Pickings from Pike’s Past

By Editor | June 23, 2026 |

150 YEARS AGO: PITTSFIELD BUYS A CANNON FOR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

150 Years Ago
June 22, 1876
There is music in the air, but nothing to what there’ll be on the 4th. Pittsfield has bought a cannon to belch forth freely on the 4th. Everybody is coming to Pittsfield on the 4th.
Dr. Henry Hatch of Griggsville has removed to New Salem where he will devote himself in the future to the practice of his profession.
We mentioned in our last the change of the name of our post office and station from Stewart to Strout, but Mr. Bush of the Democrat seems to think it is Straut, but as we saw the name on the papers from Washington, we are sure it is Strout.
We have a new school house in the Strout district that has just been completed at the cost of $550. John Clark of Nebo is engaged to teach the winter school and is highly recommended wherever he goes. We also need a blacksmith in Strout very badly.
The Centennial celebration to be held at Pittsfield on the Fourth of July has great promise of success. The Strout band will start from here at 3 A.M. and reach Time at 6 A.M. Those who wish to join the procession to Pittsfield will meet them there, or fall in along the line of travel.

125 Years Ago
June 26, 1901
The late rains have improved the meadows much, but the hay crop will be light. The thermometer is working overtime these days when it starts at 80 degrees at 7 o’clock a.m. and gets up as it did yesterday afternoon to 100 degrees and apparently didn’t half try. It has been doing that kind of business for several days. [Compiler’s note: Our record high for June 26 is 105 in 1954. I remember that very hot summer!]
Merle Barber, while doing a little rough riding Monday afternoon, was thrown from his horse and badly bruised, but nothing more serious than a dislocated arm resulted from the accident.
Last Saturday night we were threatened with a cyclone, but it turned out to be simply a tornado with much rain, wind, thunder and lightning, and knocked things about quite lively here.
The measles still keeps up its busy rounds and every youngster would seem bound to get his share.
The Forest Park area of 688 acres in St. Louis and 450 acres adjoining, have been selected for the World’s Fair site.
In the final distribution of political plums, the state administration has passed out a few crab apples to the “Old Guard” of Pike County. Tim Laughlin is placed as teamster at the deaf and dumb institute in Jacksonville at $25 per month; Eugene T. Cook goes to the same place as engineer at a salary of $600 a year, with board and washing thrown in.”

100 Years Ago
June 23, 1926
The Devine Construction Company is completing the 12-block paving project in Pittsfield. Early in July the entire 12 blocks will be open. Some of the biggest payers on the square were L. D. Hirsheimer, Henry Bush, F. O. Zimmerman, F. M. Lewis and Strauss and Bro.
Frank O. Zimmerman’s lot at the corner of East Washington and Jackson Street will be a fine location for another modern service station on the Ocean to Ocean Highway through Pittsfield. He will tear down the former Christian Science church building, and erect the station on the south end of the lot and a five-room modern bungalow on the north end.

75 Years Ago
June 19, 1951
The Mississippi Valley Christian Service Camp located at Rock Hill, just off the gravel road between Pearl and Nebo, will be the scene Saturday of a rally for the young people of Western Illinois and Eastern Missouri. Everyone is welcome to attend.
William Gard of New Canton has been employed as assistant manager to Claire Gaffney of the Pike County Service Company at a recent board meeting in Pittsfield.
There are still ten vacancies for Pike County 4-H campers at the Western Illinois 4-H Camp, July 30 to August 4. Many improvements have been made at the campsite. Five days camping costs eleven dollars.
A son, John Harrison, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ned Foote at Illini Hospital Tuesday. The grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Homer Boren and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Foote, all of Nebo. The new arrival is the first grandson of the Footes. The other grandchildren are Helen Foote and Beth and Nancy Mortland, and now Harry is going to have to get a new hat, for his old one is too small for his head.

June 21, 1951
The Pike County Dental Society has approved the fluoridation of community water supplies in Pike County.
Ralph “Pat” Cunningham has purchased the Cardinal Inn from Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Curley. The Curleys have operated the restaurant for the past five years. They began management when the Cardinal Inn was located in the building now occupied by Pittsfield Moose Lodge. Three years ago they leased the present Cardinal Inn building from Ed Lowry. Cunningham says the restaurant will continue to operate around the clock.

50 Years Ago
June 23, 1976
Pearl will have Bicentennial celebrations on 3 and 4 July. Contact Julia Hatcher for information on the parade.
Singers from Barry and surrounding communities are planning to perform the Bicentennial cantata, “I Love America” Sunday June 27, 7:30 p.m. at the Barry High School gym. Tom Morgan, Barry High School band instructor, will direct the community chorus.
Teresa Ann Chamberlain of Nebo and Dennis Dean Wade of Pittsfield exchanged marriage vows June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Christian Church in Nebo. Rev. Steve Revisky officiated the double ring ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Cleve Curry provided piano, organ and violin music. Mrs. Jack Kirk was vocalist. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Chamberlain of RR Nebo and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Dean Wade of Pittsfield. Mrs. Jerry Webster of Pleasant Hill was matron of honor and Fred Ruzich of Pittsfield served as best man.
The possibility of an all-weather athletic track at Pittsfield High School, financed totally by private donations, was discussed briefly at last week’s Unit 10 school board meeting. The subject was introduced by Athletic Director Dale Willard.
Melissa Ellen Wood, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Wood, of Pittsfield, celebrated her third birthday, June 16 with a party at her home.

25 Years Ago
June 20, 2001
“Free Frank” McWorter’s legendary town, New Philadelphia, may be rebuilt. Phil Bradshaw, president of the New Philadelphia Association presided over the annual meeting, June 16, at the Red Dome in Pittsfield in front of a packed house of more than 50 people.
More than 30 photographers and 20 models gathered in Pike County at Harpole’s Heartland Lodge June 1-3 to participate in James T. Smith’s second annual “Hit the Lodge” photography and modeling workshop.
Ryan S. Lowe of Pleasant Hill was conferred a bachelor of science degree in physical education during the 150th commencement at MacMurray College in Jacksonville May 27. Lowe is the son of Steven T. and Ellen E. Lowe of Pleasant Hill and is a 1997 graduate of Pittsfield High School. A letter winner as tight end on the MacMurray Highlanders football team, Lowe was a second-team all-conference honoree and a USA Football All-American honorable mention.

10 Years Ago
June 22, 2016
With the deadline for brick sales in the Pittsfield Fire Department fundraiser just eight days away, the department is pushing to get the last few available bricks sold. Jason White, PFD chief, said that DOT Foods, Delford Richter and Carolyn Casteel have all purchased $10,000 bricks and that bricks costing $5000 have been purchased by Pikeland Motors, Illini/Blessing Hospital, Thomas Farms, Casey’s General Stores and Jennifer Niebur. White said, “We have sold 155 smaller bricks, but we are still about $80,000 short of our goal of $200,000.”

■ Compiled by Michael Boren

Posted in News