LOOKING BACK

1923 – 100 YEARS AGO

Some car driver last night, without any care for speed laws or without respect for other machines, came close to being the cause of a serious accident when his car, which was going at the rate of about 40 miles an hour and had a trailer attached to it containing empty barrels, nearly crashed into a passing automobile on the Waterman road. It seems that at a rate of speed that the man was going, the trailer would zig zag back and forth along the road and when the car turned off to pass this machine the trailer nearly crashed into the passing machine.

Elvin Carlson and family moved into their new home on the corner of Locust and Park Avenue this morning. The Carlsons have been waiting several weeks for the completion of the home. The house is built according to the plans which Mr. Carlson specified and he, as well as the family, are pleased in their new location.

Announcement today that Gillman Gullickson, the photographer, has secured a long time lease on the Charles Putnam property on North Second Street, brings about the consummation of plans that Mr. Guillickson has had under way for many years. Shortly after entering into business here, Mr. Gullickson expressed his desires to be on the ground floor, and since that time has been awaiting the opportunity. It is the plans of the new tenant of the property to remodel the building formerly used as a cafeteria into one of the best equipped and most modern studios in this part of the community.

Emil Johnson, undertaker of this city, has added another feature to his business, which will fill a need and also be a valuable asset to him. Mr. Johnson has purchased a new Sayer & Scoville hearse finished in battleship grey. A new machine is one of the most modern and later models of this company, which specialized in making cars for such occasions. The car was ordered some time ago but did not reach Mr. Johnson until this week.

The Dettmer family of Esmond is enjoying a radio outfit that was installed in its home the past week.

The Gus Benander home of Cortland, north-west of town is quarantined for scarlet fever. It is reported the three youngest daughters, Ruth, Eleanor and Edith, have the fever. Ruth has been attending the DeKalb High School. The others attend the Crane school in the country.

1948 – 75 YEARS AGO

The War Assets Administration announced today that the quitclaim deed to a 42-acre $176,000 war surplus airport has been mailed to officials of DeKalb, Ill. The transfer gives buildings and property of the field to the city without cost. WAA said that the airport must be operated as a municipal project under the jurisdiction of the Civil Aeronautics Administration. Government aircraft maintain the rights of free entry to the field and the federal government retains the right to re-acquire the property in a national emergency.

Fragmentary reports from only a few townships early today seemed to indicate that DeKalb County’s drive for a symbolic carload of corn to ease hunger pains in Europe would be successful. Robert F. McCormick, treasurer of the drive, reported that he had piece-meal returns from five townships, but that the returns amounted to a little better than $1,300. Contributions from the cities of Sycamore and DeKalb were very small in comparison to the donations from the rural sections of the townships.

Good deeds by Boy Scouts cover a wide range of actions, but the one performed by a group of Scouts from Troop Four in DeKalb this year was a little out of the ordinary. This group of eight Scouts, directed by assistant Scoutmas- ter William Johnson, was working for a merit badge in civics. The boys were not content just to visit the City Council meetings, or to watch a court session or two, they wanted something different. Then somebody suggested that there was an old, old cemetery somewhere out north of town all grown up to weeds and bushes and said it would be a good idea if it was cleaned out. The boys investigated and found the old Whitemore cemetery, just off the North First Street was indeed abandoned and needed cleaning. They gave up all their spare time to work on this project for many weeks. Now the old cemetery where some of the county’s pioneer residents are buried is spick and span and the boys have their civics merit badges.

This morning four calls were received for the DeKalb ambulance within a span of a few hours. Two of the calls were to take patients to the hospital and the other two were to take patients to their homes from the hospitals.

1973 – 50 YEARS AGO

Snowfall has been especially light in DeKalb this winter so motorists have gotten off pretty easily as far as icy roads. Wednesday’s 1.5 inches of snow apparently caught some drivers’ offguard and the result was 11 minor mishaps, including several directly caused by icy conditions.

There was still no official word today on the release date or site for American POWs but military sources said the first exchange of North and South Vietnamese prisoners will take place this weekend.

The Somonauk Junior Woman’s Club is supporting a program to help save the bird that is America’s national symbol, the bald eagle. The club is collecting food labels and for each label sent in, the company will buy approximately 15 square feet of private land next to the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota where nesting eagles have been found.

The need for a roadway connecting the two phases of University Village drew the most discussion, but remained unresolved in a public hearing conducted by the DeKalb Planning Commission. Phase II of University Village will cover 10 acres and handle 168 housing units. The new units will have exactly the same construction as the present building and additional parking for 304 cars will be provided. The first phase of University Village has 241 units and developers said there are also plans for two more phases to be added later.

