From The Files of The
Delavan Times
June 1899
100 Years Ago
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY'
The Delavan Times
Source: SEEMS LIKE ONLY
YESTERDAY, The Delavan Times, Wednesday, June 16, 1999, Wednesday, June
23, 1999.
Submitted By: Debbie Champion
src#6
June 15, 1899
By a recent ruling of the Ladies' Cemetery Association, the
cemetery grounds will be open Sunday afternoon during the summer for
the admission of vehicles.
Delavan will have no public celebration of Independence Day, The
meeting called to consider the matter last Thursday night did not
meet. The next day Al Trone had to present his regrets to the
famous Dr. Talmage and advise him that it would be impossible to accept
his very reasonable terms to come to Delavan to deliver a Fourth of
July oration for $60. It is too bad that the town had to let
that opportunity pass by. Needed improvements are being made
to the Masonic clock by the owner, Miss Taylor of Mason City.
The front s have been repainted and the interiors will be renovated and
redecorated.
June 22, 1899
The work of invoicing the Parker stock of dry goods has been
in progress since Monday. The sale of goods continues and the
special sale of millinery
will proceed until further notice. Until the new proprietor,
Mr. Moore, can secure a home and arrange to be here in person, Mrs.
Parker will assist in the store.
The gates of beautiful Prairie Rest were thrown open to teams and
vehicles last Sunday afternoon. Many took advantage of the
privilege and the grounds were thronged until a late hour. The ladies
of the Cemetery Association wish to announce that it is intended to
keep the gates open only between the hours of two and six.
Visitors should bear this in mind for the custodian is under
instructions to clear the grounds of teams and close the gates at the
latter hour.
July 1899
100 Years Ago
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY'
The Delavan Times
Source: SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY;
The Delavan Times, Wednesday, July
7, 1999; Wednesday, July 14, 1999.;Wednesday, July 21, 1999.
July 6, 1899
The 4th was a glorious and happy day at Emden, the rain and
mud notwithstanding. To the general effect the Delavan band
contributed much. They played in the best of form and their program was
extensive and varied. A delightful multitude attended from miles around.
The firms of Trone & Taylor and J. G. Houghton & Son
have inaugurated a movement that others might follow. They
announce that their stores will remain closed on Sundays hereafter.
Some of the leading farmers of Boynton Township are talking up the
matter of putting telephones in their residences. A meeting
is to be held to discuss the matter. The extension will be
connected with the Central Union lines.
July 10, 1899
A. P. Farley, the photographer, sold his bay driving horse
last week to a gentleman in DeKalb for $250. Just before
loading it in his car for shipment, Mr. Farley took a picture of the
animal.
Mackinaw Falls, the finest pleasure resort in Central Illinois, is now
open for the season. These ideal picnic grounds located nine
miles from Delavan on the Mackinaw River are too well known to need
description, being especially famous for the fine fishing enjoyed by
all lovers of that sport. Dancing and dining pavilions, row boats,
swings, cottages, etc., make pleasant a day or a week in the
woods. The P., D. & E. Railroad is prepared to make
rates to accomodate excursion parties and special trains may be
chartered for large crowds.
July 13, 1899
The Royal Light & Power Company is putting in a new
set of poles for its electric light wires.
A new brick business building, two stories high, eighty feet deep,
twenty-five feet front, equipped with all modern appliances,
accessories and conveniences, will soon grace Locust Street.
The site will be the southeast corner of Locust and Fourth Streets,
probably the most eligible and desirable location in Delavan not
already built upon with brick. The lot and frame building now
on it are owned by W. H. Few, and the new building is to be put up by
the latter for the use of S. M. Reinheimer of the late firm of
Reinheimer & Company. It is to be ready for occupancy
by the first of September.
100 Years Ago
August 1899
SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY
From the Files of The Delavan Times
Source: 'SEEMS LIKE ONLY
YESTERDAY', The Delavan Times,Wednesday, August 4,1999;Wednesday,
August 11,1999; August 18, 1999; August 24, 1999.
August 3, 1899
Four
new store rooms have just been completed at Emden and add much to the
appearance of the business portion of the town. They are
situated on
the east side of the main street of the town. One is a frame
building and will be occupied soon as a saloon. The other
three, however, are brick and will soon be occupied. The
north building will be used by Mammen and Jacobs as a hardware
store. F.H. Feaster will conduct a butcher shop in the middle
one, while, Kelly, the barber, will occupy the south building.
