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CENTENNIAL 

DEKALB,    ILLINOIS 


547 
.D3 


ROGRESS   UNLIMITED 


FROM  THE 


OF  TODAY 


As  far  back  as  1912  DEKALB  achieved  national  recognition  as  the  trademark 
for  fine  quality  milk  wagons.  It  was  in  1912  that  the  DEKALB  Wagon  Company 
developed  the  step-up  quick  delivery  cart.  It  eliminated  the  precarious  hub  jump- 
ing to  a  high  perched  seat  for  drivers  with  a  drop-center  delivery  wagon,  some  of 
which  are  still  in  use  in  the  dairy  industry.  From  the  drop-center  wagon  DE- 
KALB went  to  the  drop-frame  truck  with  "stand-drive"  controls.  Through  the 
years  DEKALB  research  and  design  has  been  responsible  for  other  advancements; 
including  "jig-built"  construction,  plastic  bodies  and  the  new  "Lumberjack"  retail 
lumber  delivery  unit.  Today,  in  nearly  every  field  of  endeavor  involving  commer- 
cial transportation  you  find  evidence  of  DEKALB  workmanship  and  support  for 
the  slogan  .  .  .  "America's  Finest  Products  Are  Delivered  in  America's  Finest 
Bodies  .  .  .  DEKALB!  " 


DeKalb 


COMMERCIAL     BODY     CORPORATION 

DEKALB    •    ILLINOIS 


SAUK  VALLEY  CC  LIBHABY 


3    1516   00016    2642 


lik  2). 


ti 


eev    cr^n-vvtecLaiLon 


Three  factors  have  made  the  DeKalb  Centennial  an  undertaking  of  considerable  size  and  ex- 
treme importance.  The  first  was  our  desire  to  give  respectful  and  fitting  tribute  to  the  pioneers 
of  the  past  and  the  senior  citizens  of  today  who,  through  their  foresight,  industry,  and  civic  pride, 
have  made  DeKalb  what  it  is  today. 

The  need  for  a  civic  celebration  of  such  broad  scope  that  it  would  encompass  our  fellow 
citizens  from  all  walks  of  life  was  also  recognized.  That  the  DeKalb  Centennial  has  enjoyed 
greater  and  more  enthusiastic  participation  than  any  previous  event  in  city  history  is  indeed  grati- 
fying. 

Notwithstanding  the  importance  of  the  first  two  factors,  however,  we  must  necessarily  look 
ahead  and  conclude  that  it  is  the  setting  of  a  progressive,  more  active,  and  more  service-minded 
pattern  for  the  future  that  is  the  element  which  gives  our  participation  its  reason  for  being. 

Our  past  duly  honored,  our  present  merrily  celebrated,  and  our  future  course  of  civic  re- 
sponsibility firmly  set,  we  pause  to  express  our  deep  appreciation  for  the  unsurpassed  coopera- 
tion, hard  work,  financial  support,  and  loyalty  to  DeKalb  which  has  guided  the  actions  of  all 
those  whose  lives  the  DeKalb  Centennial  has  touched. 

THE  DE  KALB  CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE 

J.  E.  Rolfing,  President 
J.  M.  Morris.  General  Chairman 
Francis  R.  Geigle,  Vice-President 
0  Francis  E.  Cash,  Co-Treasurer 

Arthur  J.  Krupp,  Co-Treasurer 
DeWitt  Osgood,  Secretary 

EXECUTIVE  BOARD 

John  Boardman 
Helene  Collin 
Jessie  Glidden 
Philmore  Iskowich 
A.  W.  Jackson 
Adrian  Jacobson 
E.  E.  Miller 
C.  Edward  Raymond 


SAUK  VALLEY  COLLEGE 
LRC  012501 


Page  1 


DeKalb's  Centennial 

1856  -  1956 

By  Georgia  Anna  Kuecks 

A  haven  from  the  endless,  swampy  plains 
Was  built  by  God  with  river  and  with  trees, 
And  men  who  ventured  onward  to  the  west 
At  this  oasis  paused;  and  in  their  ease 
Marvelled,  as  slowly  the  spell 
Of  destiny  engulfed  them. 

On  such  a  blessed  spot  some  were  to  stay 

And  thrive ;  God  meant  it  so. 

They  felt  His  power  enabling  them  to  prove 

Their  might  exceeding  that  of  every  foe. 

Indians,  loneliness  and  ills 

Failed  to  dishearten  them. 

Their  tiny  village  boasted  soon  a  spire 
Pointing  to  God,  whose  blessings  all  acclaimed; 
While  at  the  village  school  their  chilrden  learned 
What  must  be  learned  by  humble  men  and  famed. 
Here  the   nucleus  appeared 
Portentous  of  greatness. 

Thus,  through  a  hundred  years  the  steady  growth 

Of  what  is  now  DeKalb  in  Illinois 

Progressed;  offering  to  all  its  plenitude 

Of  education,  business,  homes  and  civic  poise; 

And  girdled  by  thriving  farms 

Whose  people  share  its  blessings. 

DeKalb,  a  city,  proudly  celebrates 

Its  hundreth  birthday.     Every  native  son 

Is  summoned  to  share  the  pageantry 

Depicting  growth  augmented  by  each  one. 

As  joyously  we  celebi'ate,  we  too 

Most  humbly  thank  our  God. 


Page  2 


izinof  the  County  along  with  Boone  County  and 
Stephenson  County,  and  while  those  latter  two 
names  were  specifically  mentioned  and  the  rea- 
sons Kiven  for  their  selection,  there  was  no  rea- 
son given  for  the  selection  of  the  name  DeKalb 
for  this  area. 

Early  Settlers 

The  first  settlers  came  to  this  area  in  North- 
ern Illinois  following  the  Blackhawk  War  of 
1832  which  erased  forever  the  Indian  menace 
to  this  area.  They  came  straggling  in  at  first 
but  as  the  settlement  of  Chicago  grew  and  the 
pressure  on  the  East  increased,  they  soon 
streamed  in  here  in  increasing  numbers. 

Their  main  interest  in  the  area  was  the  tim- 
berland.  The  timber  held  for  them  their  build- 
ing materials,  their  food  and  their  fuel.  They 
did  not  have  any  intere.st  in  the  prairie,  which 
to  them  was  useless.  They  were  not  primarily 
fai-mers  —  they  were  settlers. 


JA:®©^    VDIE 


■-\d^&. 


/^It...^ 


c(-^i-i^n^   ^' 


'/■{h^ 


Courtesy     of    Chicago     Historical     Society 

Our  Town 

DeKalb  is  named  for  Baron  Johann  DeKalb 
who  was  born  in  Germany  and  served  in  the 
German  and  French  army.  He  was  an  adven- 
turer and  shifted  his  allegiance  from  one 
country  to  another  always  seeking  higher  rank. 
He  was  always  interested  in  military  affairs 
and  soon  rose  to  a  general's  rank  in  the  French 
army. 

He  came  to  the  colonies  to  support  George 
Washington  and  the  colonial  cause,  and  became 
a  major  general  in  the  army  of  the  revolution. 
He  was  second  in  command  at  the  battle  of 
Camden,  fought  on  August  16,  1870,  and  at  that 
battle  he  was  wounded  severely  while  protect- 
ing the  retreat  of  the  main  army.  He  was 
taken  pri.soner  by  the  British  and  died  August 
19,  1780. 

When  this  settlement  was  made,  it  was  first 
called  Huntley's  Grove:  the  first  official  name 
was  DeKalb  Center  after  the  Po.st  Office. 

The  town  itself  takes  its  name  from  the 
County,  which  was  formed  in  1837.  The  county 
was  named  in  the  legislative  enactment  organ- 


When  they  arrived,  they  found  that  the  tim- 
ber, or  woodlands,  followed  the  rivers.  This 
was  particularly  true  in  the  area  near  DeKalb, 
and  in  the  northwestern  part  of  DeKalb  County 
where  the  timber  followed  the  Kishwaukee 
River.  It  is  said  that  there  were  no  trees  be- 
tween the  south  end  of  Huntley's  Grove,  which 
is  DeKalb,  and  Pritchard's  Grove  ten  miles 
south,  which  is  now  Waterman. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  early  settlers  to 
build  mills  and  to  lay  out  towns  and  to  reap 
the  financial  benefits  therefrom.  They  found 
the  timber  all  right,  but  when  they  came  to 
build  their  mills  on  the  Kishwaukee  River  they 
found  that  even  then  the  water  was  too  low  and 
the  stream  was  too  unreliable  to  make  milling 
a  profitable  venture.  In  fact,  one  of  the  early 
accounts  of  DeKalb  Township  speaks  of  a  town 
which  was  laid  out  north  of  DeKalb  about  the 
vicinity  of  what  we  call  the  Nelson  farm  today, 
but  that  was  given  up  due  to  the  failure  of  the 
Kishwaukee  to  supply  power  enough  to  turn 
the  mill  wheels  of  the  proposed  mill  at  that 
point. 

It  was  Russell  Huntley,  who  came  and  settled 
in  the  timber  further  .south,  that  really  started 
this  town  of  DeKalb.  Russell  Huntley  can  be 
rightly  called  the  Father  of  DeKalb;  in  fact, 
the  south  end  of  the  grove  in  which  he  settled 
in  those  early  days  soon  became  known  as 
Huntley's  Grove  and  you  will  find  it  referred  to 
by  that  name  in  several  of  the  histories. 

Huntley  came  from  Vermont.  He  was  repre- 
senting Eastern  capitalists  who  wanted  to  buy 
timber  and  build  a  mill,  and  some  people  say 
it  was  his  prime  intention  to  lay  out  a  town. 

Page  3 


Huntley's  first  venture  in  this  area  of  Hunt- 
ley's Grove,  was  the  building  of  a  hotel,  or  as 
it  was  called  in  those  days  —  a  tavern.  This 
tavern  was  located  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
what  is  now  First  and  Lincoln  Highway,  or  the 
site  of  the  Elks'  Club.  It  is  very  fitting  that 
the  Centennial  Building,  the  offices  of  the 
DeKalb  Centennial,  has  been  built  almost  upon 
the  spot  where  the  Russell  Huntlev  Tavern  was 
built  in  1838. 

This  tavern  was  patronized  by  the  teamsters 
who  were  hauling  grain  from  Dixon's  Ferry, 
which  is  now  Di.xon,  Illinois,  to  Chicago.  If 
you  will  note  on  the  map,  DeKalb  is  just  about 
half  way  between  Chicago  and  Dixon. 

Huntley  Hotel,  or  Tavern,  was  described  as 
a  double  log  house.  It  probably  was  not  very 
commodious,  and  the  teamsters  being  quite 
numerous,  there  was  necessity  for  some  of  them 
at  times  to  sleep  in  the  stable.  There  must 
have  been  some  fear  of  profiteering  in  tho.se 
days  as  the  newly  formed  DeKalb  County, 
thi-ough  its  commissioners,  set  the  rates  which 
Russell  Huntley  and  others  could  charge  for 
meals  and  lodging  in  their  hotels  or  taverns. 
These  rates  look  peculiar  to  us  today.  For  ex- 
ample, thirty-one  cents  for  lodging  for  one 
night  for  a  man ;  twelve  and  one-half  cents  for 
meals;  and  twelve  and  one-half  cents  for  hay 
for  a  horse  over  night,  and  seventy-five  cents 
per  bushel  for  oats  was  all  he  could  charge. 

Huntley  sold  his  hotel  in  1846  and  immedi- 
ately built  a  newer  one  which  he  called  the 
Eagle  Hotel  on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Lin- 
coln Highway,  the  site  of  which  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  First  National  Bank.  This  hotel 
was  in  three  parts,  according  to  the  descrip- 
tions left  to  us;  the  west  wing,  was  a  kitchen: 
the  east  wing  was  a  bar  room,  and  the  center 
part  contained  a  dining  room  and  two  bed- 
rooms. There  were  two  bedrooms  on  the  sec- 
ond floor,  but  again  the  accommodations  were 
not  adequate  for  the  teamsters,  and  it  is  said 
that  many  of  them  at  times  had  to  sleep  in  the 
stable  nearby. 

The  Eagle  Hotel  stood  on  this  site  for  a  good 
many  years,  and  in  the  late  years  of  the  19th 
century  was  moved.  Part  of  the  Hotel  is  still 
in  existence  as  part  of  the  Arlington  Hotel  on 
Ea.st  Lincoln  Highway  just  east  of  Fourth  Street 
in  DeKalb  today. 

As  the  settlement  grew  around  Huntley's 
Tavern  and  the  Eagle  Hotel,  Russell  Huntley 
took  steps  to  purchase  from  the  United  States 
Government  the  land  on  which  his  settlement 
stood.  On  April  9,  1844,  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land.  Four  days  later,  April  13,  1844, 
Steven  S.  Jones  purchased  eighty  acres  immedi- 
ately to  the  East  of  the  Huntley  purchase. 
Then,  on  April  30,  1846,  a  little  over  two  years 
later,  Russell  Huntley  purchased  from  Jones 
his  eighty  acres,  making  Huntley  the  owner  of 
one  hundred  sixty  acres,  or  a  greater  share  of 
the  land  on  which  DeKalb  stands  today. 


W.  M.  DUNN  CO. 

Member 
MIDWEST  STOCK  EXCHANGE 
CHICAGO  BOARD  OF  TRADE 

^-^■^ 

Correspondent  o/ 
LAMSON  BROS.  &  CO. 

Members 
Of  All  Principal  Exchanges 


WAYNE    C.    BENSON 
Managing  Partner 


STOCKS,  BONDS 
INVESTMENT  CO. 
COMMODITIES 
CASH  GRAIN 


131 V2  E.  LINCOLN  HWY. 
DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 
PHONE: 
6-4888 


/(  started  as  — 

ELVIN  CARLSON'S  CLOTHING  STORE 

Then  it  was  — 

DAVIS  MEN'S  WEAR 

and  back  to  — 

ELVIN  CARLSON'S  CLOTHING  STORE 

and  now  it's 

JOLLY'S    TOGGERY 

for 

SMART    MEN'S    WEAR 
IN    DE  KALB 


Page  4 


M  &  M  PHARMACY 

Wm.  M.  Mercer,  R.  Ph.  G.  H.  McGinty,  R.  Ph. 


WHERE    PHARMACY 

IS   A 

PROFESSION 


Phone   6-5873 


GORDON    HARDWARE 

514  East  Lincoln  Highway 
The  Home  of  Name  Brands 

AMANA  .  .  .  CROSLEY  .   .  .  NORGE 
WHIRLPOOL  .  .  .  YOUNGSTOWN 


Indians 

The  Indians  in  this  area  were  the  Pottowato- 
mies,  and  the  most  famous  and  influential  of 
them,  Shabbona,  who  was  an  Ottawa  chief 
by  birth  and  a  Pottowatomie  chief  by  marriage, 
wielded  a  great  influence  among  the  various 
tribes. 

He  became  convinced  that  the  Indians  could 
not  stop  the  onrush  of  the  whites  and  did  all 
in  his  power  to  protect  them.  During  the 
Blackhawk  War  of  1832,  Shabbona  made  two 
midnight  rides  to  warn  settlers  of  impeding 
danger.  Afterwards  he  was  given  a  grove  for 
his  services. 

The  grove  was  lost  to  him  by  a  misunder- 
standing but  is  today  one  of  DeKaib  County's 
forest  preserves.  In  his  journeys  from  his  home 
to  Lake  Geneva,  he  took  a  trail  which  crossed 
the  campus  of  Northern  Illinois  State  College. 
This  trail  is  marked  by  bent  trees,  some  of 
which  are  still  standing. 

Organization  Of  The  Village 

The  village  of  DeKaib  was  organized  in  1856 
as  a  village  under  the  general  act  of  the  legis- 
lature of  the  State  of  Illinois.  No  specific  date 
for  this  action  has  been  determined,  although 
the  records  at  Springfield  and  at  Sycamore 
have  been  searched  carefully.  It  is  this  par- 
ticular act  of  the  people  of  this  community  that 
we  are  celebrating  today  —  the  Centennial  — 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  community  as  a  vil- 
lage. 

The  incorporation  charter  of  the  village  of 
DeKaib  was  amended  by  specific  acts  of  the 
Legislature  in  1861  when  it  was  changed  slight- 
ly to  permit  the  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  to  be  a  member  of  the  county  board  of 
supervisors,  and  then  in  1868  when  other 
changes  were  made  in  the  corporation  of  the 
town  charter. 

The  town  continued  to  operate  under  a  vil- 
lage form  of  government  until  February,  1877, 
when,  by  a  vote  of  the  people  it  became  a  city. 


WISDOM  TRUCKING  SERVICE 

TRANSFER 
GENERAL    TRUCKING 


Local  Moving    .  .  .    Long  Distance 
1328  N.  14th  St.  DeKaib  G-673I 


First    Picture   of    Main    Street    DeKaib    -    1860 


Page  5 


East    Plant   or   Tne    American    Sreel    and   W 


Barbed  Wire 

When  the  settlers  came  to  northern  Illinois 
they  found  that  the  fencing  material  which 
they  were  accustomed  to  use  was  not  to  be  had. 
No  stone  was  available  and,  although  obtain- 
able, timber  for  wooden  fences  was  hard  to 
manufacture.  The  smooth  wire  in  use  was  not 
satisfactory  as  it  was  apt  to  break  in  cold  wea- 
therfi  and,  too,  it  would  not  turn  stock. 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  produce  a 
fence  with  thorns  to  deter  the  stock,  but  none 
proved  practical.  Jacob  Haish  at  one  time 
conceived  the  notion  of  weaving  Osage  Orange 
branches  in  wood  and  wire  fences  in  an  effort 
to  turn  the  stock.  At  one  time  he  even  sold 
Osage  seed  for  $5.00  per  pound.  His  project 
was  not  satisfactory  and  was  dropped. 

I.  L.  Ellwood  once  told  that  he  and  Joseph 
Glidden  became  interested  in  the  idea  of  in- 
venting a  barbed  fence.  While  attending  the 
DeKalb  Agricultural  Fair  they  noticed  the  ex- 
hibit of  William  Rose  of  Waterman.  The  dis- 
play showed  his  patent  consisting  of  a  square 


piece  of  wood  .studded  with  brads  which  could 
be  hung  on  a  wire  or  wood  fence.  The  device 
was  found  effective,  but  not  practical. 

:\Ir.  Glidden  started  to  work  on  his  plan  for 
a  barbed  wire  in  the  spring  of  1873  in  the  front 
yard  of  his  house  on  West  Lincoln  Highway. 
He  took  some  short  pieces  of  wire,  twisted 
them  around  a  smooth  wire,  and  then  twisted 
another  wire  to  the  first.  In  working  on  this 
invention  he  fastened  the  wires  to  a  tree  and 
used  a  grindstone  for  the  twisting.  For  cutting 
the  barbs  he  rigged  up  a  coffee  mill.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1873,  he  applied  for  a  patent,  but  it  was 
not  granted  until  November  24.   1874. 

After  Mr.  Glidden's  patent  had  been  grant- 
ed, Mr.  Ellwood,  who  had  also  obtained  a  pat- 
ent of  his  own,  decided  that  Mr.  Glidden's  de- 
sign was  better  than  his  and  purchased  for 
$265.00  a  half  interest  in  the  Glidden  patent. 

The  two  men  formed  the  Barb  Fence  Com- 


Page   6 


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Early   DeKalb   Firsts 

FIRST  WHITE  SETTLERS  in  the  spring  of  1835 :   John  B.  Codins  and  Norman 
C.  Moore. 

FIRST  HOTEL  built  in  February  1837  by  Russell  Huntley  (which  structure  also 
housed  the  first  postoffice). 

RRST  TOWNSHIP  SCHOOL  held  in  1838  in  a  ColtonviUe  loghouse. 

FIRST  SCHOOLHOUSE  built  in  1850:    First  teacher.  Jonathan  Stone. 

HRST  CHURCH  SOCIETY  (the  Baptist)  in  1842. 

FIRST  MARRIAGE:   J.  M.  Goodell  to  Caroline  F.  Bathrick. 

RRST  BUCKSMITH  SHOP  built  by  Abial  Richardson. 

HRST  JUSTICE  OF  THE  PEACE:   C.  Morey.  elected  in  1853. 

FIRST  RAILROAD:   The  Chicago  &  North  Western 

in  1853. 

• 

FIRST  GRIST  MILL  in  1 853 :   run  by  a  man  named 
Brooks. 

HRST  LUMBERYARD  in  1854  started  by  Walker  Bent. 

FIRST  WAREHOUSE  in  1854  belonging  to  Butts  &  Richardson. 

FIRST  WAGON  &  REPAIR  SHOP  in  1855  owned  by  Smith  D.  Baldwin 

HRST  DRUGSTORE  in  1850  by  Dr.  Basil  Rudy. 


m 


PUBLIC 


SERVICE 


COMPANY 


^f 


Page  7 


YOUR      CITY 
Is  Serving  Its  Citizens 

•  •  • 

Progressive  DeKalb  City  Administrations  of  the  past 
100  years  are  responsible  for  the  many  municipal 
services  today's  citizens  enjoy.  We  are  all  indebted 
to  these  many  civic  minded  pioneers.  As  we  look 
about  our  city,  we  see  their  works  and  have  come 
to  appreciate  their  good  judgment. 

And  now,  because  of  the  foresight  of  these  men, 
DeKalb  has  paved  streets,  adequate  water  supply, 
sewage  disposal  system,  fine  street  lighting,  fire 
protection,  police  protection,  public  library,  muni- 
cipal hospital,  city  parks  and  playgrounds  and 
many  other  public  services. 

So,  on  this  Cenfennial  year,  we  pay  fribufe 
to  the  early  builders  of  our  city. 

ALL  DEPARTMENTS  OF 
DEKALB  CITY  ADMINISTRATION 


Page 


„irfiT|l!n!H!J]^  -  -  - 
.ii<iWii|!ii|ll!!|{|  \    tt 


^m 


West  Mill    (Red  Shops)    American  Steel  and  Wire  Company,  from  Sixth   Street 


pany  and  made  a  few  rods  in  the  Glidden  barn 
during  the  winter  of  1875-76.  The  next  spring 
they  moved  into  a  small  building  on  Main 
Street,  now  the  site  of  the  Elsa  Gift  Shop, 
where  they  started  to  manufacture  wire  on  a 
larger  scale. 

The  method  followed  was  unique  and  crude. 
Two  workmen  would  climb  the  windmill  tower 
standing  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Second  and 
Main  (Lincoln  Highway)  w'ith  one  end  of  a 
long  greased  wire  and  a  pail  of  barbs.  The 
other  end  of  the  wire  extended  into  the  factory. 
They  would  slide  the  barbs  down  this  greased 
wire  and  clamped  them  on  by  hand  in  the 
factory.  Then  a  second  wire  would  be  twisted 
on  to  the  first  by  horse  power.  One  hundred 
pounds  of  wire  per  day  was  good  production. 

The  next  winter  they  built  a  factory  on  Sec- 
ond Street  across  from  the  City  Hall,  and  with 
machines  designed  and  built  by  blacksmith 
Phin  Vaughan,  the  output  reached  seven  tons 
per  day. 

Jacob  Haish,  in  the  meantime,  was  working 
in  his  carpenter's  shop  on  East  Main  (Lincoln 
Highway).     Here  he  developed  his  "S"   barb 


and  began  production  by  using  machines  de- 
veloped by  himself.  As  cirly  as  1873  he  was 
shipping  v.irc  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  demand  for  wire  from  DeKalb  caused 
Mr.  Charles  Washburne,  of  the  firm  of  Wash- 
l  urne  and  Moen  in  Worchester.  Massachusetts, 
to  visit  DeKalb.  He  first  visited  Mr.  Haish, 
who  offered  to  sell  for  $200,000.  He  later  said 
he  expected  Mr.  Washburne  to  make  a  counter 
offer. 

Later  Washburne  called  on  Glidden  and  Ell- 
wood  and  purchased  the  Glidden  patent  for 
$60,000  and  a  royalty  of  25  cents  per  100 
pounds  of  wire. 

Washburne  and  Moen  and  Ellwood  formed 
the  L  L.  Ellwood  manufacturing  Company  and 
began  to  purchase  all  of  the  basic  barb  wire 
patents.  They  could  not  buy  Mr.  Haish's  and 
.sued  him  and  six  others  for  patent  infringment. 
The  District  Court  for  Northern  Illinois  decided 
the  case  in  favor  of  the  Glidden-Ellwood  in- 
terests on  December  15,  1880. 

This  litigation  was  settled  on  a  basis  of  Mr. 
Haish's  paying  the  Ellwood  Company  75  cents 

Page  9 


per  100  pounds  of  barbed  wire  he  had  made 
and  the  Ellwood  Company's  paying  him  the 
same  for  the  use  of  the  Haish  patented  ma- 
chines. 

The  Ellwood  Company  built  the  Red  Shops 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Locust 
Streets  and  a  new  company,  the  Superior  Barb- 
ed Wire  Company,  occupied  the  old  Second 
Street  building.  Later  they  built  a  wire  draw- 
ing plant  on  Tenth  Street. 

On  March  18,  1898.  L  L.  Ellwood.  John  W. 
Gates,  and  others  formed  the  American  Steel 
and  Wire  Company.  The  two  plants  in  DeKalb 
were  a  part  of  the  company  and  later  it  ac- 
quired two  more  plants. 

Barbed  wire  and  kindred  steel  products  were 
made  in  DeKalb  until  May.  1938,  when  the 
American  Steel  and  Wire  Company  moved  to 
Joliet  and  Waukegan. 


TILL 


s 

■^J     DE  KALB,  nXINOIS     ^^ 
EVERY  INCH  A  DRUG  STORE 


DIAL    6-34 1 G 
THANK    YOU 


GENERAL  SHEET  METAL  SHOP 

General  Electric  Heating  and  Air  Conditioning 

Quality  Workmanship  and  Merchandise 


Marsh    Harvester 

Another  agricultural  invention  to  come  out 
of  DeKalb  was  the  Marsh  Harvester.  This 
was  the  work  of  two  brothers,  C.  W.  and  W. 
W.  Marsh. 

While  working  with  a  Mann  Reaper  they 
noticed  how  the  gavels  of  grain  fell  into  the 
box  to  be  bound,  but  as  they  fell  off  the  reaper 
they  scattered. 

About  1858  these  two  men  with  the  help  of 
a  local  machinist  tore  apart  a  Mann  Reaper, 
added  parts  from  a  scrap  pile  and  put  into  the 
field  the  first  harvester.  After  a  year  of  trial 
they  began  manufacturing  this  machine  in 
Sycamore  and  Piano  and  found  the  results 
good.  They  soon  started  to  work  on  improve- 
ments and  developed  an  automatic  knotter 
for  the  sheaves. 

Due  to  faulty  materials  used  by  suppliers 
they  had  manufacturing  difficulties  and  when 
they  lost  a  court  decision  on  the  patent  they 
discontinued  their  work. 

Before  they  left  the  field,  C.  W.  Marsh  had 
demonstrated  his  machine  in  several  European 
countries. 


Service  Is  Our  Business 
116  S.  7th  Street         /flJiJift  Phone  6-4221 


THE    RITCHIES 

DEKALB     NEWS     STAND 

"By  The  Clock" 


HERB  NELSON  &  CO 

860  North  Seventh  Street 
DIAL  6-5412  DEKALB 


C.  W.  Marsh's  home  was  the  building  now 
used  as  a  nurses  home  by  the  DeKalb  County 
Tuberculosis  Sanatorium.  Here  he  indulged  in 
his  liking  for  animals  and  gathered  together 
several  wild  animals  in  the  park  surrounding 
the  home.  Among  these  was  a  herd  of  deer 
which  was  well  known  in  Northern  Hlinois. 

Page  10 


EXCAVATING    DUMP  TRUCK 

CRANE  WORK   ....   BULLDOZER   ....   MOVING 


Aerial  View  of  N.  I.  S.  C. 


Northern  Illinois  State  College 

It  was  1892,  the  year  that  Edgar  Duryea 
made  the  first  American  automobile,  and  a 
novel  idea  was  forming  itself  in  the  mind  of 
Clinton  Rosette.  This  strong-minded  man,  the 
outspoken  editor  of  the  Democratic  DeKalb 
Daily  Chronicle,  had  used  his  influence  to  se- 
cure the  election  of  John  P.  Altgeld  as  governor 
of  Illinois,  and  Altgeld  had  asked  what  position 
he  might  offer  Rosette  in  return.  The  editor's 
first  reply  was  that  he  already  had  a  job  — 
but  then  he  thought  of  his  idea:  why  should 
northern  Illinois  not  have  a  state  normal  school 
comparable  to  those  at  Normal  in  the  central 
part  of  the  state,  and  at  Carbondale  in  south- 
ern  Illinois?      And   so   Rosette   requested   that 


he  be  appointed  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  Normal  Schools  of  Illinois  in  order  to  pro- 
mote the  establishment  of  a  college  for  teachers 
at  DeKalb. 

Shrewdly  joining  forces  with  Isaac  L.  Ell- 
wood,  the  local  Republican  leader  in  DeKalb, 
and  other  prominent  citizens.  Rosette  led  in  the 
drafting  of  a  bill  which  asked  the  state  legis- 
lature to  appropriate  $100,000  for  a  building 
and  to  appoint  a  board  of  trustees  of  five  mem- 
bers. As  for  the  location  of  the  school,  the  bill 
left  little  to  chance:  ".  .  .  said  school  is  to  be 
located  as  near  as  may  be  midway  between 
Lake  Michigan  and  the  Mississippi  river  east 
and  west,  and  as  near  as  may  be  half-way  be- 
tween the  Wisconsin  line  and  the  Rock  Island 
Railway."     DeKalb  was  neatly  pinpointed! 

