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ILIINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
S/^ -Z<^
JForcUiart
Jtt^t as there is no standard pattern for Centennial celebrations, so
there is no form for the production of a special newspaper issue or booklet
signalizing the an7iiversary.
As the "steering committee" within Pana Centennial Inc. got to
work, several months ago, it decided to publish a booklet subsidized by
advertising , and to sell copies to benefit the Centennial fund.
It was agreed that the Pana Centennial Souvenir Booklet would be
devoted to the history of the community, from its beginnings to date, and
the staff of the Pana News-Palladium was commissioned to prepare the
copy and produce the booklet.
The histoiy herein is as nearly accurate and complete as months of
research could make it. If there be eriors and omissions, some will be
chargeable to the staff and some will have to be laid to failure of solicited
sources to provide information.
The type will be held for a month after the celebration in order that
a second printing can be done quickly if the original printing is sold c^ut.
If you are unable to get the number of copies you desire at Centennial
time, write immeiUatfly to Panu Centennial Inc., and enclose $1.00 plus
tr)C handling charge for each additional booklet desired.
If by Aug. 1 there are enough reorders to justify a stcond run, they
will be filled, otherioise your money unll be refunded.
To Tom (T.J.) Phillips, native of Pana who came to the News-Palla-
dium staff in January after his stint in the Navy, goes the credit for
most of the historical research and writing the bulk of the copy for the
booklet.
Ackmn^lle^^mcnts
The assistance of many persons in many ways is gratefully acknow-
ledged. At the peril of offending by omission, the staff nevertheless
thanks publicly the following:
John Strader, Charlene Paul, Mary Montel, A. H. Prunke, George
Searles, Eleanor Burhorn, Fr. T. J. O'Neill, City Clerk Charles Joley,
officers of civic and fraternal organizations for their ccj-operation, pastors
of the churches, Lyle Koontz, Leo Btytrs, Mrs. Will Kroenlein, Mrs. War-
ren Penwell, George Penivell, Eugene SehniHz, Leon Budds, Jessie Winters,
Page Smith, Fred G. Johnson, the Paul Brothers, Nora Molz, O. H. Brown,
Max Pemvell, Kenneth Penwell, Katherlne DeLane, Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Nowack, Mrs. J. J. Tappero, Harold Rakers, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Chris-
ner, Oeorge Scott, Fannie Vidler, Will F. Jordan, Homer Millot, Charles
Ashcraft, Logan Griffith.
Index
Pages
A History of the City of Pana 1856-1956 - 5-18
Still Some Doubt as to Origin of Name "Pana" - 19
Nationality Composition Changed Little 19
There Is Also a "Pana" in Africa — - - 21
Nearest Neighbors — Oconee, Rosamond, Tower Hill 21-22
Telephone Service Began About 1900 .. ..- - 22
Development of the Local Educational System 23-27
History of the Churches of the Community 27-31
Organizations — Civic, Fraternal, Labor, Social 33-36
Railroads and the Growth of the Pana Commimity 37-39
Coal Mining Is a Bulwark of the Local Economy 41-42
Pana Widely Noted for Wholesale Floral Industry 42
The Carnegie-Schuyler Library 42
Kitchell Park One of Pana's Greatest Assets 43
10 Different Newspapers Have Served This Area 45-46
Small Airport Serves Area's Needs 46
Former YMCA Building Put to Many Uses 46
Pana Is Proud of Huber Memorial Hospital 47-49
3 Major Cemeteries Serve Pana Area 49-50
Many From Pana Have Gone to the Wars 50
Pana Has Active Chamber of Commerce . 50
Pana Has Fast, Efficient Volunteer Fire Department 51
CIPSCO Provides Excellent Utility Services 52
Postal Increase Index of City's Growth 52
Many Names on Roster of "Famous Sons" 53-55
The Centennial Celebration Program 56
Old Photographs
William Glascow, One of the Real Pioneers 5
Millot Building, Now Pana Hotel - -- 9
Minstrel Time in the Hayward Opera House .- H
The Old B&O Shops --- 14
Laying the First Sewer 17
An Old-Time Street Parade 18
May Day Festival in the Schools , 25
Haying Scene .-. 39
Chautauqua Scene 43
Another Chautauqua Scene 45
Horse-Drawn Ambulance 47
Fire Chief in Full Dress 51
The Post Office Crew in '98 54
W. F. Sell's Livery Stable 55
DRAKE'S GROCERY
.Siy EAST SECOND ST. PHONE 5770
COMPLETE LINE OF
» GROCERIES • MEATS • VEGETABLES
• FROZEN FOODS
"SHOP IN AIR-CONDJIONED COMFORT"
OPEN SEVEN DAYS WEEKLY
DAILY: ti a.m. to 7 p.m. SUNDAY: 6 a.m. to 12 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
PAUL, FLORENCE and TOM DRAKE — FRED PRYCE — PRESTON BALES
* AIR CONDITIONED *
^5
"IT PAYS TO KEEP WELL-GROOMED"
SPINDEL'S BARBER SHOP
817 E. SECOND ST. PANA, ILL.
J. E. SPINDEL R. D. SHIMP
ROTARY CLUB
1921
1956
Pana, Illinois
REEDER'S HARDWARE
Phone 2211
31 South Locust St.
Pana, 111.
WITTMANN DRUG CO.
THE REXALL STORE
Wilbur J. Kuhn, R. Ph.
Phone 1.502 Pana, 111.
WEDGE INN
Pana's Finest For Food
Sandwiches • Regular Meals •
• Complete Fountain Service •
Steaks • • Chicken «
Centennial Greetings
As in the Past . . .
So in the Future
ALWAYS A PLEASURE
TO SERVE YOU
&^GDETTIG'Sm
BUJtDING MATERIAL;&iiijt
MURRAY'S
RADIO & TELEVISION
Your Electronic Dealer
Since World War II
JIM
E. & E. SALES
GIFT SHOP
8 E. Second Phone 202
Elsie Weber
Pana
Compliments
TILLEY'S
BARBER SHOP
When It's Time to
Redecorate . . . Think of
PANA PAINT STORE
Eleanor, Gene and "Frosty" Ttate
Congratulations From
HINTON
INSURANCE AGENCY
GENERAL INSURANCE
Eugene J. Hinton, Broker
PHONE 1920
509 East Third Pana, 111.
BILL'S DRIVE INN
We Specialize
in Sandwiches
12 N. Poplar
it STAR BAKERY ic
AND CONFECTIONERY
Phone 591 25 E. Seconc
Pana, 111.
TEX
& GAINES
(Joe)
(Red)
Complete
Home Furnishings
Pana, 111.
JOHNSON
and
DUCHANEY
35 E. Second
Pana, 111.
Phones :
1193 5990
1856 ... A History of the City of Pana . . . 1956
I'aiia, ■■City of Roxes^ aj;ii-
Lultural L'oninuinily and industrial
centei-, lies near the geographical
center of the state of Illinois, in
Christian county, latitude 39.23 de-
.•jrees north and longitude 89.05 de-
irrees west, at an elevation of 696
I'eet above sea level, having a
1950 census of 6,178.
Pana's origin is attributed to th'^
loniing of the '■Iron Monster" to
the praiiies of the state in 1853.
In that year the construction of
the Illinois Central Railroad was
eommenced.
A cabin used by the lailroad was
erected somewhere along the right-
of-way of the Illinois Central. A
local historian of some years ba. I
:itates that this "shack" was h
cupied by James Keenan, a nati\
of From. Gahvay, Ireland, a rail
reading contractor. Keenan sup-
posedly held the grading contract
for the last 6 miles of roadbed con-
.■;truction of the Illinois Central into
Pana. Keenan's wife, Diana, con-
ducted an eating house in the shack
for graders and other workmen en-
.n;aged in construction of the rail-
road.
This structure sat opposite the
present Union Station (New York
Central) at the intersection of the
New York Central and Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad tracks. The Keenans
occupied the shack for 3 years and
were present when the first Illinois
Central train came over the steel
rails to Pana on Mar. 24, 1855.
This was the humble beginning
of the city known today as one of
! he leading smaller communities in
the state.
Before the coming of the railroad
this territory was siuveyed in 1821
and for a period of years was vin-
'nhabited save for hunters and the
Indian. The country was known
as the "Black Hawk Hunting
ground." Game of all kinds was
in abundance. At this time too,
the immediate countryside was a
part of Shelby county and remain-
ed so until the yeai- 1839 when
Christian county was organized.
As mentioned before the Indian
.ilone was the first resident of this
vicinity except foi- settlers scatter-
ed here and there about the county.
Tribes of Indians who roamed the
grounds wheie the city of Pana
atand.s were the Sac, Pawnee, Fox,
Pottawatomies (most intelligent,
fiercest and bravest of the tribes)
and the Kickapoos.
In the year 1853 Pana weis sur-
veyed and platted, along with the
Illinois Central Railroad. The
exact location of the city was
determined by the point of inter-
section of the Indianapolis & St.
Louis Railroad (NYC. which was
William (ilascow, pioneer and
merchant in thi.s city, is pictured
a-s reprodiic<>d from a charcoal
sketch owned by his great-grand-
son, I^gan Griffith of this city.
Some say that I'ana was named
for Gla.sco\v's wife, whose given
name was Anna, but called "Pana"
by Glascow.
completed shortly after the Illi-
nois Central in 1855), and the Illi-
nois Central tracks. The plat was
recorded in January of 1855 and
was executed by C. A. Manners,
surveyor, for David Neal, then
president of the Illinois Central.
One year latei' in 1856, additional
plats were made by P. C. Higgins
working in the interest of the
Alton & Terre Haute Railroad
(NYC I and John S. Hayward, own-
er of large land interests in the
township.
Also in the year 1854 there was
erected along Stone Coal Creek
near the Illinois Central tracks a
post offics, with Milan S. Beck-
with as postmaster. Pana and the
surrounding township were known
as Stone Coal Precinct during this
period.
Stone Coal Precinct was foimod
June 5, 1845, by the county com-
missioners' court and was bounded
as follows: Beginning at the south-
east coiner of the (ovmty, thence
west 9 miles to the middle of
Range 1 east; thence north 6 miles,
ihence east 9 miles to the place of
beginning. It included 54 sections.
The name Stone Coal was derived
from a small stream flowing
through the township, called Coal
Creek. Along its banks could be
found stone coal outcropping in
limited quantities.
The first settlers of Stone Coal
Piecinct weie Jared Malin, Abram
Milligan and Thoiiias Bell, who
came in 1809; Henry H. Bond, An-
drew Hanson, Levi Hopson antl
Alfred Hopson in 1840; Benjamin
Gordon and John Abbott in 1841;
Joseph Dutler and John Hanson are
said to have come at an early date,
not exactly determined.
The first election of the piecinct
was held in the home of Andrew
Hanson, Aug. 2, 1845. Andrew
Hanson, Thomas Bell, and Abram
MiUigan sorved as judges. Durinjr
!hat p3riod there were 5 voters in
Bell's Grove attached to the pre-
(Inct, totaling in all 19 votes cast
at the first election. Before the
organization of the precinct, the
inhabitants voted at Taylorvillc.
William Pryce acted as deputy
lax collector in this precinct in
1845, the taxes paid-in amounting
to $7.60. Pryce was also the first
bridegroom, marrying Mary Jane
Edwards on Feb. 14, 1844.
William Buzan married Jane Gor-
don, Sept. 1, 1845. These cere-
monies were performed by the
Rev. Miles H. Abbott.
In the year 1848, Henry H.
Bond, Jacob Hanson and Ignatius
Butler were elected its first school
trustees. At the first enumera-
tion of children under the school
law, there v,-eie only 18; but with
the advent of the railroad in 1854
population increased rapidly and
a further census of children in
1856 shows the formation of 3
school districts. No. 1 had 18, No.
2, 118, and No. 3, 116, making a
total of 256.
The name of the township was
changed to Pana on Sept. 2, 1856,
on the petition of Mason French,
and 30 other legal voters. The
petition was presented to the
county court by Postmaster Beck-
wit h.
One time in the history of llie
township an effort was made to
secede from Christian coimty and
re-actach the township to Shelby
county. This movement was made
prior to the days of the railroads
at a lime when miles of unsettled
territory lay between the town-
.ship and the county seat. Follow-
ing passing of an act in February
of 1851 to aid in Iha transfer ol
Township 11, 1 east, from Christ-
ian to Shelby county, an election
was directed to be held on the
first Monday of July, of the same
year, to vote on the measure.
The results were: In Christian
county, for secession, 17 votes
were cast; against the movement
220 votes were tallied, a majority
of 203 voters wishing to stay as a
part of Christian county. Shelby
county was willing to receive her
lost sister back to the fold, 109
We Welcome Small Accounls
For Small Accounts Grow Large.
It Is Our Policy and Pleasure to Treat Every Customer with
Perfect Fainiess and Unvarying Courtesy, Regardless of the
Size of the Account.
PEOPLES B ANK
Of Pana
CLEMENTS ■ LEWIS INSURANCE AGENCY. INC.
SAM S. LEWIS, Agent
"Insurance For Every Need"
1381/., South Locust Street
PHONE 4910
Pana. Illinois
PRESNELL BROS.
CONTRACTORS
Ready Mixed Concrete
Sand, Gravel, Cement
Second & Chestnut Phone 4930
BUTTER'S TAP
15 S. Locust St. Pana, 111.
Free Shuffleboard — TV Anytime
"You'll Find the Spirit of the
Pana Centennial at Buttei''s Tap!"
THE NEW SPOT
e LIQUOR • WINE • BEER •
Jess Johnson Marie Gibson
103 E. Second Pana, 111.
PUG'S TRYST
O LIQUOR • WINE • BEER •
K.Y. Irma
21 East Second
Congratulations . . .
... To the People of the
PANA Community in
Celebrating The FIRST
Centennial!
JNO. W.
FRIBLEY
— AND —
GEO. J.
LaCHARITE
voters balloting: yes to 3 dissenting
votes.
A notable event in the days of
Stone Coal Precinct was the lo-
cating of a county road to Taylor-
viUe. Joseph Edwards, Andrev.-
Hanson and Wm. Hammer were
itppointed commissioners at the
September term of the county
court in 1846.
They viewed and located the road
in November of the same year.
It was surveyed by County Sur-
veyor VV i 1 1 i a m A. Goodricli.
William Pryce and Henry H. Bond
acted as chairmen. The survey
began near the southeast corner
of the county and was run in a
direct line to Taylorville. making
the head of Locust Creek timber
a point in route. After the road
wa.s established a furrow was run
lo mark more definitely the sur-
vey and to guide the traveler over
the wide, uninhabited prairie.
There is some doubt as to the
first citizen of Pana. The honor
IS given to either Milan Beckwith
(ir D. Kincaid. Early histories of
the county differ, one reporting D.
Kincaid as having moved the first
house to Pana from near Stone
Coal and entering business with
Mason French to become the first
merchants.
The second history says, "There
seems to be a difference of
opinion as to who moved the first
building to Pana following the
construction of a cabin by the
Illinois Central Railroad. Both
Beckwith and Kincaid had shan-
ties moved to this point and were
the first merchants. However, we
are inclined to think Beckwith
was first to move his shanty here
in 1854 fiom Beck's Creek or
Stone Coal post office. Kincaid
and Fiench had a small house on
wheels which stood at the foot of
the knoll in front of the freight
house in which they sold groceries,
whiskey, etc."
Following Beckwith and Kin-
caid came the usual flow of im-
migrants necessary for the growth
of a city.
The original plat of Pana con-
tained 22 blocks. Twelve of these
were whole blocks and 10 were
halves. In 1880 an additional 27
additions were attached to the
original plat. The city was laid
out with the rails of the Illinois
Central as a base. Giving proof
is the fact the city of Pana does
not lie in a direct north to south
position but northeast to south-
west.
In the winter of 1856-57, with
the population of the settlement
as taken from a census of the Illi-
nois Central at 850, the Illinois
legislature granted the charter in-
corporating the village of Pana.
The first election was held Mar.
lit, 1857, for village officers and
resulted as follows: A. Monroe,
president; James Martin, W. H.
Glascow, L. F. Shepherd and W. B.
Little, trustees.
The government under the
charter of 1856 continued until
Feb. 13, 1867, when another
charter superseding the old one
was granted. On Mar. 8, 1867, an
election was held for city officers.
W. J. Jordan was elected mayor
and John DeLane, E. A. Humph-
rey. W. VV. Watkins, and W. A.
Newcomb aldermen. William T.
Dobbs was elected city judge,
Amos A. Rhodes city clerk, J. W.
Kitchen city attorney and F. M.
Malone city marshal.
Pana was chartered for the
thiid and last time in May of 1877
under the general cities and vil-
liges act.
The city's growth had been on
the increase with 1000 population
by 1860, 2390 in 1870 and in 187G
over 4,000.
During the charier year of
Pana, the Illinois Central also
noted the following facts: A total
of 68 liouses stood in the village.
with one church, the Presbyterian.
The first seniion delivered in
Pana was by a Presbyterian min-
ister, the Rev. E. B. Olmstead.
traveling through the area by
rail. It was given in a box car
standing on the Illinois Central
tracks. This was on a "bright
autumnal Sabbath, in October,
1855," according to C. Gowdy, MD,
author of a history of Pana's
Presbyterian church.
The streets of the city lay in a
.somewhat different manner in the
early days of Pana relative to
their position today as evidenced
by a plat of the city in 1876.
Familiar street names in bygone
days such as Rosamond, Christian,
Alton, Macon, Cleveland, Davison,
and Kentucky are non-existent
now, having been renamed. Rosa-
mond street was the thoroughfare
citizens of Pana know today as
Second street. It ran from the
west limits of the city to the
corner of Sheridan where it be-
came North Third. Chiistian
street is now Washington; Macon-
Orange; Alton-Olive; Cleveland-
Lake; Fulton-Magnolia avenue;
Davison-North Locust; the pres-
ent North Poplar was Washing-
ton street; Park-North Elm, and
Kentucky-East Third.
In the west section of the city,
streets beginning to the south
with Seventh street were number-
ed toward the north beginning
with South Third, now Seventh;
South Second, presently Sixth;
and ending with South First, now
Fifth. All streets Irom Fifth on
were prefixed North. Thereby,
our piesent Fourth street was
North First, Thinl street was
North Second, and Second street
was North Third.
This arrangement held true in
the east section of the city except
for the fact the city extended
farther south and included South
Fourth and South Fifth which arc
today East Eighth and Ninth, re-
spectively. The portion of East
Sixth street today extending east-
ward from U. S. Route 51 was in
the infancy of our city known as
Ohio street. One block to the
south, the portion now East
Seventh was Indiana street.
Our present Main sUeet now
laid out boidering the south side
of thj Frances Hotel ran eastward
to Harrison wliich is now Hickory,
serving the same purpose as
Washington street does for the
present population. Az stated
Hick Dry on the north side of the
New York Central tracks was
then Harrison, but south of the
railroad became Poplar street.
Thiid street to the east of Hickory
v/a.s Kentucky street.
Going to the northern section of
town bounded today on the west
by the Illinois Central and on the
cast by the C&EI, streets running
from east to v.'cst were numbered
from the north beginning with
Seventh to the present Washing-
tan street in this section, which
was Third street, and on one block
south to the Baltimore & Ohio
tracks, the railroad then being the
Springfield Division of the Ohio &
Mississippi, to a street nmning
parallel to the tracks marked
Second. North Pine was Chest-
nut street running to the south
of the New Yorl: Central, beyond
to the noith it became Adams
street. Kitchell Avenue at one
time vv'as Elm street.
Principal thoroughfares of the
city today are: Poplar, Maple,
Vine, Spruce, Hickory, Pine, Wal-
nut, Kitchell Avenue, Clark, State,
Sheridan, Wells, Sherman, Grant,
Washington, DeWitt, Fiist, Sec-
ond, Third. Fourth, Fifth, Sixth,
Seventh, Orange and Olive.
With the growth of the city in
recent years new additions with
thoroughfares were constructed.
These are the Kennedv Country
Club addition in the southeast por-
tion cf the city with MacArtluir
Boulevard and Patton Avenue, on
Sept. 27. 1948; Presnell's addition
in the west part of town. West
and Short streets, Oct. 14, 1949;
the Beyers addition, Beyers Ave-
nue, Sept. 2, 1950; and Piogress
street in tho H. B. Minei' Division,
Sept. 13, 1954.
Business boomed in the early
days of the city. The first hotel
was erected by W. H. Glascow
to the north of the railroad track
and was in later years known as
the Ritter House. One of the
nioie elaborate store buildings of
VISIT THE
PANA
PANA
1 t^ 1 1 r^
PLUMBING
BOWL
SUPPLY
DURING THE
CENTENNIAL
Complete Remodeling
Bath and Kitchen
We Are Proud to Bring the
Latest in Fully Automatic
PLUMBING HEATING
DRAINAGE REPAIR
Pinspotters to Our Patrons.
