A Carload of Coal for the Less Fortunate in DeKalb in 1916

From the December 28, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"According to plans that are now formed the carload of coal that has been donated to the Good Fellow cause for distribution among DeKalb's less fortunate people, will be on the track Friday."

Of course, coal was the major way homes were heated back then.

--Cooter

Prohibition Comes Early to Virginia (1916)

From the October 3, 2016 Roanoke (Va.) Times)  "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"At the stroke of midnight tonight, Old John Barleycorn will be banished from Roanoke and Virginia for the first time since Captain John Smith landed at Jamestown."

What Would the Baldwin Sisters and Their Father's "Recipe" Do?  (If You Watched the "Walton's.)  --CootDry

Three Roanoke Men Thought to Have Been Lost on British Steamer Marina, Sunk By German Submarine in 1916

From the October 31, 2016, Roanoke (Va.) Times  "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Two men of Roanoke -- Jack Davis and J.R.C. Brown -- known to have been on the ill-fated British steamer Marina, sunk by a German submarine while on her way from Glasgow to Newport News, and a third, J.M. Hanley, believed to have joined her crew before she left an American port nearly a month ago, may have been among the seventy members of the steamer's crew who lost their lives."

I'll do some more research.

Never Heard of This Attack.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Peeping Toms on NIU Campus

From the December 28, 2016, MidWeek (Dekalb County, Ill) "Looking Back."

Well, actually the school's name back then was Northern Illinois Normal School.

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"For some time past there has been a complaint from the Normal school officials that someone has been attempting to peek into the windows of the dormitory.  The action in the past of those guilty has caused the girls at Williston Hall no end of worry, and police have been working on the matter for some days past, and now have the offending where they can be reached in a few moments.

"One of the young men is about 22 years old, is old enough to know better, and should be at work more profitable to him than that of climbing onto window sills and peaking into windows."

A "Peeking Tom" even back then.  And, it was Bluto!!

--NotMeTer

Looking Back to 1916: It's a Garbage Thing

From the September 7, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Wanted:  Between 300 and 500 DeKalb families to have their garbage collected by the city wagon.  This service is free.  All you have to do is register at the city clerk's office."

Really.  Free Garbage Pickup?  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Women Voting for the First Time

From the November 23, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Two prominent Elva women cast their first votes and both are at an advanced age.  One was Mrs. Susan Ward, aunt of Judge Harry McEwen who came to Elva in a taxi to take her to the polls.

"Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Agnew took Mrs. Helen Rollins who is seventy-five years of age to the polls.

"Both women are well and greatly interested in present day affairs.

Finally, the Right to Vote.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: A War Tax on Telephone Calls and Telegrams

From the October 12, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"You will notice on your telephone and telegraph bills nowadays that an extra penny is not added, and although a penny is the smallest denomination of American money, with some business concerns that added penny for war tax amounted to considerable in a month.

"Telephone calls that went over a fifteen cent charge were taxed a penny, while telegrams of all kinds, way bills, etc., were also taxed.  The penny can now go towards the high cost of living instead of the war fund."

And, We Weren't Even At War Then.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Thanks to Corey & Evans

From the August 10, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Corey & Evans have earned the gratitude of the military aid people.  The well-known transfer firm has donated the use of its big motor truck to haul the band to and from the ice cream social at Sycamore on Wednesday night."

More for the war effort.

--DaCoot

Looking Back to 1916: The Problem With Garbage

From the September 21, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"This is an unsavory story -- it is the old one again about garbage.  Even with the new garbage arrangement, there is complaint about garbage disposal or rather non-disposal.

"Many people throw refuse on the ground instead of keeping it covered until the collector comes.  In the meantime it breeds millions of flies and causes all sorts of things to be said because of the terrible odors.

"Flies are recognized as the spreader of typhoid fever, summer complaints, malaria, infantile paralysis and dozens of other sicknesses, so why in the name of common sense don't people take a little precaution when it could so easily be done."

And, We Take Garbage Collection for Granted.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: A New Factory Opening in DeKalb

From the September 7, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"One of DeKalb's promising industries has been lying idle for some time is soon to be again placed in operation according to a well authenticated report.

"The plant is that of the defunct DeKalb Cereal Company which was put up for the purpose of making the great cereal food, Bix Six."

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: A Horse Mishap in DeKalb

From the August 24, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"A little excitement was caused at the Sixth Street crossing over the North Western in DeKalb this morning about 9:00 o'clock when the horse that John Crego was driving hitched to a top buggy became frightened .

"Some of the traces came loose and dropped around his hind feet. The horse plunged and reared up and started to make a quick getaway but Mr. Crego was able to get it stopped and Officer Rowe who was at the depot, ran over to the horse and held him while the driver got out and quieted the animal.

The Dangers of Horse and Buggy.  Get an Automobile.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Women Voting in Illinois

From the November 9, 2016, MidWeek (Dekalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"With the first election, in which Illinois women take a really important part, but five days off, the dominant questions in the minds of the lady these days is, 'What do we vote for."

