It Happened HereOct. 26, 2016
It Happened Here
Eighty Years Ago
(1936)
Mrs. C. Russell Hileman, Washington County supervising librarian, announced a plan to open libraries throughout the county.
Two Frogtown men were charged with killing two foxhounds owned by Wendell Gaebe and agreed to pay $75 in lieu of arrest.
Candidates on the general election ballot included: Republicans Elmo Hassebrock for circuit clerk; Ralph Maxwell for state’s attorney; and George Green for coroner; and Democrats Paul Dahlke for circuit clerk; Joseph Maxwell for state’s attorney; and R.C. Vernor for coroner.
Washco Stores featured baking powder and large box of Oxydol for 23 cents.
Work resumed at the Nashville coal mine after a three-week closing due to flooding.
Deaths: Adam Hafley of Ashley; Mrs. Casper Renderer, 65; and Herman Wegehoft, 83, of Stone Church.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
(1941)
Raymond Boswell of Ashley was named Washington County game warden.
A Civil Service examination was scheduled for the position of janitor of the Nashville Post Office. Salary was $1,200 per year.
Arnold Rowand was named farm adviser for Washington County to fill a year’s leave of absence for O.W. Hertz.
Deaths: Rev. O.H. Free; Joseph Johnston, 51, of Daytona Beach, FL; Ross Hinall, 86, formerly of Nashville; Nellie Skurat, 52, a native of Du Bois; Edward Sachtleben, 51, of Hoyleton; and Gilbert Hugo, 29.
Seventy Years Ago
(1946)
A third case of polio in Washington County was reported. Raymond Pitchford Jr., 12, was the victim.
Members of the junior class play cast of “Moonlight for Herbert” included Stella Jankowski, Bill Hohman, Betty Lou Spencer, Donald Seyler, Tom Hale, Dolores Murphy, Betty Brammeier, Jane Duckworth and Alfred Greiman.
The apple tree of Edward Meyer near Elkton was in bloom.
Washington County farmers had more than doubled their average income in the last six years according to the Bureau of the Census.
A new pool room opened in Nashville in the former Broyles furniture store.
Local grocery prices included Winesap apples at four pounds for 29 cents and six boxes of Badger matches for 23 cents.
Deaths: Valentine Smith, 87, formerly of Ashley.
Sixty-Five Years Ago
(1951)
Beckmeyer’s Store celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. The business had begun in Posey in 1919, later moving to New Minden, and finally to Nashville.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Posen observed its golden jubilee.
Daniel Food Stores advertised sliced bacon at 29 cents a pound and hams at 59 cents a pound.
Deaths: Fred Eickmeyer, 81, of New Minden; Alice Lasater, 92, of Pryor, OK; Leo Borrenpohl, 91, of St. Louis; and the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Peper.
Sixty Years Ago
(1956)
Two area farmers were in corn picker accidents. They were Earl Kolweier, 31, of near Nashville and A.L. Ziarnek, 56, of near Scheller. Kolweier lost both his hands , while Ziarnek lost his left arm.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hutchings of Denver, CO, re-opened the Coffee Shop in Nashville.
Candidates on the general election ballot included Republicans Elmo Hassebrock for circuit clerk; Wilbert Hohlt for state’s attorney; and Charles Longwell for coroner; and Democrats Claude Garner for circuit clerk; and R.C. Vernor for coroner.
Deaths: Valentine Barczewski, 71, of Nashville; Fred Engelmann, 72, formerly of Beaucoup; Susie Ludwig, 76, of North Prairie; Donald James Krawiecki, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Krawiecki of Nashville; Louis Bowles, 83, of Worden; Louis Vanek, 51, of Fairmont City; Hulda Shannon, 74, of St. Louis; and Roy Wittmis of Alameda, CA.
Fifty-Five Years Ago
(1961)
Candidates for Nashville High School Homecoming Queen were Cheryl Poirot, Elisabeth Kaech, Rose Gill, Marilyn Harre, Bonnie Voltmer and Carol Beek.
Dr. Charles Salisbury, physician and surgeon, began a practice in Nashville.
Deaths: Anna Gill, 79, of Washington County; Rose Musial, 56, of Mt. Vernon; Emellie Rixman, 82, of Hoyleton; Pauline Rybicki, 84, of Radom; Flora Nottmeyer of Du Bois; Lydia Leesman, 91, of Chicago; and Gustav Buchholz, 75, of Centralia.
Fifty Years Ago
(1966)
Linda Auld was crowned Queen at the annual Nashville High School Homecoming.
Washington County candidates in the general election were: Republicans Virgil may for county clerk; Rose Habbe for treasurer; Joe Berry for Sheriff; Kenneth Frieman for superintendent of schools; and Madalyn Maxwell for circuit court judge; and Democrats Albert Sprehe Jr. for county clerk; Kermit Luebke for treasurer; Leo Hill for sheriff; and Francis Maxwell for circuit court judge.
