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Compiled by Jeff Farren from the files of the Kendall County Record.
Five years ago, December 2010
• City of Yorkville Officials are looking for ways to save costs and raise revenue due to a projected deficit in the budget. Nine city employees were layed off as part of an effort to trim city’s expenditures.
10 years ago, December 2005
• Two Plattville residents filed papers to request a referendum on incorporating the town of Plattville as a village. Voting would be next March.
• New owners of the Countryside Center Shopping Center property at the corner of Route 34 and 47 say they hope to have the center demolished by spring. Two tenants remain. Senior Services Associates will be moved into the Beecher Community Center and Happy Hour Harry’s lease will expire at the end of this month.
15 years ago, December 2000
• Brittany Richmond, 16, of Bristol was crowned Miss Illinois Teen USA.
20 years ago, December 1995
• Two Yorkville Police officers have been chosen from among more than 50,000 applicants to serve on the security force for the 1996 Olympics. Officers Terry Klingel and Donald Schwartzkopf will serve at the summer games in Atlanta.
25 years ago, December 1990
• Anne Engelhardt has been chosen as the new Yorkville School Board member. The choice was made by Richard Krase, superintendent of the Kendall Grundy Educational Service Region. The choice was left to him when the remaining six board members failed to agree on a replacement for Carroll Saxe, who resigned.
• James Boan succeeds Ken Corbin as Kendall County Board chairman.
• One Yorkville High School student was killed and two others critically injured in a traffic accident on Route 47 between Mazon and Morris as the students were returning home for a YHS basketball game at Dwight.
30 years ago, December 1985
• The Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce announced winners of the Jack Frost and Miss Snowflake contest were Kyle Zaricor and Tina Mattison.
• A bit of Yorkville business history ended as the former Y Food Mart building at the northeast corner of Rt. 34 and 47 was torn down.
35 years ago, December 1980
• The Illinois legislature has deeded 3.9 acres of the Glen D. Palmer State Game Farm to the City of Yorkville. The land is on the east side of Game Farm Road just north of the ranger’s house. Yorkville Mayor LeRoy Thanepohn said both the Beecher Community Building and the new Yorkville Public Library will be built on the site.
40 years ago, December 1975
• Two area residents who have served Kendall County for a total of 57 years were honored at a luncheon at the Crown Restaurant. Ernest R. Zeiter was presented a plaque for 20 years as a county board member. Margaret Rogerson was honored for 37 years working with juveniles in the Kendall County Services.
45 years ago, December 1970
• Voters in Kendall County soundly defeated three referendums, including the proposed new constitution for the State of Illinois. Also defeated was a question on abolishing the death penalty, and lowering the voting age to 18.
50 years ago, December 1965
• Chief of Police Frank Martyn reported to the City Council last week that despite the increased traffic on Route 47, there were no vehicle accidents within the city during the month of November.
55 years ago, December 1960
• The 1960 census puts the Kendall County population at 17,540. Plano remains the largest city (3,343), followed by Yorkville (1,568), which is only 58 more than Oswego (1,510). Oswego Township is the largest of the nine townships at 4,993 followed by Little Rock Township at 4,337.
60 years ago, December 1955
• Homer D. Webster, proprietor of the Rexall Drug Store in Yorkville, announces the official winners in the 1955 Christmas Rexall store contest. Grand prize winners Terry Dittman and Marilynn Munson. Boys: First, Ted Wilkinson; second, Jeff Corneils; third, Elmer Leifheit; fourth, Howard Olsen; fifth, David Ament; sixth, Chuckie Halbesma; seventh, Douglas Dhuse. Girls: first, Dena Sexton; second, Susan Doede; third Mary Page; fourth, Judy Salisbury; fifth Gayle Thurow; sixth, Catherine Barton; seventh, Kathy Erwin.
65 years ago, December 1950
• The Yorkville Grade School District 15 Board scheduled a referendum on building a new school. The issue was defeated 344 to 319.
