buddodson1@comcast.net
It has been some time since I last wrote any "Memories", just to
busy?????- what a shame so many of us are just too busy to jot a few
things. I guess reading Nellie Lou's letter inspired me. I know
there are a lot of people still living, some in Olney that could
write many exciting and interesting things
We rented most of my life in Olney and as a result lived on E North
Ave, W Cherry ( 3 times ), E Cherry (4th grade) Main St ( Silver St
School 2nd grade) and E Chestnut ( St Joe's 8th grade & OTHS).
My first job was a paper route, picked up and folded papers at the
newsstand on Whittle, then graduated to the Tydol-eedol Station at
103 & Main, pumped the gas back into the dispensing pump and wiped
windows, made $3.00 a week. Then to Bowers Drug Store, their attic
was a real experience all kinds of old post cards etc, at the time it
was the Hang Out for Central School kids, Schamalhausen's was not yet
the in place. Later on in High School I had several jobs, many
months at JC Penney's working for Mac MCCormack. I remember giving
"Frosty" Sproul a pair of Nylons for his wife when they were almost
impossible to get. Frosty was one of our HS Coaches.
Jackie Provost had a Dance Studio on the top floor of the JC Penney
Biuilding, that was always an adventure! A couple of summers I
drove a Dump Truck for Leo Doll hauling Sand, Gravel and Limestone.
Things were so different then, we did not worry about all the rules
and regulations as now and when Theresa, Leo's wife wanted to go
someplace he would have me drive them. Leo had a 40 Pontiac so I
would take it, Theresa and the two boys and away we would go. I was
14-15 then and that was like being "in the tall timber".
I also worked at Schneiter's Grocery for Ray. I worked in the store
and drove their Chevy Pick Up delivering groceries. While delivering
to Susie Harm's house on W Main I backed into a tree and dented a
right rear fender, Ray was pretty upset but it was OK. Many of the
kids at OTHS had their own cars, by far the most popular was the
Model A's. Bob Glover had a Model "T", Jack Berry had a Model
"B"(?) coupe, Bill Schaub a 4 dr Model "B", I found a 29 Model "A"
bruch painted it Chinese Red and had "Struggle Buggy" painted on each
door. We'd all get cranked up and buzz around town and to VonDale
as long as we could get gas.
I remember the many parades Olney always had. In one International
Shoe Factory brought Robert Wadlow (?) in whom at the time was about
the world's tallest man, we were entered in numerous parades and
usually had our bikes all decorated up, the Elk's Theater in the Elks
Bldg was always the poplar place on Friday night's for the exciting
serials that were continued from week to week.
I remember Horse Racing at the Fairgrounds and the big crowds for the
4th of July Fair. Seven Hills for the thrill of going over the
hills and your stomach just rising as you topped each one. Driving
Jerry Scheer's 34 Chevy to and from VonDale when I was a Freshman
usually accompanied by Pat Gaddis, Jerry, Bernie Fitzgerald and I and
on one occasion we even had the Illinois State Police following.
Lots of stories and memories and most all of them good and enjoyable
without Drive-By Shootings, kidnappings and all the bad things that
so many people occupy themselves with today. Yes Olney was a pretty
good place to grow up in!
Bud Dodson
Class of "47"
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Sharon Street Burt
Trigger88@aol.com
I am responding to the Olney Memories #44 and a message from Bill
Bowen. He asked what happened at the West Main Congregational
Christian Church. I was a member of that Church for many years and
my Grandfather, Ira Street, was one of the builders of that Church.
Prairie Farms Dairy bought the lot and building quite a few years
back and a new Church building was built on Hall Street, north of
Olney. It was just open land with a hand full of houses then, but
now is very populated with beautiful homes. The name of the Church
was also changed to Faith Bible Church when they made the move.
Thanks for including me on the list to receive your Olney Memories.