Burglars broke into the Washington County Service Co. elevator and stole a radio and some change.
Four Okawville teenagers were injured when a car driven by Steven Schuessler struck a bridge abutment west of Knoxville. Also injured were Patricia Tillich, Susan Perschbacher and Gary Stricker.
Deaths: Roy Miller, operator of Miller’s Motel; Fred Brammeier, 96, of Pilot Knob Township; Oliver Runzi, a former resident of Ashley; and Leona Pendarvis, 80, of Nashville.
Forty-Five Years Ago
(1971)
Hoyleton received a $1,000 check from the estate of the late Col. H.F. Muenter to be used to plant trees in the village park.
Kim Aydt was crowned Queen at NCHS Homecoming.
Deaths: Ann Prasuhn, 80, of Nashville; Gwendolyn Smith, 69, of Nashville; Clara Hoffman, 73, of Nashville; Anna Martens, 90, of Okawville; Helen Layton, 71, of Belleville; Fred Krietemeyer, 76, formerly of Richview; Mrs. Edward Fresen, 56, of Lenzburg; and Walter Yetke, 79, of San Antonio, TX.
Forty Years Ago
(1976)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church parish in Posen celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary.
Dennis Hoelscher, agency manager for Country Companies Insurance in Washington County, received the National Quality Award.
Fire destroyed a historic brick house which was built in 1876 by Henry Hoffman southwest of Nashville.
Deaths: Walter Finke, 81, of Nashville; Sophia Frederking, 93, of Nashville; Casimir Petecki, 59, of Du Bois; Helen Sommer, 57, of Peoria; Alwine Going, 82, of Addieville; Ralph Habbe Sr., 76, of Hot Springs, AR; Dorothy Palke, 59, of Roxana; and Charles Dycus, 62, of Du Bois.
Thirty-Five Years Ago
(1981)
Two semi loads of soybeans were stolen from the Washington County Service Co. elevator in Venedy.
Spontaneous combustion in a silo caused a fire which destroyed much of the silage on the Mike Renth farm.
A 16-ounce loaf of white bread was 38 cents and smoked hame was 89 cents a pound.
Deaths: Claude Payne, 57, of Woodlawn; Gertrude Schaeffer, 89, of Nashville; Ernest Licklider, 70, of Ashley; Frank “Bud” Schnake, 77, of Centralia; Verlyene Stutsman, 66, of Centralia; Minnie Maxwell, 88, of Pilot Knob Township; Roland Kroener, 72, of Oakdale; Sally Breeze, 87, of Richview; Eunice Kessel, 69, of Sparta; Edmund Schnitker, 75, of Hoyleton; Walter Bohbrink, 70, of Okawville; and Mary Dorris, 71, formerly of Ashley.
Weddings: Shirley Frederking and Jack Braeutigam; Patricia Junge and William Lints; and Patricia Hemker and Arnold Steinkamp.
Thirty Years Ago
(1986)
Pork steaks were 99 cents a pound and red potatoes were 10 cents a pound.
Deaths: Ruth Koch, 82, a native of Nashville; Oren Cannady, 74, of Swansea; Elbert Schnake, 69, of Hoyleton; James Rice, 74, of Granite City; Carrie Luke, 109, of Nashville; Verne Mills, 83, of Woodlawn; Hartman Rueter, 95, of St. Libory; and Fred Korte, 80, of Richview.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
(1991)
The Nashville High School golf team won fourth place in state.
The Illinois Human Rights Authority was investigation the handicap accessibility at Nashville High School.
Nashville’s 1952 Ford fire truck, raffled by the Firemen’s Association, was won by Connie and Vinnie Barciszewski of Aviston. They immediately sold the truck to a Steeleville man.
Voters were to determine if Nashville Grade School could increase the Education Fund 15 cents.
Deaths: Edna Haun, 83, of Belleville; Irene Moehle, 85, of Okawville; James Jones, 62, of Nashville; Karen Vasquez, 48, of Columbia; Bernadine Edmonds, 59, of Ashley; Clifford Hoef, 62, of Nashville; Oscar “Dutch” Gross, 69, of Addieville; Everett McMillian, 70, of Pinckneyville; Joseph Nowacki, 81, of St. Louis; Allen Bollmeier Sr., 73, of Belleville; and Helen Koenegstein, 64, of Collinsville.
Weddings: Vicky Holle and Randall Becherer; and Judy Hanenberger and Eric Lang.
Births: Dave and Barbara Jones of Beerley, ID, a daughter; Mark and Angie Kurtz of Ashley, a son; Randy and Lori Brammeier of Hoyleton, a son; Robert and Marlene Kabat of Scheller, twin daughters; and Mark and Cathy Nehring of Centralia, a daughter.
Twenty Years Ago
(1996)
Washington County Hospital embarked on a $500,000 expansion to move the outpatient clinic to the front of the building and the administrative offices to the lower level.