Page  11 


SKORBERG'S 
FURNITURE    STORE 

Corner  of  Fourth  and  Lincoln  Highway 
DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


DeKalb  Counties  Furniture  Center 

FURNITURE  -  CABPETS  -  BEDDING 

—   APPLIANCES   — 


PHONE  6-4111 


PHONE  G-4111 


Clinton    Rosetfe,   founder   of    Northern    Illinois   State   College 


SULLIVAN'S  DRIVE  IN 

LIQUORS  and  TAVERN 

SULLY  SR.  SULLY  JR. 

722  East  Lincoln  Highway 


NO     WAITING... 

JUST  PULL  UP  TO  SIDE  DOOR  AND  GIVE 
YOUR  PACKAGE  ORDER  THROUGH  OUR 
NEW  INTERCOM  SYSTEM. 


WE      DELIVER 


Page  12 


PHONE      G-4323 


Rosette's  bill,  sponsored  by  State  Senator  D. 
D.  Hunt  of  DeKalb,  immediately  ran  into  com- 
petition with  a  similar  bill  being  advanced  by  a 
group  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  After 
some  maneuvering,  both  groups  agreed  to  sup- 
port each  other,  and  both  bills  were  passed. 
The  $100,000,  however,  was  divided  between 
the  two  schools.  This  did  not  provide  enough 
for  buildings  and  equipment  for  either  school, 
even  at  "gay  nineties"  prices;  so  it  was  decid- 
ed to  secure  sites  and  plans  and  then,  two 
years  later,  ask  for  enough  money  for  both 
plants.  As  a  result,  both  schools  were  fully 
financed  by  the  legislature  in  1895. 

By  now  several  cities  in  northern  Illinois 
were  on  the  scent:  Rockford,  Freeport,  Polo 
and  Dixon  all  fancied  themselves  as  centers  of 
higher  learning  and  presented  their  attractions 
to  the  .state  board.  But  Rosette  and  Ellwood 
very  skillfully  planned  the  tour  of  inspection 
which  the  board  was  requested  to  make.  In 
the  middle  of  a  hot  and  dry  week  in  August 
the  board  was  taken  to  Rockford,   where  the 


Rock  River  and  beauties  of  the  city  were  of- 
fered as  attractions.  Then  came  the  turns  of 
Freeport,  Polo,  and  Dixon  to  make  the  most  of 
their  opportunity.  Dixon's  case  was  particu- 
larly strong,  for  their  delegation  offered  to  give 
the  buildings  and  grounds  of  a  private  normal 
school  without  cost  to  the  state  if  the  new- 
school  were  located  there. 


By  the  time  these  inspections  were  made, 
Friday  night  had  come.  Because  of  the  heat, 
Ellwood  suggested  that  the  board  rest  over  the 
weekend  and  resume  the  inspection  in  DeKalb 
on  the  following  Monday.  That  night  a  heavy 
rain  broke  the  hot  spell,  filled  the  Kishwaukee 
to  overflowing,  and  made  a  beautiful  lake  of 
the  swampy  segment  of  the  proposed  site.  The 
visiting  board  was  delighted  with  what  they 
found,  particularlv  when  they  heard  the  terms 
of  DeKalb's  offer! 


About  seventy  acres  at  the  northwest  edge 
of  town  were  to  be  donated  by  Joseph  Glidden. 
As  additional  inducements  the  city  of  DeKalb 
promised  to  pave  the  main  street  (now  West 
Lincoln  Highway)  as  far  as  the  south  entrance 
of  the  campus.  The  city  schools  were  offered 
as  facilities  for  practice  teaching,  in  keeping 
with  the  plan  for  training  teachers  which  Dr. 
John  W.  Cook  advocated.  Cook,  then  presi- 
dent of  the  State  Normal  University  of  Normal, 
Illinois,  had  indicated  that  he  would  accept 
the  presidency  of  the  new  school.  Another 
DeKalb  leader,  Jacob  Haish.  promised  to  give 
$10,000  for  a  library  for  the  school,  and  Ell- 
wood promised  $30,000  in  cash. 

Nothing  further  was  needed.  The  board 
agreed  to  locate  the  new  school  in  DeKalb. 

At  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new 
building  on  October  1,  1895,  Governor  Altgeld 
was  the  principal  speaker;  music  was  furnished 
by  the  famous  Pullman  Military  Band,  the 
Schumann  Ladies  Quartet,  and  the  DeKalb 
Choral  Society;  and  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
Order  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  in  session 
in  Chicago,  adjourned  and  came  out  by  special 
train  to  see  that  the  stone  was  duly  set. 


The  first  session  of  the  Northern  Illinois 
State  Normal  School  opened  on  September  12, 
1899,  when  139  students  and  16  faculty  mem- 
bers met  at  8:00  a.m.  in  the  study  hall  (now 
the  student  lounge)  for  opening  exercises. 
Classes  were  conducted  in  the  building  in  spite 
of  the  hammering  and  the  noise  of  workmen 
polishing  the  mosaic  corridor  floors.  Sidewalks 
leading  to  the  building  on  what  is  now  College 
Avenue,  consisted  of  wooden  planks  laid  end 
to  end,  and  students  crossed  the  "Kish"  on  a 
plank  footbridge  with  wooden  handrails. 


"where  smarf  young  women  shop" 
the 

eleanore  shop 

in    the    heart    of    dekalb 
corner  of  3rd  and  lincoln  highway 

dekalb,  III. 


A   FANFARE   TO   DEKALB! 

From 

THE    WLBK    STAFF 

It's  a  wonderful  event  for  DeKalb  to  celebrate  a 
century  of  growth  and  accomplishment.  WLBK  — 
Your  Community  Radio  Station  —  is  proud  to  have 
provided  this  fine  city  and  its  surrounding  area  with 
local  news  and  sports,  public  service,  entertainment, 
children's  programs  and  farm  and  home  service  for 

nearly  nine  years As  DeKalb  enters  its  second 

century  —  we  pledge  ourselves  to  make  Radio  —  the 
Universal  Medium  —  of  still  greater  service  to  the 
men,  women  and  children  who  live,  work  and  play 
in  the  Barb  City  and  on  the  farms  and  in  the  towns 
and  cities  within  its  orbit. 


1360  on  Your  XXTf  "DT/"  1360  on  Your 

Radio  Dial  W  LiOXV  Radio  Dial 

DE  K ALB 

"For  Good  Family  Listening  All  Day  Long." 


Page  13 


The  City  of  DeKalb  celebrated  the  opening 
of  its  new  school  with  a  hup:e  dedication  cere- 
mony known  as  the  Crimson  Days.  From  Sep- 
tember 21st  through  the  23rd  thousands  of 
people  from  all  parts  of  northern  Illinois  brav- 
ed torrents  of  rain  to  flock  to  DeKalb  for  the 
festival  parades,  balls  and  dances,  street  car- 
nivals, and  speech  making.  Appropriately,  the 
daughter  of  Mr.  Ellwood,  Mrs.  Jessie  Elhvood 
Ray  (now  Mrs.  Sherman  G.  Bonney  of  DeKalb) 
was  chosen  Queen  of  Crimson  Days.  Again  the 
governor,  this  time  John  R.  Tanner,  honored 
DeKalb  with  his  presence,  as  did  such  other 
notables  as  President  Draper  of  the  University 
of  Illinois.  Superintendent  Bright  of  Cook 
County.  Charles  E.  Brush  and  W.  J.  McAlpine 
(architects  and  contractor,  respectively),  and 
the  Board  of  Trustees. 


Northern  Illinois  State  College  in  its  more 
than  half  century  of  service  to  state  and 
country  has  known  a  variety  of  titles.  The 
somewhat  unwieldy  name  of  the  early  years. 
Northern  Illinois  State  Normal  School,  gave 
way  in  1921  to  the  equally  long  but  more  up- 
to-date  title  of  Northern  Illinois  State  Teachers 
College,  and  finally,  in  July  1955,  to  Northern 
Illinois  State  College.  Since  1921  two-year 
and  four-year  curricula  have  been  offered  to 
prepare  teachers  for  elementary  and  high 
school  teaching.  The  awarding  of  a  diploma 
for  completion  of  the  two-year  curriculum  was 
discontinued  in  1943.  Graduates  of  the  four- 
year  program  now  receive  the  degree  of  Bache- 
lor of  Science  in  Education,  Bachelor  of  Science 
or  Bachelor  of  Arts,  depending  on  the  curricu- 
lum followed.  Since  1952  the  college  has  also 
awarded  the  degree  of  Master  of  Science  in 
Education. 

The  early  years  of  Northern  present  a  record 
of  slow  but  continuous  expansion.  On  the  fifth 
anniversai-y  of  its  founding  there  were  nearly 
300  men  and  women  enrolled,  on  the  tenth  an- 
niversary nearly  500.  The  years  of  World 
War  I  brought  a  decrease  of  over  fifty  percent 
in  student  enrollment,  but  the  number  climbed 
.steadily  again  after  the  war,  and  ranged  close 
to  the  700  mark  until  1938,  when  Northern 
found  over  900  .students  crowding  its  campus. 
After  the  decrease  during  the  years  of  World 
War  II.  Northern's  enrollment  again  began  a 
steady  rise  that  has  taken  it  from  1442  in  1946 
to  3203  for  the  spring  semester  of  1956.  There 
has  been  a  corresponding  increase  in  facultv, 
of  course:  30  in  1906,  54  in  1916.  82  in  1946. 
and  212  this  Centennial  year!  If  the  annual  in- 
crease continues  to  be  about  400  (the  average 
increase  for  the  last  four  years).  Northern's 
enrollment  for  1960  will  be  5360  —  and  it  may 
well  be  considerably  more. 

And  so  Northern  looks  to  the  future.  Five 
buildings  sufficed  the  college  until  1940:  nine 


MONTGOMERY  WARD 


Congratulations  and  Best  Wishes 

to 

De  Kalb 

for  100  Years  of 

Continued  Growth  and 

Progress 


JOHNSON  and  JACOBSON 

General  Contractors 
and  Builders 


213  NORTH  7th  STREET 

TELEPHONE  6-5932 

DE  KALB,    ILLINOIS 


Page  14 


BEST    WISHES 

DE  KALB 

ON    YOUR    CENTENNIAL 

COREY  &  EVANS,  INC. 

117  North  7th  Street 
DE  KALB  ILLINOIS 

Phone  6-4831 


have  been  built  since  that  time,  three  of  them 
since  1952.  But  this  is  only  a  beginning.  Three 
new  campuses  have  been  developed  to  accomo- 
date the  growing  needs  of  the  college ;  North 
Campus  (acquired  subsequent  to  1946)  com- 
prises 100  acres  north  of  Lucinda  Avenue  and 
east  of  Garden  Road  and  provided  facilities  for 
golfing  and  other  recreational  and  athletic 
activities.  West  Campus,  a  tract  lying  one 
block  west  of  the  main  campus,  was  acquired 
by  the  college  in  1949  and  extended  in  the 
spring  of  the  present  year  by  the  purchase  of 
131  acres  west  of  Annie  Glidden  Road.  And 
the  Lorado  Taft  Field  Campus,  situated  in  the 
hilly  and  heavily-wooded  area  along  the  Rock 
River  near  the  city  of  Oregon  (some  thirty-five 
miles  west  of  DeKalb),  was  acquired  in  1951 
as  a  center  for  outdoor  education.  Soon  a  new 
classroom  building  will  join  Neptune  Hall,  the 
fir.st  building  on  the  West  Campus;  and  this 
year  may  see  the  completion  of  work  on  an- 
other We.st-Campus  building,  a  new  field  house 
to  seat  5000  Huskie  fans.  Many  additional 
units  are  projected  for  the  years  immediately 
ahead  —  a  new  laboratory  school,  new  class- 
room buildings,  dormitories,  faculty  hou.sing 
units,  a  Student  Union,  a  health  center,  and  a 
central  power  plant,  as  well  as  additions  to  ex- 
isting buildings. 

The  faculty  and  admini.stration  of  Northern 
Illinois  State  College  view  the  coming  period 
of  rapid  nationwide  educational  expansion  and 
the  next  century  of  DeKalb  history  as  an  oppor- 
tunity to  give  further  —  and  better  —  educa- 
tional service  to  the  people  of  the  State  of  Ill- 
inois. 


THE 
ELSA    GIFT    SHOP 

DE  KALB,   ILLINOIS 


Ui-i 


East  School   located   at    Lincoln    Highway   and    11  th    Street 
in    1899 


Page    15 


ELKS      LODGE 

Has  Grown  With  DeKalb 

SINCE      1902 

Chartered  August  14,  1902 Membership     33 

On  August  14,  1955  Membership  814 

•  •     • 

Since   1902  This  Lodge  — 

its  principles  and  teachings,  through  its  members  of  all 
walks  of  life,  has  held  an  active  part  in  the  development 
and  betterment  of  this  community. 

We  pledge  a  never  ceasing,  driving  fight  to  combat  any 
force    which   seeks   to   subvert    our  —  "American    Way." 

GROWING  THROUGH  THE  CENTURY  WITH  DEKALB 

MUSIC  AND  DANCING  NIGHTLY 
LUNCH  and  DINNER  SERVED  DAILY  DURING  CENTENNIAL 

•  •      • 

VISITORS    WELCOME    

B.P.  O.E.    ELKS 
No.  765 


Justice 


Charity 


Brotherly  Love 


Fidelity 


Page  16 


One  Hundred  Years  In 
DeKalb   Schools 

When  the  little  village  of  DeKalb  in  Orange 
township  was  founded,  and  the  settlers  had 
time  to  think  of  other  things  than  the  bare  nec- 
essities of  life,  the  need  of  a  schoolhouse  be- 
came imperative.  The  first  building  was  not 
an  elaborate  structure.  It  was  built  of  logs  and 
roofed  with  "shakes"  (boards  from  two  to  three 
feet  long  and  about  a  half-inch  thick)  ;  it  had 
no  floor  and  no  windows  —  simply  openings 
made  in  the  sides;  consequently,  when  it  be- 
came cold  enough  to  need  a  fire,  school  was 
discontinued  until  it  became  warm  again.  There 
were  only  three  or  four  desks,  placed  in  front 
for  the  pupils  who  took  writing.  The  seats 
were  made  of  logs,  sawed  lengthwise  down  the 
middle,  leaving  one  flat  side;  on  the  other  side 
holes  were  bored  and  legs  inserted.  They 
could  thus  accommodate  fifteen  or  twenty  pup- 
ils. This  schoolhouse  was  on  First  Street, 
about  half-way  between  Curler  Street  and  the 
railroad  tracks   (the  railroad  came  later). 

Soon  the  need  of  a  better  building  was  felt, 
and  about  1850  another  school-house  was  erec- 
ted on  Franklin  Street,  between  First  and  Sec- 
ond. Here  Jonathan  Stone  taught  a  term  of 
school  at  a  salary  of  $16  per  month,  teaching 
alternately  five  and  six  days  a  week.  The  sal- 
ary of  the  teacher  was  raised  by  subscription. 
Thus  began  the  educational  history  of  DeKalb. 

As  soon  as  the  village  was  platted  (1853), 
steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  better 
building.  A  small  tax  was  levied  and  the  school 
was  built  on  the  site  of  the  old  Congregational 
Church,  on  the  corner  of  Grove  and  Second 
Streets.  As  there  was  not  enough  money  rais- 
ed by  this  taxation  to  complete  the  structure, 
a  couple  of  dances  were  given  to  secure  the 
remainder  of  the  sum  needed.  Timothy  J. 
Lyon  was  the  first  teacher  here. 

As  the  village  increased  in  numbers,  this 
building  soon  became  too  small;  so  in  1855  an- 
other school  was  erected  across  the  street  from 
the  Catholic  church.  It  was  here  that  the 
grade  which  corresponds  most  nearly  with  our 
present  high  school  was  formed.  This  was 
called  the  Seminary. 

By  the  end  of  four  years,  this  building  had 
also  become  too  small  to  accommodate  the 
large  number  of  pupils,  and  it  was  therefore 
sold  and  moved  back  from  the  corner  to  the 
middle  of  the  block,  where  it  was  made  into  a 
dwelling. 

In  1861  a  brick  building  was  built  at  the 
corner  of  Third  and  Prospect  Streets.  For 
many  years  this  was  the  finest  common  school 


Congratulations,  DeKalb, 
On  Your  Centennial! 


SUPERIOR  SALES  &  SERVICE.  Inc. 

AGENTS  FOR 

NORTH   AMERICAN 
VAN    LINES 

DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


Household  Moving 


6-6731 


CONGRATULATIONS 

to 

DeKalb 

from 

WHITE    OWL    CIGARS 

AND 

WALTER  C.  KNAAK,  Distributor 

DIXON,  ILLINOIS 


Page  17 


CENTENNIA 
GREETINGS 

"Part  of  DeKalb  for  %  of  a  Century" 
"A     MODERN     LAUNDRY 
You  Leave  It  SERVING     DEKALB 

SINCE     1890" 


We  Do  It 


WHITE   ROSE   LAUNDRY 


Member   of  The   American   Institute   o(  Laundering 


127  SOUTH  FIFTH  ST. 


DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


buildinK  of  any  town  of  its  size  in  the  state.  At 
first  the  third  story  was  not  finished,  as  there 
was  no  need  for  it. 

The  first  principal  at  this  building  was  C. 
Warner.  After  him  came  M.  Andrews.  J.  A. 
Mabie,  E.  L.  Wells.  T.  W.  Dodge,  and  A.  Wells, 
each  of  whom  taught  a  year,  with  the  exception 
of  the  last  two.  Then  followed  Curtis  and 
Crandall.  the  latter  remaining  three  years. 

Under  Miss  Ella  L.  Dunbar  the  High  School 
reached  a  higher  standard  of  excellence  than 
it  ever  had  before  or  for  many  years  after- 
wards. Miss  Dunbar  was  energetic,  progres- 
sive and  very  capable  of  filling  her  position. 
She  maintained  a  strict  discipline,  taking 
charge  of  the  children  from  the  time  they  left 
their  homes  until  they  returned.  She  was  the 
first  principal  who  ever  attempted  to  have  a 
graduating  class;  she  took  charge  of  the 
schools  in  1870,  and  in  1874  she  graduated  a 
class  of  four. 

In  1874  a  new  North  Side  grade  school  was 
built.  The  building  is  now  occupied  by  the 
DeKalb  Agricultural  Association. 

In  1888  John  T.  Bowles  became  superinten- 
dent and  under  him  many  improvements  were 
instituted. 


Miss  Lucy  H.  Carson  was  the  first  regular 
High  School  principal,  and  through  her  efforts 
and  those  of  Mr.  Bowles,  the  High  School  was 
placed  upon  the  accredited  lists  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Illinois  and  of  Southern  Illinois  Normal 
School.  The  courses  were  steadily  increasing 
in  number,  and  in  1894  an  addition  was  built 
to  the  South  Side  school  building,  and  a  new 
East  Side  school  was  built. 

Mr.  Bowles  was  the  first  one  to  have  music 
systematically  taught  in  the  schools. 

In  1896  H.  F.  Derr  was  made  superintendent 
of  schools.  He  instituted  the  half  year  promo- 
tions and  the  four-year  course  in  the  High 
School.  The  High  School  principals  during  this 
time  were  .Joseph  Grey.  S.  F.  Parson,  and  Miss 
Martha  L.  Pond. 

The  year  1899  ushered  in  the  best  and  most 
prosperous  period  in  the  existence  of  the  High 
School.  Newell  D.  Gilbert  became  superinten- 
dent of  schools  and  Charles  Everett  Skinner 
principal  of  the  High  School.  Under  their  di- 
rection the  High  School  advanced  until  it  was 
in  1902  upon  the  accredited  lists  of  five  uni- 
versities with  liberal  courses  of  study  and  boast- 


Page  18 


North    School,    North    Fifth    Street,    in    1897 


ed  a  corps  of  nine  teachers  and  a  roll  of  two 
hundred  students. 

It  was  In  January  1902,  that  the  South  Side 
School  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Following  the 
fire,  high  school  classes  were  conducted  in  the 
Northern  Illinois  State  Normal. 

In  1903,  a  board  of  six  members  and  a  fac- 
ulty of  ten  started  work  in  the  new  DeKalb 
Township  high  school  building,  which  had  co.st 
$50,000. 

In  1903-1904,  bonds  for  $30,000  each  were 
voted  for  two  new  grade  schools  later  named 
Glidden  and  Haish  after  DeKalb's  two  illus- 
trious citizens. 

In  1908-1909,  another  $30,000  was  voted  for 
the  erection  of  Ellwood  School. 

In  1909,  the  first  caps  and  gowns  were  pur- 
chased for  a  high  school  graduating  class  of 
46  members. 

When  1911  came  along,  a  new  superinten- 
dent of  city  schools,  Luther  Hatch,  had  to  be 
hired.  Later  city  school  superintendents  in- 
cluded F.  R.  Ritzman  and  Frank  Phillips. 

In  1913,  St.  Mary's  Grade  School  was  built. 

C.  W.  Whitten  took  over  the  principal's  job 
of  the  high  school  in  1916,  and  one  of  his  main 
pro.iects  was  in  the  music   department,   where 


CONGRATULATIONS 


MILK 

BUTTERMILK 

GRAPEFRUIT 


ORANGE 
BUTTER 
COTTAGE  CHEESE 


HEY  BROS.  ICE  CREAM 

ICE  CREAM 

CONES  .  .  .  BARS  .  . .  SUNDAES 

MALTED  MILKS 

COMPLETE  CARRY  OUT  SERVICE 


Milk  Consumers'  Association 

-IN  BUSINESS  FOR  YOUR  HEALTH'' 


DIAL  DEKALB  G-4312 
1132  PLEASANT 


DE  KALB 


CONGRATULATIONS 

TO    THE 

CITY    OF    DE  KALB 

O  N    I  T  S 

100th    BIRTHDAY 


CANTEEN    SERVICE 


Page  19 


music  appreciation  was  first  taught. 

With  World  War  I  coming  up  in  1917,  the 
call  to  service  came  to  a  number  of  the  high 
school  students.  During  the  years  1917-1918, 
111  alumni  and  students  were  listed  on  the  ser- 
vice men's  honor  roll. 

A  new  principal,  R.  G.  Beals,  came  to  De- 
Kalb  in  1922,  replacing  C.  W.  Whitten,  who 
became  head  of  the  Illinois  High  School  Associ- 
ation. 

Members  of  the  present  staff  working  at  the 
high  school  in  1924,  were  principal  Mr.  E.  O. 
Hoppe,  Mi.ss  Edith  Wentworth,  and  Mr.  Paul 
Furr. 

Other  current  teachers.  Miss  Gertrude  Ady, 
and  Mr.  Merlin  Raddatz  arrived  in  1924-1925. 

A  $265,000  addition  was  added  to  the  high 
school  in  1923.  This  included  a  swimming  pool, 
athletic  quarters  for  both  girls  and  boys,  wood- 
working shop,  auditorium,  homemaking  quar- 
ters, art  studio,  cafeteria,  business  department, 
business  offices,  a  library  —  now  used  as  a 
social  room,  projection  room,  and  a  little  thea- 
ter —  and  additional  classrooms. 

Student  teachers  first  arrived  at  DTHS  from 
Northern  Illinois  State  Teachers  College  in 
1937.  and  are  still  coming  in  each  semester  for 
their  practice  teaching. 

World  War  II  brought  changes  in  the  De- 
Kalb  school  system,  such  as  the  drafting  of 
several  teachers,  and  War  Bond  Sales  which  be- 
came a  regularly  scheduled  activity.  Forty 
alumni  or  students  gave  their  lives  for  their 
country.  One  thousand  forty-six  served  their 
country. 

In  1943  Superintendent  S.  B.  Sullivan  took 
over  the  job  previously  occupied  by  R.  G.  Beals. 

In  1948,  Margaret  Wiltberger,  secretary  to 
the  superintendent  of  the  grade  schools  retired 
after  over  40  years  of  service  in  the  DeKalb 
School  System.  Since  then  a  scholarship  has 
been  set  up  by  the  Business  and  Profe.ssional 
Women's  Club  of  DeKalb  in  memory  of  Miss 
Wiltberger,  who  died  le.ss  than  a  year  after  her 
retirement.  The  following  year  W.  T.  Emery, 
of  the  science  department,  retired  after  fifty 
years  of  teaching,  46  of  which  were  spent  in 
DeKalb.  In  1950-51  all-purpose  rooms  were 
added  to  the  two  grade  schools.  Glidden  and 
EUwood. 

From  1904  until  July  1,  1954,  the  public 
school  sy.stem  was  a  dual  system,  with  separ- 
ate districts  for  elementary  and  high  school 
pupils.  As  of  that  date,  the  districts  were 
combined  with  the  Coltonville,  Love,  and  Cort- 

I  Continued    on    Page    22) 


Compliments  of 
All  Union  Barber  Shops 

SANITARY  BARBER  SHOP 
HANK'S  BARBER  SHOP 
GEORGE  LOCK'S  BARBER  SHOP 
NELSON'S  BARBER  SHOP 
OLSON'S  BARBER  SHOP 
WILLIAM  PEURA'S  BARBER  SHOP 
BRUNO  SODOUSKI'S  BARBER  SHOP 
FIRST  STREET  BARBER  SHOP 
BOB'S  BARBER  SHOP 

BARBER'S     LOCAL     874 

D  E  K  A  L  B 


Get  the 

BEST 

Get 


ICE   CREAM 


Page  20 


Millonte 


FOOD 
PRODUCTS 


As  a  Company  and  as  part  of  this  community,  we  welcome 
the  opportunity  to  participate  in  DeKalb's  Centennial.  We  are 
proud  of  the  part  we  have  played  in  the  progress  of  this  com- 
munity. 

In  1926,  California  Packing  Corporation  seeking  increased 
vegetable  canning  facilities  m  the  Middle  West,  built  the  DeKalb 
plant  and  their  products  became  part  of  the  "Del  Monte"  Line. 

Since  that  time  the  Midwest  Division  of  the  California  Pack- 
ing Corporation  has  had  a  continued  and  steady  growth.  It  is 
our  hope  and  plan  that  this  growth  will  continue  into  the  future. 

We  acknowledge  gratefully  the  splendid  part  which  the 
people  of  this  community  have  played  and  are  playing  in  the 
"Del  Monte"  success  story. 


CALIFORNIA  PACKING  CORPORATION 

MIDWEST  DIVISION 
DeKalb,  Illinois 


Page  21 


South    School,    Third    and    Prospect    Sts.,    before    the    fire 

land  Districts  to  form  Community  Unit  District 
No.  428. 

The  governing  body  of  the  school  district  is 
the  Board  of  Education,  an  elected  group  of 
seven  members,  no  more  than  five  of  whom 
may  be  elected  from  any  incorporated  village 
or  town.  Any  legal  voter  of  the  school  district 
may  become  a  candidate  for  membership  on 
the  board  upon  filing  with  the  secretary  of  the 
board  a  petition  properly  signed  by  fifty  or 
more  legal  voters  of  the  district.  Two  serve 
for  one  year,  two  for  two  years,  and  three 
serve  for  three  years. 

The  actual  administration  of  the  school  is 
carried  on  by  a  superintendent,  a  supervisor  of 
instruction,  and  six  prinicpals,  who  are  selected 
by  the  board,  and  who  make  recommendations 
to  the  board  concerning  personnel,  curriculum, 
textbooks,  budgets,  student  activities,  and  pub- 
lic relations  activities. 

The  principal  source  of  school  revenue  is  the 
general  property  tax.  which  is  supplemented  by 
state  aid  payments,  both  in  terms  of  flat  grants 
to  the  district  and  in  terms  of  some  equaliza- 
tion. The  tax  rate  is  fixed  by  referendum  un- 
der state  statutes,  and  is  based  on  the  assessed 
valuation  of  the  district  served  by  the  school. 
This  valuation  is  approximately  $45,000,000 
for  District  No.  428. 

The  Board  of  Education  is  required  by  law 
to  adopt  a  budget  and  appropriation  ordinance 
each  year.  This  budget  must  be  made  avail- 
able to  the  public  in  tentative  form  for  at  least 
a  week  before  final  action,  ancl  a  public  hear- 
ing must  be  held  on  it.  This  hearing  is  advis- 
ory only  and  the  board  is  not  bound  by  advice 
given  by  the  public  at  the  hearing. 

The   school   plant   at  the   present   time   con- 

I  Continued  on   Page  25' 


Edward   McC 


McGIRR 
EQUIPMENT  COMPANY 

Specialist  in 

FARM  EQUIPMENT 

and 

INTERNATIONAL  MOTOR  TRUCKS 


MR.    ALEX    MAKI 

GENERAL  CONTRACTOR 

ALSO 

SPECIALIZES  IN  SIDEWALKS 

AND 

DRIVEWAY  CONSTRUCTION 

PHONE  6-3576 


Page  22 


c 


1 1  * 


18S6 


CONGRATULATIONS  DEKALB!  General  Electric  salutes 
the  City  of  DeKalb  on  its  Centennial.  DeKalb  has  proved 
its  progressiveness  in  the  past  100  years  not  only  by  past 
achievements,  but  by  its  plans  for  the  future.  SimilaHy, 
G.E.  looks  with  pride  upon  its  scientific  and  engineering  ac- 
complishments which  have  brightened  lives  and  lightened 
labor. 


