Looking Back

Cover story

1921 – 100 YEARS AGO

Everything is in readiness for the formal opening of the big DeKalb Chautauqua tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock to be put on by the Redpath Bureau, and the indications are that the week will be an unqualified success. The grounds on the Everett playground field on Seventh Street have been put in condition and this location is ideal for the Chautauqua.

DeKalb is to have a new enterprise. This time it is in the nature of a day nursery for children. Several people have wondered why such an attempt at this sort of work has not been made before and it is the opinion of many that such an institution is needed. In these days a good many mothers are under the necessity of working away from their homes and they would doubtless appreciate a good, safe place for their children during working hours.

While J. A. Hines was drilling for water on the O. H. Warne farm purchased last year by W. H. Smith, he struck gas at a depth of 130 feet. This farm is half a mile west of Elburn. Smelling the strong gas fumes, Mr. Hines struck a match over the 4-inch pipe and immediately it ignited. At first it was quite red, but now the flame is nearly blue. Mr. Smith, owner of the farm, is quite enthusiastic over the discovery of this gas well, and is anxious to learn its capacity.

E. Niemenen has a force of men at work about this store at Pleasant and Eleventh streets making necessary repairs, and above all, a much needed addition to thestore building. The business has been increasing until the building became too small for the work and it was decided that an extra part should be built on the west side.

As the train of which he was in charge, No. 272 on the Spring Valley line, broke this afternoon, Conductor Ripley, known to a number of railroad men and others, was thrown against the stove in the way car and had several ribs fractured. Mr. Ripley thought he could finish his trip but the pain became too severe and he called for the ambulance here and was brought in to Dr. Ranklin’s office.

Trouble of a peculiar nature has prevailed with the lighting system in the city and workmen have been resorting to every means to locate a short. The men are now in the east end of the city, have a foot of pavement for a block or more torn up, but thus far have been unable to find the trouble. Those in charge of the work say that within the next day or two they hope to have the system repaired and the pavement replaced.

1946 – 75 YEARS AGO

One of the educational wildlife exhibits of the Illinois Department of Conservation will be among the featured free attractions at the Sandwich Fair. Live, fur-bearing animals, all natives of Illinois, will include raccoon, red fox, skunks and badger. Live game birds, including ring neck pheasants, bob-white quail, Canada geese, and many species of migratory ducks, also will be shown.

Warning to be ever on the alert for pulmonary tuberculosis was again stressed by Mrs. J. T. Masterson, office secretary of the DeKalb County Tuberculosis Association. It pointed out that 55,000 Americans lose their lives each year due to the ravages of the disease and it ranks first as the cause of death among those who are from 15 to 35 years of age. This disease is stealthy in its approach and is painless in its early stages.

A minor blaze caused by a short in the wiring of their auto caused a slight delay for some Iowa people who had stopped in DeKalb for breakfast. The car was parked between Third and Fourth streets on the highway when the fire was discovered. A call was received by the fire department at 6:50 o’clock this morning but there was only a lot of smoke and little fire. Insulation was burned from a wire but damage was slight and after a short delay, the Iowa folks were able to continue their journey.

A fish story to end all fish stories was heard from R. A. Lease, superintendent of schools, who just returned with his family from a vacation in Minnesota. One evening Mr. Lease and his family were out rowing when they heard a disturbance at the shoreline. Upon investigating, they discovered that a northern pike had jumped out of the water in an attempt to catch a fly and coming down had caught its fin in a fork of a small pine tree. It was still alive and flopping around when Mr. Lease arrived. So now he is telling everyone that he caught a fish using nothing for bait except a tree. Incidentally, the fish measured around 30 inches.

1971 – 50 YEARS AGO

The officers, special committees, and the DeKalb County Special Education Association for the Trainable Mentally Handicapped Children have made the final preparations for dedication of the Notre Dame Special Education Complex and its future use with handicapped children and adults.

Illinois Secretary of State John W. Lewis announced that a Mobile Service Unit Trailer will be on hand to serve fairgoers at the DeKalb County Fair at the Sandwich fairgrounds. Visitors to the trailer will be able to secure information concerning renewal of their driver’s license and observe a demonstration of vision testing equipment. Fairgoers may also obtain applications for license plates.