Automatic Water Heaters
Sewer and Process Piping
GRAND OPENING
PLUMBING AND HEATING
JULY 1st
CONTRACTING
Air-Conditioned
HERB PORTER, Owner
For Your Bowling
Fourth and Clark Streets
and Drinking Pleasure
Phone 5280 Pana, 111.
RUHL FORD CO.
••Say It With Flowers"
^^^^ HENDERSON
10 South Locust St.
J^l FLORAL SHOP
PHONE 190
^taj^'F Corner Third & Chestnut
Pana, Illinois
^^ PHONE 300
CULBERSON
CENTENNIAL
1 OMPLIMENTS and ^^■IHHIH
UONGRATULATIONS ^^^^^^H
TRACTOR & EQUIPMENT CO.
Ford Tracfors
from 1 ^^H
H. R. "Reg" "_ "^ 1
Ford /mp/emen/s
TURNEY ^^M
HIGHWAY 51 SOUTH
COUNTY ^^■■lJRRI
Pana, Illinois Phone 5260
CLERK ^^^■MSESa
YOU'LL LIKE . . .
BRUNNER AUTO SUPPLY
WAREHAM'S
Auto Parts — Accessories — Tools
Better Dairy Products
Shop Equipment
Order From Your Grocer — Today
30 South Locust Street
BOB PUGSLEY, Distributor
Phones: 292 & 860 Pana, 111.
the settlement was erected in
1856 by A. G. Neel who journeyed
to Decatur, quite a distance in
those days, to procure lumber for
the structure. Mr. Neel opened
his store on April 3, 1856.
Disaster struck the community
of Pana in 1857. A tornado pass-
ed through on June 13, destroying
half the city and crops. Work
was started immediately and the
town rebuilt.
Milan Beckwith. Stone Coal
postmaster, ventured into the field
of journalism and published the
town's first paper, the Weekly
Herald. The first edition of this
publication was placed on sale
Dec. 23, 1857. The Weekly Her-
ald also held the honor of being
the first paper ever printed in
Christian county. The paper was
established to promote interest
and encourage settlement in
Christian county, where Editor
Beckwith was largely interested
in real estate. The Herald which
began as an independent paper
became Democratic in 1858 but
did not survive long enough to
benefit the party, passing out with
the 41st issue of Vol. II.
Following Beckwith were Slack
and McCoy, constructing the first
steam mill, which opened foi
business on Feb. 3, 1858.
J. C. Helmick became the city's
lirst financier, opening the doors
of his bank in 1866. Ten years
later the banking house of H. N.
Schuyler (later to go defunct, in
1930) was started. Another bank
was opened on July 1. 1867 by W.
E. Hayward, but was closed in
November of 1878. Mr. Hayward
engaging in real estate. This
bank was located across the
street south of the H. N. Schuyler
building which was situated on
the northeast corner of Second
;ind Locust streets.
For a period of 3 years. 1860-63.
money was hard to come by in
Pana, but the situation eased
when manv new citizens migrated
to the city and adjoining coun-
tryside. Real estate prices are
.•;aid to have increased several
hundred per cent.
Pana around the year 1865 was
.somewhat an underworld paradise
with gambling and thievery pre-
vailing throughout the city. The
organization is said to have been
so complete that few strangers
having the good fortune to entei
the city with a full purse left in
Ihe same condition. This band
was finally broken by irate citi-
zens of the community taking
necessary means to obtain law
and order.
Early in the history of Pdna, in
1863. Eli Jacobs erected a mill
with the capacity of 60 barrel.s
and a run of 3 burrs. In 1868, the
Overholt Bros., who then operated
the Jacobs mill, put up an ele-
vator in connection with the mill.
The new structure had a capacity
of 25 thousand bushels of corn
and 40 thousand bushels of wheat.
During the spring of 1867, S. M.
Haywood, father of the late Harry
Haj'wood, constructed a grain
elevator in Pana. In operation,
this concern handled approxi-
mately 2 thousand bushels a day
and employed 10 to 12 men.
In the year 1870 the citizenry
of Pana erected a City Hall, a
brick structure, 2 stories high.
This building was razed in 1941
and the present city administra-
tion building constructed. The
building houses the volunteer fiic
department as well as various city
offices, police department, etc.
Since the second organization of
the city Mar. 5. 1867, when with
increase of population it wa.s
deemed necesary to change tho
form of government. Pana has
come under an aldei manic admin-
istration. The city following thi.s
change was composed of 2 wards.
Ward I at this time contained
150 registered voters. Ward II,
220. Previously Pana had been
vmder the village board type of
government with a president and
4 associates elected. The city,
growing through the years, is
presently made up of 5 wards
each supplying 2 aldermen to the
City Council.
Another elevator u-as built in
1874 by Jacob Kremer with a
capacity of 20 thousand bushels
of grain. This organization was
later purchased by Tilton Hemsley
& Company.
A fruit cannery was established
here in 1872. known as the Pana
Branch of the Alden Preserving
Company. The building was de-
stroyed by fire 4 years later in
July of 1876 and the remaining
machinery was sold to parties in
Springfield at a price of S350.
In 1876, the Pana City Mills, a
brick 31 2 story building, was built
by George and Minnis Miller.
Pana's industrial history also
boasts in bygone days a Door.
Sash & Planing Mill operated by
Wood and Laton. Two other
planing mills were in existence at
the same time and were operated
by A. W. Parker and D. T. Davis.
In 1876 there was located in the
vicinity of the present waterworks
the Piogressive Mercantile &
Manufacturing Co., specializing in
confectionery equipment, foot
warmers, etc.
Pana has always been known a.-;
a railway centei-. The Illinois
Cen'.ral built to Pana in 1854. thc-
New York Central in 1855, Balti-
more & Ohio in 1869, and the Chi-
cago & Eastern Illinois in 1904.
The city housed the shops of the
Illinois and South Eastern Rail-
road, which was taken over by the
Ohio & Mississippi Co. in 1876.
The shop; employed 150 men who
specialized in general repairing
and rebuilding of railway equip-
ment. The road later became thi'
Baltimore & Ohio and the shops
were removed in 1900.
Supplying the everyday needs
of the populace of Pana in its
early growth were various mer-
chants and business concerns.
Some of these follow: Dry Goods,
Clothing, Boots and Shoes— S. C.
Wagener, George V. Penwell.
Beckenheimer, Goldstine and Co..
J. R. Race & Co.; Groceries
James Babcock. Jacob Born.
Jewell & Moscly. Jageman & Mc-
Elroy, W. L. Dowling. J. B. Shaf-
foT. M. J. Jones, Newcomb Bros.,
IfiB/
This, the Kuropcan Hotel, or Millot's liiiildiiiK. u landmark of the
area, no\\ mtvcn the oitizeiLs of I'ana and wayfarers, as the Paiui Hotel.
hH-ated «m South Locust street. The structure was ereet.-d In 1890.— Photo
from Homer Millot.
OFFICE
and
FACTORY
Located at
VINE STREET
and the
B. & O. TRACKS
Near the
City Water Works
NATIONAL GREENHOUSE CO.
PANA, ILLINOIS
DESIGNERS and MANUFACTURERS
OF GLASS AND FIBER GLASS GREENHOUSES
Enjoy an Exciting Hobby. Come in and See Us.
GET OUR FREE CATALOGUE
Comphments of
EARL
"BUD"
LANCASTER
CIRCUIT CLERK & RECORDER
Of Christian County
V.F.W. POST 4431
Meeting on the
First and Third Mondays
V.F.W. AUXILIARY 4431
Meeting on the
First Thursdays
Comphments
NICK'S MOTEL
• ALL MODERN • • ALL NEW •
• Air Conditioned •
Phone 7370 South on Rte. 51
^^£
Bulova, Elgin, Wyler Watches
Fostoria, Imperial Crystal
Diamonds
Compliments
NICK'S PACKAGE
LIQUOR STORE
Phone ISO We Deliver
It was minstrt'l time in the then ••Ute Haywanl
Opera House around 1901 when this pieture was
made. I^oeated on the corner of Main and Poplar
streets, the opera house was the eenter of I'ana's
entertainment w()rkl.
Participatinff in the priHluotion were (9 men in
full dress suits) left to rigfht: Frank Stamm, KImer
White, Fred Weber, John Robb, Dr. John D. Keid
(interlocutor), Freeman Butts, Winfield
Arthur Martin, Charles Schempf;
Black face end men, only 2 identified: Claude
McMullen (left) and Benton Butts (right) ;
In the orchestra: Tutt IVnwell (center, dark
suit); Elizabeth Pirnes (pianist); Kmma Schwietzka
(standing:); Jim Corman (standinR by piano).
Others are unidentified.
J. C. Willis, Casey & Cox, Wm.
Howard, and Griffith Evans;
Hardware, Stoves and Tinware —
Lewis Jehle, Wm. Stuhlman, A. B.
Corman, H. Biiell; Furniture-
Jesse & Bros., A. B. Corman;
Drugs— R. C. Coyner. P. M.
Nichols, O. Gossmann & Bros., L.
D. Higgins; Harness — Lewis
Schlierbach, Charles J. Hill, J. C.
Woolside and in later years Otto
and Louis Paul; Photograph Gal-
lery — .1. V. Hover; Agricultural
Implements — O. H. Paddock, Cox
& Swim, F. W. Stockbridge;
Undertakers— J. E. Neely, H.
Kirkpatrick; Millinery and Dress-
making — Mrs. S. P. Mooney.
Misses B. and E. Millard. Mrs.
George Belnap; Hay Dealers — D.
E. McGarrah, D. M. Keys; Whole-
sale Gunpowder Dealers — E. C.
Reese & Bros.
Pana citizens in the past were
entertained in an opera house,
known as one of the best in the
vicinity, owned by J. S. Hayward.
The opera house had a seating
capacity of 813 people with a
stage 24x30 feet. Light was
furnished by gas and heat was
"applied by 2 wood furnaces.
Scenery for the productions was
furnished by Noxon of the Olym-
pic Theatre of St. Louis. The
opera house was located east of
the Frances hotel on the comer of
Poplar and Main streets.
Hotels were in abundance in
early Pana. In 1867 .1. S. Hay-
ward erected the St. James Hotel
iuiown today as the Frances.
This hotel was first opaned by D.
Tumbolt as the Turnbolt House.
It can be said that this hostelry
was the most imposmg in the city
at the time, being 3 stories high
of brick with marble floors. The
hotel contained 80 rooms with ac-
conunodations for 160 guests.
Also provided for the entertain-
ment of the guests were a dining
room, saloon, and oilliard hall.
Other hotels included the Har-
rison House, Mrs. Matilda Har-
rison, proprietor; Central House.
James Dalton; Kentucky House.
J. C. Stout: and Hall House. G.
Evans.
Early physicians in the city
were Geo. W. Patton, Jacol)
Huber, J. H. Dodge, H. H. Deming,
Salem Dickey, A. E. Eversole. L.
D. Higgins. H. H. Hall and T. H.
McCoy, dentist.
The year 1884 brought to Pana
the industry which was to rocket
the city to prosperity and recog-
nition. Coal was hoisted from the
Pana Coal Company's Mine No. 1,
known as the Old Mine, first of 4
mines to be sunk in the city dur-
ing this period. Mining has car-
ried on imlil the present day as
one of Pane's leading industries.
As well .as one of the city's
greatest benefactors, ths mining
industry brought to Pana, during
a period in 1898, internal strife
such as has never been witnessed
in the city since. A miners' strike
for better wages and labor con-
ditions plus the importation of
cheap Negro labor from Birming-
ham, Ala., to work the mines
kindled a spark which ignited in
wholesale violence with shooting
in the streets throughout the city
on Apr. to, 1899. This date was
known as the mine riot but the
city had been the scene of spas-
modic periods of violence since
Sept. 1, 1898. The mine strike
continued until Oct. 10. 1899, when
the operators recognized the union
and the men went back to the pits.
During these periods of violence
the city of Pana was under
martial law, the state militia pa-
trolling the streets. The Pana
mine war according to state union
officials was not only a victory
locally but was a step foi-ward for
the miners of the country. With
the end of rioting and the deparl-
\ire of Negro labor the city settled
back to its former peaceful
existence.
HAYES
HATCHERY & FEEDS
Pana, Illinois Phone SO
Nokomis, Illinois - - - Phone 251L
PANA
FederalSavings
AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
113 East Third Street
BOB'S TEXACO SERVICE
First and Poplar Streets
Pana, Illinois
ROBERT ZUECK
IVAN BRAYE
JEFFREY'S
TELEVISION & APPLIANCE
PHONE 511
29 S. Locust Pana, 111.
Compliments of
'^'^'^tl^mi
203-5 South Locust St.
Pana, Illinois
B & B CAFE
8 South Poplar Street
FAMOUS HAMBURGERS
AND RED HOTS
3.^
PANA, ILLINOIS
CHARTERED MAY 1944
Compliments
SMITH & MAGILL
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
KOCHER STUDIO
AND CAMERA SHOP
36 S. Locust Pana, 111.
"We Don't Steal, But . . .
We'll Take Anything!" Phone 1961
BURKHARDT FURNITURE
"Everything For the Home"
211 South Locust St.
Phone 420 Pana, 111.
B. C. KING MOTOR SALES
• DODGE • PLYMOUTH
8 N. Locust, Pana, 111. Phone 540
By the year 1892. Pana was a
prosperous commiinily of 7000. In
a hand business directory of that
yeai- the city's business houses
totaled approximately 379.
With the progress of the city
tame the luxury of public works.
Pana's first water supply was
taken from wells and pumped by
a waterworks established north-
west of town in 1893 by Eugene
Hayward.
Following use of the wells, in
1911 a reservoir was constructed
^;pproximately 2 miles east of the
lity and water piped to Pana. At
this same time a waterworks was
constructed in the east section of
the city on Main street at a cost
of $150,000. In 1928 the reservoir
was enlarged with the building of
a new dam south of the site of the
original reseiToir dam.
Again in 1949, resulting from an
insufficient water supply to fit
the needs of the community and
local industries, on to the south
of the second dam a thiid dam
was built, bringing Lake Pana to
cover 250 acres and a water capa-
city of one billion, one hvmdred
million gallons. Water is pumped
from the reservoir to the city by
the use of two 100 hp. motors.
A 100-hp. motor, backed by 60
.md 50 hp. motors then pumps the
water after filtialion at the
waterworks to consumers through-
out the city. Water is presently
pumped through 14" cast iron
main laid in 1947 to the filter
plant. Elevated storage of water
in the city totals 250,000 gallons
while ground storage at the filtra-
tion plant is 300,000. An all time
high for the city in watei- con-
sumption was hit in July of 1952
when 43,410,000 gallons were con-
sumed. Seasons' pumping aver-
ages for the city of Pana are:
Summer — 1,500.000 to 1,750.000
.gallons per day; winter 1.250.000
gallons per day.
In lh2 late 1890's W. Alexander
and J. W. Paddock of this city
purchased an ice making machine
and operated foi- a period of ap-
proximately 2 years. Their plant
was located in the St. James block
(Vicinity of St. Frances Hotel to-
day). Due to machine failure the
manufacturing of ice was given up
but the men continued to harvest
ice in the winter for sale during
the warmer months.
In 1907 a modern plant was
built by a group of 4 men. P. M.
Davidson, D. W. Tate, Max Prell
and J. Langenfeld. It was located
in the east section of town on the
site of the late D. P. Bogle ice
plant. Bogle having purchased the
interests in the concern except for
Davidson's in 1909. One year
later the plant burned but was
immediately rebuilt. Bogle bought
Davidson's interest in 1913 and
operated the plant until the time
of his death in 1935. The plant
was then operated by his mothei-
until her death one year later. H.
P. Bogle then took the plant over
as manager and owner. In more
lecent years the plant was pur-
chased and operated by Enni^
"Speedy" Pfau. After a fire in
1948 operations at the plant wert-
ciirtailed and presently ice for th"
city is brought in by truck.
The city's electric lights and
power were first furnished by
Robert Johns, local promoter, who
was manager of the Pana Modern
Light & Street Railway Company.
This organization was formed for
the purpose of extending an
electric railway line from East St.
Louis through Litchfield and on to
Pana. For reason unknown the
project never materialized. Ac-
cording to Will F. Jordan, local re-
tired newspaperman, the road was
built as far as Litchfield. The
line was owned by U. S. Senator
McKinley of Champaign. From a
central heating plant located at
the power company, heat for the
uptown business district of Pana
was furnished at that time.
It has been acknowledged by the
Paul Bros., proprietors of the
local harness shop, that Mi-. Johns'
plant was not as modem as the
name implied. The harness
makei-s found it necessary to in-
stall gas light along with electri-
city. On rush nights, Satiudays.
power would fail, throwing the
building into darkness foi long
periods of time. With gas light
available business went on as
usual. Following the Johns or-
ganization was the Pana Gas <Sr
Light Co. which catered to the
city until 1912 when the Central
Illinois Public Sei-vice Co. took
control of the lights and later in
1917 the control of gas.
While mentioning 2 of Pana's
most illustrious citizens as a
reference, the Paul Biothers. age
84, some background should bo
given on these famous twins. Be-
lieved to be the operators of the
oldest original and continuing
business in Pana, and among the
oldest twins in Illinois, the Pauls
opened their present harness shop
on East Second street Jan. 1.
1897. L.ouis and Otto have been
making harness for customers
throughout the country ever since,
specializing in custom work.
They were bom in Pana on Sept.
13, 1871, and still live in the
neighborhood where they were
reared. Louis lives in the family
home at 105 South Sherman
street and sleeps in the room in
which he was born. Otto lives
next door. Both brothers were
married and have families. Otto
has a son, Samuel, living in Evans-
ville. Ind.. and a daughter. Char-
lene, who teaches at Washington
school. Louis has a daughter,
Ruth Elizabeth, who is a nurse.
Otto was married in 1903 and
Louis in 1921.
With the turn of the century the
v.iicels of progress began to move
more rapidly in the city of Pana.
On July 9, 1900. the City Coun-
cil passed an ordinance providing
for th3 building of sidewalks,
which up to this time in the busi-
ness district had been constructed
of wood and slightly elevated.
Paving of city streets began prior
to 1907. The first thoroughfare
paved was a 2-block strip running
from Big Four tracks of the pres-
ent city south to the corner of
Third street.
This was quite an achievement
as stories have been told of older
citizens seeing a 4-horse team fail
to dislodge a wagon mired to the
hubs in mud at the corner of Sec-
end and Locust streets.
A volunteer fire department was
authorized in Pana by the City
Council on May 12, 1902. by City
Ordinance No. 62.
Added to the list of improve-
ments to the city during this period
is Kitchell Park, a 40 acre plot,
donated to the citv by Capt. and
Mrs. John W. Kitchell' on July 15,
1908. The present post office wa.s
erected during the years 1910-12
at a cost of $100,000. It was se-
cured through the efforts of Con-
gressman Ben F. Caldwell and
Ex-Congressman James M. Gra-
ham along with a group of In-
terested citizens. The building
v/as occupied on Sept. 14, 1912.
The fiist postmaster to sei"ve the
people In this new building was W.
H. Alexander.
Between the years 1911 and 1914
important edifices were erected In
the city. The combined depot of
the Illinois Central and the New
York Central railroads was elect-
ed during this time at a cost of
$35,000. Carnegie-Schuyler Li-
brary was completed late in 1912
and the building occupied in Janu-
ai-y of 1913. The library's total
c.3st was $25,000.
Pana's modern Huber Memorial
Hospital was built in 1913 and
opened one year later. This in-
stitution was pieceded bv the
Deaconess hospital on West
Orange street.
In this same year Pana was
described in a publication of the
times as, "one of the most beauti-
ful and enterprising cities in Cen-
tial Illinois. It is located upon
one of the sweeping prairies of the
Empire State of the Central West.
It is accessible to the outside world
by 4 of the greatest trunk railway
lines of the States Cleveland,
Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis
(New York Central); Chicago &
Eastern Illinois (Frisco svstem —
Knclc;! wi 1«7;{ ;'s t!ic marhiiii' shop ulikh with
a power phiiit, l(J-s(nll roiiiulhousc, transfer table, 2-
story tar shop, turntable, blaeksmith shop and office
builtlin;;' c^Inp(>^etI the B*0 S\V Pana divLsion point
mainfenanee headquarters — along the present B&O
tracks just north of the National Greenhouse Co. —
this building at the time of the picture in 1904 housed
the Illinois Axle Skein & Nut Lock Co. A number
of the employees are shown here, including Ed Folks,
Wilbur Carroll, Aretus Burtt, Josh Matheney, (un-
knowTi) Suter, Charles Manley, William Stamm, HaJ
Alexander and Orville Metcalfe. Most famous pro-
duct of this company was a cigar vending machine.
is A\li- Ski-iii \ Nut l.iM k (
was succeedetl in this location by the I'ana .Metal Bed
Works, and then by a company which i>r<>duced soda
fountains.