1998 – 25 YEARS AGO

The Castle is under siege. Northern Illinois University’s Altgeld Hall, sometimes called “the Castle,” is surrounded by problems of all kinds, crumbling bricks, leaky windows, bad heating and air conditioning and lots of asbestos. Three gargoyles have become casualties and have fallen from their posts. Help is on its way, however, as last year the Illinois Board of Higher Education granted NIU more than $19 million to repair and remodel the crumbling building.

Police were lead on a chase Thursday afternoon after a felony defendant ran out of the DeKalb County Courthouse and into a nearby residential neighborhood. The defendant of Aurora had just appeared before a judge for a preliminary hearing when he ran from the courthouse. The bailiff was transferring the defendant to sheriff’s police in a hallway outside the courtroom when he broke free. After running through a residential neighborhood just north of the courthouse, the defendant was apprehended within seven minutes near the intersection of Maple and Exchange streets, directly behind the courthouse.

The DeKalb Liquor Commission unanimously recommended to ban video poker machines from the city at its meeting. The idea behind the ban is that the machines have little value outside being a front for illegal gambling.

–CompiledbySueBreese

News Briefs

Grief support group meeting

Feb. 14 and 28 at DeKalb library

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., will host two grief support group meetings from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 14 and 28, in the library’s lower-level Bilder Family Meeting Room.

The support group is free and intended for adults.

Patrons can join other people experiencing grief and loss to receive support in a safe and confidential setting. Attendees can share their grief experiences, learn more about grief, and receive insight on the grieving process from peers and the group facilitator. The group will be facilitated by ProMedica Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Marianna Galligani. No registration is required to attend.

The support group doesn’t replace other mental health services. If you need individual counseling or other mental health services, call 815-397-3691 or 211. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate attention for a non-life-threatening mental health need, call 988. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

For information, email samanthah@ dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 1701.

Valentine’s Day party set for Feb. 13 at DeKalb library

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., will host a Valentine’s Day party at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room.

The party is free and intended for children.

The party will feature games, a Valentine card craft and special Valentine’s treats. Participants are encouraged to bring a Valentine box or bag for their child and about 30 Valentine cards, either blank or labeled “to a friend.”

For information, email theresaw@ dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 3350.

Studios in Chicago. Ray has toured the country as a stand-up comedian for more than 12 years.

He also appeared in the shows “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Chicago Fire.” Ray appeared in the movies “Save the Last Dance” and “C’mon Man.” Ray started a podcast called “Q and A with Ronnie Ray” in April 2016.

Genoa American Legion Riders to host meat raffle Feb. 11

GENOA – The Genoa America Legion Riders Post 337 will host a Sweet Heart Meat Raffle from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Genoa Veterans Home, 311 S. Washington St.

Admission is free and open to the public.

A luncheon will be available from noon to 2 p.m.

For information, call 815-758-5788.

NIU radio station to ‘Spread the Love’ in Valentine’s campaign

DeKALB – Northern Illinois University’s WNIJ will give listeners a chance to donate to their favorite small businesses and nonprofits during its “Spread the Love” event.

“Spread The Love” will take place on 89.5 WNIJ and 90.5 Classical WNIU Thursday, Feb. 9, according to a news release.

WNIJ listeners can tell the station which local businesses matter to them during the event. The announcers will thank donors on air and mention the businesses. Every business will also be recognized with special on-air shoutouts Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Every business named by WNIJ listeners will be entered into a drawing to be a featured sponsor. The three winners drawn will each spend a week as the featured sponsor.

The one-week featured sponsor package includes:

• Four daily messages on WNIJ

• Four daily messages on WNIU

Grocery

Comedian

Ronnie Ray to perform Feb. 10 in DeKalb

DeKALB – Stand-up comedian and actor Ronnie Ray will perform at a comedy mic after show in DeKalb.

The performance will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at Byers Brewing Co., 230 E. Lincoln Highway, according to a news release.

Ray is a professional stand-up comedian, writer, theatrically trained actor, improviser, podcast host and vice president and founder of UDC Entertainment. He trained at Second City Chicago, ETA Creative Arts Foundation and Act One

• A linkable ad on the Northern Public Radio website

• Acknowledgement in the station’s e-newsletter

WNIJ’s “Spread the Love” campaign began in 2021 to help the local small business community that was struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

WNIJ 89.5 FM is one of two noncommercial public broadcasting radio stations managed by Northern Public Radio, the broadcast arm of NIU, and provides independent, local, national and international news.

–ShawLocalNewsNetwork