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1921 – 100 YEARS AGO
Sandwich and the surrounding country are enthused over the big automobile races, airplane flights, auto polo and other attractions which are being held in that city today. In the eight championship automobile racing events to be staged, $5,000 in purses will be distributed to the winners. Ten well-known drivers are advertised to appear. “Daredevil” Jack Hall is to swing from an automobile, speeding down the racetrack at 70 miles an hour, into an airplane.
Now that the burglar alarm system at the Fourth Street bank in DeKalb has been completed, the board of directors are to secure a number of “sawed-off” shotguns to be used in case there is an attempt to rob the bank. They are to be placed within the next few days and will be of untold assistance should a holdup be attempted. The bank’s business has been increasing by bounds and jumps within the last year or more and the directors and officials of the institution are to put forth every effort to protect their patrons’ money.
Plumbers of DeKalb, that is the Master Plumbers, are today busily engaged at laying the pipe at Annie’s Woods for the city water which will be installed there. It is understood that four bubblers will be placed in various parts of the campground in addition to the cobblestone fountain, and a hydrant. Homer Vernall, on his own time, has cut the grass about the camp and the firemen are taking turns at swinging the scythe.
Realizing that a tractor would be of greatest service to the city in the present road and alley building work, the city council last night authorized the purchase of the machine. The tractor has been in use for several days by the city road workers in preparing the several roads for oiling, and was found to be very satisfactory, in fact more so than horses. The funds for the purchase of such machinery are to come out of the wheel tax, the laws governing which was passed at a recent meeting of the councilmen.
Following a complaint received at the DeKalb police station last night that boys were destroying gardens and other property, it was necessary for an officer to hike nearly to the end of Haish Avenue to find the disorderly gang. The gang did not stay together very long after the police arrived, and it is safe to say that if any more such work goes on about town, there will be some investigation started concerning these boys.
1946 – 75 YEARS AGO
Speedier and more efficient telephone service has been assured those calling The Chronicle with the completion of the installation of a modern switch-type switchboard. The unit, which is now connected to four trunk lines, permits these calls to be shifted to 12 stations throughout the first and second floor of The Chronicle building.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Hartman of Rollo took their daughter, Mona, to Chicago Monday where she entered the Presbyterian hospital and will remain for 10 days under observation. Her address is Presbyterian hospital, 1753 W. Congress St., Room 3-B, and will appreciate mail. Mona will be a freshman at the high school next September.
The sheds in Clare west of the elevator are being torn down and moved to the east side to make room for an extension to the present feed sheds. An air hammer is being used to break up the cement foundation.
There were 481 persons in DeKalb County who were recipients of old-age pensions during the month of May according to the report of the state. Total payment in this county amounted to $17,726.
Bert E. Holub announced today that his newly organized firm, Holub Industries Inc., will soon move into its new home, the two-story cement block building at 413 DeKalb Ave. Mr. Holub has been with the Ideal Industries for 24 years and resigned on Jan. 28 to establish his own industry.
Barbara Hansen of Chicago, who had imbibed a bit too freely and who was causing a disturbance on an eastbound bus, was arrested by the DeKalb police yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock. Brought to the DeKalb police station, she was later taken to the county jail at Sycamore to spend the night. She was returned to DeKalb this morning and given a hearing before Police Magistrate Jerry Stevens on a charge of being drunk and disorderly. She was fined $10 and costs. She was making arrangements to secure the money to pay the fine so that she could continue her trip to Chicago.
Announcement has been made by War Assets regional board in Chicago that a program has been launched to dispose of the hemp mills at Shabbona and Kirkland.
1971 – 50 Years Ago
Even though Fire Chief Fran Cliffe retires this July, he is determined not to miss the groundbreaking for the new main fire station which should take place late this summer. That’s one goal that the chief has been working on ever since he became head of the department on Feb. 1, 1967. Finally, the city council has purchased land at the corner of Pine and North Seventh streets and plans to demolish the homes and build later this year.
Lightning struck the barn on the Wayne Wesson farm in Victor early last week. In order to call the fire department, they had to go to the Don Olen farm as the extension phone in the barn has shorted out both house phones.
Six weeks from now a tough former Army sergeant who became a cop will hang up his badge and pistol and turn to tamer pursuits. Victor (Vic) Sarich, DeKalb chief of police for 17 years, is retiring after serving almost a quarter of a century on the force. In the 24 years Sarich has served as a law enforcement officer, he has watched the department grow from nine to 35 men and has been personally responsible for most of the increase in its efficiency.
1996 – 25 YEARS AGO
A tornado touched down three miles west of Malta, near Fairview and Willrett roads yesterday afternoon, causing no damage.
The DeKalb Park District and the Ellwood House Association are a little closer to reaching an agreement over the construction of the visitor and education center at the Ellwood House Museum. The district and the Association have been at a stalemate over construction of the Carriage House addition since May of last year. The addition would provide a visitor education center, display space and climate control for the historical collection at both the Carriage House and the main museum.
An anonymous donor has given $500,000 to the Sycamore Public Library to help fund its expansion. The money will be used to help complete the first phase of the library’s expansion, which includes an addition to the old building, well underway now, and finishing the upper floor.
The Sycamore Plan Commission recommended increasing the minimum lot sizes allowed for residential construction in the city last night. If passed by the city council, any new housing will have to be built on an additional 800 square feet than was previously required, except for single-family housing and duplexes, which would see an increase of 2,000 square feet.
– Compiled by Sue Breese