70 years ago, December 1945
• Fire completely consumed the building occupied by William Powell and with it the Yorkville fire truck was destroyed. The building had been occupied by Powell for just two weeks. An oil heater is blamed. The Bristol Fire Department was called and did their best and the Oswego Fire District truck also sped to the scene, but no effort could check the rapid spread of the blaze.
75 years ago, December 1940
• It has come to our attention that the Village of Bristol (North Yorkville) is putting in brighter street lights. Which sounds like a good idea. Carried further, the lights will be burned all night instead of dousing them at 12:30 or 1:00 whatever time they do turn them off. Me thinks the new bulbs will be of 100 watts power instead of the present 60 watt type. And that ought to brighten things up on the north side these dark evenings.
80 years ago, December 1935
• The Kendall County American Legions are sponsoring a big boys boxing tournament.
• Kendall County has approved a bounty on fox ($3) and wolf ($5). Officials cited the damage done to poultry, livestock and other small game.
85 years ago, December 1930
• The newly-elected “crew” took charge of the Kendall County ship “Government” on Monday morning and set sail on a four-year voyage of service the people of the county. The new crew is county clerk Edward Budd; county judge Arthur Larson; county sheriff Martin Hextell; county treasurer Gladys Sleezer and county superintendent of schools A. N Barron. Sleezer and Hextell are the only new members of the crew, all the others having held offices previously. With the able crew at the helm the ship of Kendall County should have a very successful voyage.
90 years ago, December 1925
• One man died at the Aurora hospital from injuries resulting from an accident. The accident which caused the death was one of the automobile affairs which are growing more frequent as the days go by. The car was about half way between Plano and Yorkville when it wabbled. It went onto the ditch on one side and when it righted, drove into a tree.
95 years ago, December 1920
• Warren Gray has resigned his position with J. A. LaForge in Plattville and accepted a position as manager of the Kentland elevator.
100 years ago, December 1915
• C. E. Parkhurst of Oswego was fortunate in recovering his automobile which was stolen from his home last summer. The machine was at Sandusky, Ohio.
105 years ago, December 1910
• Miss Florence Stumm has given up her place in the Yorkville Post Office and expects to attend a business college to fit herself for a better position. Miss Myrtle Belden takes her place and there is no reason why show should not make herself as valuable as Miss Stumm has done.
110 years ago, December 1905
• Frank Harris is building a large new barn in Pavilion.
115 years ago, December 1900
• The first street car arrived in Yorkville Dec. 22. People cheered, dogs barked, horses shied, bands played and the older residents of Kendall County stood in open-mouthed amazement when the two cars that had left Aurora two hours before rolled into Yorkville and came to a stop. Probably 200 Yorkvillians were on hand at the christening.
120 years ago, December 1895
• A corp of laborers are hard at work putting the poles for electric wires in place in Plano. We are looking toward having the lights running by the New Year.
125 years ago, December 1890
• Fred Leigh and his engineer broke through the floor of the Blackberry bridge with a steam threshing machine late Monday afternoon. The engine and men landed in the water below. One man, the engineer, jumped into deep water and was uninjured. Mr. Leigh was not so fortunate as he landed on the rocks and suffered from some broken ribs and a broken collarbone. The machine was wrecked beyond repair.
130 years ago, December 1885
• The new post office in Lisbon is the pride of the village. Postmaster Shufelt was in town this week. He still has a grip on the White Willow Post Office.
135 years ago, December 1880
• Lisbon: McKuryher and Skinner have started in the poultry business.
140 years ago, December 1875
• Tuesday we saw a new 50 cent note (fractional currency) at the Kendall County Bank the first we had seen of the new issue.
150 years ago, December 1865
• Three persons were arrested for assault on Saturday night in Miller’s saloon. It was a contest between England and America. One man swearing England could whip the Yankees and that he could whip any Yankee in the house. He was put to the test and was laid on the floor two or three times rather violently. The case was dismissed. It was evident from what was said that all parties had drank took much beer. Some say it to be the oysters they had eaten and think the oysters must have intoxicated them, as beer cannot.