1878 


Seventy-eight  years  ago,  Thomas  A.  Edison  brought  light 
to  the  first  successful  incandescent  lamp.  That  some  year, 
he  established  the  first  of  the  companies  which  later  be- 
came the  General  Electric  Company. 


1946 


In  194i,  ninety  years  after  the  City  of  DeKalb  was  found- 
ed, the  DeKalb  plant  of  General  Electric,  now  designated 
the  Appliance  Motor  Department,  was  opened.  Since  that 
time  G.E.  has  been  a  port  of  the  DeKalb  Community,  shar- 
ing in  its  responsibilities  and  rewards. 

As  we  celebrate  our  milestones  together.  General  Elec- 
tric salutes  the  City  of  DeKalb  and  looks  forward  to  a 
future  of  continued  community  growth  and  prosperity.  May 
our  association  with  DeKalb  be  one  of  long  duration  and 
may  it  be   mutually   rewarding. 


'/i6;yAt7Tn-  i 


ELECTRIC 


APPLIANCE     MOTOR      DEPARTMENT 


PtjOKyie^   Oi.   Ou^  Malt  Ompo^Uatii  P>ijaduct 


Page  23 


THE 

CHARr 

SHOP 


The  Charm  Shop  opened  in  1950  on  North  Third  Street.  Mrs.  Collin  bought  out  the  interests 
of  the  aiari-Nell  Dress  Shop  and  completely  remodeled  the  store,  adding  new  lines  of  women's 
apparel. 

In  three  short  years,  The  Charm  Shop  had  far  outgrown  this  space  and  in  1953  moved  to  their 
present  central  location  which  had  been  vacated  by  Jukes  Fashion  Shop.  Much  expense  and 
labor  was  spent  to  modernize 

and    completely    air    condition  ■^ 

the  store  to  introduce  DeKalb 
women  to  one  of  the  loveliest 
stores  in  the  entire  area.  Plans 
are  now  being  made  for  furth- 
er expansion  to  include  a 
downstairs  store  in  the  near 
future. 


223    East   Lincoln   Highway 
In  The  Center  of   DeKalb 


Page  24 


sists  of  seven  buildings.  The  High  School  build- 
ing was  built  in  1903.  The  Junior  High  was 
built  in  1952.  and  the  Carl  Littlejohn  School, 
a  kindergarten  through  sixth  grade  building, 
in  1953.  The  three  other  buildings  in  the  city 
of  DeKalb,  are  Elhvood  having  been  built  in 
1909,  and  Haish  and  Glidden  in  1903.  The 
Cortland  School  is  a  four  room  building  built 
in  1935. 

The  school  staff,  in  addition  to  the  super- 
intendent and  building  principals,  consists  of 
49  elementary  teachers,  15  teachers  in  the  Jun- 
ior High  School,  and  30  teachers  in  the  High 
School.  In  addition  to  these  there  is  a  special 
art  teacher  and  a  special  music  teacher,  two 
speech  teachers,  one  driver  training  teacher, 
two  guidance  counsellors  (who  serve  both  the 
High  School  and  the  Junior  High),  and  a  cur- 
riculum director  over  all  grades  and  high 
school. 

During  the  school  year  1953-54,  the  total  en- 
rollment in  the  various  schools  was  2,509. 

The  school  system  provides  two  ten  week 
periods  each  year  of  education  for  adults  in 
the  community,  one  in  the  fall  and  one  in  the 
Winter.  This  activity  is  self  supporting  through 
the  charge  of  a  $5  registration  fee.  No  school 
credit  is  given  for  courses  completed.  The  en- 
rollment for  1953  was  426. 

The  Parochial  School  System  of  the  Rock- 
ford  Diocese  of  the  Catholic  Church  maintains 
St.  Mary's  School  in  DeKalb.  In  this  school 
the  enrollment  for  the  school  year  1953-54  was 
about  300  students,  from  the  first  through 
eighth  grade.  Six  teachers  were  employed.  A 
tuition  charge  is  made,  based  upon  the  number 
of  chilren  in  the  family,  and  additional  support 
comes  from  contributions  from  the  local  par- 
ish. An  addition  of  four  rooms  was  built  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1954  to  care  for  anticipated 
increases  in  enrollment. 

Northern  Illinois  State  College  operates  Mc- 
Murry  Laboratory  School,  an  elementary  school 
(four  year  kindergarten  through  eighth  grade). 
The  1954  enrollment  was  250.  There  are  10 
full-time  homeroom  teachers,  plus  special  tea- 
chers in  art,  music,  physical  education,  indus- 
trial arts,  home  economics,  as  well  as  a  counsel- 
lor, librarian,  and  nurse.  Thus  approximately 
14 'r  of  the  children  of  the  district  are  cared 
for  by  a  state  rather  than  a  local  appropria- 
tion. 


1906  —  FIFTY     YEARS  —  1956 
OF    SERVICE 


JOHN  BOARDMAN 


WARREN  OSENBERG 


WM.  F.  WILTBERGER  CO. 

—    INSURANCE    — 

124  N.  3rd  St.  DeKalb 

PHONE  6-4878 


The  Agency  That  Service  Built 


J  A  P  U  N  T  I  C  H 
DISTRIBUTING   CO 

D  i  s  t  r  i  b  u tor 
of 

H  AMM'S 
BEER 

"The  Beer  Refreshing" 


1739  E.  STATE  PHONE  DEKALB  G-7252 

JOE  JAPUNTICH,  Owner 


SAUK  VALLEY  COLLEGE 

LRC        0J2501 


Page  25 


City    Hali   with    first   Fire   Truck   and    Horse   Drawn 
Police  Wagon   -    1912 

Fire    Department 

The  start  of  DeKalb's  fine  fire  department 
came  in  1869  when  a  hook  and  ladder  company 
was  formed.  The  equipment,  homemade  by 
Blacksmith  Phinas  Vaughan,  consisted  of  wood- 
en buckets,  three  upright  ladders,  and  one  roof 
ladder.  The  "truck"  was  also  made  by  Vau- 
ghan. 

William  H.  Miller  was  captain  of  the  depart- 
ment and  he  held  this  post  for  over  33  years 
until  the  new  paid  department  was  instituted. 

In  1874  a  volunteer  hose  company  was  or- 
ganized and  in  1884  additional  equipment  and 
men  were  added.  It  was  on  May  12,  1891, 
that  Hose  Company  No.  2  was  organized  for 
the  protection  of  the  northeast  part  of  town. 

A  forward  step  in  fire  protection  was  added 
in  1887  when  the  box  alarm  system  was  in- 
stalled at  a  cost  of  $195.28.  When  an  alarm 
was  turned  in,  the  whistle  on  the  waterworks 
in  Huntley  Park  would  sound  and  the  engineer 
would  come,  determine  the  location  and  sound 
the  box  number  by  long  and  short  blasts  of  the 
whistle.  This  practice  was  discontinued  in 
1916  because  of  the  crowds  which  gathered  at 
the  fires. 


WE  ARE  GROWING  WITH  DEKALB 

Visit  Us  In  Our  New  Location 

MEL  ELLIOTT  MUSIC  CENTER 

132  East  Lincoln  Highway 

Pianos  .  .  Organs  .  .  Hi-Fi  Instruments 
Instructions 


Compliments  of 

H.  M.  STEWART  AGENCY 

JULIUS  SILVERMAN 
INSURANCE   —    REAL    ESTATE 

130  North  Second  Street 
PHONE  6-2421 


Kishwaukee  Airport,  Inc. 

—    LEARN     TO     FLY    — 

Aufhorized  Cessna  Dealers 

Instruction  .   .   Charter  .   .   Sales  and  Service 

G.I.  Bill  of  Rights  .  .  Airplane  Rental 

DEKALB  MUNICIPAL  AIRPORT 

Phone  DeKalb  6-3212  Pleasant  St.,  DeKalb,  111. 


Congratulations 


Burcti  kmWi 


lhe  diamond   house 

BURCH  JEWELERS 

The    Diamond    House 


Page  26 


DeKalb   Fire  Station   and   equipment    1904   to    1912 


On  August  5.  1903,  the  city  Council  author- 
ized a  paid  department  and  made  arrange- 
ments for  a  station  house.  This  department 
came  into  being  February  4,  1904,  with  Hans 
Erickson,  James  Klock,  Mike  McEvoy  and 
Charles  Barr  as  DeKalb  Fire  Department  No. 
1.  For  equipment  they  had  a  combination 
chemical  and  hose  wagon  pulled  by  two  horses. 
Later  this  was  augmented  by  a  ladder  wagon 
made  in  DeKalb  by  Andrew  Nelson. 

Progress  came  into  the  picture  on  August 
1,  1912,  when  a  truck  was  put  into  service. 
The  chemical  wagon  was  sold  to  the  town  Iron 
River,  Michigan. 

This  truck  met  an  untimely  end  when  it  was 
struck  by  a  passenger  train  at  Fir.st  Street  on 
June  17,  1913.  There  were  no  casualties,  but 
DeKalb's  fire  department  was  halved.  How- 
ever, the  DeKalb  Wagon  Company  lent  the  city 


one  of  the  trucks  it  was  making,  and    it    was 
used  until  December  of  that  year. 

In  the  succession  of  trucks  used  by  the  De- 
Kalb department  was  one  purchased  from  the 
DeKalb  Wagon  Company  in  1916.  It  was  a 
chain  drive  with  a  Continental  Motor  and  rep- 
resented the  last  word  in  fire  equipment. 

In  1926  the  platoon  system  was  instituted, 
giving  the  firemen  better  working  conditions 
and  providing  the  city  with  a  reserve  in  case 
of  danger. 

One  of  the  interesting  stories  about  the  de- 
partment was  the  call  to  Malta  in  1897.  Upon 
their  arrival,  the  men  found  that  the  hose 
would  not  fit  the  Malta  hydrants,  and  the  de- 
partment was  helpless.  It  is  said  that  the  de- 
partment was  transported  to  Malta  on  a  flat 
car. 


Page  27 


A  BUSINESS  WITH  A  GREAT  FUTURE 

OPERATING   IN    A    CITY    WITH    A    GREAT   PAST 

AND  A  GREATER  FUTURE 

JAMES  F.  SIMON  CO. 

123  SOUTH  FIRST  ST. 
DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


SUPPLIERS  TO  SCHOOLS  AND  INDUSTRY 
OF  NORTHERN  ILLINOIS 


Brunswick  School  Furniture 

Art  Metal  Steel  Office  Furniture 

Weber-Costello  Chalkboard  and  Art  Supplies 

Lyon  Steel  Equipment 


SECOR'S 

PHARMACY  and  STATIONERS 

For  Complete  Service 


COLLEGE  TEXTBOOKS  AT  ALL  TIMES 
COSMETICS       —       TOILETRIES 

SICKROOM  SUPPUES 

PERSONAL  GREETING  CARDS 

STATIONERY 


207  EAST  LINCOLN  HIGHWAY 


Police   Department 

Early  accounts  are  silent  on  the  actions  of 
police  in  DeKalb  until  1885  when  the  City 
Council  established  the  Police  Department  on 
July  twenty-second. 

At  that  time  a  Mai'shall  and  Assistant  Mar- 
shall were  authorized  and  duties  were  pre- 
scribed. A  "calaboose"  was  mentioned  in  the 
ordinance,  but  no  specific  location  was  provid- 
ed. It  is  believed  that  it  was  located  where  the 
fire  station  is  today. 

From  then  on  the  records  are  quite  sketchy. 
It  is  known  that  T.  J.  Adams  was  chief  in  1899 
and  1909  and  the  names  of  Oliver  Jones  and 
Alec  Blount  are  remembered  by  old  timers. 
Pictures  of  the  Crimson  Day  parades  show  the 
police  wearing  the  helmets  of  the  period. 

Later  names  of  Frank  Ridell,  James  Scott, 
and  the  vei-y  popular  Sid  Rowe  are  recalled. 

In  1916  an  ambulance  was  purchased  which 
doubled  as  a  patrol  wagon  replacing  the  horse 
drawn  vehicle  then  in  use.  It  was  around  1919 
that  motorcycles  were  introduced  into  the  pic- 
ture. 

Since  the  building  of  the  City  Hall  in  1891. 
the  headquarters  of  the  department  have  been 
located  there. 


Railroads  of  DeKalb 

Chicago  and   Northwestern  Railroad 

The  first  railroad  to  enter  the  City  of  DeKalb 
was  the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad, 
which  reached  its  terminus  on  August  12,  1853. 
Its  station  was  erected  at  Third  Street,  just 
back  of  where  the  J.  C.  Penny  Store  stands  to- 
day. This  .station  was  on  the  north  side  of  the 
tracks.  The  second  station  to  be  built  was  on 
the  other  side  of  the  same  street.  Later  it  was 
moved  to  the  site  between  Sixth  and  Seventh 
Sreets  on  the  north  side  of  the  tracks  where  the 
east  end  was  used  for  a  passenger  station  and 
the  west  end  for  freight. 

This  station  continued  to  be  used  until  1891 
when  the  double  track  of  the  railroad  was  com- 
pleted and  the  .station  which  we  now  know  to- 
day was  built.  This  station  has  been  in  con- 
stant use  ever  since,  having  been  remodeled 
about  ten  years  ago. 

The  old  station  across  the  tracks  from  the 
present  brick  one  is  used  for  less  than  carload 
freight  and  the  east  end  is  rented  to  a  whole- 
sale grocery  firm.  Across  the  tracks  to  the 
ea.st  was  what  was  known  as  the  out-bound 
freight  .station  where  all  of  the  out-bound  le.ss 
than  carload  freight  was  handled.  It  is  now 
used  by  the  DeKalb  Molasses  Feed  Company. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  on  August  25, 

(Continued   on    Page   30) 


Page  28 


The  above  symbolized  the  collective  thinking  of  the  small  band  of  DeKalb 
County  farmers  who  founded  our  company.  Down  through  the  years  it  has 
been   our  guiding   light  and  goal. 

The  success  with  which  this  has  been  achieved  can  be  measured  in  the 
fact  that  today  —  as  in  the  past  16  years  —  more  farmers  plant  DeKalb 
than   any  other  seed   corn. 

DeKalb  Chix,  likewise,  are  now  known  the  country  over  and  are  assuming 
a  place  of  leadership  in  the  poultry  industry. 

A  DeKalb  first  —  hybrid  sorghum  —  has  made  its  appearance  only  this 
year  on  the  great  plains  —  it  is  destined  to  become  another  great  companion 
to  the  flying  ear  and  flying  chix. 


DEKALB  AGRICULTURAL  ASSOCIATION,  INC. 

Commercial  Producers  and  DistTibutors  of  DeKalb  Corn,  Chix  and  Hybrid  Sorghum 


Page  29 


1853,  the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad 
placed  into  service  a  locomotive  which  was 
named  The  DeKalb.  This  was  a  75  ton  engine 
built  by  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works  and  had 
a  copper  fire  box.  It  probably  was  the  second 
coal  burning  engine  to  be  used  by  the  Galena 
and  Chicago  Union  Railroad. 

Because  of  the  great  use  of  passenger  trains 
in  the  early  days,  the  Chicago  and  Northwest- 
ern Railway,  which  was  a  successor  to  the  Gal- 
ena and  Chica,go  Union,  ran  many  trains  from 
DeKalb  to  Chicago.  Among  the  best  known 
trains  of  that  day  was  the  Clinton  passenger 
which  ran  from  Chicago  to  Clinton  and  also 
the  Sterling  passenger  which  ran  from  Chicago 
to  Sterling  and  return.  The  Sterling  was  a 
much  used  train,  arriving  in  DeKalb  around 
8:15  in  the  morning,  eastbound,  and  coming 
back  about  6:30  in  the  evening.  It  was  a  very 
popular  train  with  the  merchants  of  the  town 
who  went  to  Chicago  to  do  their  buying. 

In  1884  there  was  built  north  and  south  from 
DeKalb,  the  Northern  Illinois  Railroad  con- 
necting Belvidere  with  the  coal  fields  of  Spring 
Valley.  This  railroad  was  taken  over  by  the 
Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  on  June  9, 
1888. 

When  this  railroad  was  in  operation  with  its 
passenger  service,  it  was  possible  to  go  by  train 
from  DeKalb  to  Madison,  Wisconsin  and,  by 
changing  cars  at  Belvidere,  to  Rockford  and 
Freeport.  The  trains  from  the  south,  particu- 
larly the  one  arriving  around  eight  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  carried  many  students  to  the  De- 
Kalb schools  in  the  heyday  of  the  railroad.  The 
passenger  service  was  discontinued  early  in  the 
1920's.  The  line  to  the  north  was  discontinued 
north  of  Sycamore  in  1942,  but  the  line  south 
to  Spring  Valley  is  still  a  very  important  link 
in  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  System. 

Chicago  Great  Western 

The  line  running  from  DeKalb  to  Sycamore 
was  built  in  1893  as  the  DeKalb  and  Great 
Western  Railway,  which  was  a  subsidiary  of 
the  Chicago  Great  Western. 

This  line,  for  a  long  time,  gave  DeKalb  pas- 
senger service  from  DeKalb  to  Chicago  via 
Sycamore  and  at  various  times  offered  excur- 
sion rates  to  St.  Charles  where  P.ottowatomi 
Park  was  the  attraction.  The  Chicago  and 
Great  Western  abandoned  its  track  from  De- 
Kalb to  Sycamore  in  the  early  1950's  and  now 
uses  the  tracks  of  the  Chicago  Northwestern 
Railway  once  a  day  for  a  switch  run  to  come 
to  DeKalb  to  serve  the  industries  on  its  line. 

Illinois,  Iowa  and  Minnesota  Railway 

This  railway,  built  as  an  outer  belt  line  to 
eliminate  the  traffic  through  Chicago,  reached 


JOHNSON 
CONCRETE  COMPANY 

1302  East  Lincoln  Highway 
P.  O.  Box  44 

READY  MIX 


PHONE  6-2922 


DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


Congratulations  — 

TO  THE  CITY  OF  DE  KALB 


«^^e) 


FOX    VALLEY 

CLEANERS  and  LAUNDERERS 
OF  DISTINCTION 


Page  30 


Sycamore  Road  in  front  of  Sanitarium  in   1908.      Note  DeKalb  -  Sycamore  Electric  Car  at  right 


DeKalb  October  24,  1904.  when  a  38  car 
freight  train  pulled  into  the  station  here.  The 
next  day  a  special  train  ran  from  Aurora  to 
DeKalb  carrying  passengers. 

This  railroad  was  taken  over  in  1909  by  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  Gary  Railway  and 
was  extended  from  DeKalb  to  Rockford 
through  Kirkkland.  In  1922,  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee, St.  Paul  &  Pacific  Railway  took  it 
over,  abandoning  the  line  north  of  Kirkland. 
In  1947.  that  part  of  the  railroad  between  De- 
Kalb and  Aurora  was  abandoned  and  torn  up, 
but  the  balance  of  the  line  from  DeKalb  to  Kirk- 
land is  still  an  important  part  of  the  Milwaukee 
System. 

Chicago,  Aurora  and  DeKalb  Railway 

This  railway  was  built  in  1904  and  1905 
from  Aurora  to  DeKalb.  They  used  steam  pow- 
er for  a  while,  later  fitted  up  a  street  car  from 
the  Aurora  City  System  with  a  gasoline  engine 
which  they  used  until  1908.  This  was  not  sat- 
isfactory and  in  1909  three  electric  passenger 
cars  and  two  express  cars  w^ere  purchased. 
The  first  trip  of  these  cars  was  in  1910.  The 
terminal  was  at  Fourth  Street  in  the  Building 
now  occupied  by  the  Public  Service  Company 
for  a  meter  testing  building.  The  line  failed  in 
1916  and  was  abandoned  and  scrapped  in  1922. 

DeKalb  Sycamore 
Electric  Traction  Company 

There  was  an  electric  traction  company 
operating  between   DeKalb   and   Sycamore    in 


the  early  days  of  the  twentieth  century.  This 
line  was  built  and  ready  for  operation  on  Dec- 
ember 13th,  1903.  The  road  ran  from  the  west 
door  of  the  Administration  Building  of  the  col- 
lege, down  Normal  Road  to  Lincoln  Highway, 
east  to  Fourth,  north  to  Oak,  east  to  Tenth, 
north  to  Pleasant  and  east  to  Thirteenth  which 
followed  to  Sycamore  Road,  which  road  it  fol- 
lowed into  Sycamore. 

Half  hour  service  was  maintained  through- 
out mo.st  of  the  time  this  road  was  in  existence. 
The  cars  left  DeKalb  every  hour  on  the  hour 
and  left  Sycamore  every  half  hour.  The  equip- 
ment of  the  road  consisted  of  three  passenger 
cars,  the  combination  work  and  sweeper  car 
plus  a  number  of  open  summer  cars. 

This  company  purchased  and  maintained  a 
park  about  half  way  between  DeKalb  and 
Sycamore  which  was  called  Electric  Park.  In 
this  park  was  a  ball  diamond,  a  pavilion  for 
dancing,  a  theatre  and  a  picnic  ground.  Many 
a  celebration  on  Labor  Day  and  4th  of  July  was 
held  here. 

At  one  time  the  company  advertised  that  you 
could  leave  DeKalb  on  the  eight  o'clock  car  in 
the  evening  and  arrive  at  Electric  Park  to  at- 
tend a  vaudeville  and  motion  picture  show  at 
the  theatre  at  8:15  and  the  total  cost  including 
a  reserved  seat  in  the  theatre  was  twenty-five 
cents. 

(Continued    on    Page    34) 


Page  31 


THE  DEKALB  DAILY  CHRONICLE 


PRICE  n\T  CENTS 


START  CENTENNIAL  PAGEANT  CASTING 


«BVHr:eilmrrnnii  rnn 


WILL  DEPICT 
DEKALB  STORY 


Page  32 


Penny  Flame'says: 


If s  a  privilege ..  " 


To  UBKAlb  on  her  100th  anniversary,  Penny  Flame  and  all  of  us 
at  Northern  Illinois  Gas  say:  "Happy  Birthday!"  While  the  community 
celebrates,  we  think  it's  a  good  time  to  tell  you  we're  proud  to  carry 
on  a  long-standing  tradition  of  service  to  the  people  of  DeKalb  .  .  . 
it's  a  privilege  we  look  forward  to  carrying  on  for  years  to  come. 

As  you  may  know,  one  of  our  predecessor  companies  brought  the  early 
conveniences  of  gas  to  DeKalb  shortly  after  the  turn  of  the  century.  It 
was  in  1901  when  the  newly-constructed,  coal-gas  plant  of  the  DeKalb 
County  Gas  Company  began  serving  the  city.  Since  then,  modern  gas  has 
come  a  long  way.  The  homemaker  of  today  enjoys  fast,  clean,  economical 
cooking  —  speedy,  low-cost  water  heating  —  silent,  trouble-free  refriger- 
ation and  many  other  comforts  and  conveniences  that  gas  provides  for  the 
finest  features  of  better  living.  Today,  more  than  half  a  million  homes, 
businesses  and  industries  we  serve  throughout  northern  Illinois  use  gas  in 
a  myraid  of  ways  hardly  dreamed-of  a  century  ago. 


Gas  serves  You 
and  the  Community,  too! 


*Trade-Mark. 

Copyright.    1956,    Northern    Illinois   Cas   Company 


NORTHERN 
I  Lkl  NOIS 


6as 


COMPANY 


Page  33 


West  Lincoln    Highway   -    1904 


This  road  did  a  thriving  business  in  the  days 
before  the  hard  road  and  the  automobile  and 
was  used  by  many  of  the  workers  who  worked 
in  DeKalb  or  Sycamore  and  lived  in  the  other 
town.  However,  in  1924,  it  bowed  to  the  in- 
evitable and  on  April  17th,  1924,  the  road  went 
out  of  service  when  the  eleven  o'clock  car  out 
of  Sycamore  entered  the  Car  Barn  in  DeKalb. 
It  was  soon  scrapped  and  the  road  is  nothing 
more  than  a  memory  at  the  present  time. 

These  are  only  a  part  of  the  many  railroads 
which  were  projected  through  DeKalb  in  the 
early  days.  Other  railroads  were  projected 
from  the  south  heading  toward  Rockford,  but 
not  built.  It  was  possible  at  one  time  for  a  per- 
son to  go  from  DeKalb  to  New  York  by  inter- 
urban  car,  leaving  DeKalb  on  the  Chicago, 
Aurora  and  DeKalb  and  making  connections  in 
Chicago. 

Buses 

Following  the  electric  line  out  of  DeKalb, 
bus  routes   were   established   from   DeKalb   to 


Sycamore  and  from  DeKalb  to  Geneva  and 
from  DeKalb  to  Dixon.  These  bus  lines  oper- 
ated spasmodically  for  several  years  and  the 
ones  east  and  west  in  particular  were  finally 
merged  into  what  we  know  now  as  the  Grey- 
hound Lines,  which  run  through  DeKalb.  Bus 
service  between  DeKalb  and  Sycamore  has 
been  spasmodic  as  the  traffic  has  not  been  too 
great,  although  in  latter  years  the  buses  seem 
to  have  a  firmer  foothold. 

Intra  City  Transportation 

The  first  intra  city  transportation  probably 
was  the  "hotel  bus"  which  the  hotels  maintain- 
ed to  meet  the  train  and  carry  prospective 
guests  to  the  respective  places.  Another  means 
of  transportation  inside  the  city  was  the  horse 
drawn  hack  which  was  available  at  the  livery 
stables  for  wedding,  funerals,  and  other  occas- 
ions. 

As  the  automobile  came  into  existence,  in 
1915,  a  jitney  bus  was  established,  which  ran 


Page  34 


on  a  specified  route  at  a  fare  of  five  cents. 
Soon,  however,  this  was  changed  to  a  10  cent 
fare  and  was  not  run  on  a  specified  route,  but 
could  be  taken  to  any  part  of  the  city.  It  is 
from  this  bus  that  our  present  system  of  taxi 
cabs  has  developed. 

Intra  city  bus  lines  have  been  tried  on  three 
occasions  and  at  no  time  have  they  been  a  suc- 
cess. For  some  reason  or  other,  the  people  of 
DeKalb  prefer  to  ride  taxis  instead  of  a  bus. 

Waterworks 

A  system  of  waterworks  was  installed  early 
in  the  history  of  DeKalb.  In  the  early  1870's 
about  1872  or  1875  a  well  was  dug  in  Huntley 
Park  and  a  system  of  mains  laid.  This  water- 
works system  is  said  to  be  the  thirteenth  sys- 
tem to  be  installed  in  the  state  of  Illinois. 

A  windmill  was  used  for  pumping  and  a 
round  tank  on  stilts  was  built  for  a  reservoir. 
This  equipment  served  until  a  steam  pump  was 
installed  and  the  windmill  sold  in  September 
of  1886. 

Due  to  the  demand  for  water  for  a  growing 
population  a  standpipe  was  authorized  to  be 
erected  in  Huntley  Park  on  February  12,  1889. 
This  measure  and  all  of  the  following  ordin- 
ances of  the  city  council  pertaining  to  the 
standpipe  passed  by  a  majority  of  one  vote. 

The  standpipe  was  finished  on  September 
20,  1889  and  the  opposition  claimed  it  could  not 
be  filled.  The  city  engineer  turned  on  the 
pumps  and  after  six  days  had  the  242,000  gal- 
lon tank  overflowing. 

It  served  its  time  and  was  replaced  by  a  new 
elevated  tank  on  July  2.  1952.  The  Huntley 
Park  tank  wa,s  drained  October  30,  1952  61 
years  after  its  completion. 

In  1951  and  1952  extensions  to  the  system 
were  made  co.sting  $550,000  which  was  covered 
by  revenue  bonds. 

This  is  a  far  cry  from  the  .story  in  1889  when 
900  customers  iDaid  $6,500  for  water  and  the 
city  had  onlv  14  miles  of  mains. 


Congratulations 

LEONARDS  JEWELERS 

318  East  Lincoln  Highway 
Honest  Values 


An  important  part  of  our  services  is  to  provide  your  organization 
with  the  most  up-to-date  time-saving  office  machines,  accessories, 
equipment  and  supplies  so  that  your  office  may  function  more 
efficiently. 


mCl^HAN 


20   YEARS  IN  THE  BUSINESS 7th  IN   DEKALB 


Goodyear  Tires  Exide  Batteries 

MILT    ANDERSON'S 
Gulf  Service 

North  First  and  Locust  South  Fourth  and  Taylor 

DEKALB,    ILLINOIS 


CHILTON'S  SPORT  SHOP 


148  N.  Second  St. 


Phone  6-3152 


DeKalb,  111. 


TEAM  OirmTTERS  and  HOBBIES 


Wilson,  Rowlings  and  Spalding  Sports  Equipment 


FOLEY'S 

Pies  —   Cakes  —  Donuts 


ROCKFORD,  ILLINOIS 


Page  35 


Communications 


It  was  1879  that  the  first  mention  of  a  tele- 
phone was  made  in  the  DeKalb  Chronicle.  On 
September  20,  1879  it  was  stated  that  Ithamer 
Robinson  was  in  Chicago  to  see  about  a  tele- 
phone line  from  DeKalb  to  Sycamore. 

In  1888  a  news  item  reported  that  one  of  the 
downtown  stores  had  a  connection  made  with 
a  place  in  the  northeast  part  of  town.  In  1890 
the  Rollin?  Mills  on  Second  and  Locust  was 
linked  with  the  Glidden  House  (Hotel  DeKalb) 
by  phone.  Telephone  installations  were  news 
in  those  days. 

