DeKalb Piano Factory Offered to World War I Effort

From the November 29, 2017,

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"For several days past rumors have circulated about the city to the effect that the government had taken over the Mellville Clark piano factory for the manufacture of war materials..  In an interview with Superintendent Ernest Clark it was learned that these rumors are entirely without foundation.

"Mr. Clark said that the company had tendered its services to the government when the war first started, sending all data as to what could be done here.  The local man said that his plant was at the disposal of the government at anytime the men higher up saw fit to take it, but thus far, nothing had been done."

Come And Get It.  --Cooter

Annie Glidden Road Expanded in DeKalb in 1967

From the December 13, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"Meeting at the new Municipal Building for the first time, the DeKalb City Council approved resolutions for the extension of Annie Glidden Road, stoplights for the Annie Glidden/Lincoln Highway intersection, and road improvements on Glidden Road and Lincoln Highway at the edge of the old city limits."

--Cooter

New Art Building At NIU in 1967

From the December 13, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"Northern Illinois University's new art building will rise four stories in pre-cast concrete and brick on the site of the campus' former football field.

"The $13 million art building will be constructed on Northern's historic Glidden Field where NIU football squads played until dedication of the new stadium in 1965."

Art So Pretty.  --Cooter

The Purple Cross Association in World War I

From the December 13, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"In the window of Wiswall & Wirtz will be found a poster calling for attention to a petition which should be of interest to DeKalb people and which all should sign gladly.

"The petition is in connection with the work of the organization known as the Purple Cross Association and in a word, its organization is for the purpose of taking steps to have the remains of American heroes killed on French soil brought back to their native land for interment."

I was unable to find out any more information on this association.

--DaCoot

Genoa Soldier Injured in Vietnam in 1967

From the October 4, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"Pfc. Lonnie G. Stojan, son of Mr. and Mrs Gordon Stojan of Genoa was injured while on duty in Vietnam.  His parents received a letter from him stating that he and his buddy were both wounded when a huge piece of equipment they were operating hit a mine.

"Lonnie, who was standing guard about ten feet away was thrown into a ravine and received shrapnel wounds to his face, left arm and shoulder."

Those Sneaky Viet Cong.  --DaCoot

A New Chili Place Opening in DeKalb in 1917

From the October 4, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Jim Hayes has leased the little room on Fourth street at the rear of the Balou-Ronan building and will open a small lunchroom.

"The new place will be  known as 'The Little Chili House,' and the opening is announced for tonight."

Be a First-Nighter.  --Cooter

Two Famous McDonald's in Chicagoland About to Change

The famed Rock and Roll McDonad's in downtown Chicago, a must-see for visitors for many years is about to be a no more.  It will close December 30 and when it reopens, all that great old Rock and Roll stuff will be gone.  So, it you've always wanted to see it, there aren't many more days.

But, by far, this is the worst of the two we're about to lose.The replica of Ray Kroc's first franchise in Des Planes, Illinois, is under consideration by McDonald's for destruction.

This building opened in 1985 and is on the site of the original.  It was built to look just like it did when it opened.  Even the sigh out front is the same (with a burger costing 15 cents and "We have sold over 1 million")

Over the years, it has been plagued by flooding and the  corporation wants to tear it down and give the land to Des Plaines.

However, Volo Auto Museum may be getting involved and move it to their place.

I think that all big chains should make efforts t keep at least one of their stores looking as they originally did and even turn it into a museum.  The McDonald's Museum in Des Plaines really brought back early memories of mine.

Here's Hoping It Stays Where It Is.  --McCooter

Some More Famous U.S. Warships Built at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Yesterday, I wrote about some of the ships built at this famous navy yard.  Here are a few more:

Fulton--  Robert Fulton's steam frigate launched in 1815.

USS Ohio--  Launched 1820, ship-of-the-line

USS North Carolina--  battleship  (My favorite battleship).

USS Iowa--  battleship

USS California--  battleship at Pearl Harbor

--BattleCoot

Penny Shortage in DeKalb in 1917 Linked to War Tax

From the December 13, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917,  100 Years Ago.

