The Blade

07/31/2024

130 Years Ago
July 28, 1894
Rev. Dr. Dillon arrived in Fairbury this week and will take charge of the St. John's Church of this place and the Strawn church also.
The trustees of Livingston Lodge No. 290, I. O. O. F., closed a deal on Wednesday by which they come into possession of the Duell Livery Barn and an unoccupied strip of ground between that and Mapel Bros. building. Possession will be given in October and although nothing definite has been arranged as yet, it is under contemplation to erect a two-story building, 50x120 feet, covering the entire space between the Henderson & Eddy building and Mapel Bros. The price paid Mr. Duell was $4,200.
Tuesday the neighboring city of Chenoa was the scene of one of the most destructive fires in its history. Thirty-two business houses were destroyed, the loss being estimated at $300,000.
The Fairbury baseball nine crossed bats with Piper City Tuesday; score, 16 to 11 in favor of Fairbury.

120 Years Ago
July 29, 1904
Keep your hair light by exposing it to the sun as many hours each week as you possibly can. Soda or borax will keep it light, but they are not the best shampoos, as they make the hair brittle. A good tonic is made of one pint bay rum, one ounce castor oil, one drachm tincture cantharides, one drachm carbonate ammonia. Use three times a week at first, gradually lessening. Try egg shampoos.
Chatsworth for many years has celebrated the last Thursday in August to commemorate the deeds of the early pioneers of this section of the country. So far nothing has been heard of any preparation whatever for that event.
The merchants of Forrest have raised a large amount of money for their Forrest Day celebration this year. A number of the best vaudeville teams will give free performances on the street. There will be all sorts of races for good prizes, and a balloon ascension by Prof. Tomilson. Two games of ball will be played – Forrest vs. Gridley in the morning and Forrest vs. Union Giants of Chicago in the afternoon. Burch's band will provide the music.
On Sunday, July 31st and August 7th the Wabash will run a special train to Pontiac Chautauqua, leaving Fairbury at 8:40 a.m. and returning, leave Pontiac at 10:00 p.m. Fare, 35 cents.

110 Years Ago
July 31, 1914
Frank Ford arrived in Fairbury on Wednesday evening from his trip to Belgium and France. While there he purchased 20 head of horses which were shipped to Parker, S. D.
Joe Kelso, Clark Hanks and Clayton Ward left last Friday for Redwood Falls, Minn., where they will assist in harvesting the big crops in that vicinity.
The barn on the Benjamin Cumpston farm, near the Cumpston sandpit, burned down Monday evening. The barn was used by Edward Cumpston.
F. E. Milligan this week leased the J. W. Woods building and will take possession tomorrow. Mr. Milligan will move his stock of furniture from his present location in the Babcock building to his newly acquired location.

100 Years Ago
July 25, 1924
Miss Jessie Brady, who is enjoying her annual vacation, was hostess on Wednesday evening at her home west of Fairbury, to the Soap Bubble Club, of Rathbun's Inc., of Pontiac. About eighteen members of the club motored to her home, which was beautifully decorated with flowers of the season and Japanese lanterns inside of the house and on the lawn. An elaborate course dinner was served, after which the evening was spent with music, games and cards.
Harry Foster, proprietor of the Men's Shop, is closing out his business and early in August will go to Chicago, where he has accepted a position in the clothing department of John T. Shayne company. Mr. Foster is one of Fairbury's most progressive young business men and has built up a fine business with his Men's Shop.
Pontiac Leader — A post-nuptial dinner tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Junior Meeks resulted disastrously late last evening when the Ford coupe in which they were returning from Fairbury turned over in the ditch along the public highway near the Eggenberger farm south of this city, severely injuring Mrs. Meeks. Just as they passed the Eggenberger farm the lights on the Meeks car went out, causing Mr. Meeks to miss the jog in the road. As a result the car went into the ditch and turned turtle, the weight of the car resting on the top. Mrs. Meeks was cut about the head and her body was bruised. Both wheels on the right side of the coupe were crushed.