In  this  era  the  Central  Union  Telephone 
Company  was  operating  and  on  June  11,  1895 
the  DeKalb  County  Telephone  Company  was 
organized.  Three  years  later  in  1898  they 
were  given  a  franchise  by  the  City  Council. 

From  then  until  1912  two  telephone  com- 
panies were  in  operation  in  DeKalb.  It  was 
common  for  the  business  houses  to  advertise 
"both  phones." 

On  April  1,  1912  the  DeKalb  County  Tele- 
phone Company  purchased  the  interests  of  the 
Central  Union.  Later  the  name  was  changed 
to  DeKalb  Ogle  Telephone  Company.  This 
company  has  expanded  until  now  they  are 
housed  in  their  own  building  and  the  system 
has  been  changed  to  dial  operation,  the  latter 
change  taking  place  June  13,  1954. 

It  is  not  certain  when  the  telegraph  came  to 
town  e.xcept  to  surmise  that  it  came  with  the 
railroad.  The  Western  Union  has  always 
maintained  an  office  here.  One  of  the  inter- 
esting papers  in  the  historical  files  is  a  letter 
from  Malta  to  the  Western  Union  in  DeKalb 
to  send  a  telegram  to  Piano.     The  date  1872. 

The  Pcstal  Telegraph  came  with  the  Chicago 
Great  Western  but  has  not  maintained  an  of- 
fice here  for  some  time. 

When  the  radio  bug  hit  this  country  three 
DeKalb  youths  were  among  the  first  to  build 
sets.  These  three  were  Charles  Parson,  Claude 
Middleton  and  Willard  McEwen. 

DeKalb's  radio  station  came  into  being  in 
1946  when  Rev.  T.  H.  Lane  and  others  formed 
the  DeKalb  Radio  Studios  with  studios  in  the 
Wright  Building,  but  no  transmitter.  They  op- 
erated through  WMRO  in  Aurora  for  about 
six  months. 

Later  they  erected  their  own  transmitter  on 
North  First  Street  and  went  on  the  air  for  the 
first  time  December  8,  1947.  On  November  5, 
1955  they  moved  into  their  own  studios  on 
North  First  Street.  The  transmitter  was  also 
moved  to  the  same  site. 


Congratulations 

MARTHA'S 

Dresses      —      Skirls      —      Costume  Jewelry 
Lingerie 

314  East  Lincoln  Highv/ay 


LIBERTY  TRUCKING  COMPANY 

1401  WEST  FULTON  STREET 
CHICAGO  7,  ILLINOIS 

CHICAGO:     HAYMARKET  1-2100 
ELGIN:  SHERWOOD    1-2224 

DEKALB:        6-6533 


Building  with  DeKalb 
Your  House  of  Friendly  Service  .  .  .  the 

TOWER    FINANCE 
Corporation 

Loans  $25  to  $500 


130  N.  Fourth  St. 


Phone:    6-3418 


L  &  P  STANDARD  SERVICE 

LEFT  HANDED   STATION 
DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 

Bill  Lang  Brooks  Parker 

1st  and  East  Lincoln  Hwy.  Telephone  6-4732 


Page  36 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  DE  KALB  CENTENNIAL 
Officers 

JAMES  E.  ROLFING President 

FRANCIS  R.  GEIGLE Vice  President 

FRANCIS    E.    CASH     |  Co-Treasurer 

ARTHUR  J.  KRUPP      J 

JAMES  M.  MORRIS General  Chairnnan 

DeWITT  OSGOOD  Secretary 

Executwe  Covimittee 

John  Boardman  A.  W.  Jackson 

Helene  Collin  Adrian  Jacobson 

Jessie  Glidden  E.  E.  Miller 

Philmore  Iskowich  C.  Edward  Raymond 


HEADQUARTERS   DIVISION 

Brooks   Parker — Chairman 
Mrs.    Ralph    Nelson 
Lawrence   Shipman 

TRAFFIC   DIVISION 

John    Ramsey — Chairman 
Victor   Sorich 
Robert   Haldeman 


FIREWORKS   DIVISION 

Paul    E.   Johnson — Chairman 
C.   A.   Mellinger — Co-Chairman 
Robert   Canon 
R.    C.    Anderson 
Thomas  Crooke 
Clifford    Binder 
V.    Sarich 
C.    Kennedy 


UNDERWRITING  DIVISION 

Howard   Nelson 
Henry   Meier 
Co-Chairmen 

DECORATIONS   DIVISION 

Neale   R.   Skorberg — Chairman 


HEADQUARTERS   PERSONNEL 

Mrs.   Helen  Olsen 
Mrs.   Jean   Sparks 
Mrs.   James  Sawyer 
Bob   Davis 
Mrs.  Helen  Swanbum 


REVENUE  DIVISION 
George  Black,  Chairman 


HISTORICAL   PROGRAM  COMMITTEE 

Aaron    Hanson — Chairman 
George   P.   Clark 
Edith   Marken 
William   R.    Bushong 
Waite   Embree 

CELEBRATION   BALL  COMMITTEE 

Mr,  and  Mrs.  John  A.  Leifheit,  Chairmen 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Thorsen 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  S.  A.  Tyler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Nye   LaBow 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  Feeney 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jay  T,   Modloff 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   R.  W.  Terwilliger 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wayne  Cook 


CONCESSIONS  COMMITTEE 

L.  M.  Corson — Chairman 
Jack  Simmons 
Steve  Yusko 
Earl   Sullivan 
Thomas  Eby 
Shirley  Wielert 
Kelsey  Oldham 
Oilman   Schimmoler 
Ed.  Hutchison 


NOVELTIES  COMMITTEE 

Joseph    L.    Katz — Chairman 
James   Breen 


PROMOTIONAL  DIVISION 

Mrs.    Dale  Jenkins,  Chairmayi,  Ladies  Division 
Mr.  Robert  Brown,  Chairman,  Men's  Division 


BROTHERS  OF  THE  BRUSH  COMMITTEE 

Edward  McGirr — Chairman 

Mullie  Mullvain 

Ed.   Rohlik 

Richard  Jensen  * 

Elmer  Leeds 

Ted  White 

Mike  Sarich 

MEN'S   HATS  COMMITTEE 

Philip  Simon — Chairman 
Ralph  Seats 

SISTERS  OF  THE  SWISH  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.    Raymond    Kahle — Chairman 

Mrs.   Orville  Shipman 

Mrs.   Dennis  Collins 

Barbara  Minard 

Mrs.   Raymond  Katz 

Edith  Wentworth 

Mrs.  John  Boardmon 

LADIES  SUN  BONNETS  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.   Robert  Hunt — Chairman 
Mrs.    Ivan  Rinehart 
Mrs.   John   Remsey 
Mrs.    Ernest  Hanson 
Mrs.    Leonard  Cummins 
Mrs.   Edward  Wagley 
Mrs.  John   Huntzicker 
Mrs.  Robert  Ball 


Co-Chairmen 


SISTERS  OF  THE  SWISH 
Charter  Committee 

Mrs.   Frank  Blitzblou'l 
Mrs.   Harry  Brody        J 
Mrs.   Martin  Bartels 
Mrs.   Harold  Wright 
Mrs.  Joe  Katz 


CENTENNIAL  COSTUME  CONTEST 

Mrs.   E.   Huntzicker — Chairman 
Mrs.   Dennis  Collins 
Mrs.   Wayne  Cook 
Mrs.   Henry   Embree 
Mrs.  John   Boardman 
Helena  Collin 
Mrs.    Harold   Nolin 
Mrs.  Orville  Shipman 


PRIZES   FOR  COSTUMES 

Winifred   Stewart — Chairman 
Alma   Budd 

COSTUME  JUDGES  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.    George   Dertinger — Chairman 

Mrs.   Clark  Countryman 

Miss  Mary  Jane  Seed 

Mrs.    Henry  Meyer,    Rochelle 

Mrs.   Paul  VanNatta,   Sycamore 

Mrs.    Earl    Pritchard,    Maple   Park 

FAMILY  TINTYPE  COMPETITION 

Mrs.  Forrest  Andrews — Chairman 

Mrs.  H.   L.  Cummins 

Mrs.  Mandel   Herr 

Mrs.  S.  A.  Tyler 

Mrs.  Leslie  Winters 

Mrs.  Michael   Horan 

Mrs.  Vernon   Seitzinger 

PROMENADE  AND  CARAVAN  COMMITTEE 

Warren  Osenberg — Chairman 

Lyie  Schule 

James  Modglin 

Thomas   Bollas 

Al.   Johnson 

Edwin  Schoemperlen 

KANGAROO  COURT  COMMITTEE 

Curtis   Bogle — Chairman 

Edward  McGirr — Judge 

Wayne  Bogle — Judge 

Slim   Kittleson — Chief 

Bill   Lang — Chief 

KOPS— 

Clark  Cryor 

Don  Robertson 

Jack  Simmons 

Toddy  Allen 

Jim  Scott 

Smiley  Concidine 

Tom  Cliffe 

Itch  Skoglund 

Scotty   Buchon 

Joe  Stossel 

Hippit  Lawson 

Earl   Sullivan,  Jr. 


SPECTACLE  TICKET  DIVISION 
Charles    Raymond,    Chairynan 


TICKET  COMMITTEE 

Lawrence  Greenacre, — Chairman 
Jim  Besenfelder 
Charles  Reeser 
C.   E.   Moore 


PATRONS  TICKET  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.    Homer  Cobb — Chairman 

CASHIERS  AND  GATES  COMMITTEE 

E.   0.   Hoppe — Chairman 


QUEEN   CONTEST  COMMITTEE 

J.  Milton  Anderson — Chairman 

Mrs.  Carl  Wallin 

Howard  Nelson 

Elmer  Sanderson 

Carl  Swanson 

Mrs.   Phyllis  Stowe 

William  Terwilliger 


Mrs.  Clifford  Gilmore 
Mrs.   Betty  Pyfer 
Miss  Catherine  Pesut 
Mrs.   Del   Borine 
Jim   Besenf elder 
Wood  row  Royalty 
Ava   Biogini 


SPECTACLE  DIVISION 
Richard  Hietikko.  Chairman 


SCENARIO  AND  TITLE  COMMITTEE 

S.   B.   Sullivan — Chairman 

Charles  Gunn 

Carl  Wiltberger 

Vere  Goodyear 

Mrs.   Harriet  Davy 

Otto  Gabel 

Carl   Littlejohn 

Mrs.   Bertha  Rutledge 

Dr.  J.  A.   Spickerman 

Michael   Malone 

Jerome  Berkes 

COSTUME  AND  MAKE-UP  COMMITTEE 

Carroll   Hauser — Chairman 
Mrs.  Chester  Oleson 
Mrs.  Charles  Findley 
Mrs.  Wilbur  Yauch 
Mrs.   Eleanor  Janeway 
Mrs.   Mary  Smith 
Mrs.  Jerry  Jensen 
Mrs.   Richard  Meier 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Sexton 
Mrs.   Fred  Woods 
Mrs.   Lincoln  M.  Young 
Mrs.  Clarence  Waldier 


CAST  COMMITTEE 

Helaine  Hynes- 
Gerald  Conde 


-Chairman 


PROPERTIES  COMMITTEE 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Sawyer,  Jr. — Chairmen 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Frank  Carr 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Bower 

Mr.  and  Mrs.   Hal  Galbreath 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  James  Sawyer,   Sr. 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  Joy  Diehl 

Mr.   and  Mrs.   Howard  Eychaner 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  Chas.   Soar 

Mr.   and  Mrs.  Judd  Storey 

Mr.   and  Mrs.   Harold  Hyre 

Mr.   and  Mrs.   Bud  Smith 


CONSTRUCTION  COMMITTEE 

Kenneth  Hallgren — Chairman 

Halverson   Bros. 

Robert  Rich 

Ernie  Hansen 

Tony  Antonsen 

Joe  Stossel 


PRESS  RELEASE  COMMITTEE 

Wm.   Froom 
Don  Ulery 


PUBLICITY  DIVISION 
K.  M.  Snyder,  Chairman 


Co-Chairmen 


DISTRIBUTIVE  COMMITTEE 

Leo  B.  Olson — Chairman 
Don  Duncan 
Ray  Robinson 
Michael   Pence 

CENTENNIAL  SEAL  COMMITTEE 

Franklin  Morley — Chairman 
Mrs.   Helen  Merritt  ^ 

Mrs.  Gertrude   Parcelis 
Miss  Mary  Swynehardt 

CENTENNIAL   HISTORIAN  COMMITTEE 

Waite  W.   Embree — Chairman 


SPEAKERS  COMMITTEE 

Percy  Read — Chairman 
Harold   Eatherington 
Ben  W.  Mattek 
Kenneth  W.   Kassel 
J.  Clayton  Pooler 


RADIO  AND  TV  COMMITTEE 

Lois  Still — Chairman 
Mrs.   Russell   Lindstrom 
Mrs.  George  Olsen 


WOMEN'S   PRESS  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.  Marcella  Aspengren — Chairman 
Mrs.  M.  W.   Edgar 
Mrs.   Burt  Oderkirk 
Miss  Frances  Sarich 
Miss  Jane  Freed 


HOSPITALITY  DIVISION 
Jolly  Erickson,  Chairvian 


DIGNITARIES  AND  GUESTS  COMMITTEE 

Robert  Greenaway — Chairman 

HOUSING  COMMITTEE 

Art  O.   Erickson — Chairman 
Paul   Fairbrook 
Francis  Farley 
Roy  Rice 


OFFICIAL  ENTERTAINING  COMMITTEE 

T.   E.   Courtney,   Jr. — Chairman 

PIONEER   RECOGNITION   COMMITTEE 

Henry   H.   Embree — Chairman 
Renwick  W.   Spear 
Robert  Ball 
Arthur   Buehring 
William   Randall 


SPECIAL  EVENTS  DIVISION 
Dee  Palmer,  Chairman 


MERCHANTS  PROMOTION  COMMITTEE 

Charles  W.   Fister — Chairman 

Ben  W.  Gordon 

John   C.   Condon 

Keeth  A.   Kost 

Robert  O.   Schoenherr 

Joe  M.   Packer 

L.   M.   Corson 

J.  W,  Modeen 

PARADES  COMMITTEE 

C.  W,   Freitag — Chairman 

Ivan  Williams — Parade  Marshal 
Ed  Carlson 
Wilbur  A.   Smith 
John  Eokle 

D.  M.  Schafer 
James  R.    Parker 
Will  Widerberg 
James  S.   Lamb 
Reuben  Riipi 

Henry  J.   Hermanowicz 
Harold  Bluhm 
Quentin  Tucker 


Richard  Worthington 
Robert  Berkinbine 
Leo  Remsey 
Ed.  A.   Harold 
Donald  Larson 
Robert  Cannon 

HISTORICAL  WINDOWS  COMMITTEE 

Ed  Knodle — Chairman 
Ken   Holler 
Robert  Montgomery 
Beatrice   Gurler 
Robert  Bowers 
Mrs.  Swen  Mobeck 
Robert   Bullington 
Willard  Widerberg 
Frank  Moore 

MUSIC  COMMITTEE 

Russell   Lindstrom — Chairman 
Gerald  M.   Poouwe 
Myron  W.   Madison 
Bill  Wennlund 
Robert  Montgomery 


SPECIAL  DAYS  COiMMITTEE 
Donald  M.  Amos,  Chairman 


RELIGIOUS   DEDICATION 

Chas.   J.   Chamberlain- 
Rev.  Stiles  Lessly 
Rev,  Milton  Gustafson 
Rev.   Daniel   Huntwork 
Tom   Buffington 
Dr.  Vernon   Fay 
Dee  Palmer 

YOUNG  AMERICA'S  DAY 

Robert  Smith — Chairman 
John   Boardman 
Wm.   Davis 
Dick  Meiers 
Virgil    Nehring 
Warren  Osenberg 
Ray  Stonecipher 
Don  Riley 


-Chairman 


Jim  Weigand 
Jim   Lamb 
Willard  Weiderberg 
John  Chilton 
Nye  LoBaw 
Rosemary   Baxa 
Carol   Taylor 

FAITH   IN  OUR  FUTURE  DAY 

Albert  W.    Leonhard — Chairman 

EDUCATION   AND   INDUSTRY 

Lowell   Ray — Chairman 

Harold   Bluhm 

B.    F.   Brickley 

Reid  Keene 

Tracy  Arnold 

Don  Duncan 


PIONEER  AND  HOMECOMING  DAY 

DeEstin    Pasley — Chairman 
Paul   A.    Nehring,   Sr. 
Thure   Hallgren 
Dr.   George    E.    Boardman 
Forrest  W.   Andrews 
Kenneth   Snyder 
Mrs.   Scott  Peacock 
Mrs.    Harry  McEwen 


RURAL   DAYS 

Harold    Nolin — Chairman 

Al  Golden 

Morris  Reed 

Paul   Duncan 

Paul   Montavon 

Tom   Roberts,   Jr. 

Paul   Furr 

Carl    Littlejohn 


LADIES  DAY 

Carol  Troescher,  General  Chairv-ian 

Chainnayi  of  Fashion  Show.  Mrs.  James  E.  Rolfing 


SCENERY 

Miss  Gladys   Larson — Chairman 

Miss  Eva   Benson 

Miss   Margaret   Devine 

Miss   Elsa    Larson 

Miss   Gen  Jacobson 

Miss  Louise  Johnson 

RESERVATIONS 

Mrs     Robert  Abbott — Chairman 

Mrs.    Richard  Myrland 

Mrs.    Philmore    Iskowich 

Mrs.   Robert  Skoglund 

Mrs.   Thos    Courtney,    Jr. 

Mrs.    Reid   Keene 

Mrs.  Joseph   Ebbesen 

PROGRAMS 

Mrs.    Loring   Jones — Chairman 

Mrs.    Raymond   Kotz 

Mrs.   Harold   Nolin 

Mrs.   Stanley   Knetsch 

Mrs.   James  Merritt 

Mrs.    Carl    Swanson,   Jr. 

ADVERTISING 

Mrs.  Edward   Raymond — Chairman 

Mrs.  0.    I.    Stevens 

Mrs.  Ben   Mottek 

Mrs.  Francis  Cash 

Mrs.  David   Bush 

Mrs.  L.   J.   Childs 

Mrs.  S.   A.   Tyler 

Mrs.  Evelyn  Anderson 

COSTUMES 

Mrs.   Orville   Baker — Chairman 

Mrs.    Earl   Smith 

Mrs.   Wendell    Lindbeck 

Mrs.    Paul    Hartman 

Mrs.  John  Thompson 

Mrs.   Robert  Broadus 

Mrs.   S.   M.  Meyer 

FLOWERS 

Mrs.    Richard  Jensen — Chairman 
Mrs.   Virgil   Cook 
Mrs.    Robert  Olsen 


HOSTESSING 

Mrs.    Howard   Nelson — Chairman 

Mrs.    Ralph  McAllister 

Mrs.    Ken   Snyder 

Mrs.    Russell    Rasmussen 

Mrs.    Loren  Caldwell 

Mrs.   Walter  Renner 

Mrs.    Geo.   Terwilliger 

Mrs.   John   Boyle,   Jr. 

Mrs.    Geo.    Dertinger 

Mrs.   Adrian  Jacobson 

Mrs.   Robert  Roose 

Mrs.  James   Parker 

Mrs.   Lyie  Raber 

Mrs.    Richard  Wiltberger 

Mrs.    Paul    Hunt 

Mrs.  Vernon  Johnson 

Mrs.    Renwick   Speer 

Mr.   A.    D.   Oderkirk 

Mrs.    Paul    Smith 

Mrs.    Ray  G.   Peterson 

Mrs.   Richard   Hietikko 

Mrs.    Carl   Moeller 

AArs.    Stanley   Halloran 

Rosonn   Nelson 

Jackie   Snyder 

Pat  Boyle 

SET-UP 

Mrs.    Harold  Wright — Chairman 
Mrs.    Donald  Frantz 
Mrs.   James   Ellis 
Mrs.    Ernest  Oleson 

GUESTS 

Miss  Bernadine  Hanby — Chairman 

Mrs.  Ben  Davy 

Miss  Jessie  Glidden 

Mrs.  Woite  Embree 

Mrs.  Edgar  Knodle 

FOOD  AND  EQUIPMENT 

Mrs.    L.    Montgomery — Chairman 

Miss   Nancy  Schulenberg 

Mrs.   Charlotte  Allen 

Mrs.   Raymond   Peterson 

Mrs.   J.   C.    Lundberg 

Mr.    Ross  Moriarity 


CLEAN   UP 

Mrs.  Brooks   Brickley — Choirman 

Mrs.  Allan  Anderson 

Mrs.  Harold   Federspiel 

Mrs.  Eugene  Stefoni 

Mrs.  Beuren  Ellis 

Mrs.  Lawrence  Smith 

Mrs.  Robert   Burke 

Mrs.  Frank  Blitzblau 

Mrs.  Wm.    Robbins 

Mrs.  Grant   Suttie 

Mrs.  Paul   Crawford 

Mrs.  W.   H.  Sexton 

TRIO  MUSIC 

Mrs.  Harold  Monn 

Mrs.  Thomas  Roberts 

Mrs.  Harold  Bluhm 

ART  SHOW 

Mrs.  Ivan   Rinehort — Chairman 

Mrs.  J.   A.   Spickerman 

Mrs.  Carl  W.  Moeller 


SERVING  AND  REPLENISHING 

Mrs.   W.   Yauch — Chairman 

Mrs.    Karl    Kunzie 

Mrs.   Joseph  Clettenberg 

Mrs.   Ernest   Hanson 

Mrs.    Roderick   Kohler 

Mrs.  John  Benben 

Mrs.   R.   Bolke 

Mrs.   Hazel    Hull 

Mrs.   Roy   Briggs 

Mrs.  Arthur   Krupp 

Mrs.  Wm.   Stevens 

Martin  Bartels 

E.   H.   Maurer 


FLOWER  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.   Russell   Rasmussen 
Mrs.   Robert   Hainds 
Mrs.   Hugh  Jameson 


BROTHERS  OF  THE  BRUSH 


1. 

A  &  P  Grocers 

2. 

Andy's  Bushmen 

3. 

American   Legion 

4. 

Bob  &  Scotty 

5. 

Bross  &   Kittlesons  Boys 

6. 

California   Pack   Kernels 

7. 

DeKalb  Commercial   Body 

8. 

E.   &   L.  Tap 

9. 

Eagles 

10. 

G.   E.   Homesteaders 

11. 

Locust   St.    Brusher 

12. 

Jensens  Rose  Brusher 

13. 

Diners   Dizzy   Dopes 

14. 

Chink  Johnsons  Chinks 

15. 

K.   of  C. 

16. 

Lang  &  Parker  Stooges 

17. 

Les  &  Sals 

18. 

Milt  Andersons  Men 

19. 

Manly  Methodists 

20. 

McGirr  Generals 

21. 

The  Mule  Skinners 

22. 

Live  Wires 

23. 

The  Yard   Birds 

24. 

Pearsons  Pioneers 

25. 

Fritzes  Fuzz  Men 

26. 

Rohliks  Rustlers 

27. 

Rukavinas  Tavern 

28. 

Sullivans  Prospectors 

29. 

Tilton  Park  Neighbors 

30. 

Twins 

31. 

Ten-0-Nine  Club 

32. 

Wurii  Tuners 

33. 

Cousin  Bill  and  His  Bearded  Cousins 

34. 

Sod  Busters 

35. 

Square  and  Compass 

36. 

DeKalb  Hybrids 

37. 

Mullies  South  Siders 

A  &  P  Food  Store 

Andys  Tavern 

American   Legion 

Bob  &   Scotty's  Tavern 

Bross  &   Kittleson  Service  Station 

California  Packing  Corporation 

DeKalb  Commercial   Body 

E.   &  L.  Tap 

Eagles  Club 

General  Electric  Co. 

Goal   Post 

Jensens  Greenhouse 

Johnny's   Diner 

Kingston 

Knights  of  Columbus 

Lang  &  Parker  Service  Station 

Les  &  Sals  Tavern 

Milt  Andersons  Service  Station 

Methodist  Mens  Club 

McGirr   Equipment  Co. 

McCobes  Tavern 

Nehring   Electrical   Works 

State  College  Ground  Crew 

Pearsons  Tavern 

Rainbow  Room 

Eds  Tavern 

Rukavinas  Tavern 

Sullivans  Tavern 

Twin  Tavern 
Ten-0-Nine  Tavern 
Wurlitzer  Co. 
Voorhies  Barber  Shop 
DeKalb  Farm  Supply 
Masonic  Lodge 

DeKalb  Agricultural   Association 
Mullies  Shell   Station 


RICHARD 
Business 


THE  CITIZENS  OF  DE  KALB 

PROUDLY  PRESENT 

THE  DRAMATIC   HISTORICAL  PANORAMA 

'THE  DEKALB  STORY" 

N.   I.   S.   COLLEGE   FIELD— JUNE   12-13-14-15-16,   1956—8:15   P.M. 

A  JOHN  B.  ROGERS  PRODUCTION 

PRODUCED  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH 

THE   DE  KALB  CENTENNIAL,   Inc. 

M.   QUAY  ALFRED  H.  SRNKA 

FOR   THE   JOHN    B.    ROGERS  CO. 
****** 

Synopsis  oj  Scenes 


Manager 


Director 


THE   PROLOGUE 

A  brilliant  scene  in  which  "The  Queen  of  the 
DeKalb  Centennial"  welcomes  visitors  from  every 
corner  of  the  Nation.  Surrounded  by  beautiful  lad- 
ies of  her  Court,  the  Queens  Cadets,  Sailorettes,  and 
the  Guard  of  Honor,  she  greets  representatives  of 
the  Forty-Eight  States. 


EPISODE   FOUR 
"The   New   Frontier" 

In  1818  Illinois  became  a  State.  As  soon  as  the 
land  was  officially  opened  adventurous  souls  set 
out  to  seek  a  new  home  on  the  frontier. 


EPISODE  ONE 
"This   Is   DeKalb" 

A  salute  to  the  pioneers  of  DeKalb  who,  with 
flashing  axes,  felled  the  growth  of  timber  in  order 
to  found  a  new  settlement  in  the  New  Land  of 
Promise. 


EPISODE   FIVE 
"Remember  the  Sabbath" 

When  the  first  settlers  came  to  this  land,  they 
brought  not  only  their  determination  and  courage, 
but  another  priceless  gift,  their  faith  in  God. 


EPISODE  TWO 
"The   Heritage  of   Freedom" 

Beneath  the  tall  trees  of  DeKalb,  the  Indians 
paused  in  their  meanderings  to  camp  and  hunt. 
Here  they  prayed  for  fertility,  danced  to  appease 
their  Gods,  and  carry  on  their  family  life. 


EPISODE   SIX 
"The   Dawn   of   Education" 

As  the  area  increased  in  population,  education 
became  a  subject  of  great  consideration  to  the  peo- 
ple of  DeKalb.  From  the  crude  surroundings  of  a 
simple  beginning  to  the  fine  system  of  schools  to- 
day, DeKalb  has  progressed  in  its  march  toward 
a  higher  educational  standard. 


EPISODE  THREE 
"The   Indian  War" 

One  of  the  great  Indian  Chiefs  known  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  Country  was  Shobbona.  He  made  two 
midnight  rides  to  warn  the  early  settlers  of  im- 
pending danger  with  the  lllini  tribe. 


EPISODE  SEVEN 
"The  Coming  of  the  Iron   Horse" 

The  first  train  arrives,  two  ribbons  of  steel  now 
connect  with  the  rest  of  the  nation.  The  first  rail- 
road to  be  built  to  DeKalb  was  the  Galena  &  Chi- 
cago Union.  It  was  completed  to  DeKalb  on  Aug- 
ust   12,    1835. 


EPISODE   EIGHT 
"Wor   Between   the  States" 

Event  followed  event — The  Southern  States  se- 
ceded from  the  Union  one  by  one.  The  notion  was 
undergoing  the  stress  of  turmoil  of  a  Civil  War. 


EPISODE   FOURTEEN 
"The   Rooring  Twenties" 

1927 — Prosperity  abounded,  it  was  the  age  of 
"Yes,  We  Hove  No  Bananas,"  "Plus  Fours"  and 
"Flappers."  A  dance  sensation  hit  the  nation  and 
everyone  in   DeKalb  was  doing  the  Charleston. 


EPISODE   NINE 
"Barb  Wire" 

One  of  the  most  perplexing  problems  of  the  ag- 
ricultural industry  in  the  early  days  was  that  of 
fencing.  Glidden,  Ellwood  and  Haish  will  long  be 
be  remembered  for  their  contributions  to  the  Wire 
Industry  and  helping  DeKalb  to  become  known  as 
"Barb  City." 


EPISODE   FIFTEEN 
"The  Seige   for   Freedom" 

When  the  startling  news  that  come  to  the  United 
States  on  that  quiet  afternoon  of  December  7,  1 94 1 , 
war  came  to  the  United  States  for  the  second  time 
in  0  generation. 


EPISODE  TEN 
"Bikes  and    Bustles  and   Moustaches" 

It  was  the  era  of  "The  Bicycle  Built  for  Two," 
"Leg  0'  Mutton  Sleeves,"  and  "Wasp-Like  Waists" 
....  "Pull  Down  Your  Vest,"  and  "23  Skidoo" 
were  the  forerunners  of  the  slang  terms  of  today. 
The  innovation  called  the  "Horseless  Carriage" 
made  its  appearance  and  caused  quite  a  sensation. 
All  good  clean  fun  of  "Gay  90's"  reminiscent  of 
the  days  when  "Grandma"  was  in  her  teens. 