The B&O shops «ere built, according to Ed
Folks, whas? photograph this is, by the township
upon the condition of employment of more than 100
persons for 20 years. A year after the 1873 erection,
he relates, the shops were laid waste by tornado, re-
built and occupied at near capacity intended employ-
ment until 1894, when the force was cut to about 40.
The division point was moved to Flora in 1899, and
thereafter the buildings used othen\ise. They have
disintegrated, ;uid been razed.
C&EI); Illinois Central and the
Baltimore & Ohio — making it one
of the best railroad centers In the
State of Illinois, and consequently
one of the choicest locations for
industries, for the reason that its
facilities from a shipping point,
with its low rates for transporta-
tion of its output of products
from agriculture, mining, and
manufactures, are unexcelled by
any other city of like population in
the United States."
During this period a total of
38 passenger trains serviced the
city of Pana. It was stated that
at this time there had not been
a business failui-e in the city for a
period of 25 years, an admirable
record.
Two banks in the city during
these years of prosperity were the
previously mentioned H. N.
Schuyler State Bank and the Pana
National, the combined resources
on the 2 totaling $325,000 with
combined deposits of nearly
$2,000,000. Business houses total-
ed 200 during 1913, including one
flour mill, 3 grain elevators, 4
coal mines, a manufacturer of
wood and metal, an electric plant,
3 concrete manufacturers, a
manufacturer of concrete fences,
one machine builder, 2 ice cream
manufacturers, one opera house, 2
motion picture theatres, 2 whole-
sale groceiy companies, 2 lumber
companies, 2 brick manufacturers.
2 bottling plants. 2 agricultural
implement houses, 2 department
stores, a marble and granite
yard, 2 creameries, 5 drug stores,
hardware establishments and a
large plumbing and heating supply
house.
Prominent names in Pana busi-
ness in 1913 were Paddock Lum-
ber; G. F. Barnett, grain elevator;
Edward Picquet. City Flour &
Feed Store; L. P. Trumper, gro-
cery; W. E. Hsss. mortuary; John
Longsdorf, grocery; F. J. Flesch,
groceries and flour; Tokoly Buf-
fet; G. V. Penwell & Sons dry
goods; F. E. Neu. groceries; W. F.
Sell, owner of the Oak street
Lvery; A. W. Vincent, manager,
Pana Ice Cream Co.; E. R. Darl-
ington Lumber Co.; S. Sve, watch-
maker and jeweler; Roley Bros.,
transfer; Jas. Umpleby, elevator;
Millinery Parlors of Leach Sz
Leach; O. H. Metcalf, monument
works; Schlierbach Harness Co.
and M. R. Corbett, grain, hay, tile.
fence and fertilizers.
The second of Pana's "big 2" in-
dustries has been hitherto un-
mentioned. Vital to the basic
economy of the city is the floral
industry which originated in Pana
between the years 1875 and 1880.
A Mr. Cooper is credited with the
first dabblings in greenhouse
horticulture in Pana. Cooper
grew vegetables the year around,
in his glass house, selling them to
local market. In later years,
Frank Shaffer bought Cooper's
house, enlarged it and grew both
vegetables and flowers. The
floral industry has grown until at
present it is a leader of Pana in-
dustry, ranking with mining and
agriculture. Pana's title. City of
Roses, was given to the city by the
■Jordan brothers, editors and pub-
lishers of Pana's newspaper in the
early 1900's, at a time when they
foresaw the future value of the
floral industry. There now exist
in Pana 6 major floial companies.
World War I cast its shadow
over the city in 1914 and 426
young men of Pana township
answered the call. A group of 10
never returned and in their honor
and of those who served, a monu-
15
ment, funds supplied by popular
subscription, was erected in Kit-
chell Park. This drive was spon-
sored by the Ladies of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Mrs. J. W.
Kitchen and Mrs. Lindsay Reese
collected the funds.
An industrial boom boginning
in 1916 has continued on to the
present day. In 1916 the Sugar
Creek Creamery opened a plant in
Pana, located on Main street, with
J. L. Benjamin as manager. Two
people were employed. Cream
received was shipped to Watseka,
in northern Illinois, which was
the home office of the organiza-
tion. From the first location
Sugar Creek moved to the East
Second stieet building now oc-
cupied by Gebhart's Auto Supply.
The creamery was expanding and
now employed 15 to 20 people.
In 1924 a new plant, the pres-
ent location, was built. It opened
on Mar. 5, of the same year. The
buying of milk and cheese making
began in 1941 employing an addi-
tional 5 people and raising per-
sonnel to 25. Presently man-
aging the plant is Clarence Nor-
man. Sugar Creek now produces
3% million pounds of finished
dairy products pei- yeai-. Fifty
per cent of this total is butter, and
the remaining 50 ""r cheese.
Wadley's Poultry Co. was estab-
lished in the city in 1923. This
plant deals entirely in the pur-
chase of poultry, eggs and feeds.
The company once employed
50 to 60 men. Present employ-
ment is 37. The Wadley Co. mar-
kets locally and throughout the
state, although its turkey crop is
marketed to the eastern states.
The local plant is under the man-
agement of Shubel Burnett, who
succeeded Cloyd Vickery in 1933.
Charles Krouse was the plant's
first manager.
The Equity Creamery & Pro-
duce Co., a co-operative organiza-
tion, was organized by the farmers
of this locality in 1927 and plant
operations began June 5 of the
following year. The creameiy
originally dealt in the sole pur-
chase of cream but expanded to
buying milk and making cheese
in 1940. The plant began opera-
lions on the corner of Second and
Poplar streets but with the growth
of business needed more space.
A new plant was erected in 1948
and the creamery moved to its
present site on East Washington
street. The creamery now pro-
duces 11/2 million pounds of cheese
per year and has a milk output of
730,000 gallons per year. Ninety
per cent of the creamery's cheese
is marketed in the eastern states.
The creamery was first managed
by a Ml-. Shanley. The late
George Southwell became man-
ager in 1931 and continued in that
position until his death in June
of 1951. His son, Leonard, suc-
ceeded him as manager. Per-
sonnel employed at the plant total
17. Approximately 400 stock-
holders make up the organization.
Jan. 1, 1925, the Purity Baking
Co. purchased from the Pana
Baking Co., its piesent site located
north of the New York Central
railroad. B. W. McMahan seived
as the first manager of this enter-
prise. Three truck routes were in
operation, a city route, the sec-
ond to Taylorville, and the third
supplying Litchfield. Bread was
also shipped as far as Bimker Hill.
The initial bakei-y employed a
group of 12 personnel, employ-
ment growing in later years to the
present roster of 65. Purity was
then a one-oven bakeiy, with pro-
duction reaching 10,000 loaves a
week. A new oven was added in
1926, additional wrapping facili-
ties in 1927, more flour storage
and a shipping room in 1934 and in
1936 the entire plant was re-
modeled and doubled in size at an
overall cost of $40,000. The trade
name Purity was changed in 1951
to Miss Sunbeam. This same
year the company purchased a
plant in Salem. Production today
is many times the original peak
and 17 truck routes to surround-
ing communities cover a radius of
50 miles. Manage) of the bakery
is J. R. Long.
The National Greenhouse Co.,
located at the foot of Vine street,
is one of the largest producers of
greenhouses and parts in the
United States.
This firm was organized in 1931
by P. L. McKee with a crew of 3
employees. By 1936 the plant had
outgrown its original working
space, and construction took place.
By 1948 the company occupied
40,000 sq. feet of floor space. At
that time McKee sold the business
to its present owners who con-
tinued as an Illinois corporation
imder the management of Frank
J. Impey.
At present, the company utilizes
over 50,000 feet of factory build-
ings and lumber yard in its opera-
tions and employs 30 people.
Thousands of greenhouses of all
sizes and design of both glass and
fiber have been supplied into every
one of the 48 States besides ex-
ports to South America, Alaska,
India, Canada, etc.
In addition to greenhouses, the
firm produces circulating pumps
and electrically controlled venti-
lating systems and is the sole dis-
tributor of 2 patented extruded
putties VI s e d foi- greenhouse
glazing.
Adding to the City of Roses'
versatilitv is an oil refinery estab-
lished in the spring of 1939.
The men responsible for this ven-
ture were Ray Hose, S. D. Jarvis
of Decatur, Hayden Davis and
George Day of Springfield. The
refinery at first employed 65 men,
o;i being piped in from the Lou-
don township field in Fayette
county. In 1948 the refinery was
purchased by the Illinois Farm
Supply Company. The present
capacity of the refinery is ap-
proximately 6000 barrels of crude
oil per day, which is about twice
the amount produced in the plant's
beginning. Present manager of
the lefinery is Russell Carroll.
The Pana plant of the Illinois
Glova Company opened in Novem-
bsr of 1943 in the Township
building at Fourth and Oak streets.
The factory occupied the entire
second floor and part of the first.
In its beginning the plant em-
ployed 25 to 30 persons but by
1951 had outgrown the township
building and moved to its new
modern plant at Main and Poplar
streets in February of 1951. At
that date the factory employed
300 persons, working day and
night shifts. The factoiy was
closed in 1954.
Also in the year 1943 the Lecas
Candy Company was organized In
the city. This enterprise markets
wholesale hard candies at the rate
of 700,000 pounds a year. The
finished product is shipped as far
west as Kansas City and is dis-
tributed throughout the eastern
states. George Lecas is owner
and manager of the company.
The plant is located at the end of
West Third street.
Another bulwark in the Pana
economy had its origin when Co-
Ed Frocks opened a dress factory
in the city in 1943. In 1946 Co-Ed
Frocks was changed to Associated
Garment Company and in 1955 the
present Style-Rite Manufacturing
Company was formed. The plant
no A' employs approximately 115
people, with an annual payroll in
excess of $250,000.
The Pana plant manufactures
diesses and sportswear and houses
the main office, controlling plants
in Shelby ville and Assumption.
Harry" Redler heads the Style-
Rite Manufacturing Company, and
•Tctively manages the business.
This has been a brief resume
of Pana's growth of industrial
might and her major industries.
Three large hatcheries and feed
stores of the city also market
their products on a nationwide
scale.
The most recen* of Pana's in-
dustrial developments took place
in February of this year when
through the efforts of the Cham-
ber of Commeice, the Switch Divi-
sion of the P. R. Mallory Com-
#
ILLINOIS
CONGRATULATIONS
CONSOLIDATED
BEST WISHES
From
TELEPHONE
PANA COUNCIL
KNIGHTS
COMPANY
OF
COLUMBUS
Chartered July 10, 1904
DENTON OIL COMPANY
Washington & Locust Streets
Pana, 111.
CALL
AND
Price — Quality — Service
O'BRIEN
"66" SERVICE
PAUL and ELSIE TUETKEN
HI-HO TAVERN
^^gs^
136 East Second St.
AIR CONDITIONED
Package Liquor Short Orders
# Lubrication #
SILVER MOON
TAP ROOM
• Accessories •
Frances Hotel Phone 5561
LaVeta "Arky"
• Tires •
• Batteries •
• Washing •
AIR CONDITIONED
THE CIRCLE
DANCING— "Pana's Popular Nite Spot"
Wines • Liquors • Mixed Drinks
Featuring Steaks & Chicken
Vi Mile West Pana on Route 16
# Simonizing #
# Wheel Balancing •
Corner Second & Poplar Pana,
111.
pany, a nationally known in-
dustry, occupied the former glove
factory building. Applications
were received for employment
during the last week of February
;uid the factory began limited
operations the first week in
March. Peak employment is ex-
pected to total 250-300. The
plant is the company's di\'ision
producing automatic washer
switches and other components to
the appliance field. The company
additionally purchased, at the time
of locating, the property of
Eulyss "Boots" Vaughn, known as
the Roley Transfer Co., Vaughn
moving to the former Rose City
Garage building on West Second
street. Other plant sites of the
Mallory company are located in
Indianapolis and Frankfort. Ind.;
Chicago, Detroit, North Tarry-
town and Warsaw, N. Y., and
Philadelphia, besides a plastics
plant recently purchased in Du-
Quoin.
Pana Today
Pana, with industry' thus men-
tioned and agricultural wealth
abounding, stUl retains its position
as one of the more progressive
communities in central Illinois.
Fourteen houses of worship and
7 schools lone parochial! in the
city provide adequately for the
spiritual and educational needs of
the area.
Mining, the floral industry, and
agriculture lead as the vicinity's
prime industries.
Impiovements remembered by
the younger generation in recent
years have been the resurfacing
of Pana's main streets, and the
addition in April of 1953 of a nev.-
downtown lighting system,
Pana's sewer system which be-
gan in 1906 with the laying of the
Locust street pipe, contimied to
be built at intervals beginning
from one year later, 1907, when
the southwest portion was laid;
to 1912. the Kitchen addition;
1913, Kitchen avenue, and 1925-26,
the laying of the north and east
and the southeast, sections re-
spectively.
This system and the city's dis-
posal plant, located south of Pana.
was used until 1953, the com-
pletion date of a new disposal
plant and laying of sewer pipes.
This new system was built at a
cost of $450,000.
Drainage of the city of Pana is
effected geographically by the
"Big Four Ridge," all water to the
north of the tracks supposedly
rushing north. This would hold
true if the job were done by
nature, but man has diverted its
course, and drainage in the city,
except for the northwest section
and land to the north of West
Third street, runs to the south to
the Kaskaskia river.
ic first sewer
I I'ana in N«ivem-
These ni.ii
ber, 19(«i.
Timeko'per oil the construction job was I.ogan (iriffith, retired Pana
attorney, w ho can be seen in the second row from bottom, seo;)n«l jierson
from the left.
The old Citj- Hall may be. seen in the background. The photo was
made from what is now the comer of Third and Poplar streets.
Recreational facilities are pro-
vided by the donation of Capt. and
Mrs. J. W. Kitchen, in 1908, Klt-
chell Park. The 40-acre area in
the southern portion of Pana in-
cludes a baseball and .softball
diamond, tennis courts, an equip-
ped playground area, the Chau-
tauqua auditorium, picnic pavilion
and a ; wimniing pool.
The Pana Country Club located
e.ast and adjacent to the pari;
offers a golf course to thos? in-
terested in the .sport.
Two theatres, the Roseland and
Tanner's Drive-In, bring the latest
in motion pictures to the city.
Two bowling alleys and a skat-
ing rink compri.se the remainder
of the recreational areas.
To give the reader in years to
come an overall view of the busi-
ness in the City of Pana in this
our centennial year the following
list has been compiled. These
statistics do not include eveiy
business house in the city but are
those titilized most foi- the every-
day needs of the population.
Making up the major portion of
Pana's business world are 8 at-
torneys, 3 auctioneers, 6 auto-
mobile dealers, 17 auto service
stations, 2 bakeries, 2 banks, 2
billiard halls, 2 bowling alleys, 3
building material suppliers, 3
chick hatcheries, 3 children and in-
fant wear shops, 4 cleaners and
dyers, 7 coal and coke retailers, 4
concrete contractors, 5 con-
fectioneries, 7 dairy product sup-
pliers, 4 dentists, 5 department
stores, 3 drug stores, 5 electrical
appliance stores, 2 electrical con-
tractors, 3 excavators, one photo
engraver, 3 farm implement com-
panies, 3 feed stores, 3 retail
florists. 6 wholesale florists, 3 tu-
neral homes, 3 furniture stores, 5
automobile garages, 3 wholesale
gasoline dealers, one glass com-
pany, one grain elevator, 16 retail
grocers, 4 hardware stores, one
wholesale hardware dealer, 4 heat-
ing contractors, 2 hotels, one Ice
dealer, 9 insmance agents, 2 in-
terior decorators, 3 retail jewelers,
2 laundry agencies, one self,
service laundry, one package
liquor store, 2 lumber yards, one
mail order house, 10 meat mar-
kets, 6 men's clothing stores, 3
motels, one mover, one musical
merchandise store, 2 news dealers,
one newspaper, one office supply
store, 10 fuel oil dealers, 3 op-
tometrists, 8 paint and paint sup-
pliers, 6 painters, 2 photographers,
7 physicians, 5 plumbers, 4
poultry houses, 2 printeis, 6 real
estate agents, 11 restaurants, 2
rubbish removers, one savings and
loan association, 3 retail shoe
stores, one skating rink, 3 retail
sporting goods stores, one stock
vard, 23 taverns, one taxicah
Probably taken from the southwest comer of
Second and Locust streets, this street scene pictures
many of the business houses familiar to citizens of a
young, Kr.iwinR Pana.
0:ie nj Pana's first telegraph offices may be seen
to the left of the photo (second door shown). In the
background is the old YMCA building before the
second storj- was supposedly razed by wind. No
identification of the picture is available, but marchers
could be fire departments from various cities which
gathered here on the Fourth of July for hose cart
races, etc.
service, one telephone company, 6
television dealers, 2 theatres, 3
trucking films, one upholstering
shop, one veterinarian, 3 watch
and clock repairing shops, 4 weld-
ing and brazing shops and 5
women's apparel establishments.
The uptown business district pres-
ently covers the better part of 6
square blocks.
Pana finances are handled
through 2 banks now serving the
city, the First National, establish-
ed in June of 1930 and the Peoples
Bank, organized more recently by
citizens of Pana in April of 1954.
The same railroads that brought
prosperity to Pana in earlier years
serve I he city. The New York
Central, a main line from St. Louis
to New York, furnishes both pas-
senger and freight service. The
remaining 3 railroads, the Illinois
Central, Chicago & Eastern Illi-
nois, and Baltimore & Ohio supply
only freight service, importing
the needs and exporting the fin-
ished products of Pana's industries
to distant markets of the country.
Transportation is available by
bus to any point in the country.
Servicing Pana are the National
Trailways and Greyhound bus
lines. Travelers journeying
through the city may find ac-
ccmmodations in 2 old hotels and
3 new motels.
Then and still adding im-
measurably to the city's growth
are 3 highways which dissect the
city of Pana. The roads were
built in the early 1920's. Route 51
running north and south joins
Route 16 one mile east of the city.
They enter Pana together, then
separate at the corner of Second
and Poplar streets. Route 16 bear-
ing west and 51 continuing south.
The third highway is Route 29
which connects Pana with Spring-
field by way of Taylorville.
City officials are: Mayor — John
M. Jones; Aldermen — First Ward,
Max Finefrock (R '57); Harold
Snooks (D '59); Second Ward,
Paul Schmitz (D '57), Victor Dunn
(D '59); Third Ward, Henry Wolf
(D '57), Cy Zahradka (D '59);
Fourth Ward, John Lesko (R '57),
Wilbert Hall (D '59); Fifth Ward,
Roy Henderson ( D '57 ) , Joe
Chladny (D '59).
Appointive officers are: City
Attorney, John W. Fribley.
Fire Chief, Arthur Ullrick.
Chief of Police, Ferdinand Le-
gru; Patrolmen, C. E. Kramer,
Kirk Weddle, Vaughn Lester,
Chas. Budds, Harry McGavic.
Street Superintendent, George
Bertin.
Supt. of Water, Sidney Foil;
Waterworks Engineers, Loran W.
Peters, Archie Castle, George
Gudehus, Wm. Eggermsin.
Park Custodian, Martin Robson.
Water Commissioner, Waldo
Meachum.
Supt. of Sewage Disposal, Roy
Randle.
Supt. of Dump Grounds, Ivy
Romager.
Board of Health, Mrs. Joe
Stocker, Mrs. Hazel McClung,
Frank Bertin.
To foresee the future is im-
possible, but conclusions may be
drawn from studying the past. It
is not impractical then to state,
with raw materials available and
labor in abundance the future of
the "City of Roses" in the next
100 years may be projected in
these 2 words, ' "PROGRESS UN-
LIMITED."
Still Some Doubt as to Origin of Name "Pana"
Many and varied are the vei-
sions of how the city of Pana ac-
quired its name.
Most accepted by historians is
the idea that the name "Pana" was
taken from a tribe of Indians who
once roamed or hunted this sec-
tion of the country. This may
well be correct as many tribe.s
from whose names could be derived
ihe word inhabited this vicinity.
To the east, as white men have
their centers, so did the Indian.
Near Danville on the Big Vermil-
lion River stood the important
Piankishaw Indian village. These
redmen, undoubtedly, passed
through this portion of the state
and with a little imagination put
in play it might be surmised that
Pana was j?hort for Piankishaw.
Other historians are prone to
believe that Pana is a corruption
of the Algonquin word "pena,"
meaning partridge.
The early Indian history of
Christian county gives Pana as
derived from "pani," a word for
slave closely related to the Paw-
nee, another tribe of redmen fre-
quenting this territory. Along
with this theoiy is the story of
Pana being named for an Indian
slave girl who passed through here
at various times. The Pottawato-
mie Indians, a tribe from which
the name Pana could possibly be
derived, are also believed to have
inhabited Christian county.
The name Pana is also linked
with the coming of the Illinois
Central Railroad. According to
story, 4 bosses on this project
agreed that upon completion of
the tracks through heie, one would
have the honor of naming the
.settlement. The 4 played a game
of cards to decide who would have
the honor of naming the station
and Mr. Pana ( first name not
known I won, so the story goes.
