Sally Bowers and Deb Van Antwerp.
The Pike County Progressive Democrats held a dance Saturday night, and awarded 38 prizes totaling $4,800. The grand prize of $2,000 was awarded to Mike Irving.
10 Years Ago
Nov. 4, 2015
The Richard L. Gray Perpetual Trust broke ground for the new county animal shelter Thursday afternoon. The new shelter will be built next to the site of the existing shelter, which it will replace, near the Pittsfield water treatment plant. Costing an estimated $670,000, according to a Gray Trust press release, the new approximately 3,200 square foot shelter will include separate housing and exam rooms for cats and dogs, a grooming room, office space for staff and volunteers and other amenities.
Eli Ten Eyck was unable to do his best at the Illinois High School cross country sectional on a rainy day at the Lane Country Club in Elmwood. Testing following the race now has him wearing an air cast.
■ Compiled by Michael Boren