Work was temporarily suspended upon the
new brick store building at the corner of Locust and Fourth Streets
yesterday afternoon caused by a scaffold giving away. three
men were on the scaffold at the time it went down and for the fact that
the scaffold was only eight or ten feet from the joists below, it would
probably have resulted seriously. As it was, they were
considerably jolted up and bruised.
August 10, 1899
The interior of W. W. Jackson's barbershop has
been papered and painted. The effect is pleasing to the eye.
This week excavating will be
commenced at the fair grounds in front of the amphitheater. A
reservoir fifteen feet in depth will be sunk, which will be used for
the diving horses. Each day of the fair these trained horses
will dive from a tower thirty feet high into the reservoir of water
below. On Thursday of the fair, Teddy Roosevelt's Rough
Riders will arrive on the noon freight and on the afternoon of that day
will give an exhibit at the fair grounds of their remarkable and daring
skill as horsemen.
August 17, 1899
Co.
K, with forty men in enrollment will leave for Camp Lincoln,
Springfield, Saturday morning for a week's military
encampment. New uniforms have been received and the boys will
make a neat appearance in their new regalia. Ed Huff, of
Mackinaw, a chef of great renown, will do the cooking for the Company.
On account of his rapidly growing
business and the need for more assistance in its management and
conduct, Mr. J.C. Cobean of the City Bakery & Restaurant has
taken into partnership with himself his brother, Mr. Wm. F.
Cobean. The partnership will continue the business under the
firm name of Cobean Bros. A fair portion of the public
patronage is solicited.
Sunday morning at six o'clock, Richard
Holmes, released three crates of carrier pigeons, about 300 in number,
on Knott's Hill north of town. The pigeons went off nicely
and were bound for South Bend, Indiana. The fact being
generally known that they were to be released at six o'clock Sunday
morning caused a large number of the west and north siders to turn out
to see them start.
August 24, 1899
Fruits
are ripening very early this season. Home grown grapes are
now on the market. nearly all varieties are about two weeks
earlier than ususal.
This week's eddition of The Delavan
Time-Press advertises the S. M. Reinheimer & Co. bankrupt stock
sale of drygoods, carpets, clothing, boots and shoes. The
invoice of which amounted to $63,000 was bought by A. Appel. For less
than fifty cents on the dollar, the stock will be put on the market at
the old S. M. Reinheimer Co. stand on the corner about September 1st.
It will pay you to travel on hundred miles to attend this sale!
Paint has been used to good effect on
Locust Street fronts this season. Roberts' Meat Market and Moore's Dry
Good Store are the latest to join in, the former with a blood red color.
The Time-Press will issue a morning
daily five days next week on account of the fair. One
thousand copies per day will be circulated gratuitously. The daily is
recognized as a peerless medium for effective advertising and as usual,
will receive a large advertising patronage.
BACK -
Tazewell County, IL Genealogy Trails
75 Years Ago
June 1924
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY'
The Delavan Times
Source: SEEMS LIKE ONLY
YESTERDAY, The Delavan Times, Wednesday, June 16, 1999;Wednesday, June
23, 1999.
Submitted By: Debbie Champion
src#6
June 12, 1924
The first of the series of six summer entertainments is
being planned by the community from the Delavan Community Club for
Thursday evening, June
26th. The plans call for a concert at 8 o'clock, followed by
a pavement dance at 9 o'clock.
Several hundred people gathered at the City Park in Delavan Sunday
afternoon to enjoy the concert given by the Odd Fellows Orphans Home
band of Lincoln. The young folks rendered a splendid
concert. The band took supper in Delavan and returned to
Lincoln on the evening train. Much to the disappointment of
many Delavan businessmen, the Chicago & Alton Hummer, the fast
train between here and Chicago, was removed from service Sunday.
June 19, 1924
The local cement contracting firm of Beaver Brothers, being
the successful bidders for laying the much discussed sidewalk in the
First Ward, are pushing the work to completion during this fine drying
weather. The walk is being put in along the south side of
Ninth Street to connect South Elm with Locust Street and will afford a
splendid artery for pupils residing in the southeast part of town to
reach the high school.
