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News
Yesteryear for September : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisYesteryear for September
| 9/10/2009
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Compiled from articles published in the Ledger-Sentinel, 1980-present; Oswego Ledger, 1949-1980; Fox Valley Sentinel, 1974-1980; Kendall County Record, 1864-present and historical information provided by the Village of Montgomery.
Five years ago this month...
In 2000 there were only a handful of people living within Montgomery's corporate limits west of Orchard Road. But the results of a special census presented to the village board showed the village's population had not only increased by 48 percent in five years, but roughly half of the 10,576 people reported living in the village were residing in new homes built west of Orchard Road. "The intersection of Route 30 and Orchard Road has become the center of our community," said Roger Burrell, a board member.
10 years ago this month...
A plan to construct an elementary school with a playground and numerous athletic fields on a 30 acre parcel in Oswego's Fox Chase Subdivision was presented to a crowd of more than 150 Fox Chase area residents during a meeting held at the proposed school/park site. School and park district officials said they expected the school and park improvements would be completed by 2001.
With the support of Oswego officials, the U.S. Department of Transportation was reviewing a revised plan to install traffic signals at the intersection of Washington Street (U.S. Route 34) and Main Street in the village's downtown business district.
15 years ago this month...
Illinois Governor Jim Edgar helicoptered into downtown Oswego to cut the ribbon for the opening of the new Hudson Crossing Bridge Park. The renovated two lane bridge was formerly the U.S. Route 34 bridge.
Residents of Durango Road in Boulder Hill reported that someone fired four or five shots at their home in the early morning hours of Sept. 8.
For the second time in three weeks, a large group of Montgomery residents urged the village board to change a controversial new ordinance restricting the parking of recreational vehicles in residentially zoned neighborhoods. The board listened to the residents but took no action on their request. Board member Ellis Van Meter described the ordinance as "unpalatable for several people" and suggested that it could be changed to accommodate long-time local residents who own RVs. "I don't think it was the intention of the board to impose hardships on people, but to clean up some problems," he said.
20 years ago this month...
A public hearing concerning state plans to widen U.S. Route 34 through downtown Oswego to four lanes was held in the Oswego High School gymnasium. The hearing attracted a large and surprisingly supportive crowd, according to a report in the Ledger-Sentinel. State highway officials said the extra lanes were needed to accommodate the increasing traffic volume on the highway. When told the project would not be completed until the mid-1990s, one local resident shouted at state officials, "Can't you start sooner?"
The Oswegoland Park District installed a bike trail just north of U.S. Route 30 in Montgomery's Seasons Ridge Subdivision.
The Oswego Village Board voted to spend $12,000 to have a feasibility study completed to determine whether or not a new police station could be built at Hastert Park on U.S. Route 34, across from the Fox Bend Golf Course.
30 years ago this month...
Representatives of a firm called Kendall Partners of Oak Brook, Ill., presented their plans for a proposed 211 acre residential subdivision along U.S. Route 34 in Oswego just east of Thompson Junior High School. An Oswego School District official estimated the project could increase the district's enrollment by 600 students.
Montgomery Village President Wayne Wells announced that Gray's Mill, built along the west bank of the Fox River in the 1850s, was being considered for inclusion on Illinois' list of historical sites.
A two pound Velveeta Cheese Loaf was on sale for $2.49 at the Boulder Hill Food Center at the Boulder Hill Market, an advertisement in the Fox Valley Sentinel announced.
35 years ago this month...
A petition drive to establish a police protection service area in Boulder Hill was rejected by more than 60 percent of the unincorporated subdivision's property owners, Kendall County Clerk Jean Brady announced. Kendall County state's attorney Dallas Ingemunson told the Oswego Ledger he believed the petition drive failed in part because "the facts weren't being represented fairly." County sheriff Tom Usry reported he had prepared his department's budget with the expectation that the petition drive would succeed.
In a related matter, acting Boulder Hill Civic Association president Ed Lassiter and departing president Tom Naylon agreed the most significant problem facing the association was a lack of citizen involvement. "This may be due to the constant reshuffling of residents who are transferred in and out by companies on an annual or biannual basis," the Ledger noted.
40 years ago this month...
Work was completed on a new sidewalk along the west side of Main Street in downtown Oswego. The Ledger reported the sidewalk was considerably lower than the old walk which resulted in many dented bumpers.
Oswego School District enrollment increased by 260 students from the previous year, school district board members learned. Most of the new students resided in new homes built in the Boulder Hill Subdivision.