90 Years Ago
July 27, 1934
The old swimming hole at the Munz sandpit, came near being the scene of another tragedy on Tuesday evening. Van Popejoy and his three-year-old son Jerry, who reside at Cropsey, had come to the pit to enjoy a swim in the "cooling" water. Mr. Popejoy was swimming around with his son sitting upon his back when the child moved too far forward and made it impossible for Mr. Popejoy to keep his head above water. He was at first noticed to be struggling and then both he and the child sank beneath the surface. M. W. Kruger, of Forrest, succeeded in rescuing the child, while Harry Bach, with the assistance of Mrs. Bach, dragged Mr. Popejoy to shore. Both Mr. Popejoy and the boy were filled with water and unconscious when pulled out and it took several minutes of resuscitation work before they began to show signs of life.
Walter Hetherington suffered an injury to his right knee in an accident in the Co-operative Coal Company's mine yesterday morning. He was engaged in hauling coal from the place it is mined to the base of the shaft, and in the dim light, he thought the car track was clear, but learned a bit late that there were other cars on the rails and in the collision which resulted, the knee received a bump which causes him to limp considerably. The pony which he was driving was also slightly injured.
Gibson Courier — Francis Ashley, of Gibson City, Virgil Munz and Raymond Weaver, of Fairbury, flew to Racine, Wis., in Ashley's airplane Saturday morning, where Pilot Ashley participated in the air classic. He took first prize in the bomb dropping contest, fourth in the spot landing contest, and carried quite a number of passengers. The trio returned to Chicago Monday morning, where they stayed and visited friends until Tuesday evening. The trip home was made in 45 minutes.

80 Years Ago
July 28, 1944
Miss Frieda Freese, who has been superintendent of nurses at the Fairbury Hospital the past nine months, has tendered her resignation to the hospital board. Miss Freese has been very much interested in the hospital work and has given it her best efforts. She is undecided as to her plans for the future, but is returning tomorrow to her home near Roanoke. A number of social affairs have been given for her the past week.
Gene Spence, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Spence, fell out of a tree at the Fred Haase home last Saturday morning and broke his left arm just above the wrist. To make things a little more complicated for Gene, he is left-handed.
A fire Monday night, about 10:30 o'clock, badly damaged the front room of John Joda Post, American Legion, and the contents of that part of their quarters were burned almost completely. The Fairbury Fair Association was using the Legion rooms as the secretary's office for two weeks preceding the fair and some of the filled-out entry blanks were destroyed. However, Secretary George Decker says they can be replaced. The fire in the Legion room was discovered by Mrs. E. H. Klitzing, who was in an automobile parked across the street west of the Legion building. This is the second bad fire members of John Joda Post have had since they have been in their present quarters. On the morning of February 24, 1929, a fire, starting in the kitchen in the rear part of the building, did damage of three or four thousand dollars.

70 Years Ago
July 29, 1954
To those who are hunting a place to live in the Fairbury-Forrest vicinity, it may seem that there are no houses in either town. There are houses, old, new and in-between. There are houses built for owner occupancy and, hard to believe though it may be, some are being built for rental purposes. Houses to rent are as scarce as the proverbial hen's teeth. Don't misunderstand, there are good houses being rented, but they are always rented, never 'for rent.' Those who are building good 2 and 3 bedroom houses for rental purposes are certainly deserving of community wide approval.
Moto Polo proved as thrilling as it had been claimed Tuesday night. Those present for the novel event found plenty of thrills as the highly mobile cars pushed the giant ball back and forth along the track, and sometimes ended up turning over. The showing was the first for Central Illinois. The attraction was originated in California. Scores were made by advancing the gigantic 7-foot rubber ball through the goals. Head-on crashes, cars flying into the air, rolling over and at times crawling up over the ball, result from the spirited action.
Joseph Gaug has rented an office in The Blade building for his tailor shop. Mr. Gaug, who has been conducting his tailoring business in his home on W. Elm Street, plans to move Aug. 15 into the office formerly occupied by Dr. D. H. Johnston. Blade building offices are now filled by Roy E. Taylor, Dr. H. N. Leonard, Mr. Gaug and D. Marvin Huette.

