1919 - 100 YEARS AGO
We will pay 5 cents per pound for clean cotton rags, not scraps. Must be free from buttons, pins or hooks. 6 cents per pound for knit cotton underwear. Chronicle office.
Charles Blackman, who has been in service for some time, returned here last night, and surprised his relatives. The young man telephoned them at Waterman that he would wait at the Fourth street corner of Lincoln Highway, and in another 20 minutes he was kissing his new baby, who came while the young man was in service. It was one of the most pleasant reunions imaginable, and after a few minutes spent in town, the party started homeward, the soldier boy being most attentive to the little tot.
Yesterday afternoon in the midst of the heat, a fair damsel hiked down Lincoln Highway with a muff, yes, a real martin muff! She hurried so fast, you might have thought she had stolen it, but 'twas just because everybody said things to her. And she had just had the muff relined and was carrying it home! People joked, of course, but truly, carrying a muff wouldn't be any more foolish than wearing a fur neck-piece, would it?
Just now library board member who were appointed for the new building are conferring with an architect. Plans, however, are so indefinite that nothing can be announced. The committee in chars is composed of Frank Luney, Mrs. Roy Hunt, and Mrs. S. W. Boardman.
Do you like winsome, alluring girlhood - bright with the spontaneous vigor of youth? Then see May Allison as the mad-cap Peggy in "Peggy Does Her Darndest" at the Star theatre tomorrow.
Congregational Sunday school will picnic tomorrow afternoon at Electric Park. A special car will leave Second Street at 1:30 o 'clock for the picnickers. A program has been arranged for the pleasure of the outing crowd.
The first accident of any consequences to take place on the Lincoln Highway detour, took place early this morning on Pleasant street, as Floyd Nelson was going to his work at the piano factory on a bicycle. W. J. Andras, of Sterling, in a big Paige car, according to Nelson's story, was driving on the wrong side of the street, and although not driving fast, was fast enough to inflict injuries when the big car struck the piano factory worker. The car struck the lad on the bike almost squarely, knocked him onto the pavement and dragged him about 15 feet, before he could get free from the bicycle. The bicycle was smashed beyond repair. The big car ran over Nelson's leg just above the knee and it is a wonder that the weight of the car did not fracture the thigh bone. The Sterling man took Nelson to the Corey bicycle shop and purchased a new wheel, and said if there was anything else he could do, he would be glad to do it.
1944 - 75 YEARS AGO
Two DeKalb men are receiving their initial naval indoctrination at the United States Naval Training Station, Great Lakes. They are Charles E. Finley, whose wife resides at 610 South First Street, and Clifford E. Fuller, son of Mrs. Esther M. Ebright, 336 East Lincoln Highway. They will receive instruction in seamanship, military drill, and general naval procedure.
Unless rain comes within a short time DeKalb County's corn crop will be hard hit according to Carroll Mummert, county farm adviser. Because of the prolonged drought some damage has already been caused but the extent is hard to determine at the present time. The one benefit the drought has brought, Mr. Mummert stated, is that it has helped reduce the damage from the corn borer.
With a special program having been arranged for the final concert of the season by the DeKalb Municipal Band, the amphitheater at Hopkins Part is expected to be filled to overflowing on Tuesday evening. Dee Palmer, director of the band, has arranged several special numbers for the occasion.
Four silk dresses, in the popular price class, and three chromium plated stands were taken from the west display window of Montgomery Ward store during the early morning hours.
Peter Suknaich of 316 North Tenth Street is a patient at St. Mary's Hospital undergoing a thorough examination to determine the extent of injuries received last evening in a fall at his place of business. Mr. Suknaich was painting his store building and was at the second-floor level when the ladder slipped, throwing him to the ground. X-Ray examinations were being made this morning to determine if there were any fractures as a result of the fall.
Former residents of Nebraska, now living in Illinois, are being notified of the annual picnic which is being held at the Kingston Park at Kingston on Sunday. This event brings together a large group of former residents of that state and affords them the opportunity of an enjoyable day of visiting. Helen Larson of Sycamore is chairman of the arrangements for this event.
1969 - 50 YEARS AGO
A bill authorizing the purchase of some 850 acres in Shabbona township in southern DeKalb County has been signed into law by Gov. Richard Ogilvie establishing a state park and lake. The park will contain a 250-acre lake surrounded by a 600-acre park covered with fir, oak and other hardwood trees. Senator Dennis Collins, (Rep), DeKalb, said "the lake will be on one of the largest and most beautiful man-made lakes in Northern Illinois and will provide a fine recreational, boating and fishing area for thousands of people and their families."
Chris Swanson, Data Processing instructor at Kishwaukee College will be attending data processing workshop at the IBM Educational Center in Chicago for three weeks in preparation for the installation of an IBM 1130 computer at Kishwaukee. "Students in data processing at Kishwaukee will be offered instruction in several programming languages utilizing the most up-to-date equipment," Swanson said. The IBM 1130 computer is one of the most recent advances in the programming field and students completing this course will be highly contemporary in their field.
1994 - 25 YEARS AGO
Boy Scout Troop 33 will be conducting a soccer shoe exchange on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Kiwanis Park located at 4th St. and Fairview Drive. There is no cost to exchange shoes. Purchasing shoes costs $2.00.
The large sugar maple tree that graced the front lawn of the courthouse has been reduced to a pile of sawdust as workers from a local tree-trimming company took down the long-time fixture this week. County Central Plant Director Ken Baker, who oversees the maintenance of the courthouse complex, said the tree is estimated to be at least 80 years old. He explained that the reason the tree had to come down was that major cracks had developed in two of the tree's major weight-bearing limbs and the chance of those limbs falling had increased. He said that he plans to plant several trees to replace the sugar maple.
The old post office building, as well as several smaller structures, now sit on what will eventually be private parking for the Walgreens store. DeKalb County Planning and Development Director Mark Biernacki said negotiations are continuing with local developer Jim Hovis about a proposal to move the post office to an alternate location as opposed to demolishing it to make way for the parking lot.
* Compiled by the Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives.