The Chicago Cubs had blown an eight and one-half game lead over the New York Mets in August, but that didn't stop a large crowd of loyal Cub fans from turning out to greet Cubs' pitcher Dick Selma when he appeared at the opening of a new downtown Oswego gift shop called "Creation." Selma, who was 40 minutes late for his appearance, told the crowd that if he had known Oswego was so far from Chicago he would have "chartered an airplane."
45 years ago this month...
Ray Lubbs presented plans to construct an apartment building for "single people" on Keck Avenue in Montgomery to the village board. No action was taken on the proposal. However, Don Wolsfelt, a village resident and local business owner, proposed constructing a retail greenhouse on the Keck Avenue property in the event the plans for the apartments were rejected.
A dedication ceremony for the new Oswego Public Library building on Jefferson Street at Main Street in the village's downtown was scheduled for Oct. 18. "The library is currently open for use by the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays," the Ledger reported.
The Dari-Boat (now known as the Dari Hut) on Main Street in downtown Oswego was offering "Burger Boats" featuring a hamburger, fries, and root beer for 50 cents, according to an advertisement in the Ledger.
The groundbreaking for the Church of the Good Shepherd's new educational building on the lot adjacent to the church was set for 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6. The new building was designed to provide facilities for the church's Sunday school and office as well as Valley Haven School for special children. Contractor for the building was Stan Young of Oswego, according to a report in the Ledger.
Oswego School District schools opened with a record enrollment of 2,309, an increase of 78 students above the previous year. The new principal at Oswego High School was Doug Moews, who replaced Howard Smucker at the helm. School guidance counselor was Jim Aird.
The Republican Party's county chairman of the "Citizens for Goldwater," campaign, Myron Wormley, announced that he was being assisted by a number of citizens and that co-chairmen for Oswego Township were Dr. DeVol of Oswego, and David Kennedy of Boulder Hill.
50 years ago this month...
An editorial in the Kendall County Record read: "...local White Sox fans can hardly believe that after 40 years, the White Soxers have finally won the American League pennant. We rejoice with them and hope they can win the World Series."
55 years ago this month...
Oswego High School Coaches Herb Hasenyager and Ken Pickerill got the 1954 football season underway with a 7 a.m. practice Monday morning and held double sessions on both that day and Tuesday, the Ledger reported. About 40 youngsters turned out for the first practices.
The Oswego PTA was cooperating with Oswego Grade School District 8 to conduct a census of community pre-school students to help the district plan for future classroom space.
At the monthly Oswego Village Board meeting, a request from American Legion Post 675 for a restricted club liquor license was held over for further consideration.
More than 300 people attended an open house at the new junior high wing at Oswego High School. The wing was built by Ragnar-Benson of Aurora for $145,850.
Clarence Shoger was advertising his corn shelling service. "Don't cuss; call us! You call, we haul! You yell, we shell!" his Ledger advertisement said.
The Ledger reported this "oddity in the news": "While (Oswego resident) James Hoch was serving as best man for Kenny Bohn's marriage, he was also becoming the father of a baby girl, born at Copley Hospital."
60 years ago this month...
The first game on the Oswego (High School) school athletic field using the new lights was played Friday evening, Sept. 16. Oswego played the Mooseheart B team and won, 13-6.
65 years ago this month...
The Montgomery Village Board had a typically brief monthly meeting when they gathered Sept. 5, according to minutes taken during the session by Herbert Foster, village clerk. The minutes show board members approved payment of the village's monthly bills and wages to the village's elected officials in separate ballots and then adjourned the meeting. Presiding over the session was John C. Linsey, village president.
The Record's Oswego correspondent reported that "Oswego Community High School students will assemble at 8:30 on the morning of Monday, Sept. 4, to register and rent books. Students will be dismissed before noon. School buildings have been getting their annual face lifting. The homemaking house has been painted on the outside and the sewing room repapered. In the main building, rooms have been redecorated and floors refinished. The Oswego grade school will open a day later than the high school on Tuesday, Sept. 5."
90 years ago this month...
The Record reported: "While motoring Monday evening, Mr. and Mrs. John Burkhart were victims of a collision, the offender being John Gruber. The accident happened at the intersection of the Douglas and Montgomery-Naperville road. Mr. Burkhart's car was overturned, injuring Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart who were taken to the Aurora hospital. The extent of their injury has not been learned. The other occupants of the car were Olive Campbell, Reginald Burkhart, and George Van Volkenberg. They escaped injury.
"Kendall County will hold a big home coming picnic and welcome for her fighting men at Yorkville on Thursday, Sept. 25, 1919. To this big picnic everybody in the county is invited. The soldiers, sailors and marines of the World War, the Spanish-American War and the Civil War will be the guests of honor. It is expected that 300 or more fighters will be present to assist in the consumption of a chicken fry, which will be served to them free. It has been suggested that the schools of the county be closed on that day.