The well known Pearson shows will be in Delavan all next
week. This year the shows have a merry-go-round and Ferris
wheel, pit show, including animals, monkeys, wolves, snakes, etc., an
athletic show, boxing and wrestling. This is a clean show in
every respect, no gambling and no dancing. The shows and
concessions are under the auspices of the American Legion and will be
on the Ryan lot in Delavan.
July 1924
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY'
The Delavan Times
Source: 'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY', The Delavan
Times,Wednesday, July 7, 1999;Wednesday, July 14, 1999;Wednesday, July
21, 1999, August 1,1999.
July 3, 1924
The first letter to reach Delavan via Air Mail arrived
Wednesday morning. It left New York at 8:30 July 1 and
arrived here at 8:20 July 2.
It was stamped "Via air mail on first trip through night flying on
transcontinental air mail route." Silver is quoted at 82
cents an ounce and this makes silver dollars
worth about 67 cents each. Honest Bill's Shows arrived in
Delavan at an early hour last Thursday morning and young America true
to tradition was on the scene early,
continuously and to the last to watch the unloading and settling and
incidentally fetch an occasional pail of water or perform some other
task in order to secure a pass to witness the performance
later. The show, being thoroughly motorized, transports their
equipment, 100 animals and 70 people in 53 trucks. Many of
the older generation watched the process of pitching tents and squaring
away. The parade was of creditable proportions. In
the evening the capacity of the big tent was taxed and a really good
show was presented.
July 10, 1924
Hundreds of Delavan people motored to Pekin last week to
attend the ceremonies in connection with the Centennial celebration.
The largest number attended on July 4th, the city being
practically deserted most of the afternoon and evening.
The second of a series of summer entertainments will be held Thursday
evening on Locust Street. Hogan's Jazz Orchestral Band of
Pekin has been engaged to furnish music for the occasion. William H.
Chain, of San Jose, has purchased the Elmwood Gazette and has moved his
family to that city.
July 17, 1924
The heavy fall of rain Saturday morning proved another set
back to farmers who have been greatly handicapped with their work this
summer.
While considerable of the corn has been laid-by, there is still some
work to be done and the fields which were too heavy to be worked, are
once more
placed in an untillable state. The cutting of wheat, which
was getting well underway, was given another set back, adding more
grief to the tillers of the soil. In the low lands, the storm
of a couple of weeks ago caused considerable damage to wheat fields, in
some places flooding it so that its condition hardly warrants the
gathering of the crop.
The Emden Auto Company was robbed some time during Sunday
Night and accessories valued at $500 stolen. The robbery was
discovered shortly after
5 o'clock Monday morning and Sheriff Jasper Albright was called over to
investigate.
July 31, 1924
The commission firm of J. J.
Badenock Co., of Chicago, members of the Board of Trade, has opened a
branch office in Delavan with B. L. Figeley in
charge. Offices are located on the second floor of the Trone
Building, in the rear of the Bell Telephone exchange. A
direct wire with complete market reports is maintained at all times.
The boys and girls of Delavan have been
making use of their tricycles, scooters, coaster wagons and bicycles
this week in anticipation of the races in which these vehicles will be
used Thursday evening in connection with the stunt program and band
concert on Locust Street. Two blocks of pavement will be
roped off from traffic and in this space races and sports of all
kinds will be held.
August 1924
Seems Like Only Yesterday
From the Files of The Delavan Times
Source: 'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY', The Delavan
Times,Wednesday, August 4,1999;Wednesday, August 11,1999; August 18,
1999; August 24, 1999.
August 7, 1924
For thirty days officers and
members of Co. H. Illinois National Guard of Delavan have been
campaigning for recruits and their efforts have met with such success
that they have been awarded the battalion prize of $25 offered by the
battalion commander. The contest lasted from May 11 to August
1 and the Delavan company recruited a total of 52 men during that time,
bringing the total membership of the company to over 80 enlisted men.
This makes it stand among the foremost in membership of all the
companies of the State. At five minutes past 10 a.m. August 4, 1924,
snow fell in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Weather sharks are advised
to preserve this for posterity for it has never happened here before in
the memory of the oldest inhabitant. The snow was in fine
particles and melted as fast as it fell, but it was snow just the same.
August 14, 1924
County Superintendent Martin
has received from the State superintendent of Schools the report of the
recent teachers' examination held in Tazewell County. Of the
thirty-five who took the examination, only ten made passing
marks. While this looks very low, it is a better showing than
was made at a previous test. A very unfortunate thing about
this last examination is that several teachers who had procured places
for this fall failed to make the grades. Accordingly they
will have to give up those positions.
