Looking Back for Sept. 8, 2021

1921 – 100 YEARS AGO

Frank B., a prominent member of the local foreign colony, was today assessed the small matter of a $100 fine for being a little too Americanized in his notions. Frank, apparently, thought that the land-of-the-free stuff was to be taken literally and played without a limit. The $100 fine was for beating his wife but if investigation, which is now under way by government agents, divulges that the facts are expected, he will have to face a more serious charge.

In addition to considerable other damage done about DeKalb Sunday night during the high wind, it is learned today that the coal chutes were also damaged. Part of the south chutes was torn off and sent flying into a nearby field, while the chutes on the north side of the track were not touched. The damage is being repaired and no difficulty was experienced at the chutes in taking care of all engines for coal and water.

You can say goodbye to South Street in DeKalb after a while because there won’t be any such animal. A petition was presented to the aldermen last night asking that the name of the thoroughfare in the south part of the city be changed to Roosevelt Street and the petition was granted by the city fathers. The move is a good one as the name is much more expressive as a memorial to the dead ex-president than it would be under the prosaic title of South Street.

John H. Stray of Kingston Township this week brought to the county clerk’s office the pelt of an old wolf shot by him last March, to claim bounty, but the time for claiming bounty had expired. The wolf came to his hen house for chickens one night, and the next evening Mr. Stray took his gun and waited for his second visit. He was rewarded by appearance of Mr. Wolf soon after dark and shot him as he was about to enter the chicken house. The hide was sold to pay for the chicken dinner of the previous evening.

Fire believed to have been started by children playing with matches in the basement of the house at 915 Oak Street yesterday afternoon called the fire department, in about an hour after the fire alarm circuit had been repaired. The call came in from box 32, which has become familiar to DeKalb people due to three fires at the Rukavina place earlier in the year.

1946 – 75 YEARS AGO

Joseph Masterson, well-known resident of Clare, has received word from the patent office at Washington, D.C., that he has been granted protection on an improved lawn mower sharpening device. About a year ago a model machine was constructed by a Belvidere mechanic, working under the direction of Mr. Masterson and for the past year it has been in operation in that city. About 100 different types of mowers, both hand-driven and power machines have been sharpened on the 500 jobs that the machine has handled.

The Ohio Grove School closed this year as the board was unable to secure a teacher. Some of the children are going to Maple Park and others to the Crane school where Mrs. Thorworth is the teacher.

The Burlington is placing a spur track at Shabbona where material will be sidetracked for the contractor who is widening and repairing Route 30 from Shabbona west to Route 51. The road will be widened a few feet, repaired and covered with a coat of blacktop.

Mr. Henaughan is teaching the Greentown School this year, formerly teaching at Afton Center. Mrs. O’Kane taught this school for the past eight years. There are only three schools open in Victor this year. Mrs. Gunderson is again teaching the Wesson School and Charlotte Larson is teaching the Suydam School, receiving over $2,000 a year for her work, probably the highest paid teacher around here. The McCleery School has been rented to a young couple for some time and they are living there with their young son. Probably a far more comfortable place than many houses as it has oil heat, electricity and no near neighbors. Other empty schools are filling their share toward the housing situation.

W.N. Pinktson of 511 South First Street in DeKalb is proud of this year’s crop of peaches, from a tree which he planted some six years ago. One of the peaches measures three inches in diameter and weighs nine ounces. The rest of the peaches are practically the same size. All are luscious and juicy and Mr. Pinkston considers himself lucky for having such fine fruit on a tree grown from a peach pit which he had planted.

Yesterday morning ten “house guests” at the DeKalb police station, who spent Monday night at the jail after being arrested for being drunk and disorderly, were assessed fines and costs when they were brought before Police Magistrate Jerre Stevens for hearings. Although the minimum ”charge” for accommodations is $9.40, which includes costs, many seem to enjoy the hospitality of the jail for they continue to use the accommodations.

1971 – 50 YEARS AGO

A woman was knocked unconscious during Genoa’s Labor Day ball game when she was struck in the head by a ball. The woman regained consciousness after receiving first aid from the G-K Rescue Squad. The ball game was between the little league players and their managers and coaches.

Members of the DeKalb County Highway Department have poured asphalt at Chicago Road and Route 2 south of Waterman, for the installation of rumble strips. One set has nine strips, eight inches wide and eight inches apart.

It hurts a little, but Sycamore Police got their man last night after a very short and very slow chase through the city that ended on Edwards Street with a crunch. The offender was chased for two blocks at a speed no more than 10 miles per hour before he was stopped after a collision with a second squad car coming to assist.

1996 – 25 YEARS AGO

DeKalb Fire Department and DeKalb County police officials are not ruling out foul play in a suspicious fire that burned down an abandoned cement plant late last night. The structure, which stood off Peace Road south of Loves Road, belonged to the Floit Sand & Gravel Co., based in Sycamore. It burned to the ground between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The owner of the Evergreen Village Mobile Home Park again is asking for the county government to participate in a federal program to buy the trailer park and move its residents elsewhere, a deal which may not cost the county much or anything.

Three-time world champion Dodge Ram monster truck Bear Foot will appear at the Sandwich Fair, now in its 109th consecutive year. The vehicle stands nearly 10 feet tall, weighs 10,000 pounds and carries tires that tower a staggering 5 1/2 feet above the ground.

– Compiled by Sue Breese