EPISODE   ELEVEN 
'The   Founding   of   N.   I.   S. 


C." 


Perhaps  one  of  the  most  significant  facts  in  De- 
Kalb in  1899  was  the  completion  of  one  of  the 
finest  colleges  in  Northern  Illinois,  Northern  Illi- 
nois State  Normal  School. 


EPISODE  TWELVE 
"The   Haish   Fire" 

In  May,  1914,  fire  broke  out  in  the  point  room 
of  the  Haish  Manure  Spreader  Factory  and  ulti- 
mately engulfed  two  City  blocks. 


EPISODE  SIXTEEN 
"The   Hall   of   Fame" 

In  the  past  century,  DeKalb  has  produced  many 
fine  Americans.  This  evening  we  would  like  to 
honor  three  of  its  prominent  sons  who  hove  con- 
tributed so  much  to  the  City,  Country  and  County. 


EPISODE  SEVENTEEN 
"The  Atomic   Age" 

With  the  orrival  of  the  forties  came  Man's 
Knowledge  of  splitting  the  atom.  This  he  used  for 
o  defensive  measure,  a  method  of  destruction  which 
heretofore  hod  been  unknown  and  unequalled.  To- 
day, man  is  striving  to  use  the  atom  for  Peace- 
time progress.  Will  it  be  the  beginning  of  a  new 
advanced  civilization  or  the  destructive  end? 


EPISODE   EIGHTEEN 
"Young   America" 

Here  is  the  future  of  America.  Here  is  the  fu- 
ture of  DeKalb.  Upon  these  young  Americans  will 
rest  the  responsibility  for  the  moral,  spiritual  and 
educational   development  of  our  nation. 


EPISODE  THIRTEEN 
"To  the  Cause   for   Freedom" 

The  year  was  1914,  and  again  the  people  of  De- 
Kalb heard  the  troubling  sounds  of  war  in  the  mak- 
ing. The  climax  come  in  1917  when  the  Lusitonio 
was  sunk  and  the  United  States  entered  the  War. 


FINALE 

There  are  no  bounds  or  limits  to  the  frontiers 
of  freedom.  Now  the  darkness  and  wilderness  are 
far  behind.  Ahead  lies  new  boundaries,  widening, 
expanding,  certain  to  roll  back  before  the  some  un- 
quenchable spirit  of  which  we  are  heirs.  As  prod- 
ucts of  a  pioneer  people,  it  is  ours  to  go  forward, 
to  surmount  the  obstacles,  to  keep  the  faith.  So, 
Proudly  We  Hail   DeKalb's  Second  Century. 


SISTERS  OF  THE  SWISH  CHAPTERS 
DeKalb,  Illinois  Centennial— 1856  to  1956 


CHARTER  NAME  OF 

NO.  NAME   OF   CHAPTER  ORGANIZATION 

1  a — Fabulous-Flouncy-Floozies — Gen.    Electric    Co. 

Building    No.    4 
b — Calico   Queens — Gen.    Electric    Co.,    1st   shift 
c — Jezebelles — Gen.    Electric   Co.,    Office 
d — Crinoline    Crimpers — Gen.    Electric   Co.,    Plant 

(2nd   Shift) 
1A      Krazy-Dazy-Domes — Women   of    the    Moose 

2  Gingham   Girls — Glidden    P.    T.    A. 

3  Calico-Cut-Up — Haish    P.    T.    A. 

4  Ducky    Bonnet    Belles — V.    of    F.    Wars    Auxiliary 

5  Century   Belles — Cyclone   Fence 

6  Knit-A-Biddies — Knit-A-Bit   Club 

7  Legion    Lasses — American   Legion   Auxiliary 

8  Chintz    Charmers — Christian    Science    Group 

9  Beta    Belles — Beta    Sigma    Phi 

10         Centennial    Belles — Neighborhood    Clan 
I  1  Army    Belles — Salvation   Army 

12  Ballot    Box    Belles — League    of    Women   Voters 

13  Boptists    of   Yesteryear — First    Baptist    Church 

14  Barbie   Bustles — D.T.H.S.    Girls 

15  Beauty    Belles — Chamberlain    Beauty    Nook 

16  Belles   of    South    2nd    Street — Neighborhood    Group 
1  7         Belles   of   St.    Mary's — St.    Mary's    Church 

18  Better    Halves — N.I.S.C.    Student  Wives 

19  Birthday    Bustle    Biddies — Bridge    Club 

20  B-P-ettes — Business    &    Professionol    Women's    Club 

21  Bustle    Rustlers — DeKalb    Mothers'    Club 

22  Calico   Cats — Social   Group 

23  Castle   Queens — N.I.S.C.    Service    Employees 

24  Centennial    Centrals — DeKolb-Ogle    Telephone 

25  Centennial    Key    Notes — Rudolph    Wurlitzer   Co. 

26  Chalis    Sallies — Littlejohn    P.    T.    A. 

27  Coltonville    Country    Cuties — 

Coltonville   Community    Club 

28  C-    &   E.    Trailerettes — Corey   &    Evans 

29  Covered    Wagon    Wheels — D.    &    S.    Pinochle    Club 

30  Crinoline    Belles — Brody    Factory 

31  Daisies   Won't   Tell — P. E.G.    Chapter    DX 

32  Dames   of    the    Bonnet — DeKalb    Womans    Club 

33  Daughters    of    DeKalb — Catholic    Daughters 

of   America 

34  DeKalb   Doozies — Social   Group 

35  D.P.H.    Sisters — DeKalb  Hospital   Benefit  Club 

36  DeKalb    Trustetts — DeKalb   Trust    &    Savings    Bank 

37  Dinner    Belles — Supper  Club 

38  Dodgett   Daisies — Social   Group 

39  Drama    Dears — Drama    Club 

40  Ellwood    Ellas — Ellwood    P.T.A. 

41  Faculty    Femmes — Dames   Club — N.I.S.C. 

Faculty   Wives 


CHARTER 
NO. 

42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 

50 
51 

52 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 
65 
66 
67 
68 
69 
70 
71 
72 
73 
74 
75 
76 
77 
78 
79 


82 
83 
84. 
85 
86 
87 


NAME  OF 
NAME   OF   CHAPTER  ORGANIZATION 

Farm    Bureau    Fillies — Form    Bureau 

First   Voter  Gals — Leogue   of  Women  Voters 

Flippin    Jennies — Chain   Ten    Club 

Frontier    Frills — Social    Group 

Gay  Gals — H.S.    Class  of    1950 

Goal    Post   Swishes — Goal    Post   Restaurant 

Home    &    School    Belles — High    School    P.T.A. 

Homemakers   of    DeKalb   County    Home — 

DeKalb   County   Home 
Hospital    Chimes — St.    Mary's   Hospital   Auxiliory 
Immanuel    Pioneers — Immanuel    English    Lutheran 

Church 
Jane    &   Jean  Twirlers — Square    Dance    Group 
Jane    Parker  Girls — A.    &    P.    Store 
Jolly    Gold    Diggers — Jolly   Twelve    Club 
Junabelles — Junior  Woman's  Club 
Kiddie  Kuddlers — DeKalb  Community  Mothers'  Club 
Kissin'    Kuzzins — Sociol    Group 
Lucio    Sisters — Social    Group 
Mom    Street    Molls — Business   Women 
Mayflower   Maidens — Congregational    Church 
Merry    Marthas — Four    Square   Gospel    Church 
Merry    Maids    &    Matrons — McMurry    P.T.A. 
Neptune    Daughters — Barb    City    Boot    Club 
Nightingales — DeKalb    Registered    Nurses   Club 
Northern    Belles — Northern    Illinois    Corporation 
Patriotic    Pols — Women's    Patriotic    Association 
Pokorettes — Social    Group 
Ruffled   Does — Lady    Elks 
Shrine    Belles — DeKalb    White    Shrine    47 
South    Side    Sals — Social    Group 
Spaghetti    Swishes — Jon   &    Jen's   Grill 
Stage    Struck    Sisters — Stage    Coach    Players 
Star    Sisters — Eastern   Star   Club 

Suburban   Sunbonnet  Suzzies — Tilton   Park   Residents 
Sunbonnet    Lassies — Home    Bureau — P.M.    Group 
Suomi    Sisters — Social    Group 

Swirls    of    the    Swish — Notional    Hairdressers   Assn. 
Swish    Teens — Junior    High 
The    Cabinettes — Log    Cabin  Group 
Tilton    Tillies — Tilton    Pork    Group 
Twentieth   Century    Pioneers — 20th    Century    Club 
Vinkingettes — Ladies   of   the   Viking 
Wagon  Wheels — DeKalb   Commercial    Body   Corp. 
Wesley   Calico   Gals — Methodist  Women 
Wurl-Wins — Rudolph    Wurlitzer   Co. — Office 
Yankee   Doodle  Gals — Women's    Relief   Corps 
McMurry   Sixteen    Swishes — McMurry    7th-8th 

Children 
Mel's  Musical  Belles — Mel  Elliott  Music  Center 
Blue    Belles — Altar   and   Rosary  Society 


CAST  FOR  "THE  DE  KALB  STORY' 


Trumpeters   — 

Edgor    Knodle 
Bonnie    LoVcn 


PROLOGUE 

Nansen    Glidden  Woite    Embree 

Roberta    Shawver 
Donna    DeGraffenried 


Sponsored  by  Explorers  Post  18,  28,  15,  S,  and  Girl  Scouts 
Troop    26,    Sycamore    and    Troop    1,    DeKalb 


Cadets  — 

Judy   McCann 
Kathryn    Hildebrandt 
Judy    Healey 
Sandra    Entwistle 
Karen    Johnson 
Caroline    Hoppe 

Sailorettes  — 

Dolly    Beaumont 
Kay   Mathre 
Marg    Hayter 
Mavis   Chaplin 
Phyllis    Prather 
Miriam    Montavon 
(Margaret   Schiesser) 

Stotes  — 

Beverly    Roberts 
Sherlynd    Baird 
Veria    Sprott 
Down    Mathre 
Carol    Hokola 
Janice    Read 

Girl    Scouts   — 

Nancy    MocGinnitie 
Potty    Smith 
Marcia   Olson 
Kathy    Baker 
Jule    Miller 
Sarah    Glidden 
Barbaro    Plopp 
Corol    Cutts 
Mary    Lee    Wright 

Boy   Scouts   — 

Michael    Suttie 
Bob    Myers 
Roger    Kelly 
Bob    Bowman 


Horesmen   — 

June   Threstod 
Bud    Smith 
Gordon    Plucker 
Tom    Anderson 
Tom    Gallagher 
Jerry    Bemis 
Bob   Trotter 


Ruth    Ann    Johnston 
Sandra    Burch 
Judy   Jobe 
Susie    Poulus 
Kay    Morris 
Borb    Suddeth 


Karen    Schavlond 
Anita    Bullington 
Jackie    Schoenholz 
Sharon    Tomas 
Dorothy    Kcehler 
Connie    Kensiki 


Judy  Jackman 
Merijo  Farley 
Bonnie  Butler 
Wanda  Stroyan 
Sandy  Napier 
Ann    Madison 


Susan    Chambers 
Sharon    Myrlari 
Judy   Wahl 
Karen    Bend 
Potty    Berkley 
Karen    Munson 
Kathy    Shepordson 
Alice    Soar 
Andreos    Foriss 


Dan    Anderson 
Dave    Royalty 
John    Luhtala 
Dove    Bogonrief 
Steve   Tetmeyer 


Loren    Mullins 
Sam   Cushin 
Morgen    Johnson 
Dick    GoMagher 
Johnny    Pigott 
Bob    Suddeth 
Fred    Busse 


EPISODE   1 
"This   Is   DeKalb" 

Mr.    and    Mrs.    Clark   Worner     Mary   Cloir    McGirr 
Earl    Warner  Emmy    Lou    McGirr 


EPISODE  2 
"Heritage  of   Freedom" 

Karen    Lindstrom 
Karen    Johnson 
Janice    Read 
Pot   Ridolph 


Pat    Roach 
Gary    Foriss 
Harold   Thorn 
John    Thorn 
Ronnie    Carey 
Lee    Homon 
Roger    Henson 


Girl    Scout   Troop    26- 

Jone    Moore 
Solly    Clarner 
Karen    Kretzschmcr 


Indian    Dancers   - 

Karen    Klosing 
Bonnie    Schmidt 
Donno    Ulery 
Sharon    Richie 
Connie    Lynch 
Cynthia    Stevens 


-Sycor 


"Skip"    Boyes 
Keith    Kempson 
Bill    Arnold 
Robin    Bosworth 
Bill    Moeller 
John    Randall 
Lorry    Berke 
Jim    Ellis 


lore 

Joanne  Finn 
Keren  Kuhl 
Jean    Parker 


Vernetto    Smith 
Cynthia    Smith 
Phebe   Countryman 
Karen    Simmons 
Orva    Johnson 
Ruth    Ann    Hynes 


EPISODE  3 

"The    Indian   War" 

Same   as  the   Cast  of   Episode   2 


EPISODE  4 
"The    New    Frontier" 

Sponsore  by  Sisters  of  the  Swish  Chapters,  Flippin  Jennies, 
Jane  and  Jean  Twirlers,  and  Centennial  Belles  and  Beaux 


Bill    and    Florence    Nichols 
Bea    and    Cliff    Myers 
Deino    and    Dick    Kozlowshi 
Ron    and    Joyce    Rogers 
George    and    Florence    Bloyd 
Don    and    Betty    Schou 
Loron    and   Clara    Harmes 
Clarence    Divine    and 
Mildred    Lehman 
Garrel    and    Esther    Davis 
Pete    and    Nancy    Paholy 
Bill    and    Edna    Shields 
Joe   and    Jennie    Stossel 
Russell    and    Juanito    Roland 
George    and    Mary    Munch 
Bill    Johnson 
Beverly  Cole 

Alternates   — 

Howard  and  Mildred  Eychaner 

Children's   Set 

Jerry  Shields 
Wayne  Davis 
Bruce    Paholy 


Roger    Shields 
Patsy    Koziowski 
Barbara    Forest 
Dionne    Perusse 
Suzanne    Perusse 

Alternates 

Gene   Shields 
Arline    Davis 

Centennial    Belles   and    Beaux 

John    and    Betty    Miller 
Roger   ond    Frances  Gustafson 
Ronald  Cross  and   Ruth  Taylor 
Jock    Cross   and 

Charlotte    Anthenate 

Children's   Set 

Harold  Thorn 
John    Thorn 
Arlo    Bloyd 
Richord    Lehman 
Barbara    Myrick 
Lindo   Myrick 
Jeanne   Perusse 
Priscilla    Lehman 


Jim    Long 
Ken    Budrow 
Wayne    Mosher 
Ron   Teogue 


EPISODE   5 
"Remember  the  Sabbath" 

Some    OS    the   Cast  of    Episode    4 


EPISODE  6 
"The   Dawn  of   Education" 

Sponsored    by    The    Solvation    Army 
(SCHOOL  SCENE) 


Giris  — 

Jean    Pondelick 
Linda    Pondelick 
Ada    King 
Pat   Lay 

Carol    Chambers 
Joy   Chambers 
Alice   Humes 
Alice  Chambers 


Boys   — 

Ralph    Duncan 
Melvin    Duncan 
Eddie    Emberson 
Kenny    Hayes 
Teddy   Higgins 
Daniel    King 
Carl    Votaw 
Ronold    Votow 


EPISODE   11 
'The   Founding  of   N.  I.  S.  C." 

Sponsored   by   Kiwonis  Club 


Vere   Goodyeor 
Edgar   Knodle 
Chauncey   Watson 
Mrs.    A.    Oderkirk 
Ward    Miller 


Mrs.    Ward    Miller 
Morge    Lymon 
George    Boardman 
Wm.    O'Connell 


EPISODE   12 
"The   Haish    Fire" 


EPISODE  7 
"The  Coming  of  the  Iron   Horse" 

Mr.    and    Vrs.  Joe    Wiltberger,  Mr.    and    Mrs.    Elmer    Leed 

Sharon    and  Steven  and    Linda 

Mr.    and    Mrs.  Frank   Ziegler      Doc   Mohrman,    Mike,    John 

Mr.    and    Mrs.  Ray    Kahle  and    Janet 

and    Lynn  Mrs.    Horry    Wollin 


EPISODE   13 
"To  the  Cause  for   Freedom" 

Sponsored   by   The   American   Legion 


Fred    Swigley 
Leonard   Stigliani 
Roy    Wing 


Ray   Corey 
George    Bennett 
Mrs.    Nettie   Wing 


EPISODE  8 
"War   Between  the   Stotes' 


EPISODE    14 
"The  Roaring   Twenties' 


Jim    Brooks 
Marty    Steinberg 
George    Olsen 
Bruce    Blasch 
Richard    Hynes 
Lorry    Boll 


Jim    Kirby 
Bill    Carney 
Craig    Lloyd 
Steve    Brickley 
Bill    Snyder 
Tom   Wood 


EPISODE  9 
"Barb  Wire" 


EPISODE   10 
'Bikes,   Bustles,  and  Moustaches" 


German    Bond  — 

Alan    Roselieb 
Arnold    Lehto 
Robert    Engstrom 
Howard    Olson 
Dave    Schroeder 
Brad    Bluhm 
Dean    Pearson 
Floyd    Schroeder 
Worren    Porter 

Goy   Nineties  — 

Ed   McGirr 

Mr.    and    Mrs.    Leroy    Wilkins 

Jim  Carney 

Sue   Corney 

Bill    Windle 

Alice    Heathcote 

Beverly   Cole 

Bill    Johnson 

Janet    Thompson 

Mary    Lyons 

Dale    Morshall 

Gerry    Ball 

Aarne   Anderson 

Joan   Hickman 

Denny    McGirr 

Jim    Scott 

June    Fogenbush, 

Moryann,    Bennie 
Eloine    Grahm,    Mike 

Karen 


Alice    Hartwig,    Louise    Reams 

Leon   Listy 

Bev    ond    Tom    Cliffe,    Charles 

John,    Jim    and    Joe 
Patricia   Gallagher 
Pat    Turk 
Ken   Moore 
Dionne   Waltz 

See-Sow   Girls — By   Heloine 
Donee   Studio 

Jane   Gallagher 
Helen    Rohlik 
Jacky   Simmons 
Jane    Raymond 
Sharon    Hynes 
Joyce    Klasing 
Koren    Hendrickson 
Sharon    Gorman 
Bernice    Johnson 
Jeon   Stonesifer 
Kaye    Kittleson 
Sondy    Kohler 

Con-Con   Girls — By  DeKolb   Ag 

Beverly    McArtor 
Beverly   Wascher 
Barbara    Russell 
Ginnie    Dietz 
Millie    Sulaver 
Fran    Hawkins 
Shirley    Lee 


Chorleston   Dancers' 

Vernetta    Smith 
Cynthia    Smith 
Phebe    Countryman 
Karen   Simmons 


-By    Heloine   Dance   Studio 

Orva    Johnson 
Bonnie   Schmidt 
Sharon    Richie 
Cynthia    Stevens 


EPISODE   15 
"The  Siege  for  Freedom" 

Sponsored   by  The   American   Legion 

Mr.    and    Mrs.    Howard    Clark    and   Children 
Mono,    Skippy,    Tubby,    and    Richard 


Jerome    Berkes 
John   Hilbert 
Robert    Copehart 


Evan   Owens 
James   Schoo 


EPISODE   16 
"Hall  of   Fame" 


Mrs.    Eugenie   Walker 
Mr.    Tom    Joneway 
Mr.    James    Maldrum 


Mr.    John    Lloyd 
Mrs.    Beulah   Hoyter 


EPISODE   17 
"The  Atomic   Age" 

Sponsored    by   the    Kiwonis 

Al    Oderkirk  Irving    Rissman 

Dean    Lyman 


EPISODE  IS 

"Young   America" 

Cost  from    Episode    1    and   8 

FINALE 
The   Entire  Cast 


NARRATION   BY 

Mrs.    Ann    Smith    Gray  Robert    Finan 

Mrs.    Eugenie    Wolker  Rev.    William    D. 

Miss   Edith   Wenfworth  Dr.    John    Lloyd- 


White 
•Guest 


Program  of  Daily  Events 
DEKALB  CENTENNIAL 


SUNDAY,  JUNE   10 
Centennial  Religious  Dedication  Day 

Morning 

Centennial  observances  in  DeKalb  Churches.  Theme: 
Past,  Present  and  Future  Religious  Endeavor  in  DeKalb. 

Evening 

8:00  p.  m.  All  Faith  Centennial  Service— Hopkins 
Park.  Special  music  by  DeKalb  Municipal  Band  and 
combined  choirs  of  DeKalb  Churches.  Centennial  ad- 
dress by  Dr.  Francis  Geigle,  Northern  Illinois  State 
College." 


'     MONDAY,  JUNE  11 

Industry-Education  Day 

All  Day 

Industrial-Education  display  by  DeKalb  Industries — 
DeKalb  Junior  High  School. 

Evening 

6:00  p.  m. — Industry-Education  Day  dinner — Address 
by  Earl  J.  Johnson,  vice  president,  United  Press  Assn., 
presentation  of  National  Industrial  leaders.  Presenta- 
tion of  awards  for  Junior  Achievements  by  Robert 
Smith. 

9:00  p.  m.— Centennial  Ball —  College  Gym.  Music  by 
Russ  Carlyle.  Coronation  of  DeKalb  Centennial  Queen 
and  presentation  of  her  Court  of  Honor. 


TUESDAY,  JUNE  12 

Young  America  Day 

Morning 

10:00  a.  m. — Children's  Centennial  Parade — Downtown 
DeKalb. 

Afternoon 

1:00  p.  m. — Games,  Races  and  Contests  for  small  fry 
— North  College  Field.  Awards  for  winners — free  re- 
freshments for  all  participants. 

3:30  p.  m.  —  Little  League  All-Star  Game  —  Little 
League  Diamond. 

3:30  p.  m. — Teen  Ager  Matinee  Dance — "Hi-Time  To 
Coke" — Gilbert  Hall.  Featuring  Adrienne  Falcon,  Chi- 
cago disc  jockey. 

Evening 

7:30  p.  m. — Pre-pageant  entertainment — Pageant  Field, 
N.  I.  S.  C. 

8:15  p.  m. — Premier  presentation  of  the  huge  histori- 
cal pageant-spectacle  "THE  DE  KALB  STORY,"  with 
fireworks  finale. 

10:00  p.  m. — Street  Dancing — Downtown  DeKalb — two 
locations. 


WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  13 
Ladies'  Day 

Afternoon 

1:00  p.  m. — Fashion  Show,  "Styles  of  Yesterday  and 
Today" — N.  I.  S.  C.  Island — Maggie  Dady,  guest  nar- 
rator and  commentator.  Presentation  of  visiting  dig- 
nitaries. 

2:30  p.  m.— Ladies  Centennial  Tea  and  Art  Show — 
Presentation  of  winning  costumes — Sisters  of  the  Swish, 
Gilbert  Hall  Lawn,  N.  I.  S.  C. 

Evening 

7:30  p.  m. — Presentation  of  Awards  —  Sisters  of  the 
Swish — Pageant  Stage. 

8:15  p.  m. — Second  performance  of  the  pageant-spec- 
tacle, "THE  DEKALB  STORY,"   with  fireworks  finale. 

10:00  p.  m. — Free  street  dancing — Downtown  DeKalb 
— two  locations. 


THURSDAY,  JUNE  14 
Pioneer  and  Homecoming  Day 

All  Day 

Registration  of  Pioneers,  visitors,  and  former  resi- 
dents at  Centennial  Headquarters. 

Afternoon 

2:00  p.  m. — Pioneer  and  homecoming  recognition  cere- 
mony, Hopkins  Park.  Recognition  of  oldest  pioneers, 
of  longest  residence,  and  former  residents  coming  long- 
est distance.  Presentation  of  U.  S.  Senator  Everett 
Dirksen,  and  introduction  of  other  dignitaries.  Centen- 
nial address  by  The  Honorable  William  G.  Stratton, 
Governor  of  Illinois. 

Evening 

6:30  p.  m.— Golden  Belles  and  Beaux  Dinner — Rice 
Hotel,  honoring  DeKalb  couples  who  have  observed 
their  50th  wedding  anniversary. 

7:45  p.  m. — Presentation  of  Pioneer  awards  by  Sena- 
tor Dirksen. 

8:15  p.  m. — Third  performance  of  the  Pageant-Spec- 
tacle, "THE  DEKALB  STORY,"  with   fireworks  finale. 


10:00  p.  m.- 
locations. 


-Street  dancing — Downtown  DeKalb — two 


FRIDAY,  JUNE  15 
Rural  Day 

All  Day 

Exhibit   of  Agricultural   Relics — Hopkins   Park. 

Morning 

10:30  a.  m. — Safe  Driving  Demonstration — Ninth  Street 
off  Sycamore  Road. 

12:00  Noon — Old   Fashioned   Family   Picnic — Hopkins 
Park. 


Afternoon 

1:15  p.  m.— Salute  to  Agricultural  Progress— Address 
by  Lloyd  Burlingame,  Station  WLS.— Presentation  of 
Agricultural  Dignitaries. 

Evening 

7:30  p.  in.— Final  Judging— Brothers  of  the  Brush— 
10  classes — presentation  of  awards — Pageant  Stage. 

8:15  p.  m. — Fourth  presentation — Pageant  Spectacle — 
"THE  DE  KALB  STORY,"  with  fireworlts  finale. 

10:00  p.  m. — Free  Street  Dancing — Downtown  DeKalb 
— two  locations. 


SATURDAY,  JUNE   16 
Faith   In  Our  Future  Day 

Morning 

9:30   a.   m. — Judging  of  Antique  Vehicles. 

9:30  a.  m. — Time  Capsule  Ceremony — DeKalb  Public 
Library. 

10:30  a.  m. — Beard  Shaving  Contest — Brothers  of  the 
Brush,  Downtown  DeKalb.     Prizes  to  be  awarded. 

Afternoon 

1:00  p.  m. — Feature  attraction  of  the  celebration — 
Huge  Centennial  Parade— "SALUTE  TO  A  CENTURY" 
500  floats,  40  bands.    Theme:  From  the  past  to  the  future. 

4:30  p.  m.— Display  of  Floats— DeKalb  High  School. 

Evening 

7:30  p.   in. — Prepageant  entertainment. 

8:15  p.  m. — Final  performance  of  the  pageant-specta- 
cle, "THE  DE  KALB  STORY,"  with  tremendous  fire- 
works finale. 


****** 

ALL  WEEK 

Imperial  Shows — Centennial  Midway 

Historic  Window  Displays — Downtown  DeKalb 


DE  KALB  CENTENNIAL  QUEEN  CONTESTANTS 

As  this  booklet  goes  to  press,  the  DeKolb  Cen- 
tennial Queen  and  her  ten  attendants  in  the  Court 
of  Honor,  have  not  been  selected.  The  citizens  of 
DeKalb,  however,  may  well  pay  tribute  in  appre- 
ciation of  the  following  Queen  Candidates  whose 
civic  spirit,  energy  and  ingenuity  were  a  major  con- 
tribution to  the  success  of  the  DeKalb  Centennial; 


Nancy   Acher 

Barbara   Anderson 

Mrs.    Barbara    Anderson 

Evelyn    Anderson 

Judy    Anderson 

Mrs.    Scott    Anderson 

Charlotte   Anthenat 

Carole    Askelson 

Janice   Averill 

Sharon    Baker 

Judy    Barrett 

Mrs.    Susan    Brayton 

Joan    Carter 

Dolores   Charlesworth 

Joan   Christiansen 

Carol    Clausen 

Joyce    Cook 

Mory    Ellyn    Derix 

Elois   Desponett 

Peggy   J.    Doctor 

Lorna    Donnelly 

Pat    Frederick 

Judith    Fuller 

Verna    Gorman 

Pat    J.    Gaston 

Mary   Hayter 

Janet    Holmes 

Juanita    R.    Norton 

Barbara    Borine    Hunt 

Pat    Hunt 

Sue    Hutchinson 

Mrs.    Dennis    Johnson 

Marion    Johnson 

Marilyn    Johnson 

Orva    Johnson 

Pat    Kahle 

Dorothy    Kimbell 

Kangaroo   Court — 

Clarence   Wales 
Chuck   Moser 
Joe    Stossel 

F.    E  .  Schundler    &    Co. 
Hollgren    Lumber    Co.,    Inc. 
Somonauk    Saw    Mills 
Builders    &    Lumber   Supply 
Curt    Bogle 


Georgia    Kirby 

Nancy   Kittleson 

Marilyn    Kuusisto 

Marjorie    Lawson 

Mary    Lou    Lee 

Bonnie    Less 

Carol    Morcheschi 

Joan    Marshall 

Billie    McFall 

Jonoan    McGirr 

Carol    Montavon 

Miriam    Montavon 

Deanecia    Mantgares  (Genesa) 

Joan    Myers 

Sandy    Myers 

Kay   Mullis 

Mary   O'Brien 

Marion    Panttila 

Joonne    Raddatz 

Lois    Randall 

Florence    Marie    Rauworth 

Mrs.    Hal    Riehle 

Sharon    Ritchie 

Sally    Rogers 

Jean    Rohlik 

Carol    Taylor 

Mary  Ann   Sanderson 

Mrs.   Walter   Sanderson 

Jane   Smith 

Vernetta    Smith 

Doris   Stork 

Mildred   Sulaver 

Rita    Sullivon 

Carol    Swanson 

Donna   Swanson 

Yvonne    Swedberg 

Margie    Voss 


Clark    Cryor 

Kallal    Sheet    Metol    Shop 

Bill    Shields 

DeKalb    Fire    Dept. 