Gardeners of Delavan and vicintiy claim
this year's potato crop to the the largest for a long number of
years. Many of the potatoes average one pound in weight and
as a rule, in each hill there are from three to five or six large
"spuds" which soon fill a bushel basket. The unusual period
of moist weather has been a factor in the raising of such a large crop
this year. In fact, the over abundance of moisture has caused
many of the potatoes to rot in the ground.
August 21, 1924
The Green Valley Feed Mill
is now in operation. This mill is equipped with the latest
attrition mill, which is a special oats grinding machine. It also
grinds all other grains except ear corn. The mill is located
one block north of the Illinois Central Depot in Green Valley.
The Community Club has constructed a
picnic table, which has been donated to the city and placed in the City
Park for the use of picnic parties. Two receptacles have been
placed there for the disposing of old paper and other waste
matter. The men of the W. N. Elmore Lumber Company furnished
the labor on the table. Six auto loads of people
spent the day at the park Sunday, where they had their dinners, but
lack of a picnic table spread their lunches on the ground.
Tourists constantly use the park as a stopping place for lunch and
these added facilities will mean much to their comfort and will in the
end spread the name of Delavan as a hospitable city.
BACK- Tazewell County, IL
Genealogy Trials
50 Years Ago
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY'
The Delavan Times
Source:SEEMS LIKE ONLY
YESTERDAY',The Delavan Times,Wednesday, June 16, 1999; Wednesday, June
23, 1999.
Submitted By: Debbie
Champion
June 16, 1949
The Delavan Garden Club held their regular meeting at the home of Mrs.
W. C. Bishop, Tuesday, June 14. The guest speaker was Joe
Utz, who gave a
most interesting and informative talk on the culture and care of roses.
After the program, the club visited Mrs. Bishop's beautifully planned
rose garden and also enjoyed her delphinium, columbine, madonna lilies
and other garden flowers.
At the annual conference of Methodist churches in Jacksonville last
week, the presiding Bishop appointed Rev. Richard M. Newhall to the
pastorate of the Delavan Methodist Church for the next year.
He will preach next Sunday morning and all the Methodists of the
community will want to be present to look him over and to hear a good
sermon.
June 23, 1949
A meeting of the Executive Board of the Delavan Woman's Club, held
Monday evening on the porch of the home of Miss Lucille Rowe, a
resolution
was passed that the club sponsor the forming of a Junior Club in
Delavan. Mrs. Robert Hopkins, president of the Woman's Club,
presided. A meeting for
the purpose of organizing the Junior Club will be held Thursday at 7:30
p.m. at the home of Mrs. Charles Fox. Mrs. Kenneth Petri,
South Pekin, Junior
Club Chairman of the Sixteenth District, will be present to explain
everything concerning the forming of a club. All young women
of the community are invited to this organization meeting.
The Bil-Lu Soda Bar has erected an attractive stand at the north side
of the Delavan Township ball park to provide fans with cold drinks,
popcorn,
etc. This store has furnished the ball team with new blue and
white uniforms.
July 1949
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY'
The Delavan Times
Source:
SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY, The Delavan Times,Wednesday, July 7, 1999;
Wednesday, July 14, 1999;Wednesday, July 21, 1999.
July 7, 1949
W. F. Donley is building an insurance office at his home just west of
the Druley filling station. He has workmen busy changing a
portion of the
large front porch into a closed room which he intends to use as an
office. The space has been enclosed with windows, which will surely
give him plenty
of light. B. T. Stark, formerly of Virginia and father of
Edwin Stark, has opened a clock and watch repair shop in the Hardy
building across the street from
the Methodist church. The past few days workmen have been
busy making improvements at the bank. The extensive outside
woodwork and the big clock have been pained. New venetian blinds have
been hung at the windows. Will the lady bookkeepers keep them
clean?
July 14, 1949
The past few days Joe McMakin has been busy moving his pool hall
fixtures from the old Zorn building to the old Foster building across
the
street east from the bank. Mr. McMakin purchased the building
last year from Joe Eichelberger.
