Chicago's 'Pioneer' Locomotive

From same source as last post.

1923, 100 years ago.

"The locomotive that spearheaded  the growth of Chicago from a swampy village of 4,000  inhabitants to the transportation crossroads of the world  is being groomed to ride the rails again.

"The engine, the Pioneer, has been moved to the shops of the  Chicago and North Western railway system where it is being reconditioned for a key role in the railway's centennial celebration this year."

And, this locomotive still exists today at the Chicago History Museum.

Now There's a Bit of Chicago History.  Right Frank?  --GreGen

The DeKalb Theatre

From the January 10, 2023, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1923, 100 Years Ago.

"Work on the DeKalb theatre, DeKalb's newest playhouse, is progressing rapidly now and many people stop to give the beautiful front a careful  inspection.

"Today, much additional equipment for the place arrived, as three large loads of  steam radiators were lined up in front of the place for an hour or more.

"The furniture is purchased and will be shipped as soon the order comes from the manager.  Plans are about completed for opening the new playhouse  about May 1."

And, it still stands.  The famed Egyptian Theater also is in DeKalb.

--Cooter

Even Back Then, 1922, 100 Years Ago: At the Time It Seemed Like the Thing to Do

From the November  29, 2022, MidWeek "Looking Back."  DeKalb County, Illinois.

"Six men, none of them believed to be over  35 years of age,  riding in a stolen Jordan sedan, crashed into a standing freight train at the Spring Valley tracks on the Lincoln Highway this morning at 4:30.  Three of the men were injured and were taken to the hospital, one was returned to jail with the other fellow who was too drunk to get hurt.

"The other two prisoners were under guard at the Glidden Memorial hospital.  One of the injured suffered a broken arm and a piece of the windshield jammed into his jawbone.  The other had his hand badly lacerated and required several stitches.

"The third injured man was cut  about thenhead and after being given surgical attention at the hospital, was returned to the police station.

"The Jordan sedan was badly wrecked, and the entire front end of thye machine was badly broken, although the engine would run."

Too Drunk to Get Hurt?

Boys Will Be Boys?  --Cooter

May 1972: The Two Year Anniversary of the Kent State Killings

From the MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back" for May 4, 2022.

1972, 50 years ago. 

"On Thursday morning, students at Northern Illinois University will conduct an anti-war march into DeKalb  and will hold a moratorium on classes at the university.

"The march is being held on the second anniversary of the killings at Kent State University and the subsequent  death of 15 people in demonstrations at Jackson State and Augusta, Georgia."

The Kent State shootings caused some violent confrontations between students and various law enforcement groups.

--Cooter

A 'Stray' Baby Found in DeKalb in 1920

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

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"At 9:30 o'clock this morning the police received a call from the New DeKalb restaurant that a stray baby had been there for an hour and no one had called to claim it.

"The baby was left at the restaurant and within ten minutes Mrs. T.H. Hobbs called up the police and asked if a baby had been seen.  It turned out that the baby was that of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Duncan  and it was soon returned  to her."

Imagine if that happened today, and why was it that Mrs. T. H. Holmes called the police when it was someone else's baby?

Imagine what would happen if the same thing happed these day?

Must remember to leave the pasture gates closed as those babies can crawl faster than you think.

A Whole Lot More Than A Returned Baby, I'm Sure.  Did They Round Up Stray Babies Back Then?  --CootBaby

Already Had the Spanish Flu and Survived By 1920? No Worry Mon

From the December 2, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1920. 100 Years Ago.

"If you had the real Spanish flu back in 1918 and 1919, and didn't die of it you won't have it again.

"You can start in the winter with a perfectly light heart and no worry whatsoever as how to treat yourself in the case of a fresh attack, now that the time-honored whiskey and  quinine cure is no longer integrally available."

Prohibition started in January 1920.

It is too bad that these days in 2020 that if you get the virus and survive you only get a temporary immunity from it.

