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1920 – 100 YEARS AGO
Among the leading community clubs in this vicinity, the Elva Woman’s club comes in the first rank. During the war they maintained their own chapter, working hard in many ways to earn money for maintenance so that when it was all over they had a surplus of $150. Then their attention was called to the need of a county nurse to keep up the survey of our schools and notes on tuberculosis. They voted unanimously to buy one $50 bond and one $5 bond in the sale of the Red Cross seals. This rural club, all of whom are the busiest of farmers’ wives, have set a pace to make other clubs sit up and notice.
The fire department made a quick call about four o’clock yesterday afternoon to the home of John Koach on North Tenth Street where a fire had started due to a defective chimney hole. When the firemen arrived, the blaze had acquired quite a start but it was under control within 15 minutes after their arrival. The damage to the house will be about $25 and work of repairing it will be started today.
The DeKalb County Telephone Company has been quite busy in Cortland for the past few days installing telephones in several houses. Those having phones put in are Mrs. J. Horne, Fred Reynolds, and Peter Aldis.
There was a near train accident this morning on the Second Street crossing when a box wagon belonging to Mrs. Greek, who lives west of DeKalb, broke down on the crossing and a fast train was coming down the grade from the west. Quick action was necessary and the wagon was soon pushed off of the tracks and out of danger. The front axle had broken and let the whole front end down. The wagon was fixed later and was able to be taken to the farm.
The First National Bank has shipped in the following kinds of new money for the use of its customers who desire some for Christmas presents: Brand new one dollar bills, brand new two dollar bills, brand new five dollar bills, brand new ten dollar bills, brand new twenty dollar bills, brand new half dollars, brand new quarters. They can supply these denominations in any quantity desired. Orders for large amounts should be placed now.
1945 – 75 YEARS AGO
Autoists are discovering it’s slippery. Following the snow of Wednesday night and yesterday, the street are quite slippery and motorists are finding that caution must be used. A number also found it troublesome to get away from the curbs after parking. Although the streets were slippery, no serious accidents were reported although several minor crashes occurred. William R. Sims of Haish Boulevard was driving south on Seventh Street shortly after midnight and failed to make the curve at State Street and his car skidded up the parking and struck a small tree to the rear of the home on the southwest corner of Seventh and State streets.
The new Christmas mural titled “Peace,” which is being painted by Arlie Pierce, is now nearing completion. It is expected to be set up on the Court House balcony Monday night. At this time the lights will be thrown on the long-awaited painting for the first time. Material shortages are simplifying the presentation this year, but the promised display is nonetheless effective.
A child patient at the Sycamore Community Hospital suffers through lack of rooms at the institution. Requiring hospital treatment, the youngster was placed in a 5-foot-by-10-foot cubbyhole on the second floor which had previously been used for storage.
At the close of the morning worship service Sunday, members and friends of Waterman Methodist Church will have an opportunity to share in a unique ceremony. Last August, Eufunio Cordors, a native of Mexico and an employee of the Burlington Railroad, died while working in the Waterman community. After repeating unsuccessful efforts to have the body returned to Mexico for burial, brief funeral services were held at the Nash Funeral Home and also at the North Clinton Cemetery where the body was interred. Eufunio Cordors’s widow was sent a copy of the service conducted at the grave. After some time had elapsed, the Official Board of the Waterman Methodist Church decided that as an act of Christian neighborhoodness they would provide the grave of their neighbor from the south with a marker. E. L.Danielson, of Waterman, designed and built the special marker now in place at the grove. A glass tube inside the marker will contain available information regarding Mr. Cordors and his untimely death.
Drastic steps are being taken by the office of Sheriff Alf M. Deisz to combat the heavy raids that sheep flocks of this vicinity have been suffering from dogs. Sheriff Deisz stated that night patrols are to be instituted, and any dogs found roaming in the country will be shot first, and questions will be asked later.
1970 – 50 YEARS AGO
DeKalb County voters gave the new state constitution heavy support yesterday to aid it in passing throughout the state.
Pupils at Cortland Elementary School came to the rescue of the Roland Herrmann family, who were burned out Sunday night with donations of clothes for all eight children. Mrs. Herrmann said today that people have been wonderful, with offers of furniture and other household goods, most of which were destroyed in the living room and kitchen of their home on Perry Road in a fire that caused an estimate $15,000 to building and contents. She said all that they still need are a refrigerator and stove at this time.
The growing roots of a large tree located on Garden Street near Fourth Street has lifted the sidewalk up about six inches. So far no steps have been taken to remedy the hazardous situation.
1995 – 25 YEARS AGO
A labor dispute over unpaid wages for construction of the Amerihost Inn in Sycamore has been settled, according to hotel officials and local union leaders. Union laborers were paid their lost wages and benefits last week. Payment to the carpenters is expected soon. Problems between Amerihost and the unions began after paychecks bounced in October and November, prompting a large labor demonstration at the Amerihost site on Nov. 27.
Ten years ago, Leslie Frazier suffered a career-ending knee injury during Super Bowl XX playing for the Chicago Bears. Eight years ago, he took the head coaching job at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill., and slowing built a winning NAIA college program. Now he’s testing new waters. Frazier, 36, toured the Northern Illinois University campus and surrounding community for the Huskies’ head football coaching position.
Another large subdivision has been proposed, and while it would be outside of city limits, the development would be within the Sycamore School District. The 147-acre Lakewood Estates subdivision has been proposed to the county for development. The proposal calls for 75 single-family homes, built on lots of at least one acre. The land could accommodate between 200 to 300 homes. If approved, the subdivision would connect Plank, Moose Range and Whipple roads.
– Compiled by Sue Breese