"Among the activities planned as part of the Homecoming Picnic for Kendall County military veterans are continuous motion pictures at the Yorkville Opera House, free to all soldiers, sailors and marines; a band concert; races and other activities at the Base Ball Park; a formal march by the veterans from the Base Ball Park to the Court House; presentation of medals to all veterans; addresses by state politicians; a Plano-Yorkville baseball game; and a free dance."
The Record also reported: "A running gunfight between a gang of robbers and local law enforcement officials and armed residents ended with the capture of the bandits and the wounding of Kendall County Sheriff Hextell. The gang of four Chicago auto bandits robbed a garage in Somonauk of cash and tires and a car and fled through Sandwich and Plano towards Aurora before finally being cornered in a woods near Kaneville, where they shot it out with the lawmen and their civilian assistants before surrendering. Farmers along the gang's route were alerted by telephone and gathered under Sheriff Hextell, stuffing ammunition for their shotguns in their pockets as they collected at Aurora. Somonauk City Marshal Zeller got two shots off with his shotgun as the gang refused orders to stop and instead sped past him. The posse discovered the shot-riddled automobile in some woods near Kaneville. Leaving their machines, the farmers deployed and crept upon the center of the woods. As the sheriff softly parted the foliage of a bush to peer ahead, a bullet fired from ambush struck him in the hand. The sheriff cried for the posse to close in and leaped forward. As the farmers crawled toward the flashes made by the robbers' revolvers they fired upon those bushes, firing and reloading as swiftly as possible, aiming low. A scream told them that one shot at least had struck its mark. 'Will you surrender?' shouted Sheriff Hextell. A trio of shaky voices answered 'Yes. Come and get the chief. You got him.'"
110 years ago this month...
On Sept. 20, 1899, the Record reported: "John Springstead Seeley died Sept. 15, 1899 at his home and farm just at the west end of the Oswego river bridge. He was 80 years old and came to Oswego in 1853 and lived in the present homestead [at the west end of the Oswego Bridge] for 39 years lacking two months. He was township treasurer for 35 years and that office is made vacant by his death. For nearly 30 years he kept weather reports, during the last 20 of which he was an observer for the U.S. Government. He was a deacon in the Congregational Church for many years."
115 years ago this month...
Sept. 12, 1894, the Record carried the obituary of Mrs. Anne Margaretha Hafenrichter: "The deceased's maiden name was Schaller and was born on Jan. 1, 1809, in the village of Bank in the north of Bavaria, Germany. She married Nicholas Hafenrichter of a neighboring place and came here in 1846 where they settled a few miles east of Oswego and helped form what is commonly known as the German Settlement. Together, with her husband, she connected herself with, and helped bring into existence, the prosperous church now known as the Evangelical [today's Oswego Prairie Church], and of which she remained a devoted member."
120 years ago this month...
Apples were in the news in September, 1889 when an advertisement from Oswego in the Record reported that "Wayne's steam cider mill is now ready for work; bring on your apples!"
A crime wave hit Oswego in September 1889. The Record's Oswego correspondent wondered on Sept. 18: "Who is stealing whips from the carriages left in the streets lately and what motive prompts the deed? Is it some avaricious cuss that is stealing them for gain, or some tender-hearted humane fellow that merely wants to get them out of the way from being used on the noble horse? They're have been said to have been taken on last Saturday."
The death of a child was handled differently 115 years ago. The Record's Oswego correspondent wrote that: "Belle, the little girl, two years old, of Mr. and Mrs. Eastman died Thursday night and the funeral took place Sunday afternoon from the house. The religious rites were performed very impressively by Rev. D.E. Ambrose, and a male quartet did the singing. The part somewhat varying from the usual course was that four young misses dressed in white, Della VanEvra, Gracie Miller, Hattie Pogue, and Nellie Wormley, acted as pall bearers and most decorously did they perform it. A beautiful casket of artificial marble, covered with light colored plush, and bedecked with vines and flowers contained the remains, which were tenderly laid away in the cemetery."
135 years ago this month...
"Henry Helle is building an addition to his place of business," the Record's Oswego correspondent reported in September 1874. The Helle Building is located on the corner of Main and Jackson in downtown Oswego.
140 years ago this month...
Maybe it had something to do with what the proceeds were to be used for. "The Oswego Union Sewing Society's peach festival of last week was not well attended," the Record reported Sept. 30, 1869. "The proceeds of it are to go towards buying a hearse, but this generation need not expect the benefits of one unless funds for the same are raised by some other means."
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