60 Years Ago
July 30, 1964
With the corn as tall as it is, a dangerous rural hazard presents itself. So many country intersections are hazardous because of the corn obstructing their view. Extra caution can be stressed, but if farmers would top off about 12 to 15 rows of corn in a triangle, it would give much better visibility and safety. One local accident has already occurred from lack of visibility at a corner. This could be just the first of many. Most farmers are concerned with safety but don't want to go so far as cutting the corn off the corners. At this late date, no harm would be done to the corn as long as it is cut just above the ears.
Final approval was given plans for the new Helen Lewis Smith Memorial Pavilion for Fairbury Hospital when board members met Tuesday afternoon with architect John Geiger. The $400,000 wing will add 23 beds capacity to the hospital, and is designed as a convalescent wing for elderly patients. Money for the project was a bequest of the late Helen Lewis Smith, former Fairbury resident, who died two years ago in California.
A huge chunk of a corn crib at the George Broquard farm was chewed up by the propellor of an aircraft at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Pilot Merle Wieland attempted to land at Broquard field, but overshot the strip. As he pulled the craft back into the air, the ship stalled into the corn crib. No serious injuries resulted, although the $14,000 plane is a total loss.

50 Years Ago
August 1, 1974
The crop picture for many Livingston County farmers is about to reach the critical stage. Two weeks ago, extension adviser William McNamara said two inches of rain and ideal growing temperatures were needed to salvage this year's crops. A check on Monday revealed no change in the situation "We got some rain just after we talked earlier," McNamara recalled, "but it wasn't enough. We still could use another couple inches of gentle rain, followed by some good growing weather." Basically, it's the same situation as described by McNamara two weeks ago: the farmer must sit back and wait for rain.
Octavia firemen responded to a crib fire of undetermined origin late Monday afternoon at the Virgil Elliott farmstead near Cropsey. Elliott came within hours of losing close to 4,000 bushels of corn to the blaze, but had shelled just that morning, leaving the crib empty.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald D. Harms Sr. of rural Forrest, at a dinner held July 27 in their home, announced the engagements of their daughters, Lucinda Kay and Bonnie Jean. Lucinda Kay is the fiancee of Robert E. Gregait, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Gregait of Riverdale. No wedding dated has been set. Bonnie Jean is engaged to Pv.2 Steven Weger, son of Mrs. Clifford Baird of St. Clair, Mich. and Robert Weger of Watseka. The couple is planning a June wedding.

40 years Ago
July 26, 1984
The covered bridge, a not atypical scene in those golden days of yesteryear when the horse and buggy was the primary means of local travel. Fairbury had one, a few weeks ago briefly. Shall we explain? When William Fehr of rural Fairbury decided he needed a corn crib at one of his farms southwest of town he contacted Howard Arnold who wanted to get rid of one he had east of town. With the help of Genzel and Garrelts House Moving Service of Buckley they moved it, and as it crossed a bridge a few hundred yards south of the Fehr farmstead, Blade photographer Paul Kyburz stepped into Indian Creek to snap a picture of the crib on the bridge.
No one believes a horseshoe brings good luck more than Doug Tollensdorf of Fairbury. On the same day (July 7) he found a horseshoe in one of his fields, he won $1,415 in the state's lottery. After Doug found the horseshoe, he didn't think too much about it and threw it in a tool box. On Sunday morning Doug checked the lottery numbers in the newspaper as he always does and discovered five of his six numbers matched those listed.
Flanked by his friends and a local supporter, Gary Aramini of New Hampshire took time out from his cross-country run across the states to raise money for cancer research, to pose for a picture outside Fairbury on Route 24 last Thursday. Gary, 20, decided to make the run after losing his friend Billy Clayin to bone cancer. He says he wanted to be able to understand the pain his friend went through and to simulate it by running. Running anywhere from 30 to 40 miles a day, Gary has already completed over 2,000 miles since he started May 3.