Sharon Street Burt
Class of 1960
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Delle Jacobs (Nadele Mitchell)
njacobs@pacifier.com
I can't tell you what a shock it was to read #44, with Linda Stanford
Peterson's post. 412 S. Elliott Street is the house my family lived in
from early 1952 to June 1958. My parents bought it from the Robertsons
when we left Mt. Carmel, where they had lived since my older brother was
a baby. My poor dad-- every time he'd finally get a house remodeled so
it was the way he wanted it, and big enough for his five kids, he'd get
transferred again. He was a geologist for Calvert Petroleum. In 1958,
we had to move again, to Oklahoma City. Since then, my siblings and I
just keep moving all over the world, and so do our kids. My younger
brother has lived in Munich, Germany for over 30 years. I guess we
learned we could put down roots wherever we wanted, because none of us
stayed where we started out.
My dad converted the back porch into a large dining room with windows
all around so he could grow his plants, and we thought it was so
fantastic. We never thought we were rich kids, though, and I have
trouble seeing why anyone would have envied us. I always thought we
were very ordinary.
I remember the Robertsons and the house very well, even though we
weren't there very long. I always wondered about the people who had
lived there before us. Up there in the attic, we found some fascinating
thing, including one of those old flat irons, and another cast iron
"ruffler", which was apparently used to sort of "corrugate" ruffles.
And there were some catalogues that were full of ready-made dresses from
the 1890s. I wish I had that stuff today!
The Robertsons bought a fairly small brick home about a block away on
Cherry Street. Mary Robertson conducted the church choir, the adult
choir, that is, and I sang under her direction lots of times.
Delle Jacobs (Nadele Mitchell)
Would have been Class of 1960, but we moved.
Ann Weesner King
Pianoann97@aol.com
Isn't it interesting to see how things evolve and take place in our
lives. We would never have gotten on this subject if Linda Peterson
had not written what she did about Mr. & Mrs. Robertson.
I sang in a Children's Choir that Mrs. Robertson got together and
directed probably back in the late 40's and early 50's. The choir
met in the basement of the Methodist church on Saturday mornings. As
I remember, we were the younger set and I would guess most of us were
grade-school age. I remember Barbara Hostettler was the pianist for
the group. She was in high school at the time and I remember I
wanted to be an "adult" like she was! Barbara Hostettler was a
younger sister of Aleen Hostettler, the teacher at High School. I
think she taught Latin, maybe?
Do any of you have some memories of this group?
Ann Weesner King
Class of 1960
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Jim Dale
jdale@uark.edu
Old Model-T Ford—When I was in high school in the late 1930's I
was like many teenagers and wished that I had access to an
automobile. I solved the problem by buying an old Model-T Ford.
Although I only worked part time at 15 cents per hour, the purchase
of the car was made possible because it only cost me 30 dollars. In
some respects it was fun to own and drive, but it had its drawbacks.
It had to be hand-cranked to start it, and in winter it was cold to
drive because it had no side curtains. I did not drive it as much as
I had anticipated, and after about a year I sold it. I sold it to a
high school classmate and friend, Dick Dugan, who bought it for 25
dollars. Thus, my teenage car ownership experience only cost me five
dollars. Dick drove the car for a while and then parted with it under
unusual and somewhat amusing circumstances. Dick was driving it out
in the country on a little-used and very muddy road and got deeply
stuck in the mud. Model-T's were pretty good mudders, but Dick's
efforts to get it unstuck were not successful. Dick solved the
problem very easily. He just walked off and left it stuck in the mud—
and he never returned. It can be speculated that some farmer probably
got it unstuck by pulling it out with a team of horses and became the
new owner of an old Model-T Ford.
