Compiled by Jeff Farren from the files of the Kendall County Record.

December 2011

The now-closed River Road bridge may soon be improved. Several documents have been approved and bids may be sought soon. The bridge has been closed since spring when state officials found cracks under the bridge and deemed it “unsafe”.

December 2006

A third landfill developer has his sights on Kendall County. This landfill is proposed in unincorporated Lisbon Township, west of Route 47 and north of Whitewillow Road. Another landfill is being proposed on Route 71 near Sleepy Hollow Road in Yorkville and the third is reportedly in the works in the southern portion of the county.

December 2001

Several hundred people crowded the Beecher Community Building in Yorkville to look at the state’s plan for a potential major roadway. Currently dubbed the “Prairie Parkway” the corridor would connect Interstate 80 at Minooka to Interstate 88 just east of the DeKalb-Kane County line.

December 1996

Kendall County officials hope to acquire the necessary right-of-way for the proposed Orchard Road bridge crossing the Fox River within the next year. The county hopes to extend Orchard Road south from Route 34 to meet Route 71 on the south side of the river.

December 1991

In an effort to protect prime Will and Kendall County farmland from development, the Kendall County Board approved a resolution opposing the proposed expansion of the City of Joliet’s sanitary sewer planning area.

December 1986

Yorkville aldermen continue to battle the problem of excess radium in the city’s water supply. A local firm, Isoclear, has developed an experimental method for removing the radium through filtering, however it is awaiting state approval. Other options would be the expensive process of drilling new shallower wells. Radium is found naturally underground in this area.

December 1981

Bristol-Kendall Emergency Medical Service is providing ambulance service for the area. Wayne Larson of Larson Funeral Home which formerly provided ambulance service, loaned them a van to use temporarily. In late December BK EMS took delivery of an ambulance.

December 1976

A computer system will be needed to keep track of the new dual agriculture assessments mandated by the state. The $50,000 cost and a possible special election added considerably to the Kendall County budget, officials said. It will total almost $3 million.

December 1971

The Yorkville School Board adopted a motion reaffirming that the dress code policies apply to employees as well as students.

December 1966

The Yorkville School Board approved the preliminary drawing of a new junior high and primary building. It will be built on land purchased from Walter Olsen in 1964. It is bounded by Orange Street, Mill Street, Route 47 and Route 126.

December 1961

A young man over on the east side of town became unhappy when he didn’t believe the crew digging the trench for a new sewer line was using necessary diligence in leaving his property in undamaged condition. When they refused a request to desist, he grabbed a shotgun and offered it as evidence why the work should stopped. It did. The determined young man however was charged with something concerning a deadly weapon and paid a fine and costs. And we presume the work resumed.

December 1956

Last weekend the Lions and Legionnaires were indeed busy decorating our village for the holidays. The downtown area was beautiful. The crowning event was the placing of a large tree on the very top of the courthouse. This was a monumental task. The tree is festooned with colored lights as is the railing and the effect can be seen for miles around.

December 1951

Workers are planning to make the rounds in the Village of Yorkville Friday, so residents may set out their garbage containers (on top of the snow drifts). If another snowstorm makes this week’s collection impossible please bear with the inconvenience as the department is doing its utmost to serve the public.

December 1946

Now that the coal strike has halted, at least temporarily, everyone seems to be happier. Display windows are again well lighted. We notice that Frank Weber has a nice bright couple of windows in his store.

December 1941

Of course the main topic of thought and conversation in Yorkville and elsewhere is the attack of the Japanese upon the United States at Pearl Harbor. And here we sit at the Linotype and try to concentrate on the writing of a column. If it sounds a little screwier this week than it usually does, you know what the reason is.

December 1936

The Plattville Methodist Church parsonage was burned to the ground with all of its contents lost. The cause of the fire is unknown.

December 1931

The evergreen tree on the courthouse lawn which has had the distinction of having been lighted each Christmas season for the last decade will again be dressed in holiday attire by the Yorkville Woman’s Club.

December 1926

Remember when we had five full-grown blacksmith shops in Yorkville and a corresponding number in the neighborhood? Now we have one shop in the village. It is operated by a master hand at the craft but he is kept busy during the slippery time of the year.

December 1921

What is without question the largest sheep barn in the United States has been recently completed by the Burlington Railroad tracks in Montgomery. There are a total of seven barns each 450 feet long surrounded by 1000 acres of pasture. Capacity is 70,000 animals.

December 1916

The doctors have been and are very busy these days as many people are sick with the grip.

December 1911

The Farmers Elevator Company met in Yorkville. The question of building a new elevator on the new Yorkville-Morris road was taken up and decided on favorably.

December 1906

The Kendall County Board of Supervisors heard a claim for war bounty presented by relatives from downstate on behalf of a local soldier. At the time of the civil war, the government was drafting soldiers for service and a bounty was offered ranging from $70 to $100. It is the opinion of some that since 40-odd years have passed since the war that the claim should be outlawed. A committee was appointed to study the matter.

December 1901

W. G Gaskill sold his farm in Seward to the Shepley Brothers for nearly $100 an acre.

December 1896

George Mewhirter of Bristol shipped a carload of onions to Peoria last week.

December 1891

The best husking that we have heard of is 1,000 bushels in 13 days by Ed McCauley of NaAuSay.

December 1886

The waterworks in Oswego are undergoing reconstruction; the significance of it, and why undertaken at this unfavorable season is only apparent in official minds.

December 1881

L. Brown of Newark took a large hog to Millbrook that bought $25 cash.

December 1876

A detailed list of expenditures of Kendall County has been issued by Treasurer Serrine. General county expenses were $5,853; of this sum $500 went to Judge Dickey as attorney’s fees in the bond suit; $1,325 for lightning rods, new roof and repair on jail and courthouse. It took $936 to pay jurors.

December 1866

The Yorkville Post Office has been in existence a little over two years. In that time it has had four postmasters. This is certainly rotation in office. Mr. G. W. Hartwell was the first P.M.; succeeded by J. R. Marshall; next Mr. Thomas C. Morley had the honor and finally Mr. Thomas Springer has been appointed to the more honorable than lucrative position. It can’t be said that there is much money in it.