"There is a reported shortage of pennies in DeKalb and while this matter is not one that will get serious, it is causing some inconvenience at the present time,

"The ticket agent at the depot announces that he was compelled to scratch around yesterday on three or four occasions to get pennies.  The war tax on so many articles is responsible for the shortage in the pennies."

Gimme Back My Pennies.  --Cooter

Brooklyn Navy Yard in Greenport, NY City: Famous U.S. Warships Built Here

From the May 2017, Smithsonian "Wet and Wild" by Tony Perrottet.

New York City is taking advantage of its famed waterfront.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard opened in 1801 and was one of the first naval repair facilities in the United States.

It was here that the USS Monitor was clad with iron plate in the Civil War.  The USS Maine was also built here, only to be sunk in Havana Harbor.  So were the USS Arizona which went down in Pearl Harbor, and the USS Missouri, upon whose deck the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

At its height in World War II, over 70,000 people worked on the sprawling 300-acre site.  It was the headquarters of the North Atlantic Fleet during World War II.  After its closure in 1966, the city bought the yard and reopened it as an industrial park

--GreGen

Hemp Coming to DeKalb in 1942

December 6, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Farm advisors from northern Illinois met in DeKalb and made plans for the introduction of the crop of hemp in the area.

"The introduction of the crop to this locality is being urged by the government which plans the erection of about ten or twelve processing plants in this part of the state."

Probably part of the war effort, but isn't there some connection between hemp and that thing people illegally smoke in the state?

--GreGen

The Famed DeKalb-Made Firetrucks in 1917

From the October 4, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The fame of DeKalb made fire trucks is monthly spreading over more territory and through the efforts of the sales department of the local wagon company, and also through the words of praise from outside users, the company is making a truck for some city at all times.

"The latest Illinois city to join the ranks of DeKalb Wagon Company fire trucks is Fulton, which order was signed last week."

I'd never heard of DeKalb Fire trucks.

Going Fire in DeKalb.  --CootFire

Company A Leaving DeKalb for Mobilization in 1917

From the September 27, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back.

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"If tomorrow morning shortly after six o'clock the fire whistle of DeKalb starts to blow, do not become alarmed and think the town is burning up, it is burning with enthusiasm, on the occasion of the departure of the members of Company A for the mobilization at Camp Logan."

Going to War.  --CootJohnny

U.S. Battleship Division Nine in World War II

From Wikipedia.

This division consisted of four (later five) dreadnaught battleships from the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet which were sent over to help the British Grand Fleet.

These ships arrived December 6, 1917, as mentioned in the World War Timeline on Monday.

The first four were the USS New York, Wyoming, Florida and Delaware.  All were capable of doing 21 knots and mounted ten to twelve 12-inch to 14-inch cannons in their main armament.  They were accompanied by the destroyer USS Manley on their way over.

While in Britain, the division was deployed mostly in convoy duty and maintained the blockade, keeping the German High Seas Fleet in port.

--Cooter

Clinton Glidden Comes Home From the Marines for a Visit During World War I

From the October 25, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Clinton Glidden, son of Judge and Mrs. V.A. Glidden came home for a few days' visit with his parents and many friends.  Clint is a member of the marines stationed at Quantico and in order to come home it was necessary that he be transferred to another company.

"The furlough was granted after Judge Glidden had written General Barrett a letter explaining the circumstances.  Clint was asked by his lieutenant if it was worth his while to go home after he traveled for 28 hours and the young man did not hesitate to reply in the affirmative."

Looking At His Last Name, Kind of An Important One in DeKalb.  -Cooter

World War I Chronology, December 1917: Sinking of the USS Jacob Jones

From the VFW magazine , April 1917.

DECEMBER 6--  The U.S. destroyer Jacob Jones is torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 64 lives near the Scilly Isles.

DECEMBER 6--  U.S. Battleship Division 9 arrives at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys to reinforce the British Grand Fleet as the 6th Battle Squadron.

--DaCoot

Making It Back to Fort Sheridan In Time in 1917

From the September 27, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Tom Murray, looking hale and hearty, and in every sense a soldier, came out of Fort Sheridan for a visit with his wife and relatives.  The noon train wast on the North Western which Tom had planned to return to Fort Sheridan was several hours late and Frank Stevens of the fire department was induced to take the former fire chief to Aurora.