Model A Ford—Dick Dugan, mentioned in the preceding story,
later upgraded his car ownership by buying an old Model-A Ford. Dick
had a good friend named Bill Smith who did not own a car. One day
Bill asked Dick if he could borrow his car for a date that evening
and Dick readily agreed. Dick and his parents lived on Elm St. near
the Post Office and he told Bill that he would leave the car on the
street with the keys in it. That evening when it was just beginning
to get dark, Dick was upstairs getting ready for his own date and he
heard his car trying to be started. He went to an open window and
loudly yelled down to the street "You have to choke it!" The car then
started and it was driven away. Bill then came along to get the car,
could not find it, and asked Dick about it. Dick never did find out
who took his old Model-A Ford. This was a rare instance of a car
owner giving a thief specific instructions on how to steal his own car.
Jim Dale
Class of 1940
Gary Totten
totten@shawneelink.net
We had grandkids for the holidays, and they arrived with their ever
increasing inventory of high tech games. The Play Station 2 was the
new one this time, and their Christmas wish list requested
accessories that I had never heard of.
It got me to thinking about the how things have changed and the
popularity of marbles at Central School in the 1950's, where I
attended from 1953 to 1959.
The serious and manly sport of shooting marbles was greatly
anticipated during the lunch break and at recess. The boy's
playground was on the west side of the school, and I recall that the
northwest corner was the usual spot for my group of competitors.
Marbles were usually carried in a leather or cloth pouch with a
drawstring at the top. A fellow would carry his favorite shooter in
the bag along with a supply of marbles to put in the pot. Unless you
were running short, only the least favorite marbles were put at risk.
A circle was drawn in the bare dusty ground, and a lag line was drawn
some distance away. Each player would toss a marble at the line to
determine his starting position. Each player put an equal number of
marbles in the pot, and then the shooting went on until the marbles
were gone. I think there were different games, but I don't remember
the details.
My favorite shooter was a blue and white marble called a swirlie
because of the way the colors swirled together. I believe these were
also called coilees. A clearie or purie had almost no color at all.
Perhaps the most popular was the cat's eye, which had a floating mass
in the marble that resembled the eye of a cat. Steelies were made of
metal and tended to be more prized. Aggies were solid colors and pee
wees were the smallest. Sometimes the larger marbles were used, which
may have been called boulders. Marbles could be purchased downtown at
Woolworths or Tresslars. I think they came in a bag of 25 or so.
One of the 6th grade teachers, Mr. Boley, oversaw that area of the
playground and was available to resolve serious disputes if they
arose. Back then spankings were allowed, and he was known for his
paddle with the holes drilled in it, and his willingness to use it
when necessary. I recall that he gained my immediate respect on at
least two occasions.
At any rate, marbles occupied a lot of my thought and effort at the
time, even rivaling my big grade school crush on Linda Schnepper. I
kept the majority of my hord of marbles at home in a cigar box. I
had almost 500 at the pinnacle of my marble career.
Whatever became of my marble collection is a mystery. I don't
recall giving them away. Maybe they are in a Mason jar on a shelf
somewhere.
Gary Totten
Class of 65
Ann Weesner King
Pianoann97@aol.com
In going through another box of my mom and dad's….. I found a copy of
the 1941 Centennial Edition of the Olney Daily Mail. ( I'm not real
clear on whether it was the centennial of the town or county or
both.) It stated that the official population was 7,831 at that
time. This particular edition had about 4 sections to it with many
ads of congratulations for 100 years from the Olney Businesses during
that time. Some I remembered quite well, others were not in
existence by the time I could remember things. This particular
edition came out in print 4 months and 1 day before I was born. As
I was looking through this brittle, yellowed paper, so many of these
business brought back memories and I thought I would like to mention
their names and maybe they would bring back certain memories to many
of you ..…and also some of the younger people would be amazed at how
many businesses were in Olney back then. Perhaps some of you might
have some memories triggered as you look over this list.