Even though women did not get the right to vote nationally until 1920 with the 19th Amendment, evidently Illinois, which was the first state to approve it, allowed women to vote in 1916.  I am not sure whether they could vote in national elections, but obviously they could in local and maybe even state elections.

--CootVote

Looking Back to 1916: DeKalb Boy Playing for Cubs Injured

From the August 17, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Cyrus Williams, erstwhile DeKalb baseball star, now a member of the Chicago Cub team, was rendered hors du combat in yesterday's baseball battle in Chicago by a rap on the wrist by a pitched ball that made it necessary for him to leave the game."

--Intentional?  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Extreme Heat the Last Several Days

From the August 17, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"The extreme heat of the past several days has taken a heavy toll amongst the farm horses in this section of the state as well as elsewhere.  The farmers are now at the height of their out cutting and the horses are required to pull heavy binders through the hot fields all day and in many cases the animals have dropped dead."

DeKalb County Farmers Were Still Mostly using Animals On Their Farms.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: How DeKalb Got the Normal School (NIU)

From the December 21, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"The following little bit of ancient history, appearing in this morning's Chicago Herald will be of interest to local people:  The information leaked out years ago that the state was looking for a site for a normal school (to train teachers) and had already considered several locations without a decision.

"DeKalb was one of the cities rumored to have a chance, but it was hinted that the land in question ran far too much to quagmire.  Still, DeKalb wasn't going to lose because of anything like that.

"The quagmire couldn't be removed on short notice, but it could be filled up and made to appear like a place that could be drained.  A fire engine was put to work and pumped enough water to create a small lake into which were propelled a couple of board and from them several citizens were hauling grocery store Yarmouth bloaters by hook and line when the state's agents came along."

A Yarmouth bloater is a type of herring.

They got their school.  Northern Illinois State Normal School opened in May of 1895.

The small lake is where today's East Lagoon is located and one of the most beautiful spots on campus.

I have also heard that DeKalbites dammed up the Kishwaukee River which is quite small and shallow most of the year and opened the dam just before the state people got there to make it appear that it was a mightier stream than it actually was.

Very Sneaky, You DeKalb.  --CootNIU

Looking Back to 1916: Old "Faceful"'s Last Days at DeKalb's Depot

From the November 30, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"From now on the North Western in DeKalb will receive the thanks of every one having occasion to want a drink of water at the depot.

"The present bubbler, while perhaps sanitary in every respect is one that will easily give one a shower bath instead of a cooling drink, and the officials of the road are now having a new fountain installed of the latest design that will be better in every respect.

"Many a passenger has endeavored to take a drink at the old bubbler and has received a veritable shower on account of the construction of the bubbler."

We used to have a "Bubbler" drinking fountain at my old school, John T. Magee in Round Lake, Illinois, that would do the same thing.  I put up a sign above it "Old Faceful."

--CootWaterInFace

Looking Back to 1916: Drinking His Life Away

From the December 7, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Martin Garrity, of Haish Avenue, who for the last two or three months has been an intermittent visitor at the police station Monday mornings for imbibing too freely, was hauled in again yesterday on the same charge and also another for cruelty treating his family.

"The matter has been brought to the attention of the authorities so many times in the past that they are losing all patience, as each and every time the offender promises to refrain from the stuff, but never does it.

"This time, however, the presiding judge handed him a fine of $25 and costs for drunkenness.

So, DeKalb Had Its Own Otis.  --CootDrunk

Looking Back to 1916: Wire Company Making Big Bucks

From the May 11, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Another of Sycamore's manufacturing industries is making a highly gratifying increase in business, and at a meeting held this week, the Nehring Insulated Wire & Cable Company voted to change the name to the Illinois Wire & Cable Company and to increase capital stock from $50,000 to $125,000."

No doubt, much of this increase was due to the United States preparing to enter the war.

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: War Clouds and Kicked By the "Steel Mule"

From the April 6, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

**  "The National Board of the Daughters of the American revolution has decided to assist the Commission for Relief in Belgium, in organizing a 'Flag (Tag) Day' for the relief of war sufferers in occupied Belgium and northern Europe."

As the United States draws nearer to entering World War I.

**  "Wilbur Marshall was kicked by a 'steel mule,' in other words,, he was cranking a traction engine when it kicked back and he received a blow which dislocated his jaw and caused very painful bruises on Wednesday."

The Perils of Machinery.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Dope Fiends Even Back Then?

From the April 27, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"The Kirkland White House Drug Store was broken into.  The thief took $5 change, 345 grams of morphine, 116 heroin tablets and eight veterinary cocaine tablets.

"The taking of the above drugs, and the fact that nothing else in the store aside from the cash was molested would indicate that the thief was a dope fiend."

This Is You Brain on Drugs.  --Cootdrug