This lale was told to Z. F. Smith
by his father, Zebidee Smith, who
reputedly worked with the gang.
The latter version could be cor-
rect, as our neighboring city of
Mattoon, some 45 miles to the east,
received its name as a result of
a wager between a contractor,
"Big Bill" Mattoon, running the
tracks of the St. Louis, Alton &
Terre Haute Railroad (New York
Central ) westward from Paris,
and Colonel Mason of the IIlinoLs
Central. The wager stated the
first crew rurming its tracks to
the intersecting point of the 2
loads would have the privilege of
naming the station. Mason won
but was so pleased with Mattoon
for initiating such a spirited race
that he named the station in
Mattoon's honor.
From a Pana News clipping in
the late Warren Penwell's scrap,
book the following article on the
naming of the city of Pana was
taken i exact date of clipping is
not known but believed to be be-
tween the years 1906 and 1908):
"While visiting Mr. and Mrs. W.
T. Gooden at Lawienceburg, Ind.,
I was taken to see an encycloped-
ia, or rather a pair of them be-
longing to Mr. and Mrs. E. G.
Hayes, and I was given the en-
closed manuscript which may
prove of interest to the readers
of the women's edition. — Mrs. L.
N. Gilbert.
" 'William Glascow was a black-
smith in Lawrenceburg, Ind., ani
did work for my father when I
was a boy, and aftenvards fo.
myself. I know him well, also
knew his wife whom he always
called Pana, whether that was her
real name or not I am not able to
say.
" 'Mr. Glascow was a member
of the Masonic ordei', in good
standing. In 1848 when I was 21
years of age, upon the recommen-
dation of him and Harry G. Blais-
dell, who was afterwards governor
of Nevada, I became a member of
Lodge No. 4, of Indiana and am
still a member.
" 'About '51 or '52 he removed
to Illinois where he had entered
land. He afterward laid out the
town of Pana upon the land. I
was at his house as I was buying
cattle in that locality, soon after
the town was laid out. He told
me he had named it Pana, in
honoi- ot his wife.-Kzra O. Hayes,
Lawienceburg, Ind.' "
William Glascow mentiontnl in
the above letter is the great-gi-and-
father of Logan Griffith of this
city. Mr. Griffith attests to the
fact his mother told him at various
times that his grandfather, whose
wife's name was Anna, called her
"Pana."
The Griffiths leside at 115 South
Maple street in a house owned by
the above named William Glascow,
the deed for which is dated 1856.
Railroad directoiies and old
atlases show that at one time
there were 4 other Panas in North
America besides one in Illinois.
They were in Alabama, Wash-
ington, Kansas and in the Cana-
dian province of Ontario.
From the Chicago Tribune's
fjreign desk in 1949. Gilbert
Twiss informed the Pana News-
Palladium that Pana appealed a
number of times as the last name
of Romanians. From this infor-
mation it cannot be concluded
whether our city was named after
Mr. Pana i who might have been
Romanian ) or an Indian tribe.
In 1951 the Illinois State Regis-
ter's information office stated,
after a letter of inquiry from Miss
Jessie Winters, local newspaper-
woman now 83 and still working,
that it had checked with the Bu-
reau of Ethnology on Pana Indians
and the bureau reported that no
tiibe known as Pana Indians ever
inhabited central Illinois. The
Ponea Indians were called Pana
but never lived in Illinois.
Nationality Composition Changed Little
Early settlers of this area migra-
ted from the states of Ohio, Penn-
sylvania, and Kentucky. Some
were foreign born, but all had
lived in the eastern States before
coming to Pana.
By 1880 the population of the
city" had grown to 3,000. In 1890,
an increase of 2,077 was register-
ed, the city's population then being
5,077. This 2,077 increase was
100';', over the increase of the pre-
ceding 10-year period, when 1,200
new citizens were added.
Thereafter, the grov.-th of Pana
slowed considerably, for in 1900
the population stood at 5,530, 727
people of this total being foreign
born.
The nationality composition of
Pana changed with development of
the mines. Need for workers
brought an influx of people from
North Carolina, West Virginia, and
additional folk from Ohio, Penn-
.sylvania, and Indiana.
Also during this time a number
of immigrants from Eastern and
Southern Europe began to arrive.
The number of foreign-born in
Pana as snown by the census of
1890 was 594. Of this niunber
only 85 were under 20 years of
age. As was stated, by 1900 this
figure had risen to 727. Italy was
also represented in the population
of the city of Pana.
Prior to Jan. 31, of this year,
a group of 21 aliens in Pana town-
.ship filed with Postmaster Charles
"Chick" Tmvey. Immigration as
in earlier years is no longer the
primary factor in the growth o(
our city's population but still adds
a touch of the old world to that of
the new.
Pana's present population as of
the latest national census, taken
in 1950, is 6,178 in the city, and
7,536 in Pana township.
CHECKERBOARD SOYBEAN COMPANY
Pana,
Illinois
Phone
2310
GRAIN AND FERTILIZER
■^ Low Cost Soybean Storage Available to You -{^
May We Help You With Your Soil Fertility Problems?
Our FOURSQUARE CHECKER Challenges Us to
STAND TALL THINK TALL SMILE TALL LIVE TALL
PANA LABOR ASSEMBLY CREDIT UNION
1100 E. Jefferson St.
Telephone 3713
JOHN KRAUS,
President
VERN E. ANDERSON,
Sec. -Treasurer
'Teach Your Dollars to Have More Cents!
Compliments
RONCHETTI
DISTRIBUTING
COMPANY
DISTRIBUTORS OF
BUDWEISER
•
BUSCH
BAVARIAN
BEER
Phone 4040
Pana, lU.
HARTMAN'S DAIRY FREEZE
O Sandwiches O Root Beer •
• Orange •
Fourth and Poplar Pana, 111.
H
ILL PLUMBING
ARDWARE &
EATING CO.
PHONK 4630
Fifth & Kitchen Pana, 111.
PANA SECURITY
SYSTEM CORPORATION
O. H. BROWN, Treasurer
Pana, Illinois
NORA MOLZ
INSURANCE REAL ESTATE
Farm Lands and City Property For Sale
Loans Made on Real Estate
10 East Second Pana, Illinois
Res. Phone 3533 Office Phone 1050
There Is Also a "Pana" in Africa
Around the world from Pana,
Illinois, USA, situated in French
Kqiiatorial Africa, is another set-
tlement called Pana. The people
of this reg^ion are a strong looking
race, though black, living inde-
pendently by raising large gardens
and flocks of sheep and goats.
Peaceful now, the citizens of this
distant Pana were once known as
fighters throughout their land.
Although cannibalism was preva-
lent in their locality the African
Panas deny the practice.
The Panas live in mud huts with
grass roofs and make by hand all
the implements needed for surviv-
al, such as axes, earthen pots,
hoes and wooden stools, baskets,
and sieves.
For food these people raise
guinea corn, beans, peanuts, corn.
ground nuts, pumpkins and other
vegetables. They have some
chickens and ducks.
During dry seasons to provide
food the hunting is divided be-
tween the men and women with
the males tracking the animals
and fishing in streams while the
ladies hunt locusts an J grass-
hoppers.
Clothing for men is made from
the bark of a ceitain tree which
can be made flexible, or the skin
of a goat to serve as a loin cloth.
Women's fashions are somewhat
different, being made of leaves.
They wear an apion of leaves,
with a bouquet of leaves in back
tied on with a string around the
waist and decorated with .shells or
beads. In some villages clothes
are now worn as the government
has taken over the tribe and pays
for cotton raised by the Panas.
At one tinae the Panas defied
the government, resulting in war.
After loss of many lives in the
tribe they surrendered and
were brought down from their
inaccessible mountain villages and
settled in villages along roads,
where they now reside.
The above infomiation on the
Panas was gathered as the result
of News-Palladium contacting
Missionary Estella Myers of the
Panas, upon being referred to an
article by Miss Myers in a nation-
al religious magazine. During
correspondence with Miss Myers,
who resides in Nzoro par Bozum
par Bangui, French Equatorial
Africa, the Missionary kindly vol-
unteered the infoi-mation.
Nearest Neighbors - Oconee, Rosamond, Tower
Oconvv
A short time prior to the Civil
War, the village of Oconee was
incorporated.
The first person to enter land in
this township was Merida Hender-
son, who came in February of
1836. Widow Matney was the
first settler to actually make a
home in the vicinity. She was the
mother of 4 boys and 4 g^irls. The
Matney family came from Sanga-
iiion county.
Other early settlers wei-e: Thom-
as Holbrook, who came in 1840 and
lived in Oconee until his death in
1910; William Pryce (also of Pa-
na) who located in the area about
1834; and John Mount, who later
moved to Pana.
Other prominent citizens includ-
ed John Hinton, whose father set-
tled in the east part of the town-
ship in 1836; James Freeman,
owner of the house in which the
first preaching was done, and the
Rev. James Beck, the first preach-
i-v of the Baptist faith.
The first settlement laid out in
the township was called Luro.
When the Illinois Central con-
structed its railroad through this
part of the country, it refused a
1 equest by the citizens of Luro for
a switch at their town site. As a
result the settlement and business
enterprise died out.
Oconee was surveyed in 1855 by
E. G. Shallenbarger, County Sur-
veyor, on Section 29, and Freeman
Roberts and Hinton, having moved
their store building there from
Luro, began selling goods in
Oconee during the month of Aug-
ust, 1855. This was the first
town site.
The first house in Oconee was
erected by James A. Coplin, a
physician and carpenter, who also
kept a boarding house. The sec-
ond building was owned by Culber-
son & Co. and used for a saloon,
the firm later changing its busi-
ness to dry-goods.
William Gunnells served as the
first postmaster of Oconee and
agent for the Illinois Central rail-
road, the post office being located
in the depot. John McBride was
Oconee's first blacksmith.
Timber is giown in the town-
ship, particularly adjacent to wa-
ter courses, the western, northern
and central parts being good
prairie land. Soil is fairly pro-
ductive and for agriculture pur-
poses Oconee may be classed
among the good townships of Shel-
by county.
The village of Oconee, located 7
miles to the south of Pana on
Route 51, derived its name from
the Indian word "oconee," which
supposedly was the pioper name
of a beautiful "papoose" or Indian
maiden.
Henry Holthaus serves as mayor
of Oconee. The Village Council is
made up of T. A. Hebenstreit, Om-
er McBride, Otis Dooley, W. O. De-
Vore, Howard Woolard, and Earl
Kinney. Harry Wallar serves as
clerk and H. G. Rakers as treas-
At present Oconee is a village of
300 population governed by Village
Board. Business houses include
Rakers Lunch Room, Wallar Gro-
cery, Holthaus Gruceiy, Kinney's
Seivice Station, Bass Garage, G.
H. Rakers' Barber Shop, Diefen-
thaler Plumbing, Roy Satter-
thwaite Kennels, Rakers Brothers
Feed & Coal, and Andrew Flesch
Fertilizer & Trucking.
The Oconee telephone system is
owned and operated by Jim Fry.
There are now 2 schools in
Oconee, the Pana Unit grade
school and the Sacred Heart paro-
chial school under the charge of
the Rev. Fr. M. J. McGovern, who
in June, 1956, celebrated his Silver
Jubilee as a priest. Enrolled in
the unit grade school are 110
pupils. Sacred Heart enrollment
is 35.
Major organizations in the vil-
lage of Oconee are the American
Legion, Masons, and the Eastern
Star.
Churches ministering to the
spiritual needs of the population
are the Sacred Heart Catholic
Church with Fr. McGovern as
pastor: the Methodist church, the
Rev. Wesley Kersh, pastor, and
the Baptist church, served by the
Rev. Clifford Spires of Stonington.
Rosamond
Rosamond, neighboring Pana 4
miles to the west, was given its
name from the fact I hat during
the spring and early summer, the
prairies in the early days of
the county, weie covered with a
luxuriant growth of wild roses.
The township is located in the
.southeast part of the county,
being township 11 north range 1
west, and is bovmded on the north
by Locust township, on the east by
Pana township, on the south by
Montgomery county, and on the
west by Greenwood township.
The following- is a historical
sketch taken from a pamphlet
published by the Rosamond Ceme-
tery Assn.: "The village of Rosa-
mond, Christian County, 111., on
the line of the Cleveland, Cincin-
nati, Chicago & St. Louis Rail-
road, 4 miles west of the city of
Pana, was settled in 1856 by a
colony of Massachusetts people
who immediately established a
church and school.
"On the outskirts of the village
is beautiful Rosamond Grove
Cemetery, in which stands the
monument of Abraham Lincoln, a
gift in 1903 of the late Capt. and
Mrs. J. W. Kitchen, in honor of
those who served during the war
between the states."
In the same year, Capt. and
Mrs. Kitchell deeded to the ceme-
tery association approximately 50
acres of land lying immediately
west and south of the 10 original
acies of the cemetery.
Also located in the cemetery is
"Mary Lincoln," a gun cast in
Terre Haute, Ind., on order of the
Republican Club of Rosamond. At
the time of its use, a gun squad
consisting of Wallace P. Warner,
John Hirt, Ben E. Schermerhorn
and Frank Adams was trained
and drilled by Capt. Edward Hill,
formerly of the New York Militia.
Its first important service was
during the occasion of a mass
meeting at Springfield. It was
taken there by Capt. B. R. Hanley
accompanied by nearly every man
in Rosamond, its escort stopping
at Taylorville the first night out
and attracting much attention.
Arriving in Springfield, the com-
pany halted in front of the now
famous residence of Abraham Lin-
coln and fired a salute. Mr. Lin-
coln made his appearance amid
enthusiastic cheering and when
quiet was restored, was asked to
name the gim. Reflecting a
moment, then laying his hand on
the gun, he said, "Let it be named
after my wife." And so the gun
was christened Mary Lincoln and
ever after was known as such.
The town of Rosamond was first
surveyed and platted Oct. 25, 1860,
by C. A. Manneis for B. R. Haw-
ley and Phordice Boutwell, the
original proprietors.
The following were prominent
men in Rosamond during 1880; C.
D. Haywood, owner of the Hay-
wood elevator which he erected in
1875, with a capacity of 16,000
bushels; W. W. Powell, owner of
the Powell elevator with a capa-
city of 15,000 bushels, which was
erected in 1879; Louis Guth,
general merchant; Drs. G. M.
Walker, F. Fisher, and R. S.
Simpson; Matt Hilger, black-
smith; William Christner, wagon
maker; and John B. Frost, boot
and shoemaker.
Rosamond is presently a neigh-
borhood of 200 population.
Tower Hill
A history of Shelby county
states that Tower Hill Township is
mostly a high rolling prairie,
slightly timbered in the northeast
and southeast corners. This town-
ship has a more diversified and
beautiful landscape than probably
any other section of the county,
made so by the chain of mounds
(or as the old settlers term them —
knobs) which extends to the great-
er part of the northern and central
portions of the township.
The village of Tower Hill is on
the south side at the base of one of
the largest knobs in the township.
Originally known as "Pilot Knob"
it commands a beautiful view of
the country.
The settlement of Tower Hill
stems from the village of Westmin-
ster which was located one mile or
more southeast of the Eiler Ceme-
tery or in northwest corner of Sec-
tion 33, in 1848.
The construction of the Indian-
apolis & St. Louis Railroad, now
the New York Central, proved to
be a death blow to the pro.«nerity
of the villaffe. as Tower Hill was
laid out on the line of this railroad,
within 3 miles of Westminster.
Eventuallv the nlace was disband-
ed and all buildinp-s and businesses
moved to Tower Hill.
Tower Hill was surveyed by
Elias Smith, County Surveyor, in
June, 1857. It is said the village
was named for the "Tower Hill
Prison of London." During the
time the railroad was constructed,
a track was laid from the main
line to the side of the hill to ob-
tain gravel. All of this was man
and mule labor, and most of the
laborers were Englishmen. This
may have reminded them of their
English Tower Hill Prison, and
hence the name Tower Hill.
Tower Hill is presently a village
of 750 population, governed by a
village board administration. Vil-
lage officers are: H. A. Woodring,
president, and D. E. Thompson, H.
M. Nerstheimer, Mell Finks, Hal-
den McElrcy, Harold Halbrook and
Bruce Dilley. Leon Huttes serves
as village clerk.
Telephone Service Began About 1900
The Christian County Telephone
Co. was organized in Taylorville
and shortly afterward, in 1905,
operations in Pana and several
other towns were acquired by the
organization.
Pana's exchange began opera-
tion about 1900, with Warren
Penwell as one of the original in-
corporators.
The above Information was ob-
tained from the records of the Illi-
nois Consolidated Telephone Co.
presently serving Pana. However,
in an unofficial history of the city
written by a retired local journ-
alist the following was reported;
"The first telephone exchange
installed in Pana was about 1895,
when Dr. J. H. Miller and Robert
Johns foi-med a company, obtained
a city franchise and established a
system for the city. Previously a
private phone line was maintained
from the office of the Pana Coal
Company to the Union Station
and to the North Mine of the com-
pany."
In the year 1915 Pana seived
less than 900 phones. Phone in-
stallations began to gradually in-
crease, however, except during the
depression years. Following are
statistics of phones serviced in
Pana, taken at 10-year intervals
from 1925 to 1955: 1925—1200;
1935—872; 1945—1325; 1955—
2647. In the past 10 years these
statistics show a 100% increase.
Local calls handled a day in the
Pana office average 9,000, while
toll calls average 700.
Pana's first telephone was lo-
cated on Locust street north of
the present J. C. Penney Co.
store in a drug store operated by
R. C. Coyner. Later telephone
and telegraph combined offices,
and were situated east of the
Schuyler Bank site, now occupied
by the McCandlish Drug Co. For
a period of time it is said the of-
fice was located above George's
Confectionery. It then moved to
the building east of the present
site, now Rock's Confectionery,
and from this location to the
present building.
In 1924, Christian County Tele-
phone Co. became a part of the
Illinois Consolidated Telephone
Co., now operating in 33 cities in
central Illinois. It is an in-
dependent company, the 32nd
largest in the United States.
The local exchange has a staff
of 33 personnel, consisting of 25
operators, 3 supervisors, and one
chief operator, plus an office staff.
Development of the Local Educational System
At one time or iuiother in Christ-
ian county dating baclv to its or-
s^anizKtion in 1839, the children of
Ihe early pioneers and residents
have attended school of some
nature.
Formal education in the Pana
area began around the middle 40's
with records showing that in 1848
Henry H. Bond, Jacob Hanson and
Ignatius Butler weie elected the
lirst school trustees of Stone Coal
precinct. In 1854 the children in
the piecinct were enumerated
under the school law, a total count
of 94 being returned. In 1856
three school districts were formed
and again the children counted.
District 1 had 18 members, District
2—118, and Distiict 3—116.
Pana's first publicly financed
school came into being in the year
1857. An election was held to
select citizens to form a group
comparable to the present school
boards. Elected were W. C. Flem-
ing, president; Thomas Finley,
clerk; and Major Little, director.
The initial task of these men was
to find a location for Pana's first
house of learning.
Following a search during which
rooms about town were inspected
and bargained for, it was proposed
by a Mr. Hobson, proprietor of a
store then located on the north side
of Second street, slightly east of
the corner of Second and Locust
streets, now the heart of the down-
town shopping section, that he
partition half of his building for
use as a school room, the rent for
the space to be $20 a month. His
proposal was accepted.
The Pana Academy, as this first
public school was named, had as
principal a Mr. Hartshorn, who was
hired by the directors at a salary
of $40 a month and a Miss Grassy
to teach the grades for the sum of
§30 per month.
Furniture for the Academy con-
sisted of 40 walnut desks con-
it ructed by a local carpenter.
Heat for the room was supplied
by 2 wood stoves purchased from
Judge J. H. Dawdy, a Police
Magistrate of Pana during that
))eriod.
Finances were also taken into
consideration in those days. A
resolution was passed by the di-
rectors that wood for the school
would be purchased at a price no
higher than $3.00 a cord and the
principal, Mr. Hartshorn. would
be hired to chop the fuel at a wage
not to exceed $1.00 a cord.
At the closing of the year 1857,
Pana's education system consisted
of one-half of one store room, 2
teachers and 61 pupils.
There is mention of si'hool being
held diuing this period in the
Short house purchased by the dis-
trict at a price of $2000, but no
information could be found on this
location. However, in a history
written by C. Goudy, M.D., titled
"A Stray Chapter from the Un-
published History of Christian
County," detailing the origin and
growth of the Presbyterian church
in Pana, a Miss Ophelia Putnam,
noted later in this article for
teaching the first school in Rosa-
mond, is said to have taught Ih,^
first school in Pana.
Mr. Goudy says, "This house
(location of the first Presbyterian
services by the Rev. Joseph Gor-
dan of Vandalia) was built origin-
ally for a school house and in it
was taught the first school in
Pana by Miss Ophelia Putnam of
Rosamond. It then fronted on the
open prairie, standing on the rear
end of the Beckwith-Walsh lot,
with no fences, .streets, or build-
ings near."
