Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick The Peotone Vedette: October 18, 1968 Oh my, things were not good…but maybe trying to holdup a bank by going to the drive through isn’t the smartest idea? Just a thought!! “Attempted Robbery at Peotone State Bank Monday” “A young white male driving a late model blue Dodge attempted to hold up…

By, Arline Adamsick The Beecher Herald: October 10, 1968 Remember the Ice Follies??? Back then, it was a yearly tradition when they came to Chicago. The program was at the Chicago Stadium from October 22 through November 3. Take a look at these ticket prices: Saturday nights – tickets were $3, $3.50, $4.50, $5 or…

By Arline Adamsick The Monee Monitor: October 4, 1968 Not a bad idea… “Prairie State College Young Investment Club” by Martha Hamilton “If you’re trying to beat inflation and learn abut the stock market, join the Prairie State College Young Investment Club. The club has $1,280 invested in five stocks: American Hospital Supply, El Paso Natural…

By Arline Adamsick The Peotone Vedette: September 27, 1968 Do you remember fall baseball??? “Blue Devil Nine Wins KVC Fall Baseball Crown” “A 2-1 win over Grant Park Wednesday afternoon clinched the KVC fall baseball championship for the Peotone Blue Devils. With one game remaining on the schedule, they have a 4-1 record. Grant Park…

By Arline Adamsick The Peotone Vedette: September 20, 1968 “Dale Cowger Receives Army Commendation” “Sgt. Dale Cowger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Darald Cowger of Peotone, recently received an Army Citation and commendation medal awarded to him for ‘exceptionally meritorious service during the period between January 24 and August 19, 1968, while serving as non-commissioned…

By, Arline Adamsick The Beecher Herald: September 12, 1968 Ever wonder “how large” enrollments were “back when?” “New High in High School Enrollment” “Beecher High School’s enrollment hit a new all time high when the 66 freshmen walked through the doors August 28. This freshman class became the second largest group ever to enter Beecher.…

by Arline Adamsick The Peotone Vedette: September 6, 1968 Remember the Bensenville Home – what an icon it was for Peotone… ”Bensenville Festival Will Include Burning of Peotone Mortgage” “Churches in this area belonging to the United Church of Christ help support the Bensenville Home, whose annual festival will be held on the grounds of…

By Arline Adamsick The Beecher Herald: August 29, 1968 “Beecher Firemen Save Relocatable Classroom” “In the early morning hours of August 27, Beecher Volunteer Fire Department successfully extinguished a blaze in the new relocatable classrooms at Beecher High School. “Responding to an alarm turned in by a professional truck driver passing on Rt. 1, the…

By Arline Adamsick This week’s news is very similar to information in the current paper – school openings, the filling of teacher vacancies, and the opening of the Will County Fair. The Monee Monitor: August 23, 1968 The teacher shortage in 201-U was getting smaller… “School Board Fills Gaps in District 201-U Faculty” “With the…

By Arline Adamsick The Peotone Vedette: August 16, 1968 August 16, 1968, was the week before the 65th annual Will County Fair – August 22 – 25. Some interesting facts I noted from the fair’s ad: General admission was $1, with children under 12 years of age free. Grandstand admission was free on Thursday and…

By Arline Adamsick The Beecher Herald: August 8, 1968 Local company was making international news… “Bernard Welding Guns Find Great Acceptance in Japan” “The Bernard Model C and D welding guns from MIG and CO/2 welding found great acceptance among representatives of shipbuilders at the Shipyard and Marine Equipment Show held recently in the U.S.…

By Arline Adamsick The Monee Monitor: August 2, 1968 More on Lutheran South… “Companies Honored by Lutheran South” “The highlight of a recent ceremony at the Olympia Fields Country Club, honoring the Columbia Tool Steel Company, Hollymatic Corporation, Northern Illinois Gas Company, and Thrail Car Manufacturing Company, was the presentation of Lutheran South Hospital’s ‘Award…

By Arline Adamsick The Monee Monitor: July 26, 1968 Did you visit the Threshermen’s Show last week in Wilton Center? “Annual Thresherman’s Show Opens Thursday, August 1” (Changed from Thresherman’s to Threshermen’s somewhere in the past 50 years.) “‘Something Doing All the Time’ is the slogan for the sixth annual Steam Engine Show to be…

By Arline Adamsick The Peotone Vedette: July 19, 1968 “Large Crowd at Penny Festival” “The Peotone Park last Friday evening was a bee hive of activity when Cub Scout Pack 35, sponsored by Peotone American Legion Post 392, held its Penny Festival. Since the 12 gaily decorated game booths and the refreshment stand were a…

By Arline Adamsick The Beecher Herald: July 11, 1968 Much news was in the paper about the July 4 celebration, including pictures of winning parade floats. Prairie 4-H Club won first prize for organizations – and, by the way, the group also took home the first place prize this year, as well. Farmer’s State Bank…

By Arline Adamsick The Monee Monitor: July 5, 1968 Did you get your electric bill this past week? If so, this article was quite heartening. At least the gas company was trying to help customers… “NI Gas Announces Rate Refund to Customers” “William J. Crowley, executive vice president of Northern Illinois Gas Company, announced last…

By Arline Adamsick The Beecher Herald: June 27, 1968 It was the week before the big July 4 celebration, and the Beecher Herald’s front page made sure its readers knew it… Riding on the Chamber of Commerce’s float in the parade were Amy McConkey, Nancy Heldt, and Janene Hartke. These young women were chosen as…