The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Compiled and Edited by Virginia Ross
Registrar for Daniel McMillan Chapter, N.S.D.A.R.1916
Stronghurst Graphic, May 18, 1916
THEY CLEANED UP THE TOWN: A marked improvement in the general appearance of the village could be seen resulting from the "Clean-up" campaign now in progress for over a week. Never in the village history has there been such a determined effort made by citizens in cleaning alleys and vacant lots of trash and weeds and improving the appearance of yards and lawn.
FORT CLOSES COLLEGE CAREER: Charles Fort, son of Postmaster and Mrs. Fort closed a college career with a most pleasing recital. Mr. Fort was assisted by Miss Kathryn Finley, Miss Marie Kettering and Miss Hazel Lanphere. The program was divided into five parts and each was continually encored by the audience. Mr. Fort has a fine baritone voice of excellent tone quality and he appeared in three groups of songs. Miss Finley, violin and Miss Kettering, piano, played several duets as the second group of the program. Mr. Fort closed the program with four pleasing numbers of popular classical songs.
The recital ended the term of one of the best musical students which the college ever claimed; he has been a member of the local Glee Club several years and has been one of its leading singers. During his college course he has been a student of Prof. T.M.Austin.
1891 Graphic: Mrs. Grace Davis, wife of Abe Davis, who lived two miles east of Stronghurst, while temporality deranged, committed suicide by hanging on May 15th. Rev. James Sharratt conducted revival meetings in the Stronghurst Baptist Church.
That "Player Pianos" are no longer a novelty was apparent; Mr. Strodtman of Decorra had just purchased a Pneumatic Symphony organ by means of which "anyone can play the mos classic selections without knowing a note of music."
LYRIC TO BE REMODELED: Manager Beardsley has perfected plans for a complete remodeling of the Lyric Theatre by which the seating capacity will be increased to accommodate practically 500 people, making it the largest auditorium in the village.
A new standard stage of sufficient size to accommodate the larger show companies and new scenery are amongst the improvements planned. Special attention will be paid to the safety and comfort of patrons by providing easily accessible and wide exits and a special ventilating system. He hopes to begin the remodeling next week.
LOCAL AND AREA NEWS: Members of the library department of the Women's club are now working to secure books for the Stronghurst Library. Those wishing to donate books which you have read should bring them to the Municipal Waiting room where they will be sorted by a committee and those suitable for circulation placed in the library.
Mr. McKay who lives on the Sparrow farm near Terre Haute had the misfortune to be kicked by a horse; he is recovering nicely. Mr. Gust Magdeburg, formerly of Carman and now a resident of Oklahoma is visiting friends in Illinois.
The village of Roseville will observe Decoration Day with the usual exercises and in addition will dedicate the new mausoleum and new Solders monument, both recently completed. Rumor says that Robt.
Pence has been offered $500 per acre for his farm of 145 acres near Lomax by an association of Hollanders from the eastern states who contemplate engaging in truck farming; also that the building of one of the largest woolen mills in the west at Lomax is a part of the general plan.
The M. E. parsonage is being reroofed with metal shingles. A band concert will be held on the street to honor the winning track team. James Milligan of Smithshire has been seriously ill at the Augustana Hospital in Chicago and is now reported improving and expected home in a few weeks.
The Henderson County bridge committee met with the Bald Bluff commissioners and let the contract for the building of what is known as the Dugan bridge, west of Little York. The successful bidder was C.D.Stratton of Little York and the amount of bid $1,095.
CARMAN CONCERNS: Dean Vaughn, nephew of Mrs.George Marsden, will graduate from the Dallas City school on May 18th. Mr. Pete Kemp has moved to his late father's place(Warren Kemp), southeast of town. Mrs. Allen Breen and two little girls left for Wyoming to homestead. Messrs. Dorin and Everett Tharp, Albert Runge, Golden Babcook, Troy Vaughan and the Misses Rhoda Marsden and Fern Dowell attended the class play at Dallas City given by the graduates.
GLADSTONE GLEANINGS: The local ball team whose best players were absent played Lomax and went down to defeat. The Thurston Comedy Co. will be at Bryan's hall. Mr. John Owens was coming from Oquawka Sunday on a hand car when he was shot through the thigh just this side of the bridge. When he reached town, he went to Dr. Ditto and had the wound dressed. He saw no one so is at a loss to know who shot him.
Sunday morning lightning struck the cupola of the school house nearly destroying it and knocking off quite a lot of plastering in some of the rooms. Elmer Pence is excavating for a new home. The recent hard rains washed out a bridge south of town.
OQUAWKA OCCURRENCES: Mr. and Mrs. T.C.Allen left for Chicago where he will undergo an operation for a growth on his neck. Miss Gladys Gray visited her sister, Mrs. Leonard Schell. Fire from a defective flue ignited the W.Bell home, but the flames were soon extinguished. Mr. Ward of Tonica was here looking after his interest in the Hartenbowen ranch north of town. The Charles Duvall residence with most of its contents was totally destroyed by fire.
A number of citizens met at the Farmers and Merchants State Bank to talk over the proposition of oiling the streets in the business section this summer. G.H.Campbell was elected chairman and it was decided to have a committee appointed to solicit the funds.. The following were appointed: H.F. McAllister, F. W. Schlotzhauer, A. M. Thornton and R.W. Meloan. George Green moved into the Joe Pence house.