This could very well be true, as
Miss Putnam was not employed
until 1856 as a teacher for the
Rosamond grades, while according
to Goudy the building was "ori-
ginally built as a school, prior to
its use as a house of worship in
1356." The Illinois Central in its
census for 1856 listed one school
building in Pana.
On Aug. 11 of the year 1858.
President Fleming a.".d Clerk
Finley contracted for Pana's first
pemianent school building. This
structure was a 2-story, weather-
board building measuring 37x51
feet and was erected on the south-
east corner of Second and Pop-
lar stieets.
It was used until 1866 when
the front portion of the first east
school (Lincoln) was built. In
this same year the student popu-
lation of the village increased and
more space was needed. To sup-
plement the east building, another
structure was erected in the west
part of the village. the present
Washington school site.
This newest addition was razed
by fire on Feb. 13, 1872. but con-
struction was started immediate-
ly and before the end of the school
yeai classes were again being held
in the west school. During con-
struction of the new building stu-
dents attended classes in (he City
Hall.
Again came the need for more
space, and shortly after the com-
pletion of the west building the
rear portion of the east school
was added.
No nienlion h;i.s lioen made up
to this point of the Sacred Heart
Parochial school of St. Patrick's
parish which stands behind the
present church and parish house.
Its his'.ory dates back to the
years 1835-1873 during the in-
cumbjncy of the Rev. Fr. Julian
Turmel. The present building of
24 rooms was not erected until
1910.
Prior to this, classes were con-
ducted in a frame building near
th2 site of the present Echool on
\h3 co'.ner of Fourth and Oak
streets. Classes were held here
until 1887 when the older part of
the brick edifice was constiiicted.
This building contained only 4
rooms and housed 8 grades. The
ground for the present structure
as it can be seen today was broken
on July 19, 1916, and the school
was ready for occupancy on Nov,
1 of that year. Prese:il enroll-
ment of the Sacred Heart School
is 228 pupils, with 5 Sisters of the
Dominican oider attending them.
With tho early 1890s there
came a wave of prosperity to the
city, no doubt stemming from the
progress of the coal mining in-
dustry. The growth of the city
was outdistancing its growth in
schooling facilities. To eliminate
overcrowded school looms, 2
rchools were built in 1893, these
being (he Lowell and Longfellow,
Known respectively as the South
and North schools.
During tha year 1897 th3 Illinois
State compulsory school attend-
ance law was passed. This legis-
lation again placed an overload of
students in Pana schools. Be-
cause of this situation the Young
Men's Christian Association build-
ing was rented to house a high
school. Up to this time the east
and west buildings had included
their own high schools, but held
joint graduation exercises in the
Hayward Opera House, which sat
on th3 northwest coiner of Poplar
and Main streets.
The first annual commencement
if the Pana High School was held
in 188G on June 4. The Rev. E. W.
Clark, the city's Presbyterian
minister, presented diplomas to a
class of 11 girls. Those graduat-
ing were: Julia Smith. Nellie Van-
deveer. Bessie Reid, Love Race.
Mary Pellat. Minnie Johnson.
Anna Neely, Fannie Wight. Nellie
Shsean. Susie McDeimott (mother
of the noted journalist Vincent
Sheeani and Henrietta Schlier-
bach.
In 1908. the citizens of the city
deemed it nece.ssary to erect an-
other school. An election was
Compliments
FOWLER'S
BARBER SHOP
ANSCOTT & TATE
CAFE
Routes 29-16-51
Pana, Illinois
OPEN 24 HOURS
Regular Meals • Short Orders
O Sandwiches •
© Home Made Pies •
• Special Sunday Dinners •
PANA TRADES
AND LABOR COUNCIL
Vern E. Anderson, President
Samuel E. Hillman, Secretary
Michael N. Kuhn, Treasurer
MOON'S
SELF-SERVICE LAUNDRY
Modern Equipment and Service
Sat. 8 to 12 Week Days 8 to 5
16 S. Poplar St. Pana, 111.
!'"" .
GUNDEL'S
Department
Pana
City of Roses
Store
12 East Second
Pana, Illinois
BRADLEY'S FLOWERS
FLOWERS FOR
EVERY OCCASION
41 S. Locust
Pana, 111.
co@^'
Locally Owned — Nationally Organized
30 S. Locust Pana, 111.
"Say li With Flowers''
—FROM—
PANA
ROSE GARDENS
PHONE 2450
WE DELIVER
BIG ELM
MOBILGAS STATION
"Everything For Your Automobile"
Ross Whittington, Prop.
Second and Poplar Phone 692
CUSTER & ALLEN
• Hardware • Tools *
• Skelgas * Appliances •
42 S. Locust Pana, 111.
Compliments
@tumpf
'a?^ie
WEST
PANA
ON
ROUTE
16
held, voting on site and bonds for
the Field school. This movement
carried and the site selected is the
present Field school location.
Following construction of the
Field building in I he northwest
section of the city, the present
high school building, except for
the gymnasium and adjoining
classrooms, was built in 1909.
This stnicture was raised at a
cost of $75,000 to the citizens ol
Pana. Since completion, the high
.school has had one addition. In
1924 the present gymnasium and
classrooms forming the north end
of the school were annexed tu llu'
old building.
Two years prior to the hit;li
school addition, 1922, the present
building housing the Washington
school was built. A year latei.
in 1923, the Lincoln school wa.'^
constructed. Both buildings an'
of the same architectural design
except for the west wing at Lin-
coln being slightly larger than at
Washington.
Voting for establishing what is
now the present system, Pana
Community Unit District No. 8,
was held on Saturday, Feb. 28,
1948, consolidation becoming ef-
fective in June of the same year.
As stated in the official de-
scription of the district the boun-
daries of the unit in 1948 extend-
ed 161 2 miles north and south of
the city of Pana and 15 1/2 miles
to the east and west, including
Rosamond and Oconee.
In recent years the boundaries
liave changed, with additions, to
17 1^. miles to the north and south
and 16 '2 miles, east and west.
At the time of voting, taxable
property in the unit was evaluated
at $22,800,000, but has risen in
J956 to $32,043,168.
A total of 8 student centers
make up Pana Community Unit
No. 8, including one school situated
in Rosamond, one in Oconee, and
the remaining 6 in the city of
Pana. Students in the unit num-
bering 1926, 979 boys and 947
girls, are served by 124 employees
of the unit. This figure includes
88 teachers, 12 janitors, 11 cooks,
10 bus drivers, and 3 secretaries.
The origin of the development
of the Pana Township school sys-
tem into a unit district goes back
to 1941 when 11.997 school dis-
tricts made up the state of Illinois.
In each of these districts were
many outlying rural schools for
which teachers could not be ob-
tained. As a result of this situa-
tion, the state legislature was con-
stantly prevailed upon to pass
laws on enrollment requirements
for schools which wished to obtain
state aid. Many lural schools
whose enrollment did not make up
the state requirement were forced
to close because of lack of funds.
Back a fru wars aun th • Taiia si In. lU 1111,1 d in May F>stivals. In
this gala affair iin .May iO, 191(i, lunc I'.im.ll i.Mi^. <;. (i. McCandlish)
had just been crowned Queen by Liny Johnson (Mrs. Koger DeHart).
I'hotj from the souvenirs of Mr-. K. A. Cutler, who in 1916 was supir-
visor of music in the sehooU.
County survey committees were
then drawn up to map consolida-
tion measures for their respective
counties, the units to be as nearly
as practicable equal both in size
and financial resources.
With Rosamond and Oconee in-
cluded in Pana Community Unit
District No. S and Tower Hill
close by to the east, it is fitting to
present a brief resume of early
education in tlio:?o 3 outlying
area^.
Rosamond's first education
facility was a house which stood
on the present location of tho
McClain home. It was here Miss
Ophelia Putnam in 1856 applied
the principle of the golden lule to
the younger generation of the
village.
The first parmanent schDol
building was erected in 1858. It
was a one-room structure in back
of the present site. Both high
and grade schools were held here.
For some time the high school
of Rosamond was a 3-year school,
but in the fall of 1932 became an
accredited 4-year high school.
Presented to the public in 1922.
a bond issue of $23,000 was passed
for the purpose of constructing
the present Rosamond building,
less the gymnasium. George
Scott. Charles Kimball and A. B.
Cowgill were on the Board of Di-
rectors at this time. The building
was completed in 1924.
Seven years elapsed and anothei-
bond issue in the amount of $7,000
was passed. This amount was to
be used in the building of a gym-
nasium. The issue wa:
and the gymnasium annexed to
the old building.
With the consolidation of Rosa-
mond into the Pana Unit, stu-
dents from Rosamond high school
now attend classes in Pana with
the old Rosamond school used as
a giade build'ng for the children
of the Rosamond neighborhood.
Seven mile.i to the south of
Pana, the village of Oconee boasted
a school erected in 1838. It was
leplaced by a laiger building
which was still in use in 1860.
This building was sold and moved
to r> nearby farm and at present is
b?ing used as a barn.
Oconee's second school was
o'.ccted in 1846. The following
April of 1847, William Pryco
opened a "subscription" school
which he taught 2 years con-
secutively. This building was of
logs, with oil paper for windows.
Later it was organized as Mt.
Pleasant school district and later
yet became "Mount school." This
building was struck by lightning
and damaged. It was used until
1895 when it was replaced by a
larger frame building.
FcUowing the incorporatio.i of
lh» village of Oconee a frame
building was erected in 1856 anel
.'erved the community for school
purposes until 1860. This school
building was located in what is
now the former Oconee bank
building. In the late '60's a 2
story building was erected across
:he street, east of the present site.
For several years only the lower
PANA COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
Congratulates the Pana Centennial Inc., and all its committees.
The Pana Community Credit Union has had a small part in mak-
ing Pana a better place to live in. We are 14 years old and cele-
brating along with the Pana people and their 100th anniversary.
FRANK L. KINSEY LOUIS HILDEBRAND
PAUL W. SCHNUTE FRANK DUCHANEY
CHESTER L. MORTON VERN E. ANDERSON
CHAS. F. BRYSON JUSTIN J. TAPPERO
EDWIN J. LONGWELL
"Teach Your Dollars to Have More Cents"
WAYNE FEED SUPPLY CO., INC.
( Formerly Sunshine Stores Inc. )
H. E. McNeely, Mgr.
Phone 2880 Pana, 111.
MARVIN NANTKES
PLUMBING, HEATING
SHEET METAL
Phone 1302 13 S. Locust
Compliments of
McCRACKEN
FUNERAL HOME
308 East Second Street
Pana, Illinois
FOUNDED IN 1864
by the Late
KIRKPATRICK FAMILY
Compliments From
WM. H. AMLING
and
BILL J. SLATER
ED DAVIS
KROGER MANAGER
Pana, Illinois
SHIRLEY SHOP
ExchisLve Ladies' Ready-to-W ear
Phone 1060 Pana, 111.
level of this building was used for
classrooms, the upper story being
used for community social func-
tions. On May 1. 1916, a bond
issue was voted for the building of
a much larger and more modern
building. It was finished early
in 1917 by a contractor from
Pana. Joseph McCarthy. The
building still stands as the present
Oconee grade school.
To the east of Pana approxi-
mately 7 miles in the village of
Tower Hill the exact date of the
beginning of formal education is
not known. However, the first
.school built was a small log cabin
of hickory logs, named "Old Hick-
ory." This structure stood near
Ihe center of Section 3 and records
show that Charles McCabe was
among the first teachers.
From a history of Tower Hill by
Homer Eiler the following infor-
mation was obtained: "In 1866 the
first school, a one-room frame
building, stood facing the south
about where the present west
wing of the grade school stands.
It had 2 front doors and the teach-
er's desk was placed just between
them. Mrs. Dave Canaan was one
of the first teachers. A one-
armed man, Mr. Miller, taught
about 1867. D. S. Miller taught
2 terms during the last of which
the pupils were divided, Cass
Brown taking the first and second
grades to a building between the
present post office and the M. K.
Parsonage.
"In 1869 a second building was
added on the site of the present
school ground. This was a gabled
red brick building with a belfry.
Dr. I. L. Brant was a teacher in
1869. In the early ■70's, J. W.
Sharrock, a Civil War veteran,
was one of the teachers. Mrs.
Frances Baines, W. C. Kelley and
Wash Rarer taught in the late
•70's.
"In 1889 came a 2-story new
addition to the gabled red brick
school house plus an addition to
the belfry. In 1895 the new
building built in '89 burned, and
was later repaired. A number of
years later the school was doubled
in size by the addition on the east,
as it stands today, and is being
used as the Grade School.
"Previous to 1920 it had been
community talk, pro and con, as
to the advisability of establishing
a community High School to meet
the demands of 8th grade grad-
uates of the town and rural cen-
ters. As a result, the first Towei
Hill Community High School was
officially opened in the fall of
1922. The enrollment for the first
year was 47 with a graduating
class of 3. KnroUment soon in-
creased and it became evident that
larger quarters would be neces-
i-ATy to take care of the rapid
growth.
"In 1924 a wooden frame tem-
porary building consisting of 3
large rooms was built on the east
side of the present grade school.
It was a great help and gave addi-
tional class rooms for the High
School. It provided a
laboratory and 2 large cla
"Federal monetary assistance
was secured and in February of
1936, a new high school, the pres-
ent building, had been erected at
a co3l of $68,000 and occupied."
The Tower Hill Community
High School's area covers 62
square miles.
Pi-esent enrollment in the high
school is 80 students, directed by
a staff of 9 teachers. Grade
school enrollment totals 218, with
10 faculty members. Superin-
tendent of tho Tov.-er Hill School-
is C. E. Adams.
History of the Churches of the Pana Cominunity
Presbyterian Church
Tower Hill
The Tower Hill Presbyterian
Church was organized on Sunday,
Feb. 17, 1867, by the Rev. A. G.
Norton and the Rev. William P.
Geitsworth, members of the Alton
Pi'esbytery.
Members of the congregation at
that lime were Sylvester Van
Dyke. Mrs. Lucy Van Dyke,
Thomas B. Johnson, William Mc-
Kittrick, Mrs. Susanah E. Baines,
Dr. Geo. Fringer, Mrs. Martha V.
Fringer, Mrs. Caroline Everitt,
and Peicy McDowell.
Early leaders of the church in-
cluded Fred Stumpf (grandfather
of James Stumpf of Pana), elect-
ed and ordained an elder Dec. 30,
1871, and Dr. Geo. Fringer (great-
uncle of Clark Fringer of Tower
Hill) who was a charter member
of the congregation.
Minister of the Tower Hill Pres-
byterian church now is the Rev.
Roy A. Brumbaugh. J. A. Culum-
ber is clerk of the Session. The
congregation numbers 37.
Christian Church
Pana
The present Pana Christian
Church was inaugurated during
August, 1954, by Minister-Evan-
gelist C. E. Shepherd of Mt.
Vernon, 111.
Brother Lawrence Carpenter
ministered to the congregation
until January of 1955 when the
present pastor, the Rev. Merlo
Melton of Walnut Hill, was called
to take the congregation.
The Christian church is located
at 405 East First street, and
services are held in a residence
converted to a house of worship.
This denomination was or-
ganized twice before in the city of
Pana. The first organization was
in the year 1857 and the second
during 1875. No church was
ever erected by these congrega-
tions. Mr. Melton's congregation
totals 31 members.
St. Paul's E. & R. Church
Dollville
In the year 1865 the St. Paul
Church of Dollville was organized
by a group of German-Americans
undei the leadership of Matthias
Galster.
They affiliated themselves with
the German Evangelical Synod of
North America, now the Evan-
gelical & Reformed Church. After
meeting for a few years in pii-
vate homes for worship, the con-
gregation erected a small brick
building in 1869 on an acre tract
of land donated by one of the
group, the late Jacob Weber. It
was of soft bricks, some of which
were home-made, wliilo the rest
were purchased in Pana. This
structure 's still standing about a
quarter of a mile north of the
present church and is used as a
meeting place by church organiza-
tions and family gatherings. It is
called the Brick Community House.
A new building was erected for
the congregation in 1887 some
distance north of the old church.
The exact date of the first par-
sonage is not known but it is
believed to have been constructed
between the years 1880 and 1884.
In 1917 the old parsonage was
replaced by a modern 2-story
frame house, which is the minis-
ter's residence today.
Church officers for 1956 are:
Fred Galster, vice-president ;
Charles Munzenmaier, vice-presi-
dent; John H. Weber, secretary:
Walter Gerhold, treasurer. Mem-
bers of the Church Council are
Roscoe Vincent, John Gerhold jr.,
Arthur Christopher, Julius
Metzger jr., and Garold Brunken.
Officers of the Sunday School
are: Arthur Christopher, superin-
tendent; Julius Metzger jr..
assistant superintendent ; Mrs.
Walter Gerhold, secretary; Lever-
ett McDonald, treasurer.
Pastor of the Dollville church is
the Rev. T. H. Hosto. The con-
gregation now numbers 65.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
PANA, ILLINOIS
Continues to Render a Prompt and Efficient Banking Service
to the People of Pana and the Surrounding Community.
• Member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
*■ Member of the Federal Reserve System
Compliments of
THE 0. H. PADDOCK LUMBER CO.
"The Place to Buy Lumber"
READY MIX CONCRETE
Pana, Illinois Phone 1230
Shelbyville, Illinois - Phone 77
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AIR CONDITIONERS
Phone 3162
1002 South Poplar
Pana, Illinois
SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS . .
... To the People of the Pana Com-
munity for 100 Years of Work
and Progress !
PANA TOWNSHIP OFFICERS
Chas. J. Slaymaker, Supervisor
Don E. Beyers, Highway Comm.
Frank L. Kinsey, Town Clerk
Homer Millet, Assessor
TOWN BOARD
George W. Courtney
Ferd C. Stocker
A. H. Pranke
CONSTABLES
George W. Searles
Charles Kirkpatrick
Ted Schmidt
Ben Oakley
Wm. L. Metzger
SERVING ILLINOIS SINCE 1849
Township Government . . .
"The Government Nearest
to the People"
St. John's E. & R. Church
Pana
A wave of German immigrants
to the United States shortly after
the turn of the nineteenth cen-
tury led missionary societies of
Germany and Switzerland to send
representatives to the mid-west.
One of these, the Rev. Matthia.s
Galster. is credited with organiz-
ing: the first Evangelical con-
gregation in this vicinity. It
was located 10 miles northeast of
the city in DoUville and was or-
ganized in 1865. Later a con-
giegation was founded in this city
under the name German Evan-
gelical Lutheran.
In December of 1865 the con-
gregation decided to build a
church at the cost of $3000. This
structure was a frame building
40x25. By 1893 the building
proved too small and negotiations
were begun which finally bought
the building of the Reformed
Presbyterian church. Shortly
after this property was purchased,
a school room was added. This is
the present site of the church.
In 1915 the church was reno-
vated and on Nov. 14 of that year
the organization's 50th anniver-
sary was celebrated. Ground was
broken on Oct. 13, 1952. for the
addition of an educational anne.x
to the church. This project war;
completed and dedicated on Dec.
6, 1953.
Serving as pastor of St. John's
Evangelical & Reformed Chuich is
Ihe Rev. Robert A. Nolte.
The congregation numbers 333.
First Presbyterian Church
Pana
On the 21st day of May, 1856, a
leligious society known as the
First Presbyterian Church was
formed m Pana by the Rev. Joseph
Gordon. At the same time 5
trustees. John M. Patton, Quentin
B. Strider, C. H. Tunnison, Mason
French and Franklin Saunders,
were elected for a term of 5 years.
A building committee was form-
ed and a contract was made with
Thomas B. Hickman of Vandalia
to construct a frame house 34x50
feet in size, to be completed by
Jan. 1, 1857. This building was
not completed on schedule but
soon afterward. Befoie it was
dedicated, however, a tornado
passed through on June 13, 1857,
carrying away a portion of the
roof. Rain then damaged plaster-
ing and rendered the building
unfit for use. Through donations
by townsfolk the building was
again made ready for use and on
Sept. 19, 1857, the Rev. Joseph
Gordon preached the first sermon
in the church.
In the year 1876 a brick build-
ing was erected and the congrega-
tion moved to the new meeting
quarters. This edifice was de-
stroyed by fire early on 1 he morn-
ing of Dec. 23, 191C. Plans were
under way at this time for Ihj
construction of a new building and
the fire hastened its completion.
Ths result of this effort is Ihc
present Presbyterian Church.
The present pastor is the Rev.
Bruce O. Larson. Present mem-
bership in the congregation stands
at 300.
First Baptist Chtirch
Pana
Another Pana ihuicli cele-
brating its centennial this year is
the First Baptist Church. Baptist
citizens of the city met as early as
this date 100 years ago. although
the church was not organized until
1858. A council was held in July
of that year, composed of several
men to consider the expediency of
oiganizing a Baptist Church in
Pana. A congregation of 8 mem-
bers composed the first Baptist
Church in Pana.