"In this manner, Mr. Murray was able to report at 4:30 thus obeying orders from the commanding officer at the training camp."

AWOL, You Know, But With An Excuse.  --Cooter

The 31st Annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival in 1992

From the October 25, 2017, MidWeek, "Looking Back."

1992, 25 Years Ago.

"Six tons of pumpkins have been distributed to local youngsters and will be returning in decorated fashion to the county courthouse Wednesday.

"Everything is ready for the 31st annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, said Jerry Malmassari, Pumpkin festival Committee Chairman.

"This year's theme is "Pumpkin Pioneers."

This festival continues today and gets bigger every year.

--Color Me Orange.  --Cootkin

Warning Signs On the Road to Pearl Harbor-- Part 2: Interim Years and Japanese Expansion

1931:  September 18:  Japan invades Manchuria and sets up a puppet regime.

1936, February 26:  Military extremists fail to overthrow the Japanese government, which had struggled with the country's failing economy since the implosion of world markets.

Military officers and conservatives press for aggressive expansion in Asia as a Japanese right.

November 25:  Japan and Germany sign Anti-Comintern Pact as an alliance against the Soviet Union.

This will be continued on today's Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog.  All of my blogs today will be about Pearl Harbor.

--DaCoot

Warning Signs On the Road to Pearl Harbor-- Part 1: World War I

From the December 7, 2016, USA Today.

1905:  Japan defeats Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and becomes a world power.

1910:  Japan annexes Korea and begins eyeing China and other Asian nations as sources of oil, coal, iron and other materials.

1914:  Japan joins Russia, Britain and France against Germany in World War I.  It expands its influence by taking German territories in the Pacific.

1917:

April 6:  U.S. enters World War I.

November 2:  U.S. signs pact with Japan to ease tense relations.

--Cooter

Rubes Finds "No-Man's Land"

From the October 28, 2017, Rubes comic strip.

You see two men crawling through the desert and they come across a line of porta-potties with barbed wire draped over them.

The captin reads:  "Harvey and Floyd inadvertently stumble into no-man's land."

About those huge lines waiting to use the women's porta-potties.

Of course, the term "No-Man's Land" became very apparent during World War I referring to the land between the opposing trenches.

Women?  --CootaGottaGo

Chicken Thieves in Waterman, Illinois, in 1917

From the November 1, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The Chronicle office received communication from Miss Agnes Mullen of Waterman to the effect that chicken thieves were operating in that vicinity and desired the paper to give publicity to the fact.

"According to the communication several chickens were stolen recently and the vicinity is up in arms against chicken thieves."

Gimme Back My Chickens.  --Cooter

A School Break-in Back in 1917

From the November 1, 2017, MidWeek.  "Looking Back"

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Miss Minnie Kreuger, who is teaching at the Carter school south of DeKalb, was somewhat surprised yesterday morning when going to the school for the day, to find that the little school had been entered and everything of value had been taken.

"The night prowlers helped themselves to books on the teacher's desk, books of the pupils and anything else that was handy or any value at all.  Miss Kreuger has no idea as to whom the marauders might be, but wish they would be kind enough to return the set of reference books which were taken from her desk.

Real Nice of Them.  And You Thought Crime Was a New Thing.  --Cooter

A Drunk Driver Finds Himself Between a Fence and a Fire Hydrant in 1942

From the October 18, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Police department officials had something new to look after while cruising in the squad car, and one that required some dexterity on the part of the city street department workmen to extricate the automobile of a Cortland man.

"From information available, the Cortland man had spent much of the day in taverns and as he attempted to return home, turned the wrong corner and found himself on a dead-end street and the next thing he had driven his machine between a fence and a fire hydrant, the rear of his machine hooked onto a fire plug.

"He endeavored to release his car and threw enough dirt with the back wheels to resemble an early spring plowing task."

Don't Drink and Drive.

