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

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

No Fun (and Little Pay) At the Sycamore Preserve Works in 1883

From the June 3, 2020, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1883,   Many, many years a go.

"There was some commotion  at the Sycamore Preserve Works last Monday over the double discovery that, under the new superintendent,  the hundred women and girls at work must stick to their posts and not talk; also , that their wages were cut down some thirty percent from last year's rates.

"From thirty to sixty cents a day is all they earn at present prices.  Last year they had a kind of picnic there and lots of fun;  this year they say it is serious work and pretty poor pay.

"Quite a number quit work at noon and other at night.  Next day there was a slight advance in wages.

Sounds Like A Strike About to Happen.  --CootStrike

Free Doctoring and Getting Rid of That Cat in 1878

From the June 3, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1878, Many, Many Years Ago.

"Drs. Nesbitt and& brown have taken the contract to doctor the poor of Sycamore next year.  That includes pretty much all of us, don't it/  What's the use of paying any more doctor bills?

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"You can sell your cat for ten dollars in the Black Hills.  It will cost you eighty-five dollars to get out there with the cat and get home but you will be rid of the cat and that is worth  one hundred and twenty-five dollars to anyone."


Cat Lovers, Obviously.  "Don't It."  --Cooter

About College and Valentine's Day Back in 1878

From the  June 3, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1877,  Lots and Lots of Years Ago.

"Fifteen or twenty young gentlemen and ladies of Sycamore went to school or college last week, and 15 to 20 parents are receiving letters this week saying, 'Send me a little more money, father, it takes more money than I thought it would."

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"Valentine's Day sent  500 Sycamore children crazy, last Wednesday.  The amount of foolishness sent through the mail was enough to sicken the stomach of a dog.

"The glory of Valentine's Day has departed."

Bah, Humbug.  --DaCootTine

Where'd the Onions Go and Dog Owners Beware in 1944

From the April 3, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago

For the first time in  the history of retail grocery and vegetable business a dearth of onions is causing many a disappointed shopper to return home without the desired purchase.  It is expected that the scarcity of onions is only temporary, but there have been no fresh onions on the market for some weeks."

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Dog owners in Sycamore, especially those in the Turner addition, found running at large will be picked up by the police department for disposal.  All fogs must be kept penned or on a leash."  There MIGHT be something wrong with the wording on this.

--Cooter

Warning to You Speeders: VASCAR's Here in 1969

From the February 20, 2019, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1969, 50 Years Ago.

"State trooper Bernhardy demonstrated a new speed detection device at the DeKalb County Courtgouse.

"The device, called Vascar, is an electronic computer  that measures distance and time and computes the resultant speed and is designed to replace the patrol car speedometer  as a speed measuring tool."

Get Your Tickets Here.  --GreGen

After World War I, 1919: 100 Years Ago

From the March 20, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

**  "Prof. John Adee, who is well known here as a Sycamore boy, and as a former and popular superintendent of  the Sycamore schools, is one of 30 superintendents of schools selected by  the government to go to France to teach the American soldiers."

**  "Names of several returning heroines and heroes known in DeKalb were included in the lists today in the papers.  Miss Celeste Firkins of Shabbona Grove and Miss Nellie R. Satter of Leland, who were with the Red Cross nurses of the Presbyterian  unit, arrived on the Mauretania."

--Cooter

Illinois' Sesquicentennial in 1968

From the October 10, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Bacl."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb County Court House in Sycamore has received some outdoor decorations in honor of  the 150th 'birthday' of Illinois.

"The Sesquicentennial salute lists Northern Illinois University, the Farm Bureau, barb wire, and the home of Chief Shabbona as unique facets of DeKalb County's history."

--Cooter

Making Money Off Those Parking Meters in Sycamore in 1968,

From the March 6, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1969, 50 Years Ago.

"From records maintained by the employees of the Sycamore  city clerk's office, it was noted that a total of $41,891 was collected from the city's parking meters and from fines paid for violations during the year 11968."

Just Rolling In the Money.  --Cooter

Turner Brass Works in Sycamore, Illinois

Today and yesterday, I wrote about the Turner Brass Works Company getting an "E" Pennant during World War II for making items for the war effort.  A high honor.  Then, I wrote about the company's history, which started in Chicago and then moved out to Sycamore, Illinois.

They were one of, if not the biggest bakers of blow torches from 1971 to the 1990s.

You can read the entries in my Tattooed On Your Soul:  World War II blog.  Just click on the Blogs I Follow at right.

--DaCoot

A Marine Speaks of Battling "The Horrible Huns" in 1918

From the December 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Joe Neuman, a wounded Marine,  was at Genoa last evening, where he gave a couple of addresses, telling of his experiences in the firing line against the horrible Huns.  Genoa people had planned a regular demonstration for the DeKalb soldier, but rainy weather put a halt to the plans.

"Neuman is scheduled to speak at Sycamore Friday evening and at Shabbona Saturday evening of this week, and it is probable that he will be heard by many people in both places."

--Cooter

War Slackers and Choice of Army or Jail in DeKalb County (Illinois) in 1918

From the May 23, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb County jail at Sycamore is unoccupied, Sheriff Jame Scott devotes his time investigating complaints which are being made against alleged war slackers.

"He loses money because the Bastille is empty, as he is allowed so much per day for feeding prisoners.  Youths when arrested are allowed their choice of joining the army or going to jail."

Guess They're Choosing War--Cooter

48 Men from DeKalb County Joining the Army

From the May 23, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"DeKalb County people in goodly numbers met in Sycamore to bid God-speed to 48 of DeKalb County's best young men who were selected for army service and starting on their way to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri, for training."

--Cooter

Marengo's Second Interurban Railroad-- Part 3

Dr. Charles Brown of St. Charles was the main promoter of the line and had sucsessfully developed interurban lines elsewhere in northern Illinois.

The line's first car, #711 was ordered in 1910 from McKean Motor Car Company in Omaha, Nebraska, which described its product as "a palace on wheels."

It took six months to complete the line from Genoa to Marengo.  On June 11, 1911, over 800 people attended the celebration of its dedication.

Not sure what happened to their first interurban railroad.

--DaCoot

Marengo's Second Interurban Railroad-- Part 1: Sycamore to Marengo

From the January 6, 2013, Marengo (Illinois) Union Times by Dorothy Otis.

Before the automobile put them out of business, interurban railroads were a popular and affordable way to get around between cities in the Midwest.

Marengo's second interurban began at the Sycamore city limits and followed a portion of the future Illinois Highway 23 north to Genoa then northeast to Marengo.  (This is the way we use when we go to DeKalb these days.)  By 1913, the line has 23 miles of track.

It was used for passengers and hauling light freight.  originally it was intended to use electricity as a power source but costs led to only gas cars ever being used.

--CootUrban

Redevelopment In Downtown DeKalb in 1967

From the September 6, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"A project for the redevelopment of Downtown DeKalb is one step closer to the real thing with the approval of $146,816 in federal funds."

Stores and businesses were moving out to Il. Highway 23 between Sycamore and DeKalb.

--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

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