Membership in the congregation
presently is approximately 419.
Church offices are held by Day-
ton Prater, treasurer; Marion An-
derson, clerk; Vesper Culberson,
Sunday School superintendent.
Deacons of the church include
Clint Dean, Vesper Culberson,
Dayton Prater, Lloyd Ilalbrook,
Clifford Culberson, Ernest Sickles.
Doyle Compton, Marion Anderson
and James Akers.
The present building is the sec-
ond, the first having been erected
in 1860 and the present stiucture
in 1925.
The Rev. Albert Rust serves as
pastor.
Sacred Heart Chiirch
Oconee
Catholic settlers in Oconee were
mostly immigrants from the vi-
cinity of Hannover, Germany, and
from Dutch settlements on th?
border of Holland.
At the time of the settling of
Oconee the closest priest was
located in Pana but could not
understand the native language of
the people.
In 1869, Gerhardt Herman
Rakers sr., came to Oconee. Mr.
Rakers was the pillar supporting
the move to obtain a priest for his
new home community.
As a result of his efforts, the
Rev. Michael Weiss, who at that
time was the pastor of the Van-
dalia church and also ministering
to the village of Ramsey, consent-
ed to visit the Oconee congrega-
tion occasionally.
The first church was built in
1872, a building of 18x36 ft. di-
mensions. The first Mass was
sung in this structuie on May 9.
of that year. During the service
wagon seats weie used as pews
and some of the faithful brought
chairs. The second church build-
ing was started in 1891, the con-
gregation having grown too large
to be housed in the old church.
The contract was let for a frame
slruc.u'.e, 60x36 ft., with a tower
05 ft. high and let to Skinner
Brothers of Oconee. The corner-
stone of this house of worship was
laid in October of 1891.
The third and present edifice, of
brick construction, was built in
1912. The cornerstone was laid
on Sept. 9 of that year. Joseph
McCarthy of Pana was the con-
tractor. The new church was
dedicated Sept. 21, 1913. On the
same date, the new parsonage,
nearly completed, was blessed.
The Oconee parochial school
wa.s opened in September of 1922
and staffed by the Sisters of St.
Theresa Academy of Decatur.
The present congregation of thi-
Oconee church is 260.
Thirty-five children attend the
Sacred Heart school.
The Rev. Fr. Michael J. Mc-
Govern is pasloi- of th:? Oconee
church.
Methodist Church
Oconee
The Rev. William Wihiier wa.s
said to be the oiganizer of the
Methodist church in Oconee some
time prior to the year 1864, when
the first church was built. Before
construction of the church, servic-
es were held in a school house.
In 1907 the first church was
deemed too small for the growing
congregation and a brick edifice
was erected on the same location
and was dedicated in 1908. This
building was rejuvenated in 1951
and scarcely a year later, Jan. 28,
1952, was completely destroyed by
fire. A new church is now near-
ing completion on the same site
and will probably be dedicated
this year.
The present building occupied by
the Oconee Methodist Church was
started in the fall of 1952 follow-
ing the fire, under the direction of
Uie Rev. Jiles E. Klrkland. The
cornerstone was laid on Apr. 26,
1953, and first services were held
on October 3, 1954, with the ob-
servance of World-Wide Commun-
ion Sunday. In December, 1955.
the debt of $2,000 against the
church was paid and presently it
stands debt-free with only a few
minor remaining jobs to be com-
pleted before dedication.
Ministering to the needs of the
Methodist congregation in Oconee
is the Rev. Wesley I. Kersh who
also serves the Ohlman and Fair-
view Methodist congregations.
Church of the Nazarene
P'ana
The Pana Church of the Naza-
rene was organized on July 6,
1924, with 5 charter members.
The Rev. E. O. Chalfant, district
superintendent of the Chicago
Central District, presided.
The history of the mother
church goes back to the year
1895 with a few congi-egations
forming the association of Pente-
costal Churches of the Nazarene.
In the same year on the west
coast the first Chui'ch of the
Nazarene was formed in Los An-
geles, Cal. These groups from the
east and west united in 1907 as
the Pentecostal Church of the
Nazarene. In 1919 the name was
changed to Church of the Naza-
The Nazarene Church of Pana
was first located on South Pine
street. In 1941 the congregation
was moved to a basement on
South Cedar street and in 1945
moved to the present location on
the corner of Third and Spruce
streets. The present congrega-
tion, with the Rev. H. K. Burton
as minister, numbers 60. There
are 120 in Church School.
Church of Christ
Pana
The Church of Christ began
meetings in Pana in September of
1951 in the Clint Miller home. In
November of the same year, meet-
ings were held in quarters at 125
East Second. From that location
the church was moved to 600 West
Second street in May of 1952.
During the summer of 1952 a lot
at 14 Franklin street was pur-
chased and construction on a new
church started. The church is
presently nearing completion.
There are now 25 members in
the local congregation.
The principles of the Church of
Christ were brought to this coun-
try in colonial times by a group
of refonners including Thomas
and Alexander Campbell, Walter
Scott and Samuel Kogers.
First Assembly of God
Pana
A basement building located at
105 Cedar was built by the Naza-
rene denomination in 1935 and
later sold to the American Legion.
This building was purchased in
August of 1948 by the Home Mis-
sion of the Illinois District Council
of the Assembly of God. At the
time there were no known mem-
bers of this denomination in the
city of Pana.
In November, 1948, the church's
first pastor, the Rev. W. C. Rus-
sell, moved to Pana with the
desire to build a church. On Jan.
G, 1949, the first Sunday School
convened with a total of 6 in at-
tendance.
On Mar. 26, 1951, work was
begun on the basement room used
for worship and on Mar. 21, 1952,
the present building was com-
pleted. The church was dedicated
on the same date. Mr. Russell
resigned his pastorate in March,
1954, and was succeeded by the
Rev. E. E. Austin, who was re-
cently succeeded by the Rev. Del-
bert W. Arnold.
Present membership in the
church is 60.
Full Gospel Church
Pana
The Full Gospel Church was or-
ganized in Pana in 1941 by the
Rev. Eva Hunt. The congrega-
tion of the church was made up
of 8 charter members, including
Howard Sims, Genine Sims, Mae
Brown, Clint Brown, and their
families.
The Full Gospel denomination
was founded in 1900 and presently
is made up of 3600 ministers and
missionaries in foreign fields.
First services of the Pana Full
Gospel Church were held on the
front porch of a residence at 1000
East Jefferson street. In 1942 a
basement church was built and in
1948 over this place of worship,
the present church was con-
structed.
Mrs. Hunt still serves as pastor
of the church. Church officers
are; Chas. Cox, secretary; S. H.
Sanders, treasurer; and Howard
W. Sims, Sunday School superin-
tendent. The church board in-
cludes Chas. Cox, Clarence Beard.
Howard W. Sims, Mae Brown,
and S. H. Sanders.
The Full Gospel Church has a
membership of approximately 300.
In June of this year, con-
struction was commenced on a
new 30x45 ft. education annex for
the church. Ground was broken
Sunday, June 10.
Latter Day Saints Church
Pana
The Church of the Latter Day
Saints was organized in Pana in
1904. E. E. Stanger was deacon
of the congregation, Fred Nowack,
priest, and F. M. Sherrock, presi-
dent.
The church building which pres-
ently stands on South Sheridan
street is the first erected. It was
built during the summer of 1904
and has served the congregation
since.
Present officers of the church
are: Paul Rudow, elder; Edward
Nowack, piiest; James Munson,
teacher; and Reuben Edwards,
deacon.
The congregation numbers 41.
First Methodist Church
Pana
The First Methodist Church of
Pana was organized in the
year 1856 and celebrates its cen-
tennial with that of the city. First
meetings of the congregation
were in homes until a building
near where the Union Depot now
stands was secured. This build-
ing was later moved and repaired,
occupying the present site on the
northeast corner of Third and
Poplar streets.
In 1892 the present church
building was built. The Morrison
family made a donation to the
church in 1922 which helped make
possible the educational building
and basement annexed to the east
of the church sanctuary. In re-
cent years a new educational
building was constructed and
named Trinity Hall; it was annex-
ed to the north of the church
building.
The name of the denomination
until 1939 was Methodist Epis-
copal Church. Then the Metho-
dist Protestant Church and the
Methodist Episcopal Church South
combined with the Methodist
Episcopal.
Membership in the church now
numbers 984. The pastor is the
Rev. Lawrence R. Tagg.
Free Methodist Church
Pana
Organization of the Free Metho-
dist Church in Pana took place
between the years 1889 and 1891.
The church was formed following
a revival held here by 3 girl
evangelists. A lot was purchased
from Miss Lucy Borgett and a
church was erected at 205 West
Fourth street, across the street
and southeast of the present lo-
cation. In later years the build-
ing was moved to the northeast
corner of Clark and Fourth
streets.
The Free Methodist denomina-
tion was founded in Pekin, N. Y.,
on Aug. 23, 1860, by a group of
lay members and ministers.
Around the year 1858, in the
Genesee Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church in New
York state, a group of preachers
and many members of the church
were excluded from the church for
ecclesiastical reasons and in turn
formed this new organization.
Holding church offices here this
year are Fred Johnson, Charles
Ashcraft, Clifford Pruett, John J.
Castle. Lloyd Geisler, Elva Stone-
burner, Barbara Vilcot, Pauline
Jayne, Bessie Geisler, William
Shuman and Louvella Presnell.
The Rev. Tony R. Jayne is pastor.
Present membership of the church
is 44.
Methodist Church
Millersville
The Milleisburg- i now Millers-
ville i Methodist Episcopal church
was organized as a society in
1871. when a group of residents
met on Aug. 12, and elected the
following 9 trustees; Thomas
Miller, chairman; Jeremiah Max-
well, John Brain, Joseph Shaw,
Andrew Barrett, Samuel Dusen-
berry. George Miller, Fred Sec-
lest, and M. G. Okey.
The first church building was to
have been completed Sept. 1, 1872,
but no records are available as to
the dedication date or the first
pastor's name.
In 1916, a new parsonage wa.s
built to the north of the church
building. E. E. McVicker was the
chairman of the Building Com-
mittee,
On Oct. 19, 1921, fire destroyed
2 giain elevators, the church and
home of O. E. Clark in Millersville.
Services were then held in the
community school house.
Following this tragedy the Illi-
nois Conference offered Millers-
ville the Willow Dale church
building which stood 6 miles south
of Stonington and whose con-
gregation had disbanded. The of-
fer was accepted and the church
moved to its present site and
was dedicated on Sunday, Nov. 8,
1925.
In 1931, Millersville was joined
to the Ohlman circuit and the
pastor lived in Ohlman, conse-
quently the parsonage was sold.
Present officers of the church
are as follows:
Mrs. Eugene Funk, Church
School superintendent; Gerald
Stattner, treasurer; Mrs. Gerald
Stattner, WSCS president; Mrs.
Paul Ewing, treasurer for the
building fund.
The present congregation of the
Millersville Methodist Church is
81. The Rev. Kenneth Voas is
pastor, also serving Buckeye and
Owaneco Methodist congregations.
St. Patrick's Church
Pana
St. Patrick's parish in Pana was
organized under the direction of
Fr. Thomas Cusack in 1858. Prior
to this time Catholics in the vi-
cinity had been served by priests
passing through the settlement or
those whose time was divided
between Pana and other settle-
ments in central Illinois.
The first Catholic house of wor-
ship was erected in 1860. With
the growing of the Catholic con-
giegation, it was necessary in
1883 to construct a larger church.
This building was completed dur-
ing the incumbency of the Rev.
Fr. Ferdinand Stick.
Church property remained the
same until March of 1926 when
the present St. Patrick's edifice
was built, under the direction of
Monsignor J. P. Moroney, perhaps
the best known priest over to
serve in the city of Pana.
Under his guidance the parish
of St. Patrick's grew both fi-
nancially and in stature. During
Monsignor Moroney's service at
St. Patrick's many additions were
made to the parish. Through his
interest and work the parochial
school was improved, the Com-
munity House located on the
corner of Locust and Fourth
streets built, and Hvibcr Mem()ii:\l
Hospital completed.
The congregation of St. Pat-
rick's, the largest in the city, is
made up of 500 families. The
Rev. Fr. Thomas J. O'Neill is the
present pastor, assisted by Fr
John F. Barrett.
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Pana
The first services of the St.
Paul Lutheran Church in Pana
were held in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Martin C. Amling, 500 East
First street, on Mar. 26, 1922.
Next a hall above Oyler cafe.
32 South Locust, was rented, and
services conducted there begin-
ning Apr. 15, 1922.
The first church building, a
portable frame chapel, was dedi-
cated on Sept. 2, 1923, at the
corner of West Third and South
State streets.
First church officers were: Her-
bert A. Amling, president, Albert
Berlin, secretary-treasurer; Mar-
tin C. Amling, deacon.
The charter congregation of the
Pana Lutheian church totaled 15.
It has now grown to 256.
In 1944 the congregation pur-
chased property at the corner of
Fourth and Kitchell and dedicated
the next house of worship on Apr.
24, 1949. A 2-story residence,
east of the church was purchased
on Feb. 1, 1955, and is used as an
educational building.
The first church-owned parson-
age was purchased Aug. 29, 1941,
at 201 South Sheridan. A new
parsonage, east of the educational
building, is .-n process of con-
struction.
Present church officeis are:
Richard Rollo, president; Martin
C. Amling, treasurer; Percy Turn-
er, financial secretary; Delbert
Stortzum, recoiding secretary.
Sei-ving the congregation as pastor
is Rev. Arthur T. Kuehnert.
Community Presbyterian
Rosamond
Rosamond Community Presby-
terian Church among other or-
ganizations in this locality will
celebrate its centennial this yeai .
The first antecedent of the church
in Rosamond was a Congregation-
al church, during the year 1856.
The Methodist Church was or-
ganized ;n 1864 and the 2 churches
federated in 1933. The congrega-
tion of this church, on May 6, 1953,
joined the Mattoon Presbytery.
First meetings of the congrega-
tion were held in homes until the
year 1867 when the present church
building was erected.
Minister of the Rosamond con-
gregation is the Rev. Roy Brum-
baugh. Officers of the church
are: John Scott, treasurer; Chas.
Bowersock, financial secretary;
and Geo. H. Scott, clerk of Ses-
sion. The congregation numbers
Methodist Church
Tower Hill
Tho Tower Hill Methodist
Church was chartered May 13,
1864. The Rev. W. J. Boone serv-
ed as pastor at that time.
As early as 1857 Levi Munson,
a local preacher, conducted serv-
ice.s at Tower Hill. Tower Hill
was then one of a IS-paint Shelby-
ville circuit.
Officers of the Tower Hill
Methodist Church are: Reuel Good,
chairman of the board; Roland
McNeely, lay leader; Lester Can-
non, superintendent.
Pastor of the 135-member con-
gregation is the Rev. James E.
Ulmer, who also serves the Robin-
son Creek Church.
Christian Church
Tower Hill
The Tower Hill Christian church
was founded in the spring of 1893.
Several families of that faith
moved into the Tower Hill com-
munity and proceeded to invite a
Christian denomination evangelist
living in southern Illinois to come
to the village and hold a revival.
Brother W. H. Boles accepted the
invitation and the result was the
organizing of the Tower Hill
Church of Christ, known locally
as the Christian Church.
The congregation used the
building of the Methodist church
in the beginning, the Methodists
at this lime having construction
under way on a new edifice. The
Church of Christ purchased the
old church from the Methodists
on completion of the new building.
In 1900 the old church was
razed and the present building
erected.
Membership in the Christian
church now totals 75. Officers
presently are Blythe Hosteller,
superintendent of Bible school,
who also serves as an elder, and
August Lee and John Wirey, eld-
ers. Pastor of the church is the
Rev, Robert Clemens.
PANA NEWS-PALLADIUM THE HERRICK BULLETIN TOWER HILL TIMES
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CLARENCE and LORINE DURBIN
Organizations - Civic, Fraternal, Labor, Social
p. E. O. Sisterhood
The P.E.O. Sisterhood was or-
ganized in this city on May 22,
1949. with 15 charter membeis.
The oiganization was founded
in Pana through the efforts of
Stella Vaughn. First president
of the P.E.O. was Gladys Preihs.
The group functions both
socially and educationally.
Presiding are; Mrs. Nelle South-
well, president; Helen Brumniett,
vice-president; Geitrude Derk.s,
recording secretary; Eloise Kresin,
corresponding secretary; Barbara
Aniling. ti-easurer; Belle South-
well, chaplain; Marian Fiibley,
guard.
Bayview Reading Circle
Bayview Reading Circle was
once known as the Olio Club. The
circle was organized on June 11,
1885. The organization ceased to
be known as Olio in 1908 when the
name was changed to Bayview.
The circle was organized for
mutual improvement through
reading and until later years was
furnished material by the na-
tional organization. Membership
in the circle is limited to 20 mem-
bers.
Charter members of the Olio
were Mrs. Brown, Miss Custer,
Mrs. Hoopes, Mrs. Lee Hayward,
Mrs. A. Irwin, Mrs. B. H. Irwin,
Mrs, C. H. Moore. Mrs. A. B. Mc-
Coy. Mrs. J. H. Miller. Mrs. J. K.
Shaffer. Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. W. J.
Smith, and Miss Anna Stover.
Present officers are: Mrs. N. R.
Meyer, president; Mrs. William
Benninger, vice-president; Mrs.
Barbara Henderson, secretary;
Fannie Vidler, treasurei-.
American Legion
The charter for American Le-
gion Post No. 168 was granted
Sept. 26, 1919. At that time
Bruce Penwell was elected Com-
mander, with Paul Endris serving
as adjutant.
The post was named in honor of
the first 2 Pana men to give their
lives during World War I, Merl
Kerr and Homer Mize. Kerr wa.s
the first Pana fatality in the
continental limits of the United
States, and Mize the first Pana
Leading the organization for
the year 1956 are: Robert White,
commander; Charles D o y e 1 1 e,
senior vice-commander; John
Kuhn, junior vice-commander;
Sydney DeWeerd, finance officer;
Ernest Hildebiand, chaplain; and
Arthur LaCrosse, adjutant. Pres-
ent membership of the organiza-
tion is 260.
Lions Club
The Pana Lions Club was char-
tered in the city during the year
1944 with Joe P. Longwell electe;!
president and Dr. W. L. Doelling
secretary-treasurer. There were
12 charter members. In recent
years membership has grown until
the roster of the organization now
contains 44 names. The inter-
national organization of Lions
was instituted in 1917 at a con-
vention in Dallas. Texas. D. P.
Woods of Evansvillf, Ind.. was
elected president.
From June 30, 1917. the organi-
zation has grown from 25 clubs
in one country, membership total-
ing 800, to the present figure of
11,670 clubs in 69 countries with
a membership of 523,000. The
Lions are primarily a service or-
ganization.
Officers of the Pana Lions are:
Stanley Summer, president; Char-
les Downs, vice-president; Don
Fogler, secretary; Donvin Rich-
ardson, treasurer.
Rotary Club
The Pana Rotary Club was or-
ganized on June 9. 1921. Elected
officers at that time were Glenn
A. Shafer, president; D. P. Bogle,
vice-president; L. E. Jordan, sec-
retary; Walter E. Downs, treas-
urer.
The organization was founded
with the aim to better understand-
ing between local business and
professional men.
Rotary International, of which
the Pana Rotary Club is a part,
was organized Feb. 23, 1905, by
Paul Harris of Chicago and 4 of
his business associates.
Present membership in the Pana
club totals 37.
Officers are: Glenn Thompson,
president; Herbert Siegert. vice-
president; Bill Hamilton, sec-
retary; Gerald Sermersheim.
treasurer.
Rebekah Lodge
The first Rebekah Lodge or-
ganized in Pana was the Purity
Lodge, about 1874. On Mai-. 30.
1910, Fae Rebekah Lodge 295 was
instituted. On Oct. 15, 1924,
Purity Lodge and Fae Lodge con-
solidated under the name and
number of Pana Rebekah Lodge
81.
The national branch of the Re-
bekahs was organized in 1851 by
Schuyler Colfax.
Presiding over the organization
at this time are Mrs. Vein Ander-
son, Noble Grand, and Mrs. Frank
Kinsey, Vice Grand. Present en-
rollment of the lodge is 437.
P.-T.A. Council
The Pana Parent-Teacher As-
sociation Council was founded in
September of 1950 with the aim
of establishing a closer relation-
ship between P-TA's in the city
and to provide a central forum
wheie mutual problems of parents
and teachers might be discussed
and solved.
Upon organization of the Coun-
cil in 1950 Mrs. Reginald Culbei-
son was elected president. Mrs.
Warren Christner. secretary, and
Mrs. Ralph Woofers, treasurer.
Th3 Coimcil is made up of the
president and 2 delegates from
each school, plus 2 delegate prin-
cipals.
Present officers are: Mrs. Harry
McDonald, president; Mrs. Roger
Lebon, vice-president; Mrs. Earl
Petty, treasurer; Mrs. Wayne
Ekiss, secretary.