Nashville City Council set 10 a.m. to sunset as hours when leaves could be burned.
Mike and Becky Dyson opened JC’s Skating Rink.
The antique clock, restored by Justin Bathon as an Eagle Scout project, was replaced in the tower above city hall.
Steve Tomaszewski succeeded Roger Koelling as chairman of Washington County Republicans.
A 1996 Ford Explorer was $18,995 and a Crown Victoria was $16,995 at Alexander Ford.
Deaths: Virgina Huge, 74, of Hoyleton; Dorothy Martin, 71, of Nashville; Pamela Devine, 46, of Highland; Beulah Hitt, 93, of Tamaroa; Nellie Phillips, 66, of Coulterville; Julia Billingsley, 87, of St. Louis; Paul Deimeke, 60, of Albers; and Violet Williams, 60, of Centralia.
Weddings: Melissa Hobbs and Eugene Krummrich; Lezlee Xanders and Darrel Novak; Tammi Kraus and Robert Dernbach, and Teresa Cassity Chesnek and Kenneth Ritchason.
Births: Larry and Lisa Johnson of Centralia, a son; Jeff and Shelly Love of Nashville, a son; Mark Steinkamp and Dana Langenhorst of Okawville, a daughter.
Fifteen Years Ago
(2001)
Halloween costumes were selling for $4.99 – $12.99 at Lee’s Variety.
Peabody Energy Corp. announced plans for a $2 billion coal mine/power plant in Lively Grove Township that would provide 450 permanent jobs and generate electricity for 1.5 million homes.
Washington County Hospital authorized $2.1 million in bonds from USDA Rural Development to replace the 30-year-old heating and air conditioning system.
Ruth Kellerman, a 30-year WCH employee, was named chief nurse executive.
The Illinois Fish Farmers Co-op in Pinckneyville began processing fish raised by southern Illinois farmers.
Deaths: Bernice Kurwicki, 77, of Nashville; Melba Niehaus, 80; Frances Newcomb, 88, of Naples, FL; Summers Parker, 89, of Alto Pass; Kathleen Keller, 65, of Grant Alabama; Mary Schubert, 92, of St. Louis; Richard Siadek, 64, of Tamaroa; Edna Schwierjohn, 78, of Carlyle; Joseph Combs, 34, of Centralia; Mildred “Mickey” Hish, 45, of Nashville; Ruth Opp, 84, of Tamaroa; Florence Middleton, 91, of Pinckneyville; Bessie McInyre, 85, of Dixon; and Catherine Busbey, 83, of Tamaroa.
Weddings: Melissa Patton and Kevin Kurwicki, Stacey White and Scott Little.
Births: Pastor and Mrs. Mark Loest of Nashville, a son; Leon and Brenda Averbeck of Lively Grove, a daughter; Kent and Jennifer Schuette of Nashville, a daughter; Greg and Darla Toensing of Okawville, a daughter; Dennis and Sandy Flick of Centralia, a daughter; and Tony and Jody Berry of Richview, a daughter.
Ten Years Ago
(2006)
An Ashley Grade School student was banned from riding the school bus for the rest of the year after an incident involving a toy gun.
Nashville Public Library received a $125,000 state grant for its expansion project.
Nashville Grade School was looking into establishing softball and soccer fields.
A 2006 Chevy Equinox was $19,999 at Meier Chevrolet-Buick.
Births: Craig and Lynette Endres of Nashville, a son; Craig and Dawn Kasten of Hoyleton, a daughter; Josh and Kerry McKnight of New Minden, a daughter.
Deaths: Hilda Nottmeyer, 78, of Hoffman; Lenus Buss, 87, of St. Libory; William Kretzer, 74, of Swansea; Arthella Dreas, 90, of Overland, MO.
Wedding: Connie Eater and Ben Kujawa.
Five Years Ago
(2011)
The city of Nashville decided to ban synthetic drugs, then sold legally as potpourri.
Revolutionary War soldier Benjamin Watts’ grave was marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution, with Watts family descendants present at the ceremony.
The NCHS Board was told that a sales tax resolution for the district might be on the upcoming ballot. School board member Ron Brown resigned from the board.
The City of Nashville sought support from the State of Illinois for traffic signals at State Route 127 and Mockingbird Road.
Birth: Berkley Bullock, daughter of Allie Rushing and Chad Bullock of Nashville was born on July 14.
Dr. Mary Grabowski and Nathan Schmitt were wed August 8; Paul and Sharon Kubiak of Ashley celebrated their 40th anniversary on October 30; Danielle Burcham and Jonathan Stambaugh were engaged to be wed in December
Deaths: Laurie Reynolds, 46, of Winfield, Mo., October 28; Irmalinda Lintker, 82, of St. Libory, Oct. 23; Charles Howe, 73, of Centralia, Oct. 20; Josephine Rozycki, 90, of Granite City, Oct. 21
