:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/POLIEOSMQZAYZDNDHIWOD5HE2A.jpg)
1924 – 100 Years Ago
Station Agent W. E. Allen is reported to be one of the latest victims of the slippery pavements, receiving several bruises and a badly sprained ankle as the results of a fall last evening near North Seventh street and Fisk Avenue. Mr. Allen is reported today as resting comfortably, but the injury will cause him to remain at home for the Christmas holidays at least. Several people have received minor injuries due to their failure to remain standing on the slippery ice but very few injuries have been reported. In many neighborhoods ashes have been sprinkled on the walks.
Although the new Rods chassis ordered by the city of DeKalb for use of the fire department was delivered but two weeks ago, the truck today stands on the floor of the fire station ready for use in an emergency. The only equipment to be placed on the machine that has not yet arrived, includes two ladders, one extension and one roof ladder.
That the librarian and her assistants may enjoy the Christmas holiday to the fullest extent, it is announced today that the pubic library will be closed Christmas eve and Christmas day. Patrons of the library are asked to remember that it will be closed on the holiday and to refrain from leaving books in the lobby. The place will be opened as usual on Friday, December 26.
Relatives of Evar Eckberg are in receipt of a radiogram received from him, after he was three days out at sea, stating that everything was fine, and he was making the most of the trip. Friends in this city are hoping to receive cards from the DeKalb man shortly after his arrival in Sweden, and there should be a number of such pieces of mail from Sweden for DeKalb within a week or two.
C. Johnson of the Lincoln Inn has a narrow escape last night when his Ford crashed through the gates at the First Street crossing of the North Western railroad. One of the gates was broken, although the machine was not damaged to any extent. Johnson told Office Peck that he had just taken the car our a few minutes before and his shoes being covered with snow, his foot slipped from the brake pedal. It was necessary to get the gateman on the job to open up traffic on South First Street.
1949– 75 Years Ago
Christmas dinner at the county jail this year will, as usual, be the traditional American meal. Mrs. Arthur E. Anderson, wife of the sheriff, will serve turkey and all the trimmings to 15 men and one woman who are incarcerated there for various offenses against the laws of society. The menu will include turkey, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, fruit salad, dressing, relish, fresh string beans, cranberry sauce, coffee and pumpkin pie.
All the somber business which is a part of the daily routine was forgotten at the court house Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock when the annual party of county workers and the Dekalb County Abstract office was held in the second-floor lobby. Around the big Christmas tree, the group gathered for the annual affair, sang carols with Janette Joiner, daughter of deputy county clerk Ralph Joiner, playing them on a portable organ, exchanged gifts, and enjoyed coffee, doughnuts and candy. Considerable merriment was caused by a slight disarrangement of Santa’s costume in which his little round tummy became slightly askew.
Those planning trips over Christmas are being warned to take it easy as most of the highways are very slippery and travel should be at reduced speeds. DeKalb street and walks also have a coating of ice and walking and driving are a bit precarious. The zero cold wave has also added to the difficulties and many were not able to start their cars this morning.
Lieut. Eleanor Pasquale and her assistant, Lieut. Norma Hunter, fled from their quarters in sub-zero weather at 2 o’clock this morning when fire broke out at the Salvation Army headquarters at 713 East Lincoln Highway. The fire started over the furnace and raced up the partition in the center of the building and then mushroomed through partitions between the first and second floors. The blaze continued up through the partition to the attic of the two-story frame building but the fire was halted before it caused damage to the attic or reached the roof.
Fire Chief Stanley Tastad, who is custodian of the wheel chair service, has requested that those having chairs from the service, notify the fire station so that a complete record of the chairs in the service may be installed. Tastad emphasized that those now using chairs are welcome to keep them as long a they are needed but that he would like to have the number of the chairs for the record. The chairs in the service are loaned, without charge, to anyone in the community needing them.
1974 – 50 Years Ago
The DeKalb City Council delayed action Monday on an additional 1 per cent sales tax imposed on personal property purchased outside Illinois. Alderman Harold Rissman, arguing “people are taxed to death,” sought to have the council reject the ordinance.
Curt Weaver of Curt Weaver Harvestore, Inc. 504 N. Main St., Sycamore, is giving away Christmas tree to those persons who cannot afford to purchase them. Weaver, who maintained a tree sales lot during the current Christmas season, said it is his belief no family should be without a tree simply because they cannot afford to buy one. He said such persons may pick up a tree at his sales lot.
A Northern Illinois University professor thinks President Gerald Ford ought to give government employees high-incentive rewards, with privacy assured, for finding ways to cut red tape and waste.
Illinois Secretary of State Mike Howlett went through the contents of a metal box found by workman dismantling the flag pole and base atop the state capitol. The box, apparently meant as a time capsule, contained letters, cards and newspapers from 1906. One letter from a woman said she promised not to get married until the box was opened.
1999 - 25 Years Ago
Driving through Southmoor Estates at night during the Christmas season is only half the fun. For eight years, the manufactured-home community, one block east of Seventh street and just south of Taylor Street, has demonstrated its resident’ holiday spirit by welcoming people to drive through and enjoy a variety of Christmas lights on display in the neighborhood.
Tollway oases patrons will be treated to a free small cop of coffee on Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec, 24 and New Year’s Eve, Friday, Dec. 31.
Wall Street is giving the cold shoulder to the proposed merger of Monsanto and Pharmacia & Upjohn. The stock prices of both companies tanked on Monday and continued to decline this morning.
For students from Clinton Rosette Middle School, celebrating the new year doesn’t involve just a party, it also means reaching out to those in need. Approximately 40 fifth and sixth graders helped Voluntary Action Center staff assemble 250 emergency meal kits this holiday season.
It is now up to the city whether the Target shopping center will expand to include the site of the old DeKalb County Rehab Nursing Center.
Compiled by Sue Breese