Pana Education Assn.
Pana Education Association is
made up of members of Pana':;
leaching profession and was oi-
ganized Feb. 27, 1947. The char-
ter of the organization was adopted
on Api'. 10 of the same year.
First officers of the association
were Miss Rena O'Connor, presi-
dent ; Miss Eloise Austin. 1st vice-
president; John Howell. 2nd vice-
president; Miss Charlene Paul,
secretary, and Hubert Brown,
treasurer.
The organization in 1956 has a
lOO'^'r membership of all teachers
and administrators in Pana Com-
munity Unit.
Officers serving this year are:
Lucien Cornwell, president; Eileen
Anderson, 1st vice-president ;
Alta Meier, 2nd vice-president;
Neoma Cadwell, secretary; Donna
Hubbard, treasurer.
Hospital Auxiliary
One of the newer organizations
in Pana is the Hospital Auxiliary,
organized by a group of civic-
minded ladies on May 18, 1952, and
founded upon the request of Moth-
er Superior of Huber Memorial
Hospital.
The Auxiliary was organized
with the purpose of rendering any
service to the hospital possible oi-
n e c e s s a r y. The organization
pledged and paid $5000 toward the
completion of the lecently built
Huber Memorial Hospital annex.
Chartei- membership was 103.
Present membership is 105. Of-
ficers are: Mrs. Gerald Kennedy,
president; Mrs. C. D. Kemp, vice-
president; Mis. A. C. McDonald,
secretary; and Miss Marie Flesch,
treasurer.
Sportsmen's Club
Pana Sportsmen's Club was or-
ganized in 1937 by A. C. Mc-
Donald, Guy Frazier, and Gus
Siegert, the first officers, along
with a group of interested sports-
men.
The local chapter was organized
for the conservation, propagation,
and restoration of all forms of
wildlife in this vicinity.
Membership in the club in 1939
totaled 369. Present membership
in the organization is 200.
In 1948 the organization in-
corporated. Capital was raised
by selling shares of preferred
stock to members. A tract of
land east of Pana was purchased
and a clubhouse erected in 1949.
A lake was built on this property
in 1954 and stocked.
Leading the club now are: Ralph
Koontz, president; Larry Pearson,
vice-president; Frank L. Kinsey,
.'secretary; and Glenn McClung,
treasurer. Directors are Robert
Vits, Paul Tnetken, Ray Rochard,
Max Sahr, Frank J. Siegert, and
Charles Kamer.
B. d P. W. Club
The Business & Professional
Women's Club was organized in
St. Louis in 1919 to elevate the
standard for women in business
and professions. The local chap-
ter was founded at a meeting held
in the club room of the library on
May 17, 1928. Agnes Wright was
elected president and Nell Seiler
vice-president.
Membership in the organization
has grown from 20 to 90 members
since 1928.
Present officers are: Lois Jos-
tes, president; Pearle Baldwin,
1st vice-president; lone Coleman,
2nd vice-president; Audra Christ-
ner, recording secretary; Ruth Mc-
Taggart, secretary; Adelaide Foil,
Home & Garden Club
The Pana Home & Garden Club
was organized in September, 1930.
The organization was founded with
the goal of promoting greater in-
terest in city homes and gardens.
For several years after being or-
ganized the club was a member of
the Illinois Federation of Women's
Clubs and also a member of the
Garden Club of Illinois. At pres-
ent the club operates indeoendent-
ly. Programs are planned by the
members to give information on
topics of interest to garden and
flower lovers.
There are presently 79 members.
Officers for the 1956-57 term
are; Mrs. William Amling, presi-
dent; Mrs. Gailyn Anderson, vice-
president; Mrs. Vernon Anderson,
secretary; and Mrs. Jeanette
Baldwin, treasurer.
Home Bureau Unit
Pana's Town & Country Home
Bureau unit is composed of a
group of mothers organized with
the aim of developing better and
happier homes. The unit was
founded in Pana in 1952.
Presiding at that time were Mrs.
Mervin Hainline, president; Mrs.
Forrest Denton, vice-president;
Mrs. Glenn Thompson, secretary;
and Mj-s. Weldon Clawson, treas-
urer.
The local branch was organized
in the home of Mrs. J. F. Denton.
Charter members were Mrs. Hain-
line, Mrs. Denton, Mrs. Clawson,
Mrs. EM Rochkes, Mrs. Harry
Foltz, Mrs. Don Petei-son, Mrs.
Thompson, Mrs. Neil Stephenson,
Mrs. Herschel Collins and Mrs.
Dean Brownback.
Present officers are: Mrs. Char-
les Wilcox, chairman; Mrs. Dale
Lewis, vice-chairman; Mrs. Dale
Reathei-ford, secretary; and Mrs.
Wayne Swiney, treasurer.
Order of the Eastern Star
Arcana Chapter No. 493. Order
of the Eastern Star, was or-
ganized in Pana during the year
1902 through the efforts of S. C.
Wagener. The order had a charter
membeiship of 19 and has since
grown until at present member-
ship totals 400.
Serving the chapter as officers
during 1956 are: Elva Cook,
woithy matron; Harry L. Cook,
worthy patron; Loraine Bolding,
associate matron; Robeit Bolding,
associate patron; Zula Etheridge,
sacretaiy; Huldah Schaper, treas-
urer; Evelyn Pray, conductress;
Esther Abrell, associate conduct-
ress; Wilma Wright, chaplain;
Mildred Abrell, marshal; Ruby
June Munzenmaier, organist;
Nettie Romager, Adah; Esther
Porter, Ruth; Dorothy Parkinson,
Esther; Mary He:iderson, Martha;
Bessie Mosher, Electa; Myrtle
Jones, warden; Jesse Jones, senti-
nel; and Millard Henderson, color
bearer.
Modern Woodmen
Th2 Pana Camp of Modern
Woodmen of America No. 244
was chartered in this city Sept.
21, 1886, with 40 members.
The organization is a fraternal
benefit society operating on a
lodge or camp system to provide
life insuranc3 and practical fra-
ternal service to its members.
First officer's of the Pana lodge
were: Julius Broehl, consul; R. S.
Johnson, clerk; and William
Pierce, banker.
Present membership in the local
lodge is 80. Officers are: Kenneth
Dean, consul; Carl Simpson, ad-
viser; F. J. Maisch, banker; and
William J. Gundel, secretary.
Knights of Columbus
The Pana Knights of Columbus,
Council 896, was founded on July
10. 1904, and has had a continuous
and consistent growth since that
time.
First officers of this organiza-
tion were: Dr. Charles R. Molz,
Grand Knight; Frank D. Shields,
Deputy Grand Knight; A. C. Seitz,
recording secretary; J. E.
Schneider, financial secretary; O.
P. Galvin, treasurer; the Reverend
Father Hensey, chaplain; William
Daly, inside guard; G. Hamlin,
outside guard; John McCarthy,
warden; Thomas D. Kelligar.
chancellor; Joseph McCarthy and
Louis Waterson, trustees.
Th2 following serve as officers
for the 1956-57 term: Xavier Duez,
Grand Knight; .Joe Kuhn, Deputy
Grand Knight; Paul Harris, chan-
cellor; Raymond Kennedy, treas-
urer; destine Schmitz, advocate;
Paul Lehn, warden; A. J. DeClerk,
inside guard; Al Pastor, outside
guard; lecturer, Gerald Kennedy;
the Rev. Fr. T. J. O'Neill, chap-
lain; Gene Endris, financial sec-
ret ai-y. Trustees are Florian
Scherzer, Art UUrick, and Wilbur
Kuhn. Membership in the KC's
totals 200.
Tuesday Club
The Tuesday Club was organized
in Pana during the year 1869 with
the goal of self-improvement
through reading and study. Or-
ganized by Mrs. O. M. Baldwin,
the club had 8 charter members.
Since June 6, 1899, membership
has been limited to 25.
First called the "Friendly Cir-
cle," the organization's name
was changed to the Tuesday club
in 1877.
Presiding are Mrs. Louise Mc-
Cracken, president; Mrs. G. G. Mc-
Candlish, vice-president; Mrs. D.
M. Littlejohn, secretary-treasurer.
Odd Fellows Lodge No. 331t
Adar Lodge No. 334, Internation-
al Order of Odd Fellows, was char-
tered in Pana, Oct. 9, 1866, with a
membership of 6. First officers of
the organization were: N. B. Ja-
coby, grand deputy; J. W. Stark,
noble grand; W. T. Dobbs, vice
grand; J. F. Harner, secretary;
and J. C. Helmick, treasurer.
During the years the member-
ship of the Odd Fellows has grown
to a roster of 70 members.
On Apr. 26 of this year the or-
der celebrated its 137th anniver-
sary.
Present officers of the lodge
are: Everette Spindel, noble grand;
William Maisch. vice grand; Vem
Anderson, warden; Harold Hill,
secretary; Frank J. Maisch, treas-
urer; and Floyd Simmons, chap-
Royal Neighbors
The Pana lodge of Royal Neigh-
bors of America was founded on
Apr. 18, 1898. Mrs. Jesse Beatty
is one of the living charter mem-
bers. The Royal Neighbors
.society was chartered on Mar. 21.
1895.
When first organized in Pana in
■98. the Neighbors had 32 mem-
bers. Enrollment has grown to
400 at present. The organization
is a fraternal life insurance
.society.
Officers are: Grace Arnold,
oracle; Mary Koontz, vice-oracle;
Elizabeth Beveridge, past oracle;
Emma Weers, chancellor; Mabel
Hedderich, recorder; Anna Den-
bow, receiver; Eleanor Dudzik.
marshal; Juanita Endris. a.ssistanl
marshal; Minnie Hackl. inner
sentinel; and Vina Eich, oiitei
sentinel.
Loyal Order of the Moose
The present lodge of the Loyal
Order of the Moose. 1015, was
chartered Sept. 15, 1946, in Pana.
Heading the organization at that
time were Earl Sims, governor;
Thor Burkhardt, secretary; Justin
Tappero, junior governor; Eugene
Schmitz, prelate; Robert Goethuys,
treasurer; and Harry Pearson, Os-
car Eybel and Paul Maton, trust-
Pana's first Moose Lodge was
organized in 1913, with a charter
membership of 230.
The Moose organization was
founded Apr. 12, 1868, in Louis-
ville, Ky., by Dr. John Henry Wil-
.son. The order is nationally known
for its "child city," Mooseheart,
111., and for the home for aged,
Mooschaven, in Florida.
Present membership in the lodge
totals 350.
Officers of the lodge now are:
Marceau Lebon, governor; Ger-
main Delassus, junior governor;
Robert Koontz, secretary; Loui.s
Dudra, prelate; Frank Fisher,
treasurer; Frank Duchaney, Paul
Oiler, John Hunter, trustees.
Elks Lodge No. J 261
Pana Lodge No. 1261, Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks,
was formed in 1910, with a char-
ter membership of 49. T. J. Vid-
ler was the first Exalted Ruler.
Officers presiding during the
Centennial year are: Exalted
Ruler, J. W. Hoefner; Esteemed
Leading Knight, Bill J. Slater;
Esteemed Loyal Knight, Frank
Pushnik; Esteemed Lecturing
Knight, Phil Stepping; secretary,
James C. Neal; treasurer, Everette
Powers; Esquire, Joe P. Longwell;
chaplain, J. Wesley Brooks; tyler,
J. E. Folks; trustees, H. R. "Reg"
Turney, Dr. F. R. Hamilton, Don
B. Pauschert.
American Legion Auxiliary
Plans for the organization of
Kerr-Mize Post No. 168 American
Legion Auxiliary were made at a
regular Post meeting Oct. 7, 1920.
The first meeting of the Auxiliary
wa£ held on Friday, Oct. 22, of the
same year.
Elected officers of the organi-
zation were: Mrs. Monta Danford,
president; Marie Chalfant, secre-
tary; Mrs. Alta Burgess, treasurer.
The establishment of Legion
Auxiliaries was provided for at the
first national convention of the
Legion in Minneapolis, Minn., Nov.
10-12, 1919. The Auxiliary was
organized to aid the Legion in per-
forming its activities and to be
charged with phases of work more
.suitably performed b.v women.
Present officers are: Margaret
Hildebrand, president; Ethel Hav-
rilka, 1st vice-president; Hilda
Endris, 2nd vice-president; Carmen
LaCrosse, secretary; Teresa Kuhn,
treasurer; Mary Wardall, sergeant-
at-arms; Ora Wilhour, color bear-
er; Lucille Hoehn, musician; Har-
riet Foil, chaplain; and Louise Pol-
lard, historian.
Fortnightly Club
The Fortnightly club was or-
ganized in Pana on Feb. 22, 1899.
by a group of young ladies. The
purpose of the organization was
educational- the study of litera-
ture, art and music; as well as to
form a social center for the en-
joyment of its members and
their friends.
At the time of organization the
club roster contained 12 names.
Since then membership has in-
creased to 24.
Present officers are: Mrs. O. E.
Penwell, president; Mrs. Rex
Seller, vice-president; Mrs. F. W.
Siegert, secretary and treasiuer.
Women of the Moose
The Women of the Moose was
officially established by action of
the Supreme Council, Loyal Order
of the Moose, in 1916. In Pana,
the organization was formed Jan.
11, 1948, with a membership of 57.
The Moose Ladies group was
formed to bring in closer fraternal
relationship the families of the
Moose in order to further philan-
thropic principles and to aid and
promote the aims and purposes of
the Loyal Order of the Moose.
Officers presiding over the Pana
organization are Eleanor Pryce,
senior regent; Helen Hitchcock,
junior regent; Albertine Bedar,
junior grand regent; Hazel Hill,
chaplain; Mary Oiler, treasurer;
LaVerne Lebon, recorder; Esther
Burdzilauskas, sentinel; Susan
Jones, Argus; Marguerite Seitz.
guide; and Elda Havrilka. assistant
guide.
Order of Rainbow for Girls
The local Order of Rainbow for
Girls was organized in Pana on
November 25, 1932. The organiza-
tion became a chartered member
of the Supreme Assembly of the
Order of Rainbow for Girls on
Dec. 12, 1936.
During these 20 years, member,
ship has been on an average of
30-35 girls.
Now presiding are Judy Parkin-
son, Worthy Advisor; Doris Wil-
hour, Worthy Associate Advisor;
Joan Thomas, Charity; Deanna
Dixon, Hope; Kay Miller. Faith;
Donna French, chaplain; Jeanne
Morrison, drill leader; Judy Wash-
burn. Love; Carolyn Ripley, Reli-
gion; Wanda Walden, Nature; Pat
\V a t k i n s. Immortality; Diane
.A.mes, Fidelity; Barbara Bolding,
Patriotism; Ruth Ann Roe, outer
observer; Barbara Culberson, con-
fidential observer; Karolynn Eilers,
musician; Gail Anderson, choir di-
rector.
Nurses Association
Three ladies make up the Pana
area's representation in the lUinoi.s
State Nurses Association. They
are Mary BMith Duck of Huber
Memorial hospital, who sei-ves as
corresponding secretary for the
association; Dorothy Smedley,
and Anne Newton. Pana is lo-
cated in Dist. 9 of the association,
including the cities of Springfield,
Jacksonville. Decatur and Taylor-
viUe. All members of the as-
tociation must be Registered
Nurses.
C. D. of A.
Saint Rita Court of Pana. No.
404. of the National Order of the
Catholic Daughters of America,
was instituted on Sept. 28. 1919,
with an enrollment of 54 charter'
members.
At the time of the Court's in-
stitution it was generally known
as the Catholic Daughters of Isa-
bella. On Apr. 9, 1921, there was
approved by Governor Miller of
the State of New York, Chapter
194 of the Laws of 1921, by which
the name was changed to Catholic
Daughters of America.
Now serving the organization
are: The Rev. Fr. T. J. O'Neill,
chaplain; Mrs. Lena Trumper.
grand regent; Mrs. Frank Me-
theney, vice-regent; Mrs. Virgil
Alexander, prophetess; Mis.
Arthur UUrick, lecturer; Mrs.
Gerald Kennedy, historian; Mrs.
Gordon Broxton, financial secre-
tary; Mrs. Julia Kraus, treasurer;
Mrs. Paul Schmitz, monitor; Mrs.
Robert Hood, sentinel; Mrs.
Florian Scherzer. organist; Mrs.
Paul Merriman, trustee for one
year; Mrs. Paul Endris and Mrs.
C. A. Klein, trustees for 3 years.
36
Masonic Lodge No. 226
Pana Masonic Lodg-e No. 226
celebrates its Centennial with the
city of Pana. Instituted in Octo-
ber, 1856, the lodge consisted of
10 members. During the past
100 years membership has grown
to 275.
On the first roster of members
are names connected with the or-
ganizing of the village itself. M.
S. Beckwith, who held the office of
secretary of the lodge, was Pana's
first postmaster. Wm. H. Glas-
cow, treasurer of the lodge for
its second year, was among the
city's first merchants.
Traditionally, Masonry originat-
ed in the craftsmen's guilds during
the building of the great edifices
of Europe centuries ago.
The Pana Masonic Temple, built
in 1926 and dedicated in 1927, is
one of the more imposing struct-
ures in the city. The building
measures 80 x 112 ft. and is 2
stories in height. It was built at
a cost of $47,000 but increased val-
uation of property in later years
has brought the value of the build-
ing, insurance wise, to $100,000.
Offices of the Pana lodge this
year are held by M. R. Brewster,
Worshipful Master; P. C. Pray,
Senior Warden; J. A. Castle, Jim-
ior Warden; W. D. Bailey, treasur-
er; L. P. Magill, secretary; S. V.
Davis, Senior Deacon; D. N. Stew-
art, Junior Deacon; H. F. Call,
Senior Steward; H. L. Cook, Junior
Steward; L. D. Wright, chaplain;
R. S. Pilger, marshal, and R. L.
Bolding, tyler.
Carpenters & Joiners Union
The Pana local of the Carpenters
& Joiners union celebrates its dia-
mond jubilee year along with Pa-
na's Centennial, the national or-
ganization being formed Aug.
12, 1881. The union was or-
ganized m Pana on July 17, 1900.
Membership in the local union
hit an all-time high during the
years 1923-24 with the building of
new public schools in Pana. Pres-
ent membership in the union is 78.
Officers are: Charles Bryson,
president; Minor Bowman, vice-
president; J. L. Turner, financial
secretary; Ray Stech, recording
secretary; J. Ray Morton, business
agent. Trustees are J. Ray Mor-
ton, T. V. Broom and Frank Kin-
sey. John Garber holds the office
of warden.
Bakers Union
Union bakers of the city of Pana
belong to the Decatur-Pana area
Bakery & Confectionery Local 316.
There are no records to show when
the union first had members in
the city of Pana. However, 2
charters were issued before the
present one, both to the Decatur-
Pana area. The first was issued
Feb. 11, 1902, and the second June
18, 1913. The present charter of
the union dates to Aug. 12, 1919.
Pana men serving as officers in
the Decatur-Pana local are: Ar-
lington Abrell, president; Kenneth
Hobble, recording secretary; De-
neen Wheat, trustee; and Roy Cot-
trell, ex-board member.
Serving as business representa-
tive for the union is a former Pana
resident, George Zellmann, who
moved to Decatur in 1944.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Pana Post of Veterans of
Foreigfn Wars was chartered Sept.
11, 1945. Dr. W. L. Doelling was
elected commander, John Dudra
senior vice-commandei', Ferd Kole-
sar junior vice-commander, Ray
Wempen quartermaster, Joe Moore
adjutant, and Oscar Maisch serv-
ice officer.
First meetings of this organi-
zation were held over the E&Z
tavern on Locust street, from
whence the club mcved to the Elks
club rooms, and then to quarters
on the second floor in the build-
ing across from Frances Hotel.
From the latter meeting place the
Veterans moved to their present
location, their owr. home at 107
North Poplar street. The home
was purchased without any direct
solicitation of funds from busi-
nessmen or persons not members
of the organization.
The charter membsrship of the
organization was 17 but sinc2 has
grown to 140.
Officers of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars are: Paul D.
Cot hern, commander; William
Henderson, senior vice-com-
mander; Jim Sillars, junior vice-
commander; Basil Boulier, quart-
ermaster, and Jerry Thomas, ad-
jutant.
U. M. W. of A.
The United Mine Workers of
America was founded in 1890. The
first charter in Illinois was is.=ued
on Nov. 5, 1900. The organization
was formed to protect tha int'^i-
ests of mineis and mine laborers.
Frank Davis, mediator in this
city at the time of mine strikes in
the late 1890's and a Pana resi-
dent, rose from the lanks to be-
come an International Representa-
tive of the United Mine Workers of
America.
Officers of the Pana U.M.W.A
Local 9087 are: William R. Good-
win, president; John Castle, vice-
president; William Chladnv, re-
cording secretary; Robert Perry,
financial secretary; James Coicon,
treasurer; Roy Henderson, Louis
Coet, Jesse Vernon, trustees.