Oops.  --Cooter

The "Birds" Get After DeKalb

From the October 18, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The passing of great flocks of birds over the city every evening this week has been watched with interest by many DeKalb people.  The birds settle over the city during the day and at sundown fly to Huntley Park for the night.

"Neighbors in the vicinity say that the birds can be heard for blocks and that the park is full of them."

DeKalb County is going to the birds.

Keep An Eye to the Sky.  Prepare to Duck and Watch Where You Step.  --Cooter

Sparrows Take Over the County Courthouse in 1917

From the November 29, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"It appears DeKalb has its blackbirds to contend with and Sycamore has its sparrows, but in Sycamore's case, the birds select the small tree at the entrance to the courthouse property at State and Maple streets.

"Yesterday morning it is estimated there were more than 2,000 birds in the tree, and rather than having a wintery look as is the case most of the day, it looked fully leafed.  Efforts have been made to exterminate the birds but with little success."

Da Birds in Sycamore.  --Cootfeather

Electricity Comes to DeKalb County Farms in 1917

From the November 22, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back.'

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Life on the farm has been revolutionized these days by electricity.  The use of electric current has totally changed the methods of existence on the farm and where is this seen better than right here in DeKalb county.

"William Rich, one of DeKalb county's prominent farmers living about four and a half miles northwest of DeKalb has just completed the electrification of his farm establishment and is mighty proud of his equipment."

--Cooter

Cattle Anthrax Breakout in DeKalb County in 1917

From the November 15, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"DeKalb farmers will hear with apprehension that the deadly cattle anthrax has broken out in this county.

"Dr. F.N. Rowan, of the state veterinarian office placed a quarantine on the farm of Walter Hammett of Elva where it was found that several cattle of a herd recently imported from North Dakota were affected by the disease."

Something You Don't Much Hear Anymore.  --Cooter

Send Cakes and Sweets to Soldiers at Camp Grant in 1917

From the October 18, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"A DeKalb lady receiving the following from Camp Grant comes forward with the suggestion today that DeKalb women and girls spend a little time in making cakes and other sweets for the soldier boys not mobilized there."

Meaning soldiers not sent off to war.  Some more World War I homefront effort.

--Cooter

Site for Kishwaukee College Selected in 1967

From the October 11, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"The Ralph Byrd farm on Alternate 30 west of Malta is where the Junior College Board has taken an option on 120 acres for the site of the proposed college.

"The area is located on the north side of Alternate 30 and west of the Kirkland blacktop road."

This would be where Kishwaukee College is located today.  Alternate 30, the original Lincoln Highway, is now Illinois Highway 38.

--Cooter

Getting "Hooverized" for the WW I Effort: Wheatless and Meatless Days

From the November 29, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back.:

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Meatless and wheatless days are a common thing around this neck of the woods, and it seems that everywhere one goes there is work of "Hooverizing" in evidence.

"The local restaurants eliminated pork, beef and all by-products from their menus and although there was little to choose from save fresh fish and egg dishes, there was not a word of complaint heard."

Doing It For the Troops.  --DaCoot

Peace Road Opens in DeKalb County in 1992

From the October 25, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1992, 25 Years Ago.

"DeKalb County Board Chairman Robert Hutchenson addressed a group on the opening of the Peace Road extension between Bethany Road and Il-23, marking the end of a two-year, $1.2 million project.

"The road now spans seven miles, from I-88 to Sycamore, with three miles in the planning."

This is a good way to avoid driving through downtown Sycamore.

--Cooter

"Comfort Kits" for the Soldiers in World War I.

From the November 22, 2017, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

""While Miss Eleanor Townsend of Sycamore was attending Wisconsin university the girls made 'comfort kits' and other articles and sent them with their names and the name of the university to the soldiers in France.

"A few days ago, Miss Townsend received from a soldier written in French politely thanking her and expressing appreciation for the gift.  The giver naturally feels gratified that it reached one for whom it was designed and that it was so much appreciated."

Supporting Out Troops.  --Cooter

Daylight Saving Goes National in 1967

From the November 22, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"The nation takes a great leap backwards into standard time Sunday.  For the first time, the move will be all but universal as residents of 46 states turn their clocks back one hour."

Getting All Aboard.  --Cooter