30 Years Ago
July 27, 1994
The requested annexation by the Forrest Village Development Corporation will not be addressed by the Forrest Village Board, until both proponents and opponents of a proposed waste incinerator plant have had a chance to tour the model plant at Rochester, Mass. Mayor Richard Sanders confirmed that the annexation decision will not be made at the August 4 meeting. He said it will be up to the board to decide when that decision will be made.
Thomas Wurmnest, of Myers Crop Service of Cropsey, has successfully completed the requirements to be named a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) in Illinois. He recently passed both a state and national exam and has completed the requirements to receive CCA certification, which includes four years of post high school crop advising experience, or an advanced degree plus advising experience.
Barring a torrential rain that creates mud havoc at Fairbury's horse track located on the fairgrounds, the first miniature horse harness race in Illinois will take place during the 118th annual Fairbury Fair next month. It was deep mud that prevented the Kankakee Fair from boasting of the distinction last summer, so if the weatherman can't give us rain for the crops when needed, let's hope he holds off for this historic racing event.

20 Years Ago
July 28, 2004
Norman Rittenhouse presented plans for the new Walton Centre for Fairbury to the Fairbury City Council Wednesday night. When he was at an earlier council meeting, he requested that the city buy the Walton building to become a community center. The city voted against it mostly because of the lack of money. Rittenhouse said since that meeting, he has obtained eight investors and formed a corporation for the new center. They have begun working on the hardwood floors upstairs following removal of the carpet. The building will feature a banquet center in the upper level and the lower level will feature retail stores.
Due to the unusually extreme blood shortage, the Red Cross has scheduled weekly drives in the Fairbury area during the coming weeks, beginning today, Wednesday, July 28. This will give more donors an opportunity to donate at their convenience. The Fairbury area has a reputation for generously responding to the need for blood. For the fiscal year ending in June, Fairbury met 103 percent of its goal by donating nearly 1,000 units of blood. That represented an increase of 10 percent over the prior year.
Danniell "Donni" Rice, 15, of Fairbury, has triple jumped her way into the AAV National Junior Olympics to be held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa July 30 through Aug. 6. With a jump of 32'10¼" at the AAV Region VI track meet held in Lima, Ohio July 9-11, Danniell earned the right to compete at the National Track & Field event. Danniell is currently competing with the Heroh Sports University Track Club coached by Roland Brent in Bloomington/Normal. She competes in the Girls Intermediate Division (ages 15-16). Danniell just completed her freshman year at Prairie Central High School where she competed in varsity track and freshman volleyball.

10 Years Ago
July 30, 2014
It has been a whirlwind season for Vanderbilt junior Jared Miller, son of Randy (F-C class of 1982) and Diane Miller and grandson of John and Karen Hildreth of Fairbury. Jared, a 6'7” left-handed pitcher, went 7-2 on the mound as the Vanderbilt Commodores won the College World Series in June. Then the junior was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the Major League draft. Last week, Miller decided to forego his senior season and sign with the D'backs. He reported for assignment this weekend in Oregon where he expects to play for a few weeks before moving up to the Arizona affiliate in South Bend, Ind. to finish the season.
Cassandra Heider of Elgin and Austin Stephens of Fairbury are announcing their engagement and approaching marriage. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Wayne and Tammy Heider of Elgin. She is a 2014 graduate of Illinois State University. The future bridegroom is the son of Sam and Patsy Stephens of Fairbury and the grandson of Marjorie Stephens of Fairbury, the late Donald Stephens and Kern and Mary Ella Doerner of Norris City. He attends Greenville Christian College in Greenville, Ill. The couple is planning an Aug. 10, 2014 wedding at Bartlett, Ill.
Parkland College has announced that nearly 600 students earned an associate's degree or a certificate. The graduates included the following area students: Connor Groskreutz and Eric Rebholz of Chatsworth, Naomi Knapp and Allyn Krenz of Chenoa, Courtney Edelman and Shanna Slagel of Fairbury and Jeana Steidinger of Forrest.