After a ten day visit here, Miss Grace Tenniswood left Sunday to return
to her hotel home on W. Van Buren Street in Chicago. Miss
Tenniswood spent
most of her entire life in the teaching profession and is now retired
by the Chicago school system. For a great many years she has
returned each summer
to Delavan to spend a portion of her vacation among old friends and
relatives. She informed us that in her early life she tried
teaching
schools at Cody, Wyoming and that many a time she sat at the same table
for lunch with the world famous character, Buffalo Bill, real name
William Cody.
July 21, 1949
Prof. Benjamin Walrich has moved his family here from Virginia and
occupies the Varney property in the west part of town. Mr.
Walrich
purchased the property about a month ago. The past week he
has been busy trimming shrubbery and cleaning up the
premises. Prof. Walrich will be at
the head of the consolidated schools.
The past few evenings Edward Flexsenhar and helpers have been laying
the concrete floor in the basement of the new home of the
Flexsenhars. The new
building is being erected on the same spot as the old dwelling which
was pulled down last spring. The basement walls have been
completed.
Delavan has a fine recreation center. The swimming pool is
enjoying a good season. The shuffle board courts are occupied
every evening. Soon a
croquet court will be in operation. Crowds are present from
neighboring towns.
August 1949
Seems Like Only Yesterday
From the Files of The Delavan Times
Source:
'SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY', The Delavan Times,Wednesday, August 4,
1999;Wednesday, August 11,1999; August 18, 1999; August 24, 1999.
August 4, 1949
H. S. Baker of Stanford, an experienced
workman, has rented the building used for so many years by the Zorn
Palace Meat Market, and will open a
studio Monday. The past few days he has been working early
and late cleaning out the building in preparation for his
opening. He is building a
dark room in the rear of the room and setting up his various pieces of
furniture that will be needed. Mr. Baker has also rented the
second story
of the building and intends to fit out for picture framing and
enlarging. He will also carry a full line of supplies.
Betty and Donna Hamblin, talented
daughters of Mr. And Mrs. Myles Hamblin, did well at the preliminaries
to the Peoria Music Festival and the
Chicagoland Music Festival, which was held at the YWCA on July
28. Donna was one of the six girls selected from the Peoria
area to compete for the
Miss Majorette title. Betty was one of three senior girls
chosen to represent the Peoria area at the Chicago Music Festival and
will twirl the baton on Saturday evening August 20 at Soldiers Field in
Chicago. Tonight they will twirl their batons at the Peoria
Music Festival at the Peoria Stadium.
August 11, 1949
Miss Ruth Harris, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. John Harris, of San Jose, and Mr. Dwight Kurtz, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Ralph Kurtz, of Delavan, were united
in marriage Sunday afternoon, August 7, at the Methodist church in
Delavan. Rev. R.M. Newhall performed the double ring ceremony.
The school board has the school buses
ready to roll on the opening day of school. The work of
repairing, adjusting and servicing was completed
Saturday in the Eichelberger repair shop. The workmen say the
buses are now in ship shape and ready for the sound of the teacher's
bell. How about
repairing the bell? Or is there a bell? At least
one of the bus drivers will recall seeing the teachers standing on the
front step of the school
house ringing the little hand bell; and how the boys would
race each other to get in first! Ya, boy.
August 18, 1949
Mrs. Clifford Creager was guest of honor
at a birthday party given at the home of Mrs. Walter Borton Thursday
afternoon. Games and a social hour
preceded the tasty lunch served by the hostess. Guests were
seated at a table which was centered with a beautiful birthday
cake. Mrs. Creager was
given a gift from the group and the best of wishes for many more
birthdays.
Prof. Leonard Clark has purchased the W.
F. Livengood property from Fred Livengood, who recently moved to San
Antonio, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. James Classen are parents
of a son born Monday at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria. The
mother was formerly Miss Beverly Walker.
August 25, 1949
Due to the fact that a very recent law
now makes Labor Day a legal school holiday, it has been decided to
start the local schools on Friday,
September 2, instead of on Labor Day, as previously planned.
The law stipulates that even though Labor Day is now a legal school
holiday, it
cannot be considered, or counted, as a school day in the years total
required number of days unless school has started before Labor Day.
Therefore, it seems advisable to commence school on September 2 so as
to allow school to be out two days earlier in the spring.
Work is progressing on the Prof. Adam
Metzger home, which is being erected on West Fourth Street, just west
of the Mrs. Price home. This will
be a modern five room residence with a picture window and garage and
utility room attached to the east end.
BACK- Tazewell County, IL Genealogy Trials