Members of the Mine Committee
are William "Sailor" Goodwin,
Charles Maton and John Ber':)n-
flti.
VFW Auxiliary
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
Auxiliary was organized one year
following the organization of the
men's post, in 1946. Charter
membership in the auxiliary was
26 and is now 55.
First officers of the auxiliary
v/ere: Christina Turvey. president;
Goldie Anderson, senior vice-
president; Freda Thomas, junior
vice-president; Mildred Medley,
secretary, and Meda Garver,
treasurer.
Present officers are: Pearl Pyle,
piesident; Pearl Christy, senior
vice-president ; Eileen Beeson,
junior vice-president; Marge Push-
nik, treasurer, and Goldie Ander-
son, secretary.
Delta Theta Tau
Zeta Theta chapter of Delta
Theta Tau sorority was inaugurat-
ed in Pana June 27, 1937, by Au-
drey Wilson, national treasurer of
the sorority. Charter membership
in the Pana chapter totaled 10.
Mrs. Justin Tappero is the only
remaining charter member.
Membership in the local chapter
is limited to 30, the roster now
numbering 24.
Officers are: Esther Elliott,
president; Pauline Tappero, vioe-
prcsident; Norma Ruth Richai-d-
son, recording secretary; Ruth
Kolb, corresponding secretary;
Rotha Dickey, treasurer; JoAnn
McLain, sergeant-at-arms; Cleo
Kapilla, historian.
Teamsters' Union
Chartered in 1903, Pana Local
76 of the International Brother-
hood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs,
Warehousemen and Helpers of
America served the community
anl its membership until 1945.
then amalgamating with Local
279, which is headquartered in
Decatur and covers 7 counties.
Approximately 165 men in Chris-
tian and Shelby counties are im-
mediately represented by the Pana
sub-local, whose officers are: Rob-
ert Koontz, president; Sheridan
Hicks, secretary; Harry Clucas,
treasurer and business agent. The
sub-local meets the second Sunday
of each month at 9:30 a.m. in
Miners' Hall.
Among the charter members of
the original Pana local were Wil-
liam Ketchum sr., Lewis Koontz,
Lou Roley. Richard Koogle, Charles
Perry, Charles Roach, president;
Barney Pine, Fred Pryce, Frank
Cox, secretary; and John Hinden.
Of these only Perry and Pryce are
living.
Principal officers of Decatur
Local 279, which now represents
about 1500 men, are Guy Clapper,
president, and Mack Ray, secre-
tary and business agent.
Railroads and the Growth of the Pana Community
Paiui. ils iiiigiii stemming Irom
building of the Illinois Central,
has through the years been a lead-
ing railroad center in central Illi-
nois and today retains this promi-
nence.
Serving the city are 4 lines, the
Illinois Central. New York Central,
Baltimore & Ohio, and the Chica-
go & Eastern Illinois Railroads.
In bygone days when transpor-
tation for long- distances by auto
and bus was unheard of, the rail-
roads of Pana accounted for a tre-
mendous passenger service. At
the height of this passenger trade
in 1913, a total of 38 passenger
trains a day served the citizens of
Pana. Since that time passenger
.service in the city has dwindled to
4 trains a dav, 2 eastbound and 2
westbound, all of the New York
Central system. The remaining 3
roads plus the New York Central
handle freight.
While passenger service has hit
its lowest mark in the history of
the city, freight tonnage has sky-
rocketed through the years, this
being the result of the development
of local industries, of which min-
ing is the leader in freight tonnage.
The 4 roads serving Pana run a
total of 28 freight trains through
the community a day. The New
York Central leads with 18, the
C&EI second with 5, the Illinois
Central third with 4, and the Balti-
more & Ohio alternating direc-
tions each day of the week with
one freight.
Coal is the leading freight com-
modity in the city and is handled
almost solely by the Illinois Cen-
tral.
Based on the 5 day work week
at Peabody Mine No. 17, the fol-
lowing statistics are presented:
The Illinois Central Railroad
handles inbound into Pana each
day an average of 160 empty rail-
road cars, many of which are 70
ton capacity cars, an average of
3200 empty cars handled per
month. Outbound totals match
inbound, with 160 carloads shipped
northward per day, for a total of
approximately 3200 carloads
monthly.
These figures bring the total
amount of cars handled by the
road a day to 320 cars, 6400 cars
monthly, and 76,800 cars annually.
Tonnage moved a day by the
road totals 10,700 tons, or approxi-
mately 2,824,800 tons per year.
This figure does not include empty
tonnage, which would raise the
total con.siderably. The above
figures also include a small nunn-
ber of cars of connecting roads
which are handled by the Illinois
Central.
Folliiwiiig are short histories of
the railioads which have contri-
buted to Pana's growth:
The Illinois Central
To the Illinois Central Raihcad
the city of Pana owes its existence.
Around this line the settlement of
Pana was laid out and through the
years along with the railroad's
growth has expanded likewise.
The "Main Line of Mid-America"
was chartered on Feb. 10, 1851,
and was the first land grant rail-
road in the United States.
During the Civil War northern
portions of the road served the
XTnion and the southern sections
provided transportation for the
Confederacy.
The Illinois Central was first m-
corporated by a bill introduced in
December of 1835, at a meeting of
the Illinois General Assembly in
Vandalia, then the state capital.
This movement was sponsored by
John S. Hacker of Jonesboro and
supported by Abraham Lincoln
and his partner, John T. Stewart.
Stock was authorized to the ex-
tent of $2,500,000, with the stipu-
lation that no one buyer co\ild hold
moie than 5 shares.
The state of Illinois then gave
the road approximately 2,595,000
acres of land along its right-of-way
which could be sold to farmers
when the state sold alternate sec-
tions within land grant zones.
On Mar. 25, 1855, the first Illi-
nois Central train entered Pana
and by 1856 the original charter
lines ran from Cairo to Galena.
Since that time the company
has acquired extensive lines to
Sioux City, la., to Kankakee, La-
Salle, Freeport, Urbana, and ser-
vice from Chicago to St. Louis,
Ne.v Orleans, and Miami, Fla.
When the original 705-mile char-
ter line was undertaken Illinois
was still a wilderness. Towns
were small, few and far between.
Vandalia had a population of 360,
Decatur 600. and Bloomington
1594.
Transportation was by river
boats and stage coaches over mud
roads.
At the time of its completion
the lUinoLs Central was the long-
est railroad in the world.
The Central serves 14 states.
2200 communities and has 6500
miles of track. In Pana the road
employs 20 people with an annual
pavroil of $80,000.
Pana lies on the Springfield
Division with headquarters in Clm-
toii. ^
Local agent for the Illinois Cen-
tral is Robert Pilger.
The New York Central
Following close behind the Illi-
nois Central through the city of
Pana in 1855 came the construc-
tion of the New York Central (then
the St. Louis, Alton &. Terre
Haute). The present New York
Central system is the outgrowth
of a tiny pioneer line, the Mohawk
& Hudson Railroad, only 17 miles
long, between Schenectady and
Albany, N. Y.
This experimental road was
chartered by an act of the New
Yoik Legi.siature Apr. 17, 1826,
and after several test runs was
opened formally for passenger
traffic, Sept. 24, 1831. The sys-
tem today has been built up from
about 560 predecessor companies.
It serves 1 1 Stales and 2 Provinces
of Canada and has 10,375 miles of
line and 24,135 miles of trackage.
The pioperty investment of the
New York Central is approximate-
ly 12 and % billion dollars.
Seventy per cent of revenues col-
lected by the system comes from
freight. Its freight volume, 9";^ of
the total in the U. S., is greater
than that of the railways of France
and England combined.
While the Central is not classi-
fied as a "coal road" it moves 789^
of all coal mined in the nation by
reaching bituminous coal fields of
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio,
Indiana, and the state of Illinois.
Besides coal transported from
these areas on the road, there goes
a large and steady volume of grain
and other foodstuffs.
The constituent lines of the
New York Central System are
The New York Central Railroad
Company and its leased lines, the
Michigan Central Railroad, the
Big Four Railroad, the Boston &
Albany Railroad; and its affiliates,
the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Rail-
road Company and the Chicago
River & Indiana Railroad Com-
pany, including its leased line, the
Chicago Junction Railroad.
In Pana the Central employs 15
men with an annual payroll of ap-
proximately $60,000.
Local agent for the New Yoik
Central is Walter O. Brinkman.
The C. & E. I.
The first of the railroads com-
prising the Chicago & Eastern
Illinois system was chartered Jan.
2. 1849, to operate between Vin-
cennes and Evansville.
As other roads, through the pur-
chase of smaller railroads and the
building of branch lines, the C&EI
expanded to its present size until
today the road extends southward
from" Chicago with 3 southern ter-
COMPLIMENTS
R & R
DISTRIBUTING
COMPANY
Distributors Of
STAG
BEER
Phone 4040
Pana, Illinois
VICTORY CAFE
Cecil and Ellen Short
• STEAKS • CHOPS • CHICKEN •
• Barbecue • Sandwiches • Soup •
16 E. Second Pana, 111. Phone 252
Compliments
GEORGE'S CANDY SHOP
KEHIAS APPLIANCES
VICTORY
TAVERN
• BEER • WINE •
• LIQUORS •
"DUTCH"
Route 29 Phone 6510
PAUL BROS.
OTTO — LOUIE
MERLYN E. LOWER
GENERAL INSURANCE
— and —
REAL ESTATE AGENCY
307 S. Clark St.
Phone 1321 Pana, 111.
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
WOMEN'S CLUB
Organized 192S
Federated 1949
Compliments
AL'S
BOWLING ALLEY
■•Buivl For Health"
As .■'. Native of the Pana Commun-
ity, I Offer Congratulations to
Pana and Its Citizenry on its
Centennial.
EDWARD C. EBERSPACHER
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
mini: Evansville, Ind. (287 miles);
Chaffee, Mo. (394 miles); and St.
Louis, Mo. (290 miles).
Through trackage right.s oIj-
tained from various southern roads
the Chicago & Eastern Illinois
system affords passenger service
from Chicago to the Gulf. Its
featured trains are the "Georgian"
makin:^ connections from Chicago
to Atlanta; the "Hummingbird,"
operating between Chicago and
New Orlean.'-, and the "Dixie
Flagler" from Chicago to Miami.
In the state of Illinois the "Mea-
dowlark" runs from Chicago to
southern Illinois.
Construction of the line running
through Pana was begun in 1903
as a result of the company's deci-
sion to enter the St. Louis field.
Construction began at Woodland
Junction running to Villa Grove
and from Findlay to Pana. How-
ever, before construction had been
started beyond Pana an agreement
was entered into by the C&EI and
the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago
& St. Louis Railroad (NYC I for
joint use of the facilities of the
line from Pana to Granite City.
At the same time trackage rights
from Granite City to St. Louis
over the property of the Terminal
Railroad Association of St. Louis
were secured.
The line is largely a prairie road
and country traversed is mainly
flat with exception along certain
streams and in the extreme south-
ern part of Illinois where an out-
cropping of the Ozarks is crossed.
Agent for the Chicago and East-
ern Illinois Railroad in Pana is C.
W. Graden. The road in Pana
employs 5 men for an annual pay-
roll of $26,000.
The Baltimore & Ohio
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
was built through Pana in the year
1869 under the name Springfield
& Illinois Southeastern Railroa:!.
The road was originally charter-
ed in February of 1827, and was
America's first common carrier
line.
Originally built from Baltimore
to the Ohio River the railroad ex-
panded its system by acquiring
railroads already built or in the
process of building. This is true
of the line which runs from Shaw-
neetown to Beardstown, crossing
the main line at Flora, 111.
The line from Pana to Beards-
town was originally chartered as
the Pana, Springfield & North-
western Railroad Company on Feb.
16, 1865. The line south of Pana
was known as the Illinois South-
eastern Railway. Though the
S&NW was never built it was con-
solidated with the Illinois South-
eastern Railroad on Feb. 7, 1869,
to form the Springfield & Illinois
Southeastern Railway Company.
Tho new corporc.tion compio'.ed
the tiackage between Beardstown
and Shawneetown by March, j87].
It was operated by this company
from March 27, 1871, until a re-
ceiver was appointed in Septem-
hei-, 1873. The line was opeiated
by the leceivtr until Jan. 30, 1875,
when acquired l)y the Ohio &
Mississippi Railroad, running from
Cincinnati to St. Louis.
In 1893, the Ohio & Mississippi
\vas consolidated with the Cincin-
nati & Marietta Railroad to form
the B&O Southwestern, which Ls
today a wholly-owned subsidiaiy cl
the Baltimore & Ohio Railioad.
Diu-ing the 1890'p tne Baltimore
& Ohio had general repair shops
located in Pana but removed them
in 1900. The shops were located
in the noitheastern portion of the
city along the B&O tracks.
Serving as local agent for the
lailroad is D. A. Burris.
An ann'.ial payroll of approxi-
mately $22,000 is paid to a group
of 6 employees of tho road sta-
tioned in Pana.
Flfty-t«o years ago (". J. Resler of Daytonii
Beafh, Fla., then local photographer, hkuimmI th;'
country-side in search of siibjei-ts. On the Leo Ebert
place 'j mile west of Buckeye t'hurch, he rec»rtle<l
(his then familiar hut iii«\\ strange hay-baling opera.
Charles Wllhour is atop the statk, left; T. K.
Cook is pitching hay Into the press. Homer Cook is
The Cooks owned the outfit, hired the h«l|Mrs,
and were gone fr/m home from early Monday to late
Saturday in season. They could bale 12 to 14 tons
(90 to 100 lbs. per bale) In a lO-huur day, got $l.'.!i'>
per ton for baling and paid the "hands" $1.25 each
per day. Horse teams were alternated about every
30 bales. — I'hoto from T. E. Cook's souvenirs.
KUPFER'S JEWELERS
• Watches • Diamonds •
• Silver • Repairs o
105 E. Second Pana, 111. Phone 3421
PURITY BAKING CO.
ART'S CLOTHES SHOP
MEN'S WEAR
148 S. Locust Pana, 111.
Compliments From
PANA CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
OFFICERS :
James Stumpf, President
Reynold Aide, Vice-Pres.
Clara E. Frankenfeld, Sec.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Bert W. Deere
Wilbur Kuhn
Leonard Southwell
John Ruhl
Frank Duchaney
Russell Carroll
Gerald Sermersheim
Compliments
PANA LODGE NO. 1261
BENEVOLENT & PROTECTIVE
ORDER OF ELKS
CHARTERED JULY 11, 1912
Club Rooms 133'- S. Locust
Exalted Ruler - - - J. W. Hoefner
Esteemed Leading Knight - Bill J. Slater
Esteemed Loyal Knight - Frank Pushnik
Esteemed Lecturing Knight
Phil Stepping
Esquire - - - - Joe P. Longwell
Chaplain - - - J. Wesley Brooks
Tyler ----- Edward Folks
Inner Guard - - - H. L. Bolding
Treasurer - - - Everette Powers
Secretary - - - - James C. Neal
Trustees: H. R. "Reg" Turney,
Dr. F. R. Hamilton, Don B. Pauschert
McCANDLISH DRUG CO.
WALGREEN AGENCY
G. G. McCandlish, R. Ph.
D. R. Metzger, R. Ph.
Phone 4500 Pana, 111.
CONGRATULATIONS . .
TO PANA ON ITS
100th ANNIVERSARY
Compliments of
HOOD JEWELERS
Pana, Illinois
Coal Mining Is a Bulwark of the Local Economy
The second most important in-
dustry in Christian county, mining,
began at Pana in 1884 when the
first coal wa.s hoisted from Pana
Coal Co.'p Mine No. 1. Coal min-
ing on a small scale had been
carried on earlier at several point.s
.south of the city.
The best of the seams in this
southern area was White's Bank
along Coal Creek, on Section 34
of Pana township, where a 22-
Inch seam of good quality coal
was being worked. A 10-inch seam
of poor quality coal was also
found at Greenwood's Mill, about
»i of a mile from the 22-inch
seam. However, the amount of
coal taken along Coal Creek was
small, and this type of mine would
most accurately be described as
strip mining, as the seam was ap-
proximately 30 feet above the level
of the creek. Therefore, the in-
dustry was not begun on a large
scale until the opening of the
mines at Pana.
Although an early geographical
sui-vey showed no coal in the
state of Illinois from Bloomington
south to Centralia. the people of
Pana in 1880 raised funds by
popular subscription for the boring
of a test hole. This test was
made by John Dugan about 1883,
and a seam of coal was found at a
depth of 720 feet which was "al-
most without a superioi- in the
state."
The vein was ideal for mining;
it was from 6 to 8 feet thick,
stretched over an area of approxi-
mately 700 square miles, and had
a heavy covering of rock. The
last advantage eliminated the
necessity of extensive timbering to
strengthen the roof of the mine
and also pievented the sinking of
the top ground.
Da\'id Harts, a lawyer, and
Frank Frorer, hardware merchant,
of Lincoln, 111., sank Pana's first
shaft into this seam in 1884.
These men were also financing
ventures into the mining industry
in other parts of the state at this
same time.
With Charles White, they form-
ed the Pana Coal Co. and initiated
the project at Pana. The actual
sinking of the shaft was under
the direction of Julius Broehl, who
became one of the outstanding
operators in the area. In 1893
Broehl became a partner in the
Pana Coal Co. By 1902 I the exact
date is not known ) a group of
men, including Broehl, purchased
the interests of both Hart.s and
Frorer and changed the name of
the firm to the New Bent Coal
Co. In 1906 or 1907, Broehl sold
his entire interest to the Bell &
Zoller Coal Ccj. and liveJ the re-
maining years of his life in re-
tirement in Pana.
The Pana Coal Co. opened 2
mine? in the Pana area. The first
was located between the Cleveland,
Chicago, Cincinnati & St. Louis
(NYC) and B&O railroads about
2 blocks west of the Illinois Cen-
tral. This mine was known as
No. 1 or the Old Mine, and was
739.6 feet deep, with an output of
1.300 tons.
In 1886 the Pana Coal Co. sank
■A .second shaft as an escapement
for the first mine. This second
mine became known as Mine No.
2 and was loiatei on the Illinois
Central about one mile north of
Pana In depth and output this
mine was approximately the same
as Mine No. 1. Coal reports of
1898 gave the combined capacity
of the 2 mines as 700,000 tons.
Seeing the success of the 2
mines of the Pana Coal Co., local
business men became interested
and 2 more mines were opened.
In 1888 the Penwell-Kitchell Coal
Mining Co. was organized by pro-
minent citizens of Pana. George V.
Penwell and John W. Kitchell were
the chief stockholders. A mine
was begun by this firm in 1888,
but construction of the shaft was
constantly delayed by cave-ins.
It was not until March of 1889
that the first coal was hoisted
from the mine. The mine, 723
feet deep, v.'as located in the
heart of the city, just 2 blocks
west of Locust street along the
Illinois Central Railroad. It was
the second largest industrial con-
cern in Christian county at the
time and according to a Mr. Rut-
ledge, mine inspector during the
same period, gave employment to
257 men and had a capacity of
312,000 tons.
The last mine to be opened
during this era in Pana was
known as the Springside Mine.
The date given for its opening
varies from 1890 to 1892. Most
of the capital for this organization
was furnished by Kitchell. It is
quite probable that the earlier
opening date is coriect for in 1889
G. V. Penwell puichased Kitchell's
shares in the Penwell-Kitchell Coal
Mining Co. This purchase would
have freed Kitchell's capital for
use in the new mine.
The company known as Spring-
side Coal Mining Co. located its
shaft about ono mile east of Pana
but connected it by an escape
passageway with the Penwell
mine. "The mine was 723 feel
deep and had a reputed capacity
of 200,000 tons. The operators of
this mine were the Overholts,
David J. and liis nephew. Lewis.
In 1899 the Overholts .sold their
mining inteiest to the Smith-Lohr
Coal Co. and moved to Chicago,
with Lewis entering the grain
business.
The 4 mines were very similar
in general character. All were
shaft mines of approximately the
same depth. In 1898 their produc-
tion was about equal, as shown by
reports.
The Pana Coal Co.'s mines pro-
duced 50,860 tons of lump coal;
the Penwell shaft 53,385; and the
Springside mine 48,548 tons.
The mining industry of Pana
enjoyed a number of advantages,
the thickness of the vein perhaps
the most outstanding. The vein
was described in an account in the
St. Louis Globe-Democrat as fol-
lows: "A 6-ft. miner can walk
erect and stretch his arms above
his head and it is all coal from
the soles of his feet to the tips of
his fingers."
The thickness of the vein en-
abled the men to produce more
coal per day and at less expense
than was possible in thin-veined
mines. The coal was of excellent
quality, being desired by railroad
companies for use in making
steam. Quality of coal gave min-
ing companies an opportunity to
sell at a higher price per ton than
their competitors.
The depth of the rock covering
and dryness of the mines reduced
materially the danger of cave-ins
and the expen.se of propping, and