07/26/2024

07/24/2024

130 Years Ago
July 21, 1894
Andrew Bennett, of Chicago, is visiting his father in this city. Andrew is employed at the stockyards and has been on guard duty during the strike, being one of those who did not go out.
The game of baseball Saturday between the home nine and the Piper City club was a clean, spirited contest and was won by Fairbury by a score of 11 to 7. The features of the game were a running catch by Harris in the third inning, a home run by Thompson in the seventh and the fine work of Streeper at first. Harris got hurt in the sixth and Compton took his place.
Grand Prairie Seminary, Onarga, offers board at $1.50 per week, rooms at 50 cents per week, and the tuition is $8.00 for twelve weeks.
The entire business block west of the I. C. Railroad in El Paso burned yesterday with a total loss of $250,000.

120 Years Ago
July 22, 1904
The Dominy Memorial Library which will be built at the corner of Third and Walnut streets will be one of the most beautiful structures of the kind in the state. The building will front the north on Walnut street and there will also be an entrance on Third street. The building will be about 55 feet square with a circular reading room at the northwest corner. There will also be a reading room for children in the northeast corner. There will be a large reference room in the southwest corner and the stock room, with room for over 12,000 volumes will occupy the southeast corner. The rotunda in the center of the building will be surrounded by massive oak columns forming the entrance to the several reading rooms. The cost of the building and grounds will exceed $15,000.
Goie Mira Pinawadle, a Sioux Indian lady, and a graduate of Carlisle, Penn., College for Indians, will lecture and exhibit Indian relics at the First M. E. Church on Friday evening, July 29th. The subject she will lecture on is courtship and domestic life in the Indian style. She will appear before the audience dressed in one of the finest buckskin Indian costumes and will also sing Indian songs. You must not fail to hear this Indian Princess. She is an excellent speaker and will also explain the relics that she exhibits.
Miss Grace Rockwood, of this city, and Mr. Harry O. Snyder, were married at Kankakee, Ill. July 5. The wedding was quite a surprise to the many friends of the bride in this city, who while they were aware of the engagement did not know when the wedding would occur. The bride is a young society lady of this city, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rockwood, and her many graces of character have won for her a large circle of friends. The groom is said to be an excellent young business man, and will take charge of his grandfather's store in Arcola, where they will make their home.

110 Years Ago
July 24, 1914
George H. Franzen has received his commission as postmaster and will take up his position August first.
Harry J. Wendel and Miss Hazel Krack, two of Forrest's well known and popular young people, went to Chicago on Sunday of last week and were married.
Miss Susie Williams, who has taught the third and fourth grades at the south side for several years, has resigned to accept a position in the Chicago schools.
The engagement of Miss Lucretia Mitten to Charles Steinberg was announced yesterday afternoon at a party which was given at her home. The wedding will occur in October.

100 Years Ago
July 18, 1924
This week the Fairbury Association of Commerce has had erected two signs, one four miles east and the other three miles west of town, telling of the facilities to be found at the tourist park in this city. The signs bear the following information: "Fairbury, a place to camp in a grove of trees; water, light, shelter, toilet facilities, good stores, cheerful service; welcome." The signs, which are attractively gotten up, were painted by Alda Fosdick and are about 6x7 feet.
Plans are under way to secure a pulmoter for this city to use in emergencies such as drowning, suffocation from gas, electric shock, etc. A paper is being circulated, giving people an opportunity to donate to this worthy cause. Up to the present time about $60 has been pledged. The pulmoter costs a little over $200, so it will be seen that considerable more money is needed. If the pulmoter is secured it is proposed to keep it at the Fairbury Hospital, where it will be accessible when needed.
"Rass" Hanna, who had been imbibing too freely of moonshine for several days, was arrested on Sunday morning by Deputy Sheriff Codlin and lodged in the city jail. He had a hearing before Justice Bennett Monday morning, who assessed him a fine of $50 and costs, the costs amounting to around $7. Hanna paid the fine and costs and was turned loose.