No Whiskey for You.  --Cooter

Might the County Fair Relocate to DeKalb in 1920?

From the September 16, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"Is DeKalb to have a fairgrounds?  While there seems to be no particular head of a movement for  a fairground for the last few days the talk has been more and more on this line and there is  a big chance that it will crop out in a movement.

"The argument has been , if Sandwich, which is not located on any main road either highway or railroad, can draw a 20,000 crowd,  what would this city draw if the fairgrounds were located here?  The argument is a good one and is causing more than one person to think it over."

A little intercounty tiff.  The fairgrounds are still in Sandwich, though.

--CootFair

A Coal Shortage at the Normal School in DeKalb (NIU)

From the September 2, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"The Normal school is in quite a predicament  at present in regard to coal there being not a single lump of coal in the bins at school.   Ever since  the first of May the school has been without fuel and all of the electricity  that has been used has been obtained from the electric company.  

"Now that the start of the fall term of school is near the shortage  is very serious as everything in the dormitory is run either by steam or electricity.  There is a car of coal  on the way but when it will arrive is a matter of speculation.

--CootCoal

'Jesse James' Rides Horse on Lincoln Highway in DeKalb in 1920

 From the August 19, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"Last night about six o'clock the people of the business section were  very much surprised to see  a girl come riding on horseback down the Lincoln Highway dressed like Jesse James in his prime.  The girl looked to be about 12 or 13 years old and when asked where she was from, replied Vermont and that she was on her way to California.

"The biggest surprise to the crowd who gathered was the fact that she was 22 instead of just being just a 'kid.'  She stopped  for about 15 minutes then was on her way west."

I couldn't find any information on her but that sure would have been an interesting story.

--CooterJames

If It's Not Tonsils, It's Polio in DeKalb County in 1920 and 1945

 From the August 12, 2020,  MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"Tonsil cases at the hospital occupied a great deal of the time of the attendants this morning because of the fact that there were four who had their tonsils removed instead of the usual one or two.

"The children having the occupation performed were Waite Embree, Evelyn Hiland, Marian Miller and Lilea Miller.  All of the children are doing nicely  and will be able to go to their homes this evening."

I had my tonsils removed  when I was child.  That was so mean, they promised me ice cream but my throat was too sore to eat any of it.  I screamed for ice cream.

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb Lodge Loyal Order of the Moose has purchases a portable  iron lung from the Portable Life Saving Company of St. Louis, Mo.  The new equipment is now at the fire station, where every member of the department will be taught how to use it."

The portable iron lung was used to treat cases of polio.

That Promising Ice Cream That You Couldn't Eat Was Not Nice.  --DaCoot

A Marauding Herd of Cattle and Polio in DeKalb County

August 5, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"The owner of a herd of cattle that was taken to the police station on a charge of having trampled the garden of O.S. Greenwood is Albert Ashelford and he was brought into the local police station yesterday and  assessed a fine for allowing his cattle to run loose."

From Find-A-Grave.  Albert Ashelford was born 16 June 1867 in DeKalb Co., Illinois, died 22 December 1922 (age 84) in DeKalb County and is buried in Fairview Cemetery in DeKalb, Illinois.

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"Those polio cases in Rockford are causing Sycamore people to use every precaution with their youngsters.  Sycamore had its share of polio two years ago and doesn't want it again."

Disease problems even back then in this age of the coronavirus.

--Cooter

NIU's Official Entryway Garners an Award in 1995

 From the September 9, 2020, MidWeek   "Looking Back."

1995, 25 Years Ago.

"As Northern Illinois University prepares to kick off its centennial  celebration next month, one of the October 1 events will be the presentation of the Restoration Recognition Award.

The City of DeKalb's Landmark Commission is honoring NIU for recreating the past through the entry gate on Castle Drive.  The design is based on the original gateway to the State Normal School."

And, that is one really pretty entry way to one of the most beautiful spots on campus.

