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

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

Electricity Comes to a DeKalb County Farm in 1918

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"N.J. Smith, of Afton township, is one of DeKalb county's progressive farmers, and to prove the fact that he is progressive, has recently had the Swanson brothers install one of their famous Delco lighting systems.

"Mr. Smith ordered lights in all parts of his farm residence, and in all of the outbuildings so that he would not be compelled to bother with the use of kerosene lamps or lanterns at any time."

Flip the Switch, Mr. Smith.  Getting With the Times.  --Cooter

Waterman to Get Electricity in 1917

From the February 15, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The men of Waterman are now at work in the village building lines, etc. for the electric light system.

"They will set no date when Waterman will get power as they are so frequently delayed from lack of material."

Charging Into the 20th Century.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Building An Electrical Building in Springfield, Illinois

From the March 30, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Winfield Divine, formerly of Sycamore, has been employed to take charge of a large contract, the erection of an electrical building in Springfield, Illinois, for William McAlpine, contractor, of Dixon, formerly of Sycamore who erected the DeKalb County court house."

An Electrifying Performance.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1941: Farm Gets Electricity!!

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"The George Munch farm in Clare has been improved with electricity during the past week."

Hard to believe it was 1941 and there were still places in Illinois without electricity.

Way to Go, Mr. Munch!!  Hard to believe There Were Still Areas in the U.S. Without Electricity in 1941.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Sycamore's Beautiful Shade Trees Getting Severely Trimmed

From the June 1, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.  "It is a matter of keen regret to most citizens the severe trimming which many of our beautiful shade trees are being subjected to in order to give a clear path to the stringing of electric light wire on the new poles which have been set by the Northern Illinois Utilities Company.

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1915: Bringing Electricity to Waterman, Illinois

From the March 19, 2016, Mid Week (DeKalb County, Illinois)

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"For a long time Waterman has been feeling the need for electricity for lighting and power purposes and now it begins to look like Mayor Wiltberger and his council will soon be able to interest the big companies in extending their lines to that town."

Something we take for granted these days, but not so back then.

--DaCoot

Looking Back 75 Years, Sycamore, Illinois: Killer Dogs TB and Electrification

DECEMBER 13, 1939, 75 years ago.

**  County tuberculosis tests for the year will be completed Wednesday, when high school seniors will discover whether they have the disease.  (Quite the nice Christmas present.  Hopefully they won't get the same treatment as the hogs and cattle get with hoof and mouth disease.)

**  Slaughter of at least 50 sheep by dogs on the Nelson farm Monday night sent the sheriff and deputies on the trail of the killers.  The penalty for a sheep-killing dog is execution.

**  The program for getting electricity to Illinois farmers is moving forward rapidly.  Between July 1 and October 31, the Rural Electrification Administration provided for the construction of 4,387 miles of power lines to serve 9,896 rural residences in the state.

--DaCoot