90 Years Ago
July 20, 1934
Fairbury Junior Farmers 4-H Club has a membership of 58. The enrollment in other 4-H clubs in this locality: Bell Prairie Banner Boys, 18; Saunemin Ladder Climbers, 38; Eppards Point Go-Getters, 28; Fayette Flyers, 13; Pleasant Ridge, 31; Chatsworth, 41. The complete county enrollment shows 217 boys and 224 girls carrying 551 projects.
The city council is doing its part to make it pleasant for those who hold picnics or otherwise use Marsh Park, by oiling the dirt streets adjacent to it and thereby laying the dust.
A tatted flag, the work of George Harris, is on display in the Walton Department Store window. The flag, 18x27 inches, is the only tatted flag in existence. Mr. Harris commenced it on September 19, 1931, and completed it June 16, 1933. Mr. Harris won $5 on it in the Chicago Herald and Examiner's "Believe It or Not" contest. Some interesting data that Mr. Harris has kept on his work shows that he has taken 450,764 stitches, used 600 feet over two miles of thread, and that it has taken 1,279 hours and 16 minutes to make it.
T. D. Scouler, residing southwest of Fairbury, had a horse killed by lightning last Friday morning. The animal was out in the pasture not far from the barn when the bolt struck. Mr. Scouler had recently refused $200 for the horse. It was insured for $150.

80 Years Ago
July 21, 1944
The Sanitary Bakery in the east block, owned and operated by Ernest Kurth, will cease operation some time between now and October first. The reason for this is that the building in which the bakery is located has been sold and will have to be vacated. This building, together with the vacant building east of it, and the lot west of the bakery, has been purchased by Chris Leman for the Farmers Cooperative Machinery company and the properties will be used by them. Mr. Kurth came to Fairbury from Atlanta 21 years ago, purchasing the bakery from John J. Schwartz December 18, 1923.
The big water tank on top of Fairbury's water tower, which furnishes pressure for the water in your home, office, store, shop, or what have you, and through which all the city water passes (or does it?) is going to get a new coat of paint. And the color will be green. This was decided at a meeting of the city council Wednesday evening. The work will be done by P. E. Hawkins, of Streator, and his crew of painters, and the paint will be applied with brushes. Mr. Hawkins price for the job is $130. The city will furnish the paint.
After an absence of three years the Fairbury Fair will be back with us for four days, starting a week from next Tuesday, August 1. And these four days are going to be chock full of entertainment for the thousands who will be here those four days, to say nothing of the educational features which go with the livestock exhibits. The Fairbury Business Club requests all Fairbury business houses to close at 1 o'clock noon for the remainder of the day during the Fairbury Fair, August 1-4.

70 Years Ago
July 22, 1954
Two more local golfers are now entitled to sit over on the men's side. They are Hotpoint Stafford and "Willie" Schwarzwalder. On Wednesday of last week they both put nine good holes together, the former shooting his first par and the latter his first par or better, a 29.
Cullom is without movies at the present time, with the closing of the Princess Theatre after Monday night's showing. The proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Samet, first gave public notice of the closing on posters displayed in the front of the theatre Saturday night. The closing is due to lack of sufficient patronage. The Samets, formerly of Gibson City, started operation of the theatre in March of 1953, having purchased it from Farber Bros., who constructed the playhouse and established the business early in 1947. The theatre is regarded as one of the nicest in the area, and its closing will be keenly felt by many, but apparently the competition of television was too much for it.
A combination of being 91 years old and of it being 90 degrees in the shade didn't stop I. R. Titus from enjoying one of his favorite past times of playing croquet Thursday. Mr. Titus, the father of Mrs. Roger Weeks, lives at the Leah Strack home. Mrs. Strack's grandson, seven-year-old Michael Reavis, was Mr. Titus' opponent for the day, with each participant winning two of four consecutive games played before the pair called it an afternoon. Mr. Titus was manager of the Woodhull Elevator for 18 years, and before that time, managed the elevator at Stewardson in partnership with his brother for 20 years. He has lived here for the past three years.