--Cooter

Pigeons Coming to DeKalb County in 1920

From the April 22, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"If everything goes as has been planned, the Chicago Concourse Club will send out about 5000 homing pigeons to be released from here Sunday morning.

"During the war, this type of pigeon won great fame for themselves by carrying messages while under fire.  A man will also be sent along with the birds to see that they are liberated in the right way."

--Cooter

Boys Stealing Rides on the Street Cars in 1920

From the April 2, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb-Sycamore Traction Company  is complaining about small boys stealing rides on the back end of the street car.    It isn't that the company is afraid that it will lose a few 'shekels' but that the boys may be injured.

"The police are watching for them and if caught the boys are apt to get in trouble."

--Cooter

DeKalb High School Cadets Get Guns in 1920

From the April 22, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"The High School Cadets are not marking time since they received the new equipment of guns and rifles  from the government.

"Wednesday two squads  of the company were out for target practice and used the bank of the Kishwaukee River as a backstop.  The boys used the regular ball ammunition and some of them made very good scores."

Students with guns?  Well, it was a different time, wasn't it?

These students were probably the forerunner of today's JROTC at DeKalb High School.

Target Shooting.  --Cooter

Wondering What the Police Did in 1945? Did You have a 'Double-D' Charge?

From the May 6, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"Police department report for the month of April, as prepared by Chief of Police Horace Fothergill shows thirteen arrested during the thirty day period.  The arrests included ten on the "double-D" charge, drunk and disorderly, three on disorderly  conduct, and one person was arrested for not having a drivers license.

"Other activities of the department during the month included six autos stopped for defective lights, eleven complaints answered, two attempted burglaries, three stolen bicycles recovered, three minor auto mishaps, nine funeral and three bank escorts, five fires attended and five dogs disposed of  on the order of the department by the veterinarian."

"Defund the Police?"   Yea, Right.   Idiots.   --Cooter

Electric Park to Open in Sycamore in 1920

From the May 6, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

"On May 9, Electric Park will again open its doors to the dancers and those who who care for amusement on Sunday, which the ordinance of this city does not allow.

"Robert Murphy is the man that has charge of the park and intends to have a place that will suit the most particular.  He is trying to get a colored jazz orchestra and if he does he will promise the dancers plenty of pep to keep time to."

Electric Park was on Ill. Highway 23 (DeKalb-Sycamore Road) about where the Burger King is located today. Must have been quite the sight back then.  An early Six Flags.

--Cooter

Polio Scare at the Fair in 1920

 From the September 9, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"Officials of the Sandwich Fair have announced that children are welcome to attend the fair, which opened today, and that there is no truth to the rumors that children are not being allowed on the grounds.

The officials state that there is no polio in the area and that the rumors that children were being barred from the grounds because of the polio scare are not true."

Something to think of in these coronavirus days.

--Cooter

Not That DeKalb County Was Rural and Agricultural in 1920, But....

From the March 4, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1920, 100 Years Ago.

""Frank Furr will move from the Kelley farm to the Marshal farm which he bought.

"D. Werden will move from the Hines farm to the Kelley farm.

"Sam McCormick will move from his own farm to Wisconsin.

"Carl Modeen will move into the McCormick farm.

"Henry Lankton has sold his farm to Cooper and Leonard and will move to Genoa.

"Fred Anderson will move from the Waite farm to a farm north of Kirkland."

And Cooter Will Figure Out How to Milk a Cow.  --Cooter

Criminals Active Even During War Time in 1944

From the December 18, 2019, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"Chief of police, B.F. Peck today asked that the Secret Service department remind the merchants that check thieves and check forgers  do their Christmas shopping  with stolen and forged checks if merchants and housewives aren't particularly  careful.

"Chief Peck  stated that the government mails out nearly one million checks each day and that check thieves steal as many as they can from mailboxes."

Bah!!  Humbug!!!  Where's the Christmas Spirit.  --Cooter