Gordon    Hardware 

Dick    Thorsen 

Roger   Jacobs 


UNIQUE  FEATURE  OF  AN  OUTSTANDING  CELEBRATION 


One  of  the  many  unusual  features  of  the  DeKalb  Centennial — features  which  distinguish  it  from 
the  many  other  Centennials  that  are  celebrated  across  the  country  each  year — is  the  outstanding  head- 
quarters building.  This  building  was  constructed  by  the  DeKalb  Centennial  Committee  exclusively  for 
use  during  the  Centennial. 

The  key  element  in  the  development  of  the  idea  for  a  special  building  for  Centennial  headquarters 
was  the  outstanding  cooperation  evidenced  by  local  citizens  who  contributed  freely  of  their  labor,  time, 
money,  and  building  materials  to  make  the  project  possible.  Many,  many  long  hours  of  hard  work 
went  into  thee  building,  and  the  following  who  gave  in  one  way  or  another  toward  its  construction — 
have  contributed  significantly  to  the  success  of  the  DeKalb  Centennial: 


Carpenters: 

Tom   Crooke 
Anthony   Romon 
Edward  Johnson 
Scotty    Buchon 
L.   G.    Antonsen 
Arthur   Munson 
Andy    Carter 
Lane    Severson 
Lawrence    Knutson 
Rodney    Lotimer 
Arvo    Nyrhilo 
Richard   Solsrud 
Allen    Swonson 
Curt    Lovig 

Electricians — Forrest   Struthers, 

Ernie    Youngren 
DeLos    Struthers 

Floors   and   Counters — 

Al    Delano 


KENNETH    HALLGREN— NEALE   SKORBERG,   Co-Chairmen 
PAUL   JOHNSON,    Foreman 

Painters — Algot    Moline,    Chair 


Arnold   Johnson 
Charles    Mosher 
Joe    Stossel 
Arnold    Steward 
Andy  Josendole 
Everette    Vodden 
Wayne    McGill 
Wait   Jacobson 
Toivo    Riihimoki 
George    Olsen 
Vern    Hickerson 
Robert    Morrison 
Williom    Kirby 

Chairman 

Joy  Word 
Enio    Pontelo 


James   Koyes 


Bror    Eckberg 
Kenneth    Lovell 
Sigfried   Olson 
William    Reynolds 
Helfred   Nelson 

Donors   and    Loaners — 

Hallgren    Lumber    Co.,    Inc. 
Johnson   &    Jacobson 
Forrest    Struthers 
Hub    Electric    Supply 
Delano    Floor    Covering 
Gloss   &    Key    Shop 
Leo  Todd   DeKalb    Roofing 
Doty    Pre-Cast    Steps 
B.P.O.    Elks   No.   765 
Oberlin    Nursery 
Glidden   Greenhouse 


George   Olsen 


Kenneth    Kidd 
Art    Jacobson 
Holger    Moline 
Howard   Lovell 
Paul    Peterson 


Hunt    Feed   Store 
Troop    1 8,    Boy   Scouts 
Troop    19,    Girl    Scouts 
Johnson    Concrete   Co. 
Rudolph    Wurlitzer   Co. 
DeKalb   Blacksmith   Shop 
Thorsen    Sign    Shop 
James    F.    Simon    Co. 
General    Electric   Co. 
Hickman   Office    Equip.   Co. 
Coco   Cola    Co. 


OTHER  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The  Centennial  Committee  also  gratefully  acknowledges  the  following  persons  and  organizations 
without  whose  generous  contributions  of  merchandise,  services  and  money,  the  DeKalb  Centennial  could 
not  have  been  the  event  it  was. 

QUEEN   CONTEST 

M.    F.   Molone  Bimrose    Furniture    Store  DeKalb    Township 

Burch    Jewelers  Still's    Drug   Store  Northern    Illinois   Gos   Co. 

Duffy    &   Modeen  The    Charm    Shop  Montgomery    Word    Co. 

Skorberg    Furniture  Lehon's    Drugs  Tommy's   Bike    Shop 

Gordon    Hardware  DeKalb   County    Farm    Bureau  Station    WLBK 


Pan    American    Airways 
DeKalb    Chronicle 
Greenacre   Cleaners 
Rudolph    Wurlrtzer   Company 
Joseph    Brody   &    Brothers 
Gonterman   Jewelers 


Karl's   Music    &    Hobby   Store 


AUTOGRAPHS 


CONGRATULATIONS   ON   YOUR    100th   YEAR 


AMERICA'S  FOREMOST  FOOD  RETAILER 
SINCE  1859 


Public    Service    Company    office    in     1906 


FLOWERS 
for    all    occasions 

DeKalb's  Leading  Florist 

JENSENS' 
DEKALB    GREENHOUSE 

Phone  6-7151 


Electric    Utilities 

DeKalb  was  not  the  first  town  in  this  area  to 
have  electric  lights,  as  the  neighboring  town  of 
Sycamore  had  this  luxury  in  1889.  However, 
in  1891  John  Glidden  and  S.  E.  Bradt  establish- 
ed the  first  electric  plant  in  DeKalb. 

This  was  located  in  the  building  now  stand- 
ing on  the  northwest  corner  of  Second  and  Lo- 
cust and  at  that  time  was  used  for  a  grist  mill. 
The  franchise  was  granted  October  5,  1891. 
This  was  a  sm.all  50  KW  110  volt  plant  and  in 
1895  the  present  plant  was  built. 


PRAGERS  FOOD  STORE 

229  South  First  Street 

DeKalb,  Illinois 

Phone  6-6632 


This  was  organized  as  the  DeKalb  Electric 
Company  on  June  11,  1895.  In  1899  in  con- 
junction with  the  idea  of  an  interurban  line  the 
name  was  changed  to  DeKalb  Sycamore  Elec- 
tric Company.  This  in  turn  was  purchased  by 
the  Springfield  Gas  &  Electric  Company  in 
December  1921  and  on  January  13,  1922  it  be- 
came the  Illinois  Power  Company.  This  prop- 
erty was  taken  over  by  the  Central  Illinois 
Light  Company  and  remained  that  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1956,  when  the  present  company.  Pub- 
lic Service  Company  of  Northern  Illinois,  took 
over. 


PEVONKA    HEATING 

147  South  First  St.  DeKalb,  111. 

FURNACE  AND  HEATING  EQUIPMENT  .  .  .  Also 
FURNACE  CLEANING  AND  SERVICE 


For  Service  Call 


Day  6-6637  -  Night  6-2880 


DeKalb  was  one  of  the  first  town.s  to  have 
its  water  pumped  by  electric  power.  This  oc- 
curred on  October  8,  1894,  when  the  city  and 
the  power  company  entered  into  a  contract. 
Two  days  after  the  franchise  was  granted,  the 
city  and  the  light  company  entered  into  a  con- 
tract for  street  lighting.  It  was  specified  that 
the  lights  were  to  be  turned  off  at  11:00  p.m. 
unless  clouds  covered  the  moon,  when  they 
were  to  burn  all  night.  On  moonlight  nights 
they  were  not  turned  on. 


Page  37 


Growing  26  Years  With  DeKalb 


Fruit  and  Vegetable  Dealers 
Bananas  a  Specialty 


—     ALL  PHONES  6-4801     — 


GENE'S  PRODUCE 


7th  and  Oak  Sts. 


DeKalb.  niinois 


K  A  R  L'S 
MUSIC  &  HOBBY  CENTER 

132  North  Third  St. 
DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


Public    Utilities   Gas 

Times  change  and  so  has  the  skyline  of  De- 
Kalb. Gone  now  are  the  two  gas  tanks  at  14th 
and  Market  which  marked  the  location  of  the 
gas  plant. 

DeKalb's  first  use  of  manufactured  gas  came 
on  September  third,  1901,  when  the  DeKalb 
County  Gas  Company  turned  gas  into  the  mains 
for  forty  customers. 

However  there  was  more  behind  the  story 
than  that.  On  December  14,  1895,  the  City 
Council  granted  a  franchise  to  W.  L.  EUwood, 
A.  W.  Fisk,  William  Carter  and  C.  F.  Smith. 
These  gentlemen  did  not  build  within  the  al- 
loted  time  so  on  October  13,  1900.  the  franchise 
was  granted  to  Clinton  E.  Jackson.  Mr.  Jack- 
son in  turn  assigned  his  franchise  to  Irwin  Rew 
who  formed  the  DeKalb  County  Gas  Company. 

At  the  same  time  that  DeKalb  received  gas 
it  was  available  in  Sycamore  through  a  four 
inch  high  pressure  line  built  along  the  DeKalb 
Sycamore  Road. 

The  DeKalb  County  Gas  Company  continued 
in  business  until  May  1,  1912,  when  it  was  pur- 
chased by  the  Illinois  Northern  Utilities  Com- 
pany. At  the  same  time  the  Illinois  Northern 
purchased  utilities  in  other  towns. 

Changes  were  made  in  the  DeKalb  plant 
from  time  to  time.  The  coal  gas  was  changed 
to  water  gas  and  in  1941  and  1942  natural  gas 
was  introduced.  This  was  made  possible  by 
the  construction  of  a  pipe  line.  This  is  a 
twenty  inch  main  connecting  with  the  main 
line  at  Geneseo,  Illinois. 

December  15,  1950.  the  Illinois  Northern  was 
merged  with  the  Public  Service  Company  of 
Northern  Illinois.  A  later  change  made  the 
name  Northern  Illinois  Gas  Company. 

Today  the  company  serves  over  4000  custom- 
ers in  the  DeKalb  -  Svcamore  area. 


HEADQUARTERS  FOR 

CAMERAS    .  .  .    PHOTOGRAPHIC  SUPPLIES 

PHONOGRAPH  RECORDS 

and 

HOBBIES 


Industry 

The  early  industries  of  the  new  town,  natur- 
ally, were  connected  with  barbed  wire  and 
agricultural  products.  The  first  industry  was 
a  grist  mill  located  at  Seventh  Street,  in  1853. 

In  1865  Andrew  and  Charles  Bradt  opened 
a  glove  factory  which  gave  way  to  Bradt  and 
Shipman  Glove  Company  in  1870.  Eleven  years 
later,  in  1876.  the  DeKalb  Implement  Works 
opened,  and  later  it  merged  with  the  Barb  City 
Manufacturing  Company. 

Also  in  1876  the  wire  mills  started  and  for  a 
long  time  dominated  the  industrial  life  of  the 
town.  In  the  latter  half  of  the  1890's  kindred 
factories  made  their  appearances. 

Jacob  Haish  expanded  his  factories  to  in- 
clude not  only  barbed  wire,  but  also  plows, 
small  implements,  gasoline  engines  and  manure 


Page  38 


r 


-^imf"^ 


f^^'^fi  f^f^dfpf^--'-"^/— f;Mfe?^fj?L^  ''jpj^TwmK  . 


'^Avjfr  Jl 


lin  n^  1  I  i  "!  ^ 


*«^|^^-.^,Jh.4i^ 


•^^ 


M.  D.  Wells  Shoe  Company 


spreaders, 
operation. 


At  one  time  he  had  three  plants  in 


The  DeKalb  Fence  Company  was  formed  in 
1892,  and  as  an  off-shoot  the  Union  Fence  Com- 
pany was  organized  later.  In  the  end  they 
were  both  taken  over  by  the  American  Steel  and 
Wire  Company.  Also  in  1892  the  Abram  Ell- 
wood  Manufacturing  Company  built  a  plant  on 
Pleasant  Street,  which  later  was  taken  over  by 
the  American  Steel  and  Wire  Company  and  is 
now  used  by  the  Cyclone  Fence  Company.  The 
Ellwood  Company  went  out  of  existence  in 
about  1902. 

On  the  other  side  of  town  the  Leonard-At- 
kinson Shoe  Company  constructed  the  building 
now  housing  the  DeKalb  Commercial  Body 
Company.  This  was  in  1891,  but  a  few  years 
later  the  M.  D.  Wells  Shoes  Company  purchas- 
ed the  business  and  manufactured  shoes  there 
until  1911. 

In  1912  the  Sycamore  Wagon  Company  mov- 
ed to  DeKalb,  changing  its  name    to    DeKalb 


Wagon  Company  and  occupying  the  shoe  fac- 
tory building.  It  specialized  in  making  milk 
delivery  wagons.  A  year  later  it  purchased  a 
truck  factory  and  moved  it  to  DeKalb.  The 
company  manufactured  trucks  of  all  kinds, 
including  some  fire  trucks  for  surrounding  cit- 
ies. DeKalb's  third  fire  truck  was  made  in 
that  plant. 

In  1940  the  company's  name  was  changed  to 
DeKalb  Commercial  Body  Company  and  the 
company  began  to  specialize  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  bodies  for  trucks. 

The  years  1905  and  1906  saw  two  new  plants 
open  in  DeKalb,  the  Melville  Clark  Piano  Com- 
pany and  the  Creamery  Package  Manufactur- 
ing Company.  The  Melville  Clark  Piano  Com- 
pany's first  instrument  came  off  the  assembly 
line  on  May  6,  1905.  In  1919  the  company  was 
merged  with  the  Rudolph  Wurlitzer  Company 
which  operates  it  today. 

The  Creamery  Package  Manufacturing  Corn- 


Page  39 


Looking    West    from    Second    Street    in     1894 


pany  was  started  in  1906  and  has  been  a  steady 
factor  in  DeKalb's  industrial  life  ever  since. 
It  manufactures  commercial  refrigeration  units. 

Other  industries  in  the  pre  World  War  I  era 
were  the  Kohler  Die  and  Specialty  Company; 
Vasser  Swiss  Underwear  Company;  Standard 
Foundry,  which  made  furnaces,  and  other  com- 
panies which  filled  a  need  at  the  time  but  are 
not  in  existence  at  present. 

After  1918  DeKalb  had  the  California  Pack- 
ing Corporation  for  canning  corn  and  peas,  the 
Cyclone  Fence  Company  in  1930,  for  making 
screen  wire ;  the  Englander  Company,  for 
manufacturing  springs,  and  the  Joseph  Brody 
and  Brothers,  for  making  ladies'  coats. 

In  1916  one  of  DeKalb's  steadiest  factories 
was  started.  In  that  year  the  Nehring  Electri- 
cal Wire  Company  opened  in  the  Haish  build- 
ing on  Lincoln  Highway.  Since  then  it  has  e.x- 
panded  and  occupies  this  building  and  one  on 
Locust  and  Ninth  Streets.  It  makes  insulated 
wire  for  the  electrical  industry. 

During  the  World  War  II  period  all  the 
plants  in  DeKalb  were  engaged  in  war  work. 
The  Wurlitzer  Company  made  wooden  air- 
planes which  were  assembled  by  the  Interstate 
Aircraft  and  Manufacturing  Company;  the 
DeKalb  Commercial  Body  Company  made  sig- 
nal Corps  equipment,  and  the  Northern  Illinois 
Corporation  went  into  the  manufacturing  of 
tank  treads. 

Following  the  war  one  of  DeKalb's  biggest 
industries  —  the  General  Electric  Company  — 
came  to  town.  It  makes  fractional  horsepower 
motors.  It  purchased  the  building  erected  by 
the  Arlington  Furniture  Company  in  1941  and 
occupied  by  Interstate  during  the  war. 

Page  40 


HA 


S 

RDWARg 


FOR    OVER 
12    YEARS 

!;  hai  been  our  privilege  and  pleasure  to  have  a 
part  in  Ihe  growth  and  expansion  of  DeKalb's  100 
years  of  progress. 

As  DeKalb's  leading  hardware  and  houseware  sup- 
plier, it  will  be  our  earnest  and  constant  endeavor 
to  prove  ourselves  worthy  of  your  continued  confi- 
dence during  the  years  to  come. 


540  East  Lincoln  Highway 
DeKalb,  Illinois  Phone  6-2542 


Congratulations 
On  The  100th  Anniversary 

DONALD  M.  AMOS 

INSURANCE  AGENCY 


The  Agency  where  cusfomers 
send  their  friends" 


637  E.  Lincoln  Hwy. 


Phone  6-2787 


CREAMERY  PACKAGE  —  An  impressive  history  pointing 

toward  continued  progress  in  the  future 


•  DeKalb   factory  erected   in   1906  for  the  full  manufacture  of 
refrigeration  machinery. 

•  Additions  to  the  factory  in  1923,  1938,  1955,  and  1956. 

•  Manufacturers  of  — 

Refrigeration  machinery  and  related  equipment 
Refrigerated  stainless  steel  bulk  milk  cooling  tanks 
Stainless  steel  utility  tables 
Work  tables  and  wash  sinks 


THE  CREAMERY  PACKAGE  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY 

DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 


Page  41 


Building    on    Northeast    corner,    Second    Street    and    Lincoln 
Highway,    in     1890's 

Stores 

Ever  since  John  Goodall  and  Baisl  Ruby 
opened  the  first  stores  in  the  settlement  of 
Huntley's  Grove,  DeKalb  has  been  a  good  town 
in  which  to  trade.  The  above  mentioned  stores 
were  the  first  in  the  growing  community  and 
were  built  in  1849.  They  were  on  opposite 
corners  of  Depot  (Lincoln  Highway)  and  First 
Streets.  The  Goodall  store  was  on  the  site  of 
the  Chronicle  building  and  Ruby's  across  the 
street. 

We  cannot  trace  the  growth  of  the  individual 
stores,  but  by  1870  there  were  several  along  the 
dirt  Main  Street.  A  destructive  fire  in  the  early 
1870's  wiped  out  these  wooden  buildings  and 
new  brick  structures  took  their  places. 


CONGRATULATIONS 

On   Your 

ONE      HUNDREDTH 

ANNIVERSARY 


SUNBEAM    BREAD 


CRYDUN  PHOTOGRAPHS 

SHERMAN  DUNKELBERGER 

Portrait 
Commercial  Photography 

128  N.  THIRD  ST.  —  DEKALB,  ILLINOIS 
PHONE  G-5711 


In  1876  Joseph  Glidden  built  his  Glidden 
House  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Second  Street, 
I.  L.  Ellwood  built  a  stone  building  on  the  cor- 
ner to  the  south  and  P.  C.  Wagner  built  his 
building  on  the  northwest  corner  of  that  inter- 
section. 


To  complete  the  picture    the    Eagle    Hotel, 
Page  42 


CENTENNIAL       GREETINGS 

PEARSON'S 
TAVERN 


156  E.  Lincoln  Hwy. 


DeKalb,  Illinois 


DE  K  ALB'S 
LEADING     DEPARTMENT     STORE 

J.    C.    PENNEY    CO. 


Congratulations 
BABSON    FARMS    Inc. 


Haish    Bee    Hive    Building,    |.    C.    Penny    corner,    before    razing 
in   1937 

built  in  1846,  occupied  the  other  corner. 

From  that  da.v  onward  the  main  street  was 
built  up  rapidly.  Some  of  the  firms  which  oc- 
cupied these  stores  were  Aaron  Goldsmith, 
clothier,  who  occupied  the  "Bee  Hive"  built  by 
Mr.  Haish  in  1885  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Third  and  Lincoln  Highway.  Atwood  and 
Burnside  were  in  the  building  on  the  other  cor- 
ner. I.  L.  Ellwood's  hardware  store,  and  its 
successors  were  located  where  the  National 
store  is  today.  V.  A.  Glidden's  grocery  was  in 
the  Glidden  House,  Walter  White's  meatmar- 
ket  near  there,  and  other  stores  lined  the  street. 

There  have  been  several  stores  which  have 
been  known  far  beyond  the  limits  of  DeKalb. 
The  Anderson  Brothers  store  started  in  1895 
and  sold  men's  clothing  to  people  from  all  over 
Northern  Illinois.  They  were  located  where 
Bowman's  is  today  and  later  took  over  the 
building  next  to  it.  This  company  went  out  of 
business  in  1922. 


CONGRATULATIONS 

T  O 

DE  K  ALB,     ILLINOIS 

ON     YOUR     100th     BIRTHDAY 

TRANSCON    LINES 

2611  S.  Halsted  St.,  Chicago,  111.  DA  6-5100 


E.  A.  Shetter,  .ieweler,  with  his  famous  slo- 
gan "Talk  To  Shetter"  blazoned  on  barns,  be- 
came a  magnet  for  his  line.  Lon  Smith,  who 
asked  "Who's  Your  Butcher?"  was  well  known 
in  the  outlying  areas.  In  the  early  1920's  the 
Striglos  brothers  opened  a  deluxe  restaurant 
known  as  the  "Innovation"  in  the  Commercial 
Trades  Building  while  across  the  street  was  a 
restaurant  operated  by  Jack  Cook  known  as 
the  "Aggravation." 

Beside  the  Eagle  Hotel  and  the  Glidden 
House  DeKalb  had  the  Walkup,  located  at  var- 
ious places,  and  one  on  the  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Lincoln  (site  of  the  Kennedy  Building) 
known  variously  as  the  Rickard  House,  the 
Clifton  and  the  European.  On  May  30,  1927 
Mr.  M.  E.  Rice  opened  DeKalb's  newest  hotel 
—  The  Rice. 


Page  43 


Haish  Corner.  Third   and   Lincoln    Highway,   when   new  in    1908 


To  mention  the  names  of  the  merchants 
whose  fair  dealing  and  large  stocks  brought 
business  to  DeKalb  would  be  impossible.  They 
were  the  pioneers  who  served  a  trading  area 
many  miles  in  extent.  Today  the  successors  of 
these  merchants  are  upholding  the  reputations 
won  by  hard  work  and  good  merchandise. 

One  feature  which  brought  DeKalb  fame  was 
the  monthly  Horse  Sale.  This  w-as  instituted 
in  June  1887.  With  the  large  numbers  of 
horses  in  the  stables  of  W.  L.  Ellwood,  who 
imported  Belgian  Percherons,  the  interest  was 
high.  Farmers  would  bring  horses  to  sell  and 
come  to  buy.  Itinerant  horse  traders  always 
made  a  point  to  be  in  DeKalb  on  the  last  Fri- 
day of  each  month.     It  was  a  DeKalb  special. 


Farm    Bureau 

Being  an  agricultural  area  it  was  not  hard 
to  interest  the  people  in  the  farmer's  problems. 
Therefore,  when  Henry  Parke,  of  Genoa,  sug- 
gested an  organization  to  teach  better  farm- 
ing he  found  ready  listeners. 

Mr.  Parke  was  the  son  of  a  farmer  who  be- 
lieved and  practiced  better  breeding  and  crop 
rotation.  He  was  active  in  the  Farmer's  In- 
stitutes which  were  teaching  these  things.  Early 
in  1912  he  interested  such  men  as  Thomas  Dil- 
lon of  Genoa  and  S.  E.  Bradt  of  DeKalb,  both 
bankers,  in  the  idea.  They,  with  others,  form- 
ed the  DeKalb  County  Soil  Improvement  As- 
sociation with  headquarters  in  the  North 
School  building  in  DeKalb. 

On  June  1,  1912  a  large  step  forward  was 
taken  when  they  employed  William  G.  Eck- 
hardt.  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  as  a  farm 
advisor. 


These  sales  continued  until  the  demand  for 
horses  ceased,  the  last  one  being  held  about 
1919. 


DeKalb  County  was  the  first  in  the  nation  to 
take  such   a   step.      The  Illinois  legislature  in 

(Continued    on    Page    46) 


Page  44 


SOMETHING  TO  LIVE  UP  TO! 


(Tv^t.-'^ 


The  reputation  of  this  bank  for  faithful  service,  through 
the  many  past  years,  has  been  a  real  responsibility. 


The  people  you  know  and  the  people  who  know  you 
and  who  desire  to  serve  you,  hope  to  continue  this 
faithful  service  through  the  many  years  to  come. 


DEKALB  TRUST  AND  SAVINGS  BANK 

YOUR   FRIENDLY   BANK 

CORNER  OF  FOURTH  STREET  AND  LINCOLN  HIGHWAY 

MEMBER  FEDERAL  RESERVE  SYSTEM 

FEDERAL  DEPOSIT  INSURANCE  CORPORATION 


Page  45 


Compliments 
of 

BRIGGS 
PRINTING 
COMPANY 


Congratulations 

H.   H.   EMBREE 

Giits  .  .  .  Housewares  .  .  .  Dinnerwaie  .  .  .  Glassware 
235  E.  Lincoln  Hwy.     —    Phone  6-3711 


FOR       BETTER      DANCING 

Top  .  .  .  Ballet  .  .  .  Toe  .  .  .  Acrobatic 

and  Ballroom 

For  Juniors  and  Teen  Agers 

A  School  o/  Digniiy  and  Disfinc/ion  Devofed  to 
the  Alt  of  Dance 

HELAINE  SCHOOL  OF  DANCE 

152V2  E.  Lincoln  Hwy.       Phone  6-3211       DeKalb,  111. 


1914  and   1917  beRan  a  program  of  help  and 
the  movement  was  underway. 

In  1922  there  was  celebrated  in  DeKalb  tht 
Tenth  Anniversary  of  the  movement.  This  took 
the  form  of  a  parade  of  floats  from  all  of  the 
counties  of  Illinois  and  a  pageant  on  the  Col- 
lege campus. 

DeKalb  Agricultural  Association,  Inc. 

This  local  organization  has  done  more  than 
any  other  to  acquaint  the  general  public  of  the 
United  States  with  the  name  "DeKalb."  De- 
Kalb's  winged  ear  silhouette  is  known  along 
roads  in  nearly  every  state  in  the  union.  The 
production  of  hybrid  corn,  hybrid  chicks  and 
hybrid  sorghum  has  literally  made  DeKalb 
"The  Home  of  the  Hybrid"  for  the  country's 
farming  interests. 

This  organization  is  an  outgrowth  of  one  of 
America'r.  first  farm  bureaus  which  hired  one 
of  the  two  first  farm  advisers  in  Illinois  to  be- 
gin work  on  June  1,  1912.  Early  work  of  this 
group  was  to  promote  the  purchase  of  lime  and 
legume  seed  for  farmers.  The  cash  volume  of 
this  business  soon  became  so  great  that  a  sep- 
arate organization  was  necessary  to  handle  it. 
This  organization  was  called  the  DeKalb 
County  Agricultural  Association,  with  the 
"County"  later  begin  dropped.  This  organi- 
zation early  became  interested  in  seed  corn  im- 
provement —  first  with  open  pollinated  strains 
and  later  with  the  hybrids.  The  first  DeKalb 
Hybrid  corn  sales  were  made  in  1934.  Rapid 
expansion  of  production  facilities  and  the  sales 
foi-ce  moved  DeKalb  to  the  top  in  seed  corn 
sales  in  1940  and  this  position  has  been  held 
ever  since. 

In  1945,  work  was  started  on  a  chicken 
breeding  project  which  led  to  the  sale  of  De- 
Kalb Chix,  beginning  about  1948.  DeKalb 
pioneered  in  the  development  of  the  white  egg. 
light  weight,  hybrid  type  bird  which  is  now  so 
popular.  DeKalb  operates  through  an  Associ- 
ate Hatchery  set-up  involving  around  300 
hatcheries  in  40  states. 

The  la.st  of  the  DeKalb  Hybrids  in  hybrid 
grain  sorghum  —  a  crop  adapted  primarily  to 
the  dry  southwestern  states.  DeKalb's  produc- 
tion at  Lubbock,  Texas  is  in  the  center  of  a 
large  irrigated  area  in  western  Texas  and  in 
the  Panhandle  where  sorghum  production  is 
highly  concentrated  with  high  yields.  DeKalb 
is  the  first  organization  with  any  large  amount 
of  hybrid  sorghum  seed  available. 

The  DeKalb  Agricultural  Association  is  in- 
corporated and  its  stockholders  and  top  offic- 
ials are  nearly  all  DeKalb  County  men.  Al- 
though selling  DeKalb  products  now  in  almost 
every  state  in  the  union,  the  center  of  activities 
is  at  310  North  Fifth  Street  in  DeKalb. 


Page  46 


CONGRATULATIONS 
CITY  of  DEKALB 

ON    YOUR 

"100th    ANNIVERSARY" 

N  E   H   R  I   N   G 

ELECTRICAL 

WORKS 

DEKALB  ILLINOIS 


SHOP    THE    EASY    WAY 

BY  PHONE  FROM 

SEARS 

Simply  dial  DeKalb  6-6311  and  your  shopping  is  done  in  minutes. 

NEXT  DAY  DELIVERY 

OVER  100,000  ITEMS  TO  CHOOSE  FROM 

NO  PARKING  PROBLEMS 

NO  LEAVING  THE  CHILDREN 

Save  money  and  time  by  shopping  the  easy  Sears  catalog  way  by  phone. 

SEARS,    ROEBUCK    AND    CO. 

DEKALB  6-6311 


Page  47 


DEKALB    COUNTY    FARM    BUREAU    BUILDING 

DeKalb  County  the  home  of  the  first  Farm  Bureau 

Organized  in  1912  to  promote  a  more  profitable  and 

more  permanent  system  of  agriculture  in  DeKalb  County. 

—     3386  Members  June  1,  1956     — 


I. A. A.    INSURANCE    SERVICE 

I.A.A.  Insurance  Service  has  been  happy  to  serve  the  Farm  Bureau  members 
in  DeKalb  County  by  giving  coverage  in  Country  Life,  and  Country  Mutual 
Casualty,  and  Country  Mutual  Fire  Companies. 