60 Years Ago
July 23, 1964
Faculty of Community Unit Schools at Fairbury and Cropsey was completed Monday night when the board approved the contract of Mrs. Carlos (Marjorie) Thompson to teach second grade, during their meeting in Lincoln School at Fairbury. Also approved was the employment of Mrs. James Tipton as secretary for the new Westview school. Room complement for the new school will include one section each of first and second graders, three sections of third grade, and all fourth, fifth and sixth graders, numbering three sections each. Isaac Walton School will have three first grade sections, four second grade sections and one of third grade.
The status of the Weston Post Office will be changed on August 1, and it will become a rural station under the control of the Chenoa Post Office. All mail delivery and dispatch will continue as in the past, and no addresses will be changed. Mrs. Earl Hanes, who has been acting postmaster, will become clerk in charge of the station. The move is part of an economy program affecting all fourth-class offices.
A clogged chimney was blamed for filling the Casual Classics Dress Factory with carbon monoxide about 9 a.m. Wednesday. The entire building was cleared when manager Dorothy Steffen went to the basement and discovered thick fumes. They had filtered upstairs and several of the women had received headaches. All employees vacationed the remainder of the day while the building was cleared of fumes by electric fans.

50 Years Ago
July 25, 1974
If you happened to be on Fairbury's Third Street Monday morning, you might have taken a trip to the by-gone era of the 20's and 30's. How? Well on Monday morning a motley crew consisting of a 1928 Ford Model A sedan, a 1930 Ford Model A sedan, a 1931 Plymouth coupe and a 1941 Ford delivery truck, rumbled down Locust Street from the west, turned south at Third and parked at Dave's Supermarket to stock up on supplies. The four members of the Sandusky Valley Street Rods, from north central Ohio, were on their way home from a car show in St. Paul, Minn. After purchasing some snacks, they were visited by Steffen for recollections of the rumble seat car. Dave recalled he "used to have an old sedan like this one. I bought it for 50 dollars, gave it a brush paint job and later sold it for 55 dollars."
Fairbury volunteer firemen responded Tuesday morning at 9:10 a.m. to what proved to be a false alarm at Fairbury Haven on North Fourth Street in Fairbury. According to firemen, who reached the site in a matter of minutes after the alarm was sounded, personnel at the rest home were routinely testing the in-house fire alarm system, which accidentally tripped another alarm system hooked up to the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Ulmer Beetzel of Colfax and Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Brown of Fairbury announce the engagement of their children, Denise and Roger. Miss Beetzel is a graduate of Octavia High School and Illinois State university, Normal. She is teaching second grade in the Forrest-Strawn-Wing district. Her fiance is a graduate of Forrest-Strawn-Wing High School and ISU. He has taught agriculture in Reddick, but is presently engaged in farming. A winter wedding is planned.

40 Years Ago
July 19, 1984
Rehabilitation of the Bloomer Line trackage between Cullom and Colfax, is expected to be in full swing by Monday. Kelly Railroad Construction Company of St. Louis has the contract and is already on site. The Bloomer, so-called from its days as the Bloomington Division of the Illinois Central-Gulf, intersects the Santa Fe at Chatsworth and the Norfolk & Southern at Risk, north of Strawn.
Effective Tuesday, Aug. 7, the Rotary Club of Fairbury will switch from evening to noon meetings. This decision, tentatively adopted a week ago by club members was made official at this week's meeting by incoming president Jerry Fairclough. For some time, the 60-year-old service club has been fighting a membership problem caused by the every-week attendance requirement and evening meeting schedule. Fairclough told the club last week that a survey by retiring president Fred Wing showed substantial membership prospects if the meeting time was switched to noon.
Fairburian Tina Bachtold has been recruited to play with the nationally prominent Southwestern University volleyball team of Georgetown, Texas. Coach Glad Munt of the SU Pirates announced that Bachtold has indicated she will transfer to Southwestern from Illinois Central College, where her volleyball team finished third this past season in the national junior college tournament. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bachtold of Fairbury, and a former FCHS volleyball standout, Bachtold played in last summer's Junior Olympics. Bachtold will major in physical education at SU.
Sisters Gayle Getty and Paula Sandage each gave birth to identical twins recently. Paula's girls, Kari and Katie were born April 14, and Gayle's boys, Adam and Andrew were born July 10. The sisters' grandmother, the late Mrs. Earl (Velma) Shoemaker also gave birth to identical twins, Ronald and Richard Shoemaker.