1. Hudson-Hill & Co. ….. John Deere Farm Implements, 214 Whittle Ave.
2. Dr. C.L. Jordan……….Dentist, 108 ½ E. Main St.
3. Hocking Auto Parts…327-333 N. Walnut & 947 S. Whittle
4. J&J Market…..Groceries & Meats, 329 Whittle Ave.
5. H..O.Hawkins & Son…..Coal & Hauling, Groceries, Gas & Oil.
6. Ebner Ice & Cold Storage… 1021 Whittle Ave.
7. Olney Funeral Home…306 S. Fair St.
8 .Fessel's Cleaners….315 Whittle Ave.
9. Pasley's Garage…Auto Repairing and Greasing, Rt. 130 North
10. Harold Fox Jewelers……111 N. Walnut St.
11. J.D. Hurn & Son (Originally Kramer & Hurn Lumber Yard)
12. International Shoe Co.
13. John Schneiter's & Sons Groceries & Meats
14. Wieland-Goudy Hardware…224 E. Main St.
15 .The Carl Ring Chiropractic Clinic...402 S. Fair St.
16. .Forsyth Lumber & Coal Company…505-533 Whittle Ave.
17. Tresslar's….208 E. Main St.
18 .Janet's Shop…212 E. Main St.
19. Gaffner's Drug Store…SW Corner Main & Fair St, Drugs, Paints,
Oils, Fancy Goods, Fine Cigars, Perfumeries, Toilet Soaps, & etc.
20. Lopin's Store…Hart Schaffner & Marx Suits, Stetson Hats,
Florsheim Shoes, Manhattan Shirts, Cooper Underwear, Wilson Bros.
Haberdashery.
21. Illinois Commercial Telephone Company
22. West End Machine Shop…..114 N. Mulberry St.
23. The Shultz Seed Co….. Arthur E. Shultz, owner
24. Vondale Camp… Gasoline and Oils, Soft Drinks, Sandwiches,
Groceries, Cottages on U.S. Route 50, 4 miles East of Olney.
25. A.C. Roberts Insurance Agency…107 Whittle Ave.
26. Porter-Schaub Funeral Home…314 Chestnut St.
27. Penney's Company
28. Bradley Maytag Co….115 Walnut St, Ray Bradley, Mgr.
29. Bateman Welding Shop….125 W. North Ave.
30. Montgomery Ward
31. Jenning's Diary, Milk… Cream, Butter, Cottage Cheese, Ice Cream,
Shebert.
32. Donovan D. McCarty….. Attorney-At-Law
33. S.H. Blank Insurance…..115 S. Fair St.
34. Fred Newton…210 W. Main St., Money to Loan
35. Bower's Drug Store…."Bower's Drug Store was established when
Olney was in it's infancy, 1845---Olney is now 100 years old and
Bower's Drug Store has been serving the people honestly for over 96
years. Dr. E. W. Ridgway, a practicing physician, started the store
in 1845. In 1864 it was sold to his son, Dr. William Ridgway and his
son-in-law, Wm. Bower. In 1865 William Bower took over the business
and continued it until 1912 when it was sold to his son, Ernst Z.
Bower, who is now at the helm. Bower's Drug Store is the oldest drug
store in the state to have been in ONE FAMILY so many years. The
store prides itself on its Fountain Service. Fruit lemonade
originated at Bower's, as did the Coca Cola drinks "76" and "61"."
36. Sherman's Department Store…Main at Whittle Ave
37. Ben Murray Hdwe. Co….201 E. Main St.
38. Hicks Typewriter Service…312 W. Main St.
39. King's Furniture Store….317 E. Main & 403 S. Whittle Ave.
40. Bateman Auto Parts…1801 E. Main
41. Pool Motor Sales…1710 E. Main St., Studebaker Dealer
42. Olney Bakery …306 E. Main St., Byrl Houpt, Prop.
43. Olney Seed Co…503 N. Walnut
44. Olney Greenhouses..….367 N. West St.
45. Cal Kent.….Texaco Gas, Oils, Lubrication, Tires, & Batteries,
Coal & Ice.