A  COMPLETE  FROZEN  FOOD  PROCESSING  SERVICE 

DEKALB    COUNTY    LOCKER    SERVICE,    INC. 


We  pick  up  your  animal  for  slaughter,  completely  processing  the  meat  for 

your  freezer  or  locker. 

Six   conveniently   located    lockers   and   processing  plants   in   DeKalb   County. 


DEKALB  Phone     6-4621 

SYCAMORE  Phone        3838 

GENOA  Phone  1 1 

OFFICE  DeKalb  6-6361 


KIRKLAND  Phone  8 

SOMONAUK  Phone        2721 

WATERMAN  Phone  119 

SLAUGHTER  HOUSE  DeKalb  6-4523 


FOR  THE  BEST,  CALL   US  FIRST     — 


Page  48 


IMJ 


KISHWAUKEE    SERVICE    COMPANY 

QUALITY    PETROLEUM    PRODUCTS 
AND    FARM    SUPPLIES 

315  North  Sixth  Street 

DeKalb,  Illinois 
—     Phone  6-6361     — 


DEKALB    COUNTY    GRAIN    COMPANY 


IMJ 


FEEDS     •     FERTIUZER     •     SEED     •     STEEL  PRODUCTS 

Owned  and  Operated  by  DeKalb  County  Farmers 
Somonauk  3211  DeKalb  6-G3G1   or  G-4533 


4%    FEDERAL    LAND    BANK    LOANS 

Long  Term  Full  Prepayment  Privilege 

NATIONAL    FARM    LOAN    ASSOCIATION 

Farm  Bureau  Building  Phone  DeKalb  G-5142 


COMPLIMENTS    OF 

FOX    VALLEY    PRODUCTION    CREDIT    ASS'N 

Balancing  the  budget  is  a  difficult  problem  which  every  farmer  is  facing 
during  this  period  of  continued  high  operating  costs  and  lower  net  income. 
If  you  believe  you  can  use  borrowed  money  to  advantage  at  this  time, 
come  in  and  see  us. 

FOX    VALLEY    PRODUCTION    CREDIT   ASS'N 

Farm  Bureau  Building  Phone  6-G3G1  DeKalb,  Illinois 


Page  49 


DeKalb   Bands 

The  UeKalb  Band  is  older  than  the  city.  It 
celebrated  its  centennial  two  years  ago  in  1954. 

Jackson  Hiland  probably  was  the  organizer 
of  the  DeKalb  Silver  Cornet  Band,  which  wa.'; 
the  first  of  its  kind  west  of  Chicago. 

It  is  also  said  that  a  small  group  of  people 
from  DeKalb  followed  the  gold  rush  to  the 
West  and  played  on  the  stage  of  the  then  vil- 
lage of  Denver,  Colorado. 

During  the  Civil  War,  musicians  of  course 
were  in  service,  but  afterwards,  when  they  came 
back  to  DeKalb,  they  again  formed  a  band 
under  the  leadership  of  David  McCosh  and  his 
brother,  Daniel,  and  they  made  a  real  live  or- 
ganization of  this  DeKalb  band. 

After  McCosh,  there  came  unto  the  scene 
such  band  leaders  as  William  Cheney  (grand- 
father of  the  present  bandleader.  Dee  Palmer) , 
Carl  Qui.st,  Cal  Dart,  B.  Z.  Oker,  Burte  Ruby 
and  G.  D.  Weber. 

Then  in  1903  there  stepped  into  the  lime- 
light, C.  F.  Toenniges,  who  was  the  leader  of 
the  band  for  some  twenty  years. 

Also  in  1903  the  Band  accepted  an  invitation 
to  Jjecome  the  Band  of  the  Third  Regiment  of 
the  Illinois  National  Guard,  which  post  they 
held  until  1917.  This  assignment  meant  a 
two-week  camping  period  on  alternating  years 
at  Springfield,  Aurora,  Elgin  and  Dixon. 

In  1916,  when  the  Mexican  trouble  was  at 
its  height,  the  Government  sent  the  National 
Guard  of  the  various  states  into  the  field  to 
protect  the  Mexican  border. 

Along  with  these  groups  went  the  Third 
Regiment  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard  with 
the  Band  from  DeKalb  and  Company  A  from 
DeKalb.  The  boys  from  DeKalb  stayed  on  the 
border  from  June  1916  until  February  1917, 
and  they  returned  home  February  17  to  a  riot- 
ous welcome  from  the  folks  they  left  behind. 

Back  home  the  people  still  had  a  band.  They 
were  called  variously  "The  Kids  Band"  or  the 
Third  Regiment  Juniors,  but  whatever  they 
were  called  they  were  good. 

Then  because  of  the  uncertainty  of  the  times 
in  1917  the  Third  Regiment  Band  was  shifted 
from  DeKalb  to  Mount  Morris. 

It  was  civic  minded  citizens  who  were  al- 
ways intere.sted  in  the  band  and  took  over  the 
financial  and  managerial  functions  which  go 
along  with  a  band.  For  several  years,  civic 
minded  men  worked  hard  to  raise  money  for 
uniforms,  in.struments,  and  music  and  to  man- 
age the  affairs  of  this  worthwhile  institution. 

It  was  in  1926  that  Senator  Harry  G.  Wright 
of  DeKalb  pushed  through  the  Legislature  of 

(Continued  on   Page  52) 


PALMER  MUSIC  HOUSE 

EVERYTHING  MUSICAL  SINCE  1890 

PIANOS       —        ORGANS 
BAND    INSTRUMENTS 

Instruction  On  ALL  Instruments 

MAGNAVOX  and  RCA  HI-FI  PHONOGRAPHS 
FENDER  GUITARS 

Three  generations  of  musical  experience  has  gone 

into  the  selection  of  our  fine  lines 

of  musical  merchandise. 


DEE  PALMER 

229  E.  Lincoln  Hwy. 


C.  H.  PALMER 
Phone  6-3952 


WIRTZ   and   WIRTZ 

DeKalb  County  Home  Furnishers 

"YESTERDAY  —  TODAY  —  TOMORROW" 

A  store,  like  a  city,  should  expect  to  grow  older  ■ 
and  plan  to  keep  young. 


C.  B.  R. 

COMMON  CARRIER  SERVICE  TO  ALL  POINTS 

SERVING    DEKALB    AND 
SYCAMORE    DAILY 

PHONE  ENTERPRISE  7700 


Page  50 


Lehan  Drugs 

WALGREEN  AGENCY 
Cor.  Third  &  Lincoln  Hwy. 


For  the  Best  in  Food  — 
Eat  at  Lehans  Fountain" 


Your  Health  and 
Beauty  Center" 


Page  51 


CONGRATULATIONS 

to 

CITY      OF      DEKALB 

NEWQUIST  FOUNDRY  COMPANY 

H.  P.  NEWQUIST,  President 

GRAY    IRON    CASTINGS 

1115  Eiast  Locust  Street 

DE  KALB,    ILLINOIS 


Illinois  a  bill  permitting  cities  to  levy  a  2-mill 
tax  for  band  support.  The  ink  was  hardly  dry 
on  the  Governor's  signature  before  DeKalb 
went  to  work.  The  result  was  that  in  1926 
DeKalb  became  the  first  city  to  have  a  munici- 
pal band  supported  by  a  municipal  tax. 

After  becoming  a  municipal  organization, 
the  DeKalb  band  really  went  places.  They 
went  to  the  Chicago  Music  Land  Festival  three 
years  in  a  row  and  have  taken  high  honors 
everywhere  that  they  have  gone. 

The  present  organization,  known  as  the  De- 
Kalb Municipal  Band,  has  attracted  attention 
from  all  over  the  State  of  Illinois  with  its  sacred 
concerts,  its  Music  Festivals,  and  its  wonderful 
and  accurate  playing. 


Public    Library 


One  of  the  boasts  of  the  city  of  DeKalb  is  its 
fine  public  library,  which  came  into  being  on 
July  1,  1893,  by  an  ordinance  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil. Mrs.  E.  B.  McMurray  was  the  first  librar- 
ian. 

At  first  the  library  was  located  on  the  sec- 
ond floor  of  the  City  Hall.     Later  it  was  moved 


to  the  second  floor  of  the  Chronicle  Building 
and  remained  there  until  February  15.  1931. 
when  it  moved  into  a  handsome  new  building, 
the  gift  of  Mr.  Jacob  Haish. 

During  the  depression  years  it  was  hard  to 
find  money  with  which  to  purchase  new  books, 
and  a  civic  committee  was  formed  to  ask  for 
donations  of  books  or  funds.  Since  that  time 
there  have  been  several  bequests  and  donations, 
which  have  enabled  the  library  to  keep  pace 
with  the  latest  and  best  books.  Chief  among 
the  bequests  is  the  Verna  Newsham  Memorial 
Fund  for  the  purchase  of  non-fiction  books.  In 
recent  years  the  practice  of  giving  books  as 
memorials  has  grown,  and  many  public  spirited 
citizens  now  present  to  the  library  current 
books  which  they  have  read  and  wish  others  to 
have  the  chance  to  read. 


An  auxiliary  organization  known  as  Friends 
of  the  Library  has  aided  in  making  the  library 
a  cultural  center  of  DeKalb  through  the  pre- 
sentation of  talks,  art  displays,  and  exhibits  of 
current  interest.  In  addition,  the  Library 
Whist  Club,  an  organization  of  interested  wo- 
men, has  for  some  sixty  years  lent  its  support 
to  the  library. 


Page  52 


Theaters 

The  churches  and  schools  were  probably  the 
first  places  people  of  DeKalb  went  to  for  en- 
tertainment. The  theater  received  an  early 
boost  by  the  first  editor  of  the  DeKalb  Chron- 
icle, Clinton  Rosette. 

Editor  Rosette  was  the  booster  for  a  Dollar 
Lecture  Course  which  included  lectures,  plays 
and  music  in  its  repertoire.  After  the  Chron- 
icle building  was  completed  these  entertain- 
ments were  held  there.  In  fact,  for  a  long  time 
the  second  floor  of  this  building  was  the  focal 
point  for  the  culture  of  the  town. 

When  Jacob  Haish  built  his  building  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Third  and  Lincoln  High- 
way in  1876  the  second  floor  was  a  theater 
and  the  building  was  called  the  "Opera  House 
Block."  This  building  burned  in  1906,  but  was 
speedily  rebuilt  and  included  a  theater  con- 
structed on  the  north  end  of  the  building  and 
called  the  "Haish  Auditorium." 

In  this  theater  played  all  manner  of  road 
shows  and  stock  companies  and  many  a  famous 
actor  appeared  here.  As  in  all  theaters  of  this 
t.ype  there  was  a  "peanut  gallery"  and  the  oc- 


cupants cheered  the  hero  and  hissed  the  vil- 
lain with  great  fervor.  In  the  late  1930's  the 
structure  was  torn  down  to  make  way  for  the 
present  Drs.  Smith  Building. 

The  Bijou,  Star,  and  Princess  Theaters  came 
along  showing  motion  pictures  and  vaudeville. 
The  Bijou,  for  vaudeville  only,  was  located  in 
a  building  just  west  of  the  First  National  Bank 
which  was  incorporated  into  the  bank  building 
in  one  of  the  remodelings  of  that  structure. 
The  date  given  for  the  start  of  the  Bijou  is 
1906. 

The  Star  came  into  being  in  1907  as  a  mo- 
tion picture  theater,  and  it  was  located  next  to 
the  DeKalb  Trust  and  Savings  Bank  and  fin- 
ally was  absorbed  in  the  remodeling  of  that 
building. 

The  Princess  Theater,  started  in  1913,  was 
located  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Sohn's 
Clothing  Store,  and  it  will  be  remembered  for 
the  great  pictures  shown  there.  Mr.  Glenn  W. 
Reynolds  was  the  owner  and  manager  and  Mrs. 
Reynolds  played  the  piano  accompaniments  for 
the  pictures. 

The  Armory  Theater  on  Locust  Street,  now 
the  Masonic  Temple,  was  built  in  as  an  Armory 


Best  Wishes 

to  DEKALB  on  your 
*  CENTENNIAL  * 


HIGHWAY  MOTOR  SERVICE 


222   18th  AVENUE 
ROCKFORD,  ILLINOIS 


ROCKFORD    5-0521 
DE  KALB         6-3232 


Page  53 


for  the  Company  A  of  the  Illinois  National 
Guard,  but  it  also  provided  space  for  vaude- 
ville, home  talent  plays,  expositions  and  other 
events.  In  the  basement  was  a  roller  skating 
rink  and  dance  floor. 

DeKalb's  theaters  became  modern  when  the 
DeKalb  Theater  was  built  in  1923  on  Lincoln 
Highway,  in  the  Montgomery  Ward  Store 
building.  This  was  an  up-to-date  motion  pic- 
ture house,  with  a  large  pipe  organ,  but  the 
coming  of  sound  pictures  made  a  change  neces- 
sarv  and  the  company  built  the  Egyptian  in 
1929. 

The  same  year,  1929,  the  Fargo  Theater  was 
built,  but  for  a  time  during  that  year  DeKalb 
theatergoers  had  to  go  elsewhere  w'hile  these 
two  theaters  were  under  construction. 

In  1949  the  new  DeKalb,  the  late.st  in  thea- 
ters, was  opened  on  North  Third  Street. 

Then  the  DeVal  Drive-In-Theater  on  Syca- 
more Road  came  in  1948. 


The   Stage   Coach    Players 

The  Stage  Coach  Players  is  a  non-profit  or- 
ganization  with   membership   open   to   all   De- 


Kalb County  people  who  wish  to  share  in  the 
responsibilities  and  pleasures  of  producing 
amateur  plays  and  in  the  encouragement  of 
theater  arts  in  the  community. 

Organized  in  1947  under  the  leadership  of 
Ann  Smith  Gray,  the  group  had  several  suc- 
cessful seasons  in  its  temporary  home,  a  barn 
lent  by  John  Ellwood.  Mrs.  E.  P.  Ellwood's 
stage  coach,  which  was  used  as  a  box  office, 
was  the   source    of  the   name     of    the     group. 

When  it  became  necessary  to  find  a  perman- 
ent building,  a  group  of  interested  citizens 
formed  the  Stage  Coach  Theater  Corporation. 
Through  the  sale  of  non-interest  bearing  stock 
enough  money  was  acquired  to  purchase  land 
and  begin  building  the  present  theater,  located 
opposite  the  County  Home  halfway  between 
Sycamore  and  DeKalb  on  Route  23.  From  the 
proceeds  of  the  plays  and  by  means  of  volun- 
teer labor,  the  building  was  completed  for  the 
19.53  summer  season. 

Productions  of  the  Stage  Coach  Players  have 
become  widely  known  not  only  for  the  fine 
quality  of  amateur  acting  but  for  the  effective 
staging,  sets,  and  costumes.  Rotation  of  di- 
rectors and  new  combinations  of  talent  in  all 
phases    of     play     production     for     each     play 

(Continued  on  Page  57) 


FIVE  community  PARKS 

. . .  help  make  DeKalb  beautiful 


HOPKINS  PARK  ....  large  and  spacious  —  scene  of  great  activity 
ANNIES  WOODS  ....  quiet,  secluded  and  private 
DEKALB  RECREATION  FIELD   ....   baseball's  haven 
HUNTLEY  PARK   ....   your  neighborhood  park 
SHIPMAN  PARK  ....  children's  playground 

Continuous  4-Season  Recreational  Activity 

DeKalb  has  a  park  for  almost  every  need  —  Barbecue  Pits,  Open-Air  Stoves, 
Picnic  Benches  and  Tables  —  Baseball  Diamonds,  Playground  Equipment  — 
Scenic  Walk-v/crys. 

Hopkins  Park  offers  a  band  shell  and  seating  capacity  for  1,200;  a  large 
shelter  house;  one  of  Northern  Illinois'  finest  swimming  pools  with  a  modern 
bath  house,  and  a  record  attendance  of  over  53,000  admittances  last  summer. 

DEKALB  PARK  DISTRICT 


ESTABUSHED  IN  1935 


.  .  .  THE  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS 
Robert  Hunt,  Presidenf 
George  Black,  Vice-President 
Kenneth  Culver 
Mrs.  W.  W.  Wirtz 
Robert  Ball 


.  .  .  ASSOCIATED  WITH  BOARD 
DeWitt  Osgood,  Secretary 
R.  F.  McCormick,  Treasurer 
Byron  Kaiser,  Custodian 
John  G.  Boyle,  Lega7  Advisor 
Jerry  Farmer,  Pool  Manager 
George  Dertinger,  Athletic  Director 


The   board   of   commissioners   cae  elected   by  public   ballot 
and  serve  for  six-year  terms. 


Page  54 


2)JOi  -  JiL 


LHOLA 

Have  you  ever  been  fortunate  enouRh  to  ride  a  ferry  boat  out  to  the  Statue  of  Liberty,  stand 
amonj?  a  g:roup  of  tourists  from  foreign  countries,  have  them  look  at  the  wonderful  New  York 
Skyline,  look  up  at  the  Statue  of  Liberty,  and  turn  and  ask  you  —  "Do  these  Americans  realize 
what  a  wonderful  country  they  have?".  If  you  have  ever  had  that  experience,  then  you  know  the 
thrill  that  comes  up  from  the  deepest  part  of  your  body  when  you  answer,  "I  am  an  American!". 
Have  you  ever  stood  atop  of  Mount  Wilson  in  California,  looked  up  at  the  first  seven  television  sta- 
tions built  in  North  America  and  looked  out  over  the  city  of  Los  Angeles  spread  before  you  and 
heard  the  same  question  from  a  group  of  engineers  from  all  over  the  world  when  they  say,  "What 
a  Country!  Do  these  people  realize  how  great  it  really  is?".  Then  the  great  feeling  comes 
again  when  you  say,  "I  am  an  American!".  Have  you  ever  had  the  pleasure  of  riding  in  an  obser- 
vation car  on  one  of  our  great  western  i-ailroads  and  sat  among  a  group  of  people  from  other 
countries  travelling  across  our  Country  —  when  they  pass  over  the  Mississippi  River  and  the  great 
prairie  state  of  Illinois  and  the  wonderful  miles  of  waving  corn,  the  great  fields  of  golden  grain 
and  green  alfalfa,  then  have  one  of  them  turn  to  you  and  say,  "My,  what  a  Country!".  Again 
comes  the  great  feeling  when  you  are  able  to  say,  "I  am  an  American!". 

I  recently  was  on  such  a  train  and  when  it  pulled  into  the  terminal  in  Chicago,  there  was  a  great 
hustle  and  bustle  among  all  of  us  to  get  off,  but  as  we  alighted  on  the  train  platform,  a  group  of 
college  boys  were  returning  to  their  university  at  Urbana  and  suddenly  we  were  all  struck  silent 
as  they  started  to  sing — 

"Not  without  thy  wonderous  story 
Can  be  told  thy  nation's  glory, 
Illinois,  my  Illinois." 

Then  indeed  did  I  have  a  feeling  that  is  hard  to  de.scribe  when  I  could  turn  to  this  group  of 
newly  met  friends  and  say,  "I  was  born  in  Illinois".  The  discussion  then  turned  to  what  made 
Illinois  such  a  great  state  and  one  of  which  we  were  so  proud.  This  led  up  to  the  fact  that  it  con- 
sisted of  thousands  of  wonderful  little  towns  from  which  have  come  the  leaders  of  practically 
every  line  of  endeavor  and  the  most  natural  thing,  of  course,  was  to  say  that  I  came  from  De- 
Kalb,  Illinois  —  the  birthplace  of  barbed  wire  that  led  to  the  great  development  of  the  west, 
and  that  from  this  great  little  city,  just  hundreds  throughout  the  state,  had  come  great  leaders  in 
educaion.  great  steel  men,  men  who  had  developed  great  copper  manufacturing  plants,  pianos, 
reaper.-^,  hybrid  seed  corn,  and  that  today  there  were  still  living  in  DeKalb  many  descendents  of 
the  men  who  played  such  a  great  part  in  making  our  city  great  —  that  we  are  proud  of  it,  and 
rightfully  so;  and  now  it  is  coming  to  the  great  period  of  its  existence  —  Its  One  Hundredth  An- 
niversary ! 

To  tell  that  story  and  tell  it  right  and  tell  it  in  a  manner  in  which  we  will  be  rightfully  proud 
is  going  to  take  the  cooperation  and  backing  of  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  our  community 
and  each  of  us  should  do  the  part  that  we  are  capable  of  doing.  You  will  be  given  an  opportunity 
to  play  a  part  in  letting  everybody  know  what  you  think  of  the  town  that  you  call  home. 

Respectfully  submitted, 


T.  E.  Courtney,  President 

NORTHERN  ILLINOIS  CORPORATION 


Page  55 


AUTOMOTIVE  TRANSPORTATION 

The  roll  of  the  automobile  dealer  is  of  ever  increasing  importance  in  DeKalb.  Dealers 
through  their  products  and  services  stand  ready  to  serve  the  transportation  needs  of  the 
community.  In  an  industry  whose  yearly  progress  is  so  easily  measured  by  new  models 
and  performance  standards,  the  automobile  dealer  meets  a  daily  challenge  to  progress. 

DeKalb  dealers  today  offer  their  customers  the  latest  in  automotive  products  and  serv- 
ice techniques.  The  challenge  of  the  past  has  been  met  as  is  evidenced  by  the  modern 
facilities  available  to  the  motorist  in  DeKalb.  DeKalb  dealers  look  forward  with  confi- 
dence and  pride  m  their  ability  to  serve  the  needs  of  automotive  transportation  in  the 
future. 


MEMBERS 


BALLAS  FORD  SALES 

BREEZY'S  GARAGE 

CLARK  MOTOR  SALES 

DE  KALB  MOTOR  SALES 

DEKALB  BUICK  GARAGE 

FORREST  ANDREWS  CO. 

FOURTH  STREET  MOTOR  SALES,  INC. 


FREITAG  PONTIAC 
GIBSON  MOTOR  SALES 
MILBURN  MOTOR  SALES 
RUSSELL  G.  SMITH  GARAGE 
SAWYER  SERVICE  STATION 
TOBY'S  AUTO  SALES 


DEKALB  AUTOMOTIVE  TRADE  ASSOCIATION 


Page  56 


achieve  a  distinctive  variety  and  freshness. 

In  addition  to  giving  adult  plays  each  sum- 
mer, the  Stage  Coach  Players  have  an  active 
interest  in  other  types  of  theatrical  produc- 
tion. Whenever  suitable  personnel  is  available, 
plays  for  children  are  produced.  Another  de- 
parture from  the  usual  type  of  summer  theater 
has  been  the  production  of  two  Gilbert  and 
Sullivan  operettas  in  order  to  provide  vehicles 
for  DeKalb  County's  .singers  and  in.strumental- 
ists.  Another  effort  of  the  Players  has  been 
to  support  and  encourage  dramatics  in  the 
schools.  Proceeds  from  one  musical  produc- 
tion were  given  to  purchase  and  install  lighting 
equipment  for  the  stage  of  the  DeKalb  Junior 
High  School.  The  Players  have  also  sponsored 
performances  of  the  DeKalb  High  School  con- 
test plays  so  that  the  public  could  .share  in  the 
enjoyment  of  these  student   productions. 

The  value  of  the  Stage  Coach  Theater  to 
DeKalb  County  lies  not  only  in  the  presenta- 
tion of  live  theater  to  audiences  but  in  the  rich 
experience  of  a  cross  section  of  DeKalb  young 
people  and  adults  working  together.  All  ages, 
all  occupations,  all  varieties  of  people  can  share 
in  this  artistic,   educational,   and    recreational 


WIRTZ  FUNERAL  HOME 

Wirtz   —   Claxton   —   Roche 

"OUR  HOME  IS  YOUR  HOME" 

Pine  and  Fifth 
Dial  6-6741 


group.  There  is  no  talent  so  slight  that  it  can- 
not be  used  in  some  of  the  aspects  of  theater 
work. 

The  Tenth  Anniversary  Season  of  the  Stage 
Coach  Players,  in  keeping  with  the  centennial 
theme  of  DeKalb,  will  open  with  an  old  time 
Melodrama,  DIRTY  WORK  AT  THE  CROSS- 
ROADS, directed  by  Victor  Griffin.  It  will  run 
June  21  to  June  24.  Following  it  at  two-week 
intervals  will  be  SABRINA  FAIR  directed  by 
Paul  Crawford,  THE  SHOP  AT  SLY  CORNER, 
directed  by  Dale  Jeffryes,  and  DIAL  M  FOR 
MURDER,  directed  by  Rex  Murray. 


CONGRATULATIONS 

CITY      OF      DEKALB 


135  N.  Monroe 
Genoa,  IlL 
Ph.  302 


HALVERSON   BROS. 

GENERAL     CONTRACTORS 

Residence  and  Commercial;  Remodeling  and  Repairing 

FREE    ESTIMATES 


1327  N.  14th 

DeKalb.  111. 

Ph.  e-6433 


Page  57 


Lincoln   Highway  looking  West  from  Seventh  Street  about    1912 


Financial    Institutions 

Only  three  years  after  the  village  of  DeKalb 
came  into  being  a  bank  was  established.  In 
1859  E.  T.  Hunt  and  John  Hamilton  formed  a 
banking  Company.  Although  the  exact  title 
of  this  bank  is  not  known,  it  is  certain  that  it 
was  located  on  the  area  that  is  now  236  East 
Lincoln  Highway. 

Later  Dr.  Rufus  Hopkins  purchased  Mr. 
Hamilton's  interest  and  E.  P.  Young  purchased 
Mr.  Hunt's,  and  the  company  was  known  as 
Rufus  Hopkins  and  Company.  Somewhere  in 
the  succession  this  company  was  known  as 
Hopkins,  Hunt  and  Company,  for  there  is  a 
check  in  e.xistence  bearing  that  name. 

After  a  series  of  changes  in  ownership,  the 
DeKalb  National  Bank  was  fcirmed  in  1882 
with  H.  P.  Taylor  as  president,  Jacob  Haish, 
vice  president  and  T.  A.  Luney,  cashier.  In 
1902  it  became  the  First  National  Bank  of  De- 
Kalb, and  in  1934  the  name  was  changed  to 
First  National  Bank  in  DeKalb. 

Jacob  Haish  organized  his  private  bank,  the 
Barb  Citv  Bank,  in  1884,  located  on  the  south- 


west corner  of  Third  and  Lincoln  until  1907 
when  it  was  moved  to  the  northwest  corner  of 
that  intersection.  In  1910  it  was  chartered  by 
the  state  as  the  Jacob  Haish  State  Bank.  This 
bank  was  in  existence  until  1922  when  it  was 
purchased  by  the  First  National  Bank. 

Another  banking  institution  was  organized 
in  1902  as  the  Commercial  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank,  and  it  built  the  building  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Commercial  Trades  Building.  In 
1912  this  company  was  purchased  by  the  stock- 
holders of  the  First  National  and  moved  to 
their  building  and  renamed  the  First  Trust  and 
Savings  Bank.     It  was  liquidated  in  1933. 

The  bank  which  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  oldest  chartered  bank  without  change  of 
name  in  town  is  the  DeKalb  Trust  and  Savings 
Bank.  Opening  for  business  on  November  3. 
1909,  it  has  been  in  the  same  location  for  all 
47  years. 

It  was  located  in  the  building  at  363  East 
Lincoln  Highway  known  as  the  "Ronan  Build- 
ing."    In   1923  the  bank  purchased  the  build- 


Page  58 


ing,  remodeled  it,  and  since  then  has  expanded 
its  quarters  several  times.  In  the  same  year 
the  bank  was  given  trust  powers  by  the  auditor 
of  the  public  accounts. 

;\Ir.  ;\I.  Hanrahan  was  elected  a  director  in 
1909  and  served  43  years  until  his  death  in 
1953. 

On  December  28.  1923,  the  Northern  Illinois 
Corporation  was  formed  with  H.  G.  Wright, 
president;  H.  H.  Cornforth,  Vice  President,  and 
T.  E.  Courtney,  Secretary-Treasurer.  The  cap- 
ital was  $30,000,  and  it  was  increased  to  $100.- 
000  in  1924,  and  the  name  was  changed  to 
Northern  Illinois  Corporation  in  1929.  A  fur- 
ther change  in  name  was  made  in  1942  when 
the  present  one  was  adopted.  The  company 
received  its  first  small  loan  license  in  1931.  In 
1939  the  Northern  Illinois  Insurance  Agency 
was  organized,  and  in  1955  the  Northern  Ill- 
inois Credit  Life  Insurance  Company  was  put 
into  service  as  a  subsidiary.  Later  the  Friendly 
Finance  Corporation,  operating  in  Wisconsin 
was  purchased.  During  World  War  II  a  man- 
ufacturing division  was  set  up  to  make  treads 
for  tanks. 

It  was  W.  H.  Bu.sh.  son-in-law  of  J.  F.  Glid- 
den,  who  pushed  the  plan  for  a  Building  and 
Loan  Association.  This  was  in  May  1885,  and 
the  group  around  him  immediately  applied  for 


a  license  and  on  June  9,  1885,  the  first  officers 
of  the  association  were  elected  and  the  bylaws 
adopted. 

Since  then  there  has  been  a  steady  growth 
from  19  share  holders  to  2967  as  of  today. 
Seven  men,  beginning  with  P.  G.  Young  in  1885 
and  extending  to  A.  W.  Jackson  in  1956,  have 
served  as  president.  Mr.  C.  E.  Bradt  served 
as  secretary  from  1885  to  1933.  The  service 
of  all  these  men  have  given  the  Association  a 
stability  that  is  well  earned. 