30 Years Ago
July 20, 1994
To say there are those who oppose a planned solid waste incinerator plant may be putting it mildly, as citizens are rallying to raise a stink over what they believe are untested issues on water supply and environmental problems. One couple opposed to the plant's location are Cindy and Larry Kaisner. Their home in Pleasant Ridge Township stands within a half mile of the proposed plant. The Kaisners were among a group of citizens who had expressed their concerns to the Board on possible water supply loss and environmental hazards that could be associated with such a plant.
Betsy Hankes of Fairbury recently exhibited the Junior Champion Heifer at the Illinois Junior Angus Association Field Day recently held in Bloomington. Her angus, Forsythe Blackbird 3011, topped 80 owned female entries. Hankes is the daughter of Ray and Ellen Hankes of rural Fairbury. She is a 1994 graduate of Prairie Central High School where she participated in FFA.
Keith and Jeanne Klitzing of Fairbury, announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Klitzing to Todd Weber of rural Chenoa. He is the son of Gary Weber of rural Chenoa and the late Judy Weber. A Dec. 30 wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairbury. The bride-to-be is a senior at Millikin University, majoring in accounting. The bridegroom-elect is engaged in farming.

20 Years Ago
July 21, 2004
A storm super cell left its mark on Fairbury, Tuesday afternoon (July 13). Warning sirens sounded in Fairbury at about 3:25 p.m. and the all-clear sounded at 4:30 p.m., but what happened in between left behind a mess, including damaged vehicles, a charred house when downed power lines hit it, and trees and tree limbs everywhere. Two trees were uprooted on East Locust Street, one of them taking with it, part of a sidewalk. Power was out in some parts of the city from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday morning. The fire department's weather spotters saw a definite rotation in the sky with moving clouds and swirling winds near the fire house and in the middle of town. Route 24 between Third and Tenth Streets was closed to traffic for about 40 minutes because of tree limbs on the road.
The Prairie Central FFA Dairy Judging Team recently represented Illinois on a 15-day dairy and livestock tour to Europe. The trip was highlighted by judging in Edinburgh, Scotland and the Luxembourg National Dairy Show. The group also toured many places throughout Scotland, England, France, Luxembourg and Germany. Michael Kilgus, Jared Walter, Ashley Oldfather and Trevor Stoller participated, with Lisa Kilgus and Darren and Sandy Ropp acting as chaperones. The trip was made possible through sponsors, FFA alumni members and the Prairie Central FFA Chapter.

10 Years Ago
July 23, 2014
Chenoa author Dawn Malone will celebrate the publication of her middle-grade novel, “Bingo Summer,” with a book party and signing at the Chenoa Public Library on Saturday, Aug. 2 from noon to 2 p.m. Refreshments and door prizes will be available including a backpack filled with school supplies, Barnes & Noble gift cards and more. Malone's published work has also appeared in Highlights for Children magazine and the Chicken Soup for the Soul Think Positive for Kids collection. She previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal and Capital Times in Madison, Wis., as well as the Pantagraph. When she's not writing, she substitute teaches for the Pontiac and Prairie Central school districts.
Johnathon and Crystal Stanley of Anchor are the parents of a baby boy born Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Gibson Area Hospital. Clark Mason weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 22 inches long at birth. Paternal grandparents are James and Ann Stanley of Sibley. Maternal grandparents are Janice Newcomb of Ridgecrest, Calif. and the late Gregory Briddick Sr. The new arrival was welcomed home by his older siblings, Lianna, 4; Elsa, 3; and Ethan, 21 months.
Once 'n Again owner Traci Hassett and manager Abby Hassett, recently attended the NARTS 27th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Carefully crafted for resale professionals, the four-day conference is the industry's most comprehensive educational event of the year. Hassett and Hassett attended specialized resale workshops, stimulating networking sessions, motivating general sessions and a resale trade show during the focused program. Traci Hassett has been a member of NARTS, The Association of Resale Professionals, for 10 years. The shop at 118 W. Locust in Fairbury, has been a part of the retail scene since 2001, and at 123 W. Madison in Pontiac, since 2008.