Noah was prepared, and the Boy Scouts weren’t as the recent Typhoon No. 19 caused the evacuation of 22,000 scouts from the camp site of their 13th World Scout Jamboree on the slopes of Mt. Fiji, Japan. The three scouts from DeKalb were among 7,800 American scouts and leaders present as typhoon force winds and torrential rains struck the camping area and caused a three-day evacuation of the entourage.

Members of the DeKalb Classroom Teachers Association set up “truth booths” at several downtown and shopping center locations to tell the public their side of the teacher-board negotiations issues.

1996 – 25 YEARS AGO

Ominous storm clouds hung in the sky above the village of Kirkland last night as volunteers prepared their final meal for local flood victims. Exactly five weeks ago, the town had been cut off by a record rainfall which devastated the Congress Lake Estates trailer park and swept through many other homes. Within a couple of days, volunteers began serving dinners in the shelter house in Franklin Township Park. Nearly 7,000 meals were prepared.

Hundreds of the most powerful monster trucks in the country will tear through the county Sept. 14-15 when the first 4-Wheel and Off-Road Magazine Four-By Fun Fest comes to the DeKalb County Fairgrounds.

The DeKalb County government will not enter into an agreement with Federal Emergency Management Assistance to buy the Evergreen Village Mobile Home Park and move its residents into other housing. The county board considered the questions last night, which ended with a 12-8 vote against buying the park.

An instructor pilot and a trainee were killed early yesterday afternoon when their two-seat, single engine airplane crashed into a cornfield in rural Hinckley. – Compiled by Sue Breese

Photo provided by DeKalb County History Center Archives

Creamery Package Manufacturing Company, 1601 Pleasant St. in DeKalb, circa 1930.

By SHEA LAZANSKY

slazansky@shawmedia.com

Tickets are on sale for the 2021 Sandwich Fair, returning after taking a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Running this year from Wednesday to Sunday, Sept. 8 to 12, the fair will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Popular events are returning to the fair this year, including harness racing, the lumberjack shows, truck and tractor pulls, 4-H competitions and a carnival.

Wednesday, Sept. 8, kicks off with the opening ceremony at 9 a.m. featuring the Sandwich High School Band, and the Western Show at the Horse Arena. Harness racing returns to the track starting at 11 a.m. Sept. 8.

While events are happening across the grounds, musical entertainment can be found throughout the fair. Max Armstrong starts off the sounds at 11 a.m. Sept. 8 at the Ag Land stage with Back Pages, followed by Outpatience from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Home Arts venue, and The Relics from 7 to 9 p.m. on the Ag Land stage.

Thursday Sept. 9, starts bright and early with open show livestock judging and culinary competitions throughout the day, closing out with the NTPA Truck Pulls at 6:30 p.m.

The highlight of Friday, Sept. 10, starts at 8 p.m. on the Main Stage, where country singer Chris Janson will perform. Janson, according to the Sandwich Fair website, is “a platinum-selling recording artist, high-octane entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, and award-winning singer/ songwriter.”

Tractor pulls return Saturday, Sept. 11, with shows at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. The Sandwich Fair also will reflect on the 20 years that have passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a remembrance ceremony at 10 a.m.

The final day of the 2021 Sandwich Fair begins at 8:30 a.m. with a worship service at the Home Arts stage, and the Sandwich Auto Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the track infield. The demolition derby helps close out the day, with showings at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on the track.

Tickets for fair events can be bought at www.sandwichfair.com.

As in past years, the fair is offering promotional days. On Wednesday, Sept. 8, children 12 and younger are admitted free. On Sept. 9, fair attendees 65 and older can enter for $7 before 5 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 10, children 12 and younger are admitted free until 5 p.m., while all attendees 13 and older can enter for $7 before 5 p.m. On the last day of the fair, all attendees can enter for $7 after 3 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children between ages 6 and 12, free for children ages 5 and younger, and available at the entrance gate after parking. Parking at the fair is included in the cost of admission.

Season tickets can be bought in advance or at the gate at $25 for adults and $10 for children of 6 to 12. Buying and picking up tickets can be done from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 6 and 7 at the fair’s main office.