Future  plans  call  for  the  erection  of  a  build- 
ing of  its  own  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Lo- 
cu.st  Streets. 


DeKalb    Hospitals 

The  first  DeKalb  Hospital  was  founded  in 
May  1906.  by  Dr.  Herbert  B.  Nevins.  Original- 
ly Dr.  and  Mrs.  Nevins  operated  the  institution 
as  a  cancer  hospital,  but  the  demand  grew  for 
a  more  general  type  of  institution. 

In  1909,  Dr.  Frederick  Millar  of  Sycamore,  a 
Universali.st  minister,  took  over  the  manage- 
ment and  e.stablished  it  as  a  hospital  and  home 
for  the  aged,  calling  it  the  DeKalb  Private  Hos- 
pital and  Old  Peoples'  Home. 

Joseph   F.    Glidden,   one   of  the   leading  fig- 


WE  GIVE 
TOP  J  ALUE  STAMPS 


LIVE  BETTER 
EOR  LESS 


We  are  proud  to  be  a  growing  part  of  the  City  of  DeKalb. 
Our  large  new  super  market  is  a  symbol  of  the  confidence 
we  have  that  DeKalb  will  progress  in  the  years  to  come 
as  it  has  the  past  century. 


Page  59 


DeKalb    Public    Hospital.    South    First    Street,     1910 

ures  in  DeKalb  history,  died  in  1906  and  left 
$20,000  to  build  the  Glidden  Memorial  Hos- 
pital. This  amount  was  insufficient  to  con- 
struct a  building  of  the  size  needed,  and  no  pro- 
vision was  made  for  maintaining  the  institution. 

September  11,  1912,  the  private  hospital  and 
old  folks'  home  was  deeded  to  A.  G,  Kennedy, 
who  mortgaged  the  property  to  pay  its  indebt- 
edness, and  then  presented  the  property  with 
the  mortgage  to  the  city. 

In  1913.  Mrs.  Clinton  Rosette  left  an  estate 
valued  at  $50,000  as  an  endowment  for  a  city 
hospital,  and  in  1916  at  a  special  election,  the 
citizens  voted  a  $35,000  bond  issue  to  be  used 
with  the  Glidden  fund  to  build  a  hospital. 

In  order  to  use  the  Rosette  endowment  fund, 
it  was  proposed  to  build  the  Glidden  Memorial 
Hospital  and  lease  it  to  the  city  to  be  used  as 
the  public  hospital.  Through  the  aid  of  addi- 
tional bond  issues  and  bequests  from  I.  L.  Ell- 
wood's  estate,  the  hospital  was  built  and  open- 
ed in  October,  1922.  It  contained  40  beds  and 
nine  bassinettes. 

In  October,  1914,  the  Hospital  Benefit  Club 
had  been  organized  to  give  volunteer  aid  to 
the  hospital.  The  group  sewed  for  the  hospital, 
making  all  the  sheets,  pillow  cases,  surgical 
gowns,  linens,  and  layettes  used.  When  the 
new  hospital  was  built,  it  and  other  civic  or- 
ganizations, private  individuals,  druggists  and 
doctors  helped  to  equip  it. 

In  1952,  vast  improvements  were  completed. 
The  porches  at  the  north  and  south  were  en- 
closed to  become  rooms.  New  X-ray  equip- 
ment was  installed  and  the  laboratory  was  mov- 
ed from  the  basement  to  the  fourth  floor.  The 
kitchen  was  given  a  new  floor,  stoves,  and 
steam  tables,  and  the  diet  kitchens  on  each 
floor  have  added  facilities. 

The  day  before  the  opening  of  the  Glidden 
Memorial   Hospital,   another  magnificent  insti- 


tution, St.  Mary's  Hospital,  was  opened  in  De- 
Kalb. This  hospital  has  45  beds  and  eight  bas- 
sinettes and  is  fully  equipped  and  modern  in  all 
details.  DeKalb  is  indebted  to  Rev.  J.  A.  Solon 
and  the  parish  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church 
for  this  institution. 

The  only  other  hospital  located  in  DeKalb 
was  the  O.  M.  Blood  institution  on  North  First 
Street,  which  started  in  1907  and  ended  its 
career  in  1909, 


Newspapers 

The  newspapers  of  DeKalb  appeared  early 
The  first  was  the  Western  World  and  DeKalb 
Review  in  1858  with  Samual  Adams  as  editor. 
Two  years  later  the  DeKalb  Leader  was  estab- 
lished with  Eli  B.  Gilbert,  as  editor. 

The  DeKalb  Times  suceeded  the  Leader  in 
the  early  sixties.  G.  D.  R.  Boyd  was  the  editor 
and  he  edited  newspapers  in  DeKalb  and 
Sycamore  for  several  years.  In  1867  A.  K 
Stiles  founded  the  DeKalb  County  News  for  the 
express  purpose  of  defeating  the  "Half  Shire" 
bill  which  was  hot  political  news  at  the  time. 
Editor  Stiles  was  suceeded  by  Lucien  Post  who 
held  the  position  until  the  paper  was  taken 
over  by  the  Chronicle  in  1884. 

The  present  DeKalb  Daily  Chronicle  was  es- 
tablished on  March  8,  1879  with  Clinton  Ros- 
ette the  editor  and  J.  F.  Glidden  the  publisher. 
This  too  was  a  political  venture  as  it  was  the 
purpose  to  sponsor  the  cause  of  the  Democratic 
Party.  This  is  seen  in  the  slogan  which  was 
carried  in  every  issue  "Democratic  in  all  things 
and  under  all  circumstances." 

It  was  a  weekly  paper  for  some  time  becom- 
ing daily  in  the  1890's  as  it  was  daily  on  Jan- 
uary 1,  1897.  On  September  3,  1907  the  name 
was  changed  to  The  DeKalb  Evening  Chronicle 
and  remained  such  until  January  15,  1909. 

On  this  date  Mr.  E.  J.  Raymond  and  Frank 
Greenaway  purchased  the  paper  from  the  J. 
F.  Glidden  Publishing  Company  and  it  has  re- 
mained in  those  families  ever  since. 

Due  to  the  activities  of  W.  L.  Ellwood  in  the 
field  of  horse  breeding  the  Chronicle  publish- 
ed a  breeder's  magazine  called  the  American 
Breeder  starting  January  1887  and  soon  copies 
were  being  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 

The  Chronicle  had  competition  as  there  was 
early  established  a  rival  called  the  DeKalb  Re- 
view. This  was  in  1888  and  E.  A.  Grey  was 
the  editor.  The  rivalry  between  the  two  was 
very  strong  and  the  two  never  let  an  opportun- 
ity pass  to  revile  the  other. 

About  1887  Herbert  Fay  and  D.  W.  Tyrrell 
took  over  the  editorship  and  publishing  of  the 

I  Continued  on   Page  63) 


Page  60 


The 

IMPERIAL 

SHOWS 

Will  be  on  the 

MIDWAY 


Entertainment  at 
its  BEST! 


THRILLS!    FUNl    and 
GAYETY    FOR   ALL! 


Shows     •     Concessions     •     Rides 


Page  61 


CONGRATULATIONS 

to 
BUSINESS  ...  EDUCATION 

INDUSTRY 
AND    TO    THE    PEOPLE    OF 

DE  K ALB 

ON    YOUR    100th    ANNIVERSARY 


SHOAF    ADVERTISING 
AGENCY 

DDCON,  ILLINOIS 


Page  62 


Sycamore  Road  looking  North  from   Ninth  Street  -    1908 


Review  with  Mr.  Fay  becoming  the  sole  owner 
later.  The  paper  was  a  weekly  and  had  two 
editions,  one  for  DeKalb  and  the  other  for 
Malta.  The  latter  was  called  the  "Malta 
Mail."  ThL';  suspended  publication  when  Mr. 
Fay  left  for  Springfield,  Illinois  to  become  cus- 
todian of  the  Lincoln  Tomb. 

The  DeKalb  Advertiser  was  published  by 
Bailey  Rosette  a  Brother  of  Clinton  Rosette,  edi- 
tor of  the  Chronicle.  This  too  was  a  weekly 
and  was  started  March  4,  1989  and  continued 
until  May  1,  1914  when  it  was  absorbed  by  the 
Chronicle. 

The  DeKalb  Daily  Independent  was  es- 
tablished February  15,  1915  by  Robert  New- 
comber  and  L.  G.  Tyrrell  and  continued  until 
July  1935  when  it  too  was  taken  over  by  the 
Chronicle. 


Churches 

The  first  church  to  be  organized  in  the  new 
settlement  was  the  Baptist.  On  October  15, 
1844,  a  group  formed  the  Union  Grove  Baptist 
Church.  This  organization  met  in  a  school- 
house  located  near  the  present  County  Home. 

With  the  influx  of  settlers  came  several  of 


this  denomination  and  they  built  a  frame 
church  on  the  present  site  in  1855,  the  labor  for 
which  was  dedicated  by  the  members.  At  the 
same  time  the  name  was  changed  to  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  DeKalb. 

In  1885  this  frame  building  was  replaced  by 
a  brick  edifice  which  was  enlarged  and  remod- 
eled in  1902  and  1920.  At  the  latter  time  a 
pipe  organ,  the  gift  of  Jacob  Haish,  was  in- 
stalled. 

The  Methodists  and  the  Congregationalists 
were  the  next  to  begin.  In  1854  the  people  of 
the  Methodist  faith  began  to  meet  at  the  home 
of  Basil  Ruby  with  Circuit  Rider  William 
Browne  as  a  spiritual  leader.  On  June  28,  1855, 
the  first  trustees  were  elected. 

As  the  congregation  grew  they  began  to 
meet  in  the  school  house  on  the  corner  of  Sec- 
ond and  Grove  Streets.  After  meeting  there 
for  a  year  or  two  they  built  a  church  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Grove.  In  this 
building  the  Sunday  School  was  organized,  the 
women  became  active  and  music  was  introduc- 
ed into  the  services. 

By  1879  the  building  had  become  too  small 
and  a  new  one  was  erected  on    the    southeast 

(Continued    on    Page    65' 


Page  63 


DE  KALB-OGLE 
TELEPHONE   COMPANY 


Page  64 


CONGRATULATIONS  TO  THE  CITY  OF  DEKALB 

BEAUTY  SALON  OWNERS 


ALEXIS  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•ALICE'S  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
*ANNE'S  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 

CHAMBERLAINS  BEAUTY  NOOK,  DeKalb 

CLOVERS  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•CARLSON'S  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
*DANNAS  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•EDNA'S  BEAUTY  NOOK,  DeKalb 
•EUGENE  BEAUTY  MART,  DeKalb 

BOYNTONS,  Sycamore 

EXQUISITE  BEAUTY  SHOPPE,  DeKalb 

'Member  of  DeKalb  Unit  18  of  N.H.C.A. 


•FARGO  BEAUTY  NOOK,  Sycamore 
•KAY'S  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•LADY  ANNE  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 

LUCILLE'S  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•LUNDBLADS  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•MORRIS  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 
•PETERSON  BEAUTY  SHOP,  Waterman 

PHYL-LOUISE  BEAUTY  SHOP,  Sycamore 

SILVER  PRINCESS  BEAUTY  SHOP,  DeKalb 

SWIRL  SHOPPE,  DeKalb 
•WANDA  LEE  BEAUTY  SHOP,  Lee 


corner  of  Fourth  and  Locust  Streets.  This  build- 
ing was  dedicated  March  8,  1880,  free  from 
debt.  However,  an  expanding  congregation  in 
an  expanding  town  caused  the  members  to  feel 
the  need  for  a  larger  building  and  on  Septem- 
ber 29,  1909,  the  present  church  was  dedicated. 

Need  for  more  room  has  made  another  build- 
ing project  necessary  and  plans  are  underway 
for  an  educational  building  located  to  the  north 
of  the  church.  At  the  same  time  a  building  on 
Normal  Road  has  been  purchased  as  a  Wesley 
Foundation  center  for  work  among  the  college 
students. 

The  Congregationali.sts  organized  on  Decem- 
ber 2,  1854,  in  the  school  on  Second  Street  with 
eight  charter  members.  They  soon  purchased 
this  school  house  for  $600.00  and  used  it  as  a 
church  for  34  years.  The  stone  church  build- 
ing on  this  lot  was  built  in  1888  and  a  parson- 
age was  built  to  the  south  of  the  church  in 
1892. 

With  them  too,  expansion  was  necessary  and 
plans  were  started  for  a  new  church  to  care 
for  the  needs  of  the  people.  Also,  the  location 
next  to  the  railroad  was  not  the  best.     On  July 


4,  1954,  a  new  church  building  was  dedicated 
on  Noi-th  First  Street.  Included  in  this  plan 
was  that  nece.ssary  adjunct  to  modern  living 
—  a  large  parking  lot. 

The  members  of  this  church  have  been  ex- 
tremely generous  in  their  support  of  the  pro- 
gram. The  stone  church  was  made  possible  by 
the  generosity  of  I.  L.  Ellwood  and  J.  F.  Glid- 
den  and  the  late.st  by  the  J.  A.  Spickerman 
family.  Although  these  people  were  generous 
the  congregation  as  a  whole  helped  to  the  best 
of  their  ability. 

When  the  Swedish  people  came  to  this  area 
in  1850  they  had  to  look  elsewhere  for  spirit- 
ual leadership.  However,  on  Christmas  Day 
1858.  they  organized  what  is  now  the  First 
Lutheran  Church.  For  a  time  they  were  affili- 
ated with  the  church  in  Geneva,  but  in  Octob- 
er 1,  1865,  they  dedicated  their  own  church 
building. 

This  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  and 
Pine  Streets  and  served  these  people  until  1889 
when  a  large  brick  building  was  built  on  the 
same  site.  This  building  was  also  replaced 
when  on  June  4,  1916,  the  present  church  was 
dedicated. 


Page  65 


A  parsonage  was  built  in  1923  adjacent  to 
the  church  and  in  1955  they  purchased  the 
Jacob  Haish  home  for  use  in  an  expanding  pro- 
gram. 

The  people  of  the  Catholic  faith  worshipped 
in  a  grove  of  trees  as  early  as  1850  with  Rev. 
Muller  as  the  leader.  The  first  resident  priest 
was  Rev.  John  Murray  who  was  appointed  in 
1861  to  organize  the  parish  and  build  the  first 
church. 

This  church  was  a  frame  building  on  the 
corner  of  Fourth  and  Pine  Streets,  the  present 
location.  In  1894,  under  the  leadership  of 
Father  O'Connor  the  work  of  erecting  the  pre- 
sent structure  was  started. 

The  frame  building  was  moved  to  the  back 
of  the  lot  and  the  present  building  was  built  in 
its  place.  On  October  9,  1901  the  building  was 
dedicated  by  Father  J.  A.  Solon,  who  served 
the  church  for  many  years. 

More  recently  a  fine  sisters  home  has  been 
erected  across  from  the  church. 

In  April  1876,  Rev.  William  Toll  established 
St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  on  South  Second 
Street.  A  frame  building  was  erected  in  1877, 
later  to  be  moved  to  the  rear  of  the  lot,  and  a 
new  brick  church  built  in  1917.  The  old  build- 
ing is  used  as  a  guild  hall.  In  1953  a  student 
center  was  established  at  328  Augusta  Avenue 
to  serve  the  Students  at  Northern.     This  was 


the  first  of  such  centers  to  be  established. 

Space  limitations  prevent  a  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  the  other  fine  churches  in  DeKalb.  The 
following  sketches  will  give  the  highlights  of 
their  history. 

The  Advents  organized  in  1861  and  met  in 
the  building  east  of  the  South  School.  After 
being  inactive  for  some  years  this  building  was 
moved  to  Seventh  and  State  Streets  in  1898 
where  the  congregation  worships  today. 

Fifteen  charter  members  formed  the  Swed- 
ish Evangelical  Mi.ssion  Church  in  1882.  Their 
building  was  located  on  the  corner  of  Seventh 
and  Prospect  Streets.  At  one  time  they  divid- 
ed; one  segment,  known  as  the  Swedish  Con- 
gregational Church,  remaining  in  the  old  build- 
ing, the  other  erected  a  new  building  on 
Seventh  and  Fisk  Avenues.  Later  they  reunit- 
ed under  the  name  of  the  Mission  Covenant 
Church  at  the  latter  address. 

The  Finnish  people  of  DeKalb  early  banded 
together  for  worship.  In  1895  they  began  to 
meet  in  the  Finnish  Temperance  Hall  and  later 
built  a  church  of  their  own  at  State  and  Market 
Streets.  In  1955  on  the  60th  Anniversary  of 
the  Bethlehem  Lutheran  Church  they  voted  to 
build  a  new  church  to  care  for  the  growing 
needs  of  the  congregation. 

In  1898  two  church  groups    were    founded, 

(Continued  on   Page  68) 


Congratulations 
JOSEPH  BRODY  &  BROS..  INC 


Page  66 


SAMUEL     E      BRADT 

Managing   Officer 

1885  -  1936 


A    VISION 
THAT     BECAME     A     REALITY 

FAITH     IN     DEKALB 

Led  to  the  Founding  of  This  Association  Back  in  1885 


ALTHEA    R.    DAVY 


Faith  in   DeKalb  and  a  desire  to  help  themselves,   their   friends   and    neighbors    become    Home    Owners    and    save 
money  led  to  the  founding  of  this  Association. 

On  Saturday.  May  23,  1885  nineteen  local  citizens  met  in  the  sample  room  of  the  Clidden  House,  now  Hotel 
DeKalb,  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  organization  of  a  building  and  loan  association  for  DeKalb.  Those 
men,  who  laid  firm  foundations,  were  —  W.  H.  Bush,  D.  D.  Brown,  A.  W.  Sprague,  C.  C.  Bodman,  P. 
C.  Young.  Wm.  E.  Holliday,  O.  Carter,  E.  C.  Lott.  W.  L.  Pond.  J.  D.  Lott,  A.  W.  Fisk,  S.  A.  Tyler  Sr.,  E.  0. 
Wood,  M.  A.  L.  Olsen.  S.  E.  Bradt.  J.  A.  McDole,  James  Leishman,  John  Reed  and  T.  A.  Luney.  At  that  meeting 
the  application  for  license  was  signed  and  application  was  made  to  the  Secretary  of  State  for  a  charter. 

Over  the  years  since  that  date  a  successful  and  uninterrupted  service  has  contributed  increasingly  to  the 
prosperous  development  of  the  area.  Today  hundreds  own  their  homes  Debt  Free  and  hundreds  of  others  are 
presently  being  helped   toward   their  goal   of  a   Debt   Free  Home. 

The  same  combination  of  sound  policies  and  progressive  practices,  laid  down  by  the  organizers,  guides  the 
association  today.  The  present  management  pledges  a  continuation  of  those  firm  foundations  to  assure  further 
assistance  in  the  years  to  come. 


THE     PRESENT     MANAGEMENT 


OFFICERS    AND     EMPLOYEES 


Athea    R.    Davy 


Ray  C.   Frautschy 


A     lacobson 

W.    lackson 

T    S.    Wilton 

I     Stonesifcr 


Chairman    of    the    Bo 

President 

Vice    President 

Secretary 

Treasurer 

Attorney 

Teller-Bookkeepers 


-C  H  Iskowich 
-A  W.  Jackson 
-j.  A.  Jacobson 
-Ray  C.  Frautschy 
-Althea  R.  Davy 
-Harris  D.  Fisk 
-Bcrniece    M.    Twombly 

Martha    H.    Hakala 

Lyie    L.    Schule 


RAY    C.    FRAUTSCHY 
Secretary 


DEKALB    BUILDING   AND    LOAN    ASSOCIATION 

FIRST    NATIONAL    BANK    BUILDING 

DEKALB  ILLINOIS 

(SINCE  1885) 


A  GOOD  PLACE  TO  SAVE 


A  GOOD  PLACE  TO  BORROW 

Page    67 


r  It 


\^/*mlXia/€i/ti? 


THE   GREATEST   NAME    IN 
WATER   CONDITIONING 


1234  E.  Lincoln  Highway 
DE  KALB,  ILLINOIS 


WATER  SOFTENER:  SALES,  RENTALS  OR  SERVICE    —    RUST 


PROTECTION 

TASTE  b  ODOR  REMOVAL 


the  Salvation  Army  and  the  Immanual  Luth- 
eran Church.  The  Salvation  Army  held  num- 
erous open  air  meetings  and  had  quarters  in 
various  buildings  until  they  secured  their  own 
building  a  short  time  ago. 

The  Immanuel  Lutheran  Church  after  a  per- 
iod of  trials  became  firmly  established  in  1926 
when  they  dedicated  their  building  on  Fifth 
and  Fisk  Streets.  Their  pastor,  Rev.  Paul 
Schauer,  has  served  them  for  23  years. 

Through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Charles  Carter 
the  Cortland  Chapel  of  the  Reorganized 
Church  of  Latter  Day  Saints  was  moved  to  De- 
Kalb  in  1905.  In  1915  they  purchased  the 
building  they  now  occupy  at  Seventh  and  Pros- 
pect Streets  and  have  an  active  congregation. 
Russell  Huntley,  founder  of  DeKalb.  was  bap- 
tised by  Elder  Mark  Forschutt  of  this  faith  in 
1863.  Dr.  Carter  and  John  L.  Cooper,  a  De- 
Kalb merchant,  served  this  church  for  several 
years. 

The  year  1907  saw  the  establishment  of  the 
Christian  Science  Church  in  the  home  of  Mr. 
Buckland.  Later,  in  1909,  the  present  sanctuary 
was  built  on  the  same  site. 


After  using  various  halls  and  buildings  for  a 
meeting  place  the  Trinity  Lutheran  Church 
people  built  their  own  church  in  1941.  The 
inception  of  this  church  was  in  1917  when  Rev. 
C.  A.  Paulson  came  to  town  every  third  Sun- 
day for  Services.  The  formal  organization 
came  in  1919  and  the  congregation  has  grown 
until  it  ranks  with  the  leaders  in  the  town. 

Of  the  smaller  and  newer  churches  we  have 
in  DeKalb  the  Four  Square  Church  on  South 
First  Street;  the  Grove  Street  Baptist  Church 
at  Ninth  and  Grove  and  the  Church  of  God  on 
Lewis  Street.  Other  groups  holding  religious 
services  are:  Church  of  the  Nazorene,  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  the  Jehovah's  Witnesses. 

The  last  church  to  be  organized  is  the  Bap- 
tist Chapel,  a  branch  of  the  Southern  Baptist 
Church  now  meeting  in  the  Masonic  Temple, 
but  looking  for  a  building  location.  This  or- 
ganization took  place  April  21,  1956. 

Thus  the  first  and  the  last  churches  to  be  es- 
tablished in  DeKalb  are  of  the  Baptist  denom- 
ination. 


Page  68 


EVERY  DAY  AT  NOON  . . . 


New  Super  7  Service 


Each  day  at  noon  a  Pan  American 
Super  7  Clipper  leaves  Chicago  di- 
rect to  Europe.  You  can  choose 
either  tourist-fare  "Rainbow"  or 
f'rst-class  "President".  Either  way, 
you   fly   without   changing   planes. 


Fly  Pan  Am  to  London,  and  on  to  Paris. 
Rome  and  all  Europe!  On  Pan  Am's 
"See-more"  routes,  you  can,  for  example, 
visit  as  many  as  17  cities  in  Europe  and 
pay  only  the  round-trip  fare  to  Rome. 

Choose  first-class  President  service  for 
Sleeperette*  service  easy  chairs  that  let 
you  sleep  lying  down;  foam-soft  berths 
(extra);  meals  by  Maxim's  of  Paris  with 
complimentary  cocktails  and  wines. 

Or  choose  thrifty  Rainbow  Clipper* 
tourist  service,  with  the  same  experienced 
crews  as  on  first  class,  plus  free  meals 
aloft,  reclining  restful  seats,  bar  service. 

Either  way,  you  fly  to  Europe  as  most 
people  do— on  the  world's  most 
experienced  airline.  Over  50,000 
Atlantic  crossings. 

Ticket  office:  300  North  Michigan  Ave. 
Phone  DEarborn  2-4900  Chicago  1,  III. 


LONDON 


SCANDINAVIA 


?..S..P.LD.'S    MOST    EXPERIENCED    AIRLINE 


Page  69 


Post  Office  Is  Established 

The  establishment  of  the  Post  Office  in  De- 
Kalb  community  came  shortly  after  the  settle- 
ment of  DeKalb  became  more  or  less  perman- 
ent. It  was  February  8,  1849  that  the  Post 
Office  of  DeKalb  Center  was  established  with 
Russell  Huntley  as  the  first  postmaster.  The 
Post  Office  itself  was  located  in  Russell  Hunt- 
ley's Eaple  Hotel.  The  name  continued  to  be 
DeKalb  Center  until  May  24,  1883  when  it  be- 
came simply  DeKalb.  For  the  record,  Aaron 
S.  Jackson  was  the  first  Postmaster  in  the  new 
office  of  DeKalb.  Since  Russell  Huntley,  and 
including  Huntley,  there  have  been  twenty-two 
postmasters  of  DeKalb  Center  or  DeKalb.  two 
of  whom  have  been  women. 


Some   Firsts 

The  first  store  to  be  established  on  what  is 
now  the  site  of  DeKalb  was  established  by  John 
Goodell.  and  this  was  located  on  the  site  of 
what  is  now  The  Chronicle  Building.  Prob- 
ably the  first  house,  or  dwelling  place,  to  be 
established  in  DeKalb  was  that  of  Basil  Ruby 
which  was  located  on  what  is  now  South  First 
Street  about  where  Montgomery  Ward's  Farm 
Store  is  at  the  present  day. 


In  1853,  DeKalb  had  a  store,  blacksmith 
shop,  a  few  residences  and  the  Eagle  Hotel, 
and  there  were  twenty-nine  people  in  the  town. 

It  was  the  coming  of  the  railroad  which  gave 
DeKalb  the  boom  which  was  needed  for  it  to 
grow.  It  was  the  coming  of  the  railroad  which 
influenced  Russell  Huntley  to  have  the  town 
surveyed,  the  streets  laid  out  and  the  lots  and 
the  blocks  marked  off.  This  was  done  in  1853, 
the  plot  being  filed  with  the  Recorder  of  Deeds 
in  Sycamore  December  17,  1873. 

It  was  August  12,  1873  that  this  much  talk- 
ed of  railroad  finally  reached  DeKalb  and  was 
ready  for  service.  One  can  imagine  the  feel- 
ings of  the  store-keepers  and  the  farmers  when 
the  little  engine  with  probably  one  or  two  cars 
came  to  a  puffing  stop  at  the  new  station  which 
was  located  on  Third  Street  back  of  what  is 
now  the  J.  C.  Penny  Company  store  on  Lincoln 
Highway  today.  It  was  this  railroad  which 
provided  the  easy  means  of  transportation  to 
Chicago  that  provided  DeKalb  with  the  impet- 
uous that  was  needed  for  it  to  grow.  That  the 
coming  of  the  railroad  was  a  boon  to  the  town 
is  shown  in  the  population  figures  which  show 
that  in  1855  the  settlement  had  a  population 
of  577  people  while  in  1860  the  figure  had 
grown  to  1,900. 


COMPLIMENTS    OF 

ED'S    TAVERN 

411  North  Tenth  Street 
DEKALB,    ILLINOIS 


ED  ROHLIK 


BILL  SULLIVAN 


Page  70 


Ellwood  Home  in    1896 


Main  Street   1908 


CONGRATULATIONS 

TO 

CITY  OF  DEKALB 


E.  L.  TIMM- 

INTERIOR  DECORATOR 

CARLSON  FOOD  STORE 

DE  KALB   CLEANERS 

POND  STREET  STORE 

SCHIMMOLER'S  GROCERY  & 
MARKET 


BEIERS  BREAD 
STYLE    SHOP 

CONSUMERS    MILLINERY 
COTTAGE  TOG  SHOP 
CLIDDEN  GREEN  HOUSE 


Page  71 


THE     MEN     AND    WOMEN 

OF 

CYCLONE     FENCE 

SALUTE 

DEKALB 

ON    ITS 

lOOirh     BIRTHDAY 


We   look   forward   to   another   century   of  working   to- 
gether   for    a    brighter    and    more    prosperous    future. 


CYCLONE    FENCE 

American    Steel    and    Wire    Division 
UNITED    STATES    STEEL   CORPORATION 


Page  72 


The  PAST  Is   History 

The  FUTURE  Is  Promise 


DE  KALB  HAS  grown  and  progressed  in  a  century.  In  all  worthwhile, 
community  improving  projects  and  efforts  The  First  National  Bank 
in  DeKalb  has  been  a  loyal  participant. 

THIS  AREA  IS  on  the  threshold  of  new  and  greater  achievements  and 
this  bank,  bolstered  by  the  confidence  created  over  years,  eagerly  an- 
ticipates the  challenge  of  the  future. 


We  can  never  become  any  larger  than  our  customers  permit. 


First  National   Bank  In   DeKalb 

Member  Federal  Reserve  System 
Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation 


2  OUTSTANDING  CENTENNIALS 


1  DEDICATED  GOAL 


'To  provide  a  more  wholesome  and  abundant  life  for 
everyone  through  steady  progress,  advancement  and  service. 


THE   RUDOLPH   WURLITZER   COMPANY 

DEKALB      DIVISION     •      DEKALB,     ILLINOIS 


WORLD'S    LARGEST    BUILDER    OF    QUALITY    KEYBOARD    INSTRUMENTS