46. Kirk's Market in A.& P. Store
47. Richland Co Farm Bureau….230 W. Main St., Edward Barnes Farm Adviser
48. Walgreen Drug Store… Arcadia Corner, Claude E. Tilton, PH.
49. United Breathern Church….Paul W. Milhouse, Minister
50. Zean Gassmann Insurance.…111 Whittle Ave
51. Dr. C.O. Hanson Optometrist……221 E. Main St.
52. Lough Service Co….. Guy Lough Prop., Pure Oil Products, Route 50
West
53. Midwest Dairy Products……411 Whittle
54. Double-R Hatcheries
55. J.E. (Jack) Rector...Plumbing & Heating, 106 W. Butler St.
56. Vaught Oil Co….703 W. Main
57. City of Olney …C.P. Porter, Mayor
58. Farris Café…Route 130 N of Intersection
59. Taylor Print Shop…....521 W. North Ave.,
60. Nix Bros…..206 W. Main St.
61. Fox Style Box Cleaners…117 N. Walnut St.
62. S. & V. Truck Co. Transportation…230 W. Butler St. Charles
Skinner, Owner
63. Producers' Creamery…217 E. Main St.
64. The Olney Sanitarium
65. Arcadia Theatre
66. Roxy Theatre
67. Kroger…..100 W. Main, 321 E. Main, 215 S. Whittle
68. The Pure Oil Company
69. First National Bank in Olney
70. Olney Trust & Banking Co.
71. Dr. O.C. Borah
72. Smith's Ice Cream……228 W. Main St., Albert Michels, Mgr.
73. Easterday D-X Service Station
74. C.O. Ritter…. 1219 E. Main St., Auto Repairing
75. Cruise-Inn Drive Inn…. W. Main St. Bar-B-Que and Fountain Service
76. Jerry's Jewel Shop…Main & Walnut St…Gruen, Bulova, Hamilton,
Elgin Watches
77. Alton Vinegar Co. …203 W. South Ave
78. Farmers Equipment & Supply Co….. Bennie Schnepper, Prop.
79. Galen C. Bohren….417 Whittle, Electrician
80. The Illinois Gas Co….. 114 W. Main St.
81. Richland Feed Supply Store…. 414 E. Main
82. Olney Nu-Enamel Store……..Across From Post Office, Washers,
Refrigerators, Radios, Paints, Wall Paper & Varnish
83. Kiwanis Club…… J. W. Meehan, Pres.
84. Gassmann's Town Talk Ice Cream…311 Whittle Ave.
85. Little Brick Inn… 516 E. Main St.
86. Godeke Store.…202 W. Main St…. Tires,Tubes, Batteries & Acces.,
Gas & Oill
87. Hampton's Market…..423 Whittle Ave
88. Watkins Shell Service Station….603 W. Main
89. Sunset Cabins….1061 W. Main St. Modern, Private Baths
90. B & B Food Store….222 S. West St., E. Bunting & Son, Props.,
Groceries & meats
91. Olney Rotary Club… John Ed Fessel, Pres.
92. Tucker & Gher Groceries & Meats….704 Whittle Ave.
93. Sunshine Laundry….106 E. North Ave.
94. Bob Summers Phillips 66 Station…629 W. Main St.
95. Litherland Shoe Repair Shop..…..215 W. Main
96. H. T. McGarvey Standard Service….819 W. Main
97. Myers Bros Hudson Cars..…Route 130 South
98. Brown Trailer Sales...600 W. Main St., Gerald Brown Owner
99. Vic Meyers Sinclair Service…...741 W. Main St.
100. N.A. Kent Texaco Products & Coal….211 Whittle Ave
101. Coco-Cola Bottling Co of Olney
102. George Elkins Plumbing & Heating…..232 W. North Ave.
103. Mehmert's Jewelry…Arthur Mehmert, Jeweler
104. Howard's Beauty Service….125 E.Market St., Mrs. G.H. Howard &
Aita Fern Leist
105. Burch Grocery….524 W.Main St.
106. Kenny's Café….304 E.Main St.
107. Olney Nash Company…206 Whittle Ave., Paul Heindselman, Prop.
108. City Market…313 Whittle Ave., Charles Harmon, Jr., Prop.
109. WM. L. Barber Insurance…111 ½ Whittle
110. Molt Cleaners…609 Whittle Ave.
111. Underhill's Phillip's Station……501 Whittle Ave.
112. Drew the Radio Doctor…323 Whittle Ave.
113. La Ruth Shop….. Ladies' Wearing Apparel
114. Goodman & Harris....Men's furnishings & Ladies' Shoes & Hosiery
115. Wachtel Sisters.…205 E. Main St., The Oldest Millinery Business
in Olney
116. Petty's Tavern…...605 Whittle Ave.
117. The Olney Chamber of Commerce
118. Sam B. Raitma…..103 E. Market, Oil Royalties Bought & Sold
119. Lee Apparel Shop….Ladies' Ready-to-Wear
120. Stanley's Mobil Gas Station
121. Star Grocery, 301 E. Main St.
122. Polly Prim Hat Shop…Lillie H. Muench, Prop.
123. Hotel Litz & Coffee Shop…… 400 E. Main St., Phil & Ruby Heyde,
Prop.
124. Musgrove Shoe Store…On the Avenue
125. Poland's Ignition Service….. 104 N. Boone St.
126. G.W. Blackburn & Co. ...604 S. Camp & 300 Whittle Ave,
Poultry,Cream feed,eggs
127. Whitmore Hotel.…..…619 E. Main St.
128. Olney Shoe Rebuilding Shop
129. Ernest G. Ulrich….. 1202 E. Main St., Coal, Sand, Gravel
130. Schmalhausen's Drug Store…..227 E. Main St.
131. State Farm Insurance….. 601 N. Morgan St.,
132. O.K. Motor Sales…. 110 W. Main.Plymouth-Dodge Dealers, Lawrence
Wagy, Prop
133. The Olney Loan and Building Assn.
134. Hahn Motor Sales…. 528 Whittle Ave, Pontiacs & Used Cars
135. Kaley's…..Men's Furnishings
136. Maas Market….. 217 E. Main St., Groceries, Meat, Delicatessen
137. Van Matre & Pauley….. 412 E. Main. Groceries & Meats
138. Landis Auto Co….511 E. Main, Chevrolets & Buicks
139. Paramount Market ...Omar L. Maas, Prop., Groceries & Meats
140. Meadows Market
141. Geo. Richardson…Electrical Appliances
142. Burgener Insurance Agency
143. Abegglen Bros…. 223 E. Main St., Furniture Dealers
144. Robb's Coffee House
145. Baby Shop..…Anne & Edith Muench, Prop.
146. Raymond's Jewelry…. 221 E. Main
147. Stanley Eagleson & Son…. 100 S. Morgan, Olds and Packard Dealers
148. Crackel's Appliance Shop….. 115 S. Fair St.
149. Olney Cleaners…….. 408 E. Main St.
150. Whitaker's Welding Shop
151. Bert L. Vail….Building Contractor
152. Voigt My Tailor….105 W. Market St.
153. Stacey Marathon Service.… 501 E. Main St.
154. City Cigar Store…. Bill Propes, Prop.
155. Reed's Apparel Shop….On the Avenue
156. Martin Sound Service….. 306 W. Main St.
157. Home Loan & Finance Co…. 100 ½ E. Main St.
158. Zimmerly Bros…. 519 E. Main St., Goodrich Line of Tires
159. Bourell's Music Store
160. Trail's Shell Service Station….. Main and Morgan
161. Spieth's Studio……..401 Whittle Ave
162. B&B Drug Store….233 E. Main, Andrew F. Bridges, Prop.
163. Bob Frost Conoco Service Station…..Main & Morgan St.
164. P.F. Harrell Plumbing & Heating…. 113 E. Market
Ann Weesner King
Class of 1960
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