Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

The Manteno News: April 13, 1972

It appears global trade was a tad more limited back in 1972…

“Cargo of Soybeans Sent to Japan in Experiment”

“The division of markets of the Illinois Department of Agriculture aided in an experimental shipment of soybeans that left Tuesday, March 28, from Farmer City bound for Japan. According to Gerald Pitt, superintendent of the division of markets, his division coordinated various inspection and documentation activities for the first Illinois shipment of containerized bulk foodstuffs.

“‘The shipment for the Mitsui Co., based in New York, is termed experimental, because it will determine how a bulk containerized foodstuff shipment withstands the trip and how economical a container shipment will be for foreign buyers,’ said Pitt.

“The six 20-foot bulk containers, each loaded with 650 bushels of soybeans, left Farmer City on the Penn Central Railroad for South County, NJ, from where they were trucked to the Brooklyn pier and loaded aboard a Mitsui ship, which sailed for Japan April 3. (Wouldn’t one think the shipment might have been more cost effective if it was shipped from California, instead? Just a thought.)

“‘We believe shipping foodstuffs in this manner will have several advantages. We believe there will be less damage to the product, such shipment will allow the Japanese to better serve their small processors, and empty shipping containers, such as those used for shipping tape recorders, now may be better utilized, without having to make a one-way trip empty,’ Pitt concluded.”

How about this from the want ads: “Two men wanted to move piano, plus other items, Saturday, $2 per hour” or “Housekeeper, for room and board.” Plus, it was spring and there were several ads for lawn mowing, as well as garden tilling and rolling. Sound familiar?

Also, on the front page that week was a lengthy article about postal workers and how times had changed, but just think about what the next 50 years would bring, including the price of a stamp…

“As the Manteno Post Office observes its 118^th anniversary on April 25, one might apply a modern saying, ‘You’ve come a long way, baby.’

“Yes, a long way from the days of a postal employee on a train grabbing the sack of mail hanging from a protruding hook at the Manteno Depot and, at the same time, throwing off a sack of mail for village residents, hoping it would hit the platform and not be cut up under the wheels of a freight train passing the other way, which did happen on an occasion or so.”

The article continued explaining the benefits of zip codes, sectional centers, of which Kankakee was one of 12 in the state. The first three zip code numbers refer to the sectional center, while the last two designate the town. In 1972, Manteno had one daily pick-up and delivery.

The Peotone Vedette: April 14, 1972

Peotone, as a farming community, was encountering some concern from its farmers…

“Large Crowd Attends Village Board Meeting”

“It is unusual, but all the spectator seats were taken when the Peotone Village Board met Tuesday night at village hall. The largest contingent was a group of approximately 15 farmers, who were complaining about the weight limits to be enforced on village streets.

“George Asbrand, acting as spokesman for the group, said they were concerned about the farmers to the south and west of the village getting their grain to the elevator. He said the load limits, as they now stand, mean farmers will have to cross the Illinois Central Railroad tracks twice, as well as going on Rt. 50 to get to the elevator. In answer to a question from Mayor Howard Scrivens, Asbrand said most trucks probably weigh at least 24,000 or 25,000 pounds when loaded.

“The mayor explained it is not the village’s intention to keep the farmers from bringing their grain into the village, but only that they were trying to keep the roads in the village from going-to-pieces. If, for instance, West Street had to be resurfaced, he said it would be a $15,000 or $20,000 job. Robert Klipp said the water problems on Rathje Road and West Street were probably causing more problems than the traffic.

“After some discussion, the board voted to change the weight limit to 16 tons on West Street from Wilmington Road to Corning and the same on Corning Avenue from Rathje Road to West Street.”

This is probably why it’s a great idea to consolidate elections…

“Light turnout in School Election”

“As was expected, with no opposition on the ticket, the voting in the annual Peotone District 207-U School Election was very light. A total of 133 ballots were cast, with one spoiled ballot and three write-in votes.”

You’ll just have to take my word for it, and for that I am truly sorry, but the pictures from the village departments open house were precious. One could tell it was a long time ago, as gentlemen in the pictures were out and about wearing felt hats, while the ladies either had hats or scarves, which we used to call babushkas. The ladies also carried handbags, in the style of Queen Elizabeth II. I think you might just get the picture!! There also was a big “traditional” picture of the senior class posing on the lawn in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., while on their senior trip. That made me smile, too. I remember posing for such a picture many, many years ago!!

The Beecher Herald: April 13, 1972

In addition to the front page headline “Vote Canvass Gives GOP 15-12 County Board Margin,” there was a picture of students practicing for the senior class play – “The Perfect Idiot.” The cast included: Paulette Dyon, Bill Albers, Maureen Owens, Dean Nelson, Mike Williamson, Bill Wichart, Kelly Smith, Jill Gitersonke, Carolynn Maddrill, Barb Brands, Fred Fernatt, Jim Baker, Allen Burgess, and Darlene Koehn.

It also was noted that Rev. Herbert Goeltzer was officially the new pastor at Beecher Community Church. At the end of the school year, the pastor and his family would move from Flossmoor to Beecher.

Oh, boy – Kentucky Fried Chicken and its finger-lickin’ good chicken now was allowing patrons to mix their chicken in any proportions they wished – from original recipe to the extra-crispy version. Quite frankly, I’d even pay to just purchase the crispies!!! What daring thing would they do next? Think of it – mixing your chicken!!!

On sale at Jewel that week were: Corn King Bacon – 69¢/lb. or $1.38/two lbs.; fresh Italian sausage – 98¢/lb.; whole chickens – 29¢/lb.; Hillfarm ice cream – 59¢/half gallon; cherry tomatoes – 29¢/pt.; Bounty paper towels – 29¢; and three Poor Boy sandwiches from the deli for $1.49.

The legality of the death sentence was being talked about in 1972, too…

“27 Prisoners on ‘Death Row’ Await Court Ruling”

“The fate of 27 prisoners at Statesville Penitentiary, Joliet, may be decided in the near future. According to the Illinois State Bar Association, the 27 are all the prisoners now on ‘death row’ in Illinois. They are among the more than 600 men and seven women in the United States who presently await execution for their crimes by the electric chair, gas chamber, or gallows – an all-time record high.

“Standing between these people and death, however, are a number of cases that have been taken before the U.S. Supreme Court and question, in one way or another, the constitutionality of the death penalty. The key question is ‘does capital punishment violate the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution,’ which prohibits ‘cruel and unusual punishment?’

“Until the issue is resolved, executions have come to a halt in those states that still permit the death penalty. Fifteen states have abolished or limit death as a form of criminal punishment, and no state has carried out an execution for nearly five years. In Illinois it has been even longer.”

The Crete Record: April 13, 1972

Still in the hearts and minds of Crete residents was their township assessor, though not happily so…

“Ask Wilner’s Resignation at Annual Town Meeting”

“A crowd of approximately 154 Crete Township voters (in contrast to just 20 last year) turned out for the annual township meeting, necessitating a move from the town hall to Crete Elementary School to handle the overflow.

“Two motions were passed, one calling for the Board of Auditors to ask for the resignation of the Crete Township Assessor and the other asking that the salary of the assessor be withheld until the books are turned in to Joliet.”

The motion asking for resignation passed with little discussion, but withholding the salary had a mixed reaction from the audience. After much discussion, “The motion was finally put to a vote and passed, with the showing of hands indicating a large majority [of those in attendance] also in favor of withholding the salary.”

Apparently, there was a Major League Baseball strike that spring, but an article noted fans were not nearly as upset as they could have been. After all, the Hawks away hockey games now were televised, as well as the professional basketball playoffs. Some fans thought there were just too many games, while some actually were looking forward to football season.

According to the article by Bob Maszak, “‘The players are asking for too much.’ ‘Not a game, but a war for salary,’ plus ‘Whatever happened to playing for fun?’ ‘How can any one man be worth a million dollars?’ ‘How can a man earn $1,000 a day playing baseball?’

“The solution seems complex, yet simple: Why, we wonder, aren’t the individual player’s statistics and worth plugged into a computer and a salary computed instead of simply giving players the salary that is the best their financial aides and lawyers can get? Also, shorten the season to 83 games.

“If baseball is to continue in America as a pastime and money-maker, people will have to be turned on by something more than a bunch of grown men getting ulcers trying to show they are worth the large stack of money they are getting just for throwing a piece of cowhide and hitting it with a stick.”

*****

That’s it for this week. Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Easter, though at the time of this writing it’s cold, windy, and the possibility of a snow flurry or two is not out of the question. It actually feels more like Thanksgiving and turkey than Easter and ham. I know I’ve said I really like winter, but I already have changed into a “warmer mode” of thinking, and currently the wind seems bone-chilling. No lolly-gagging around when Meg and I are out doing “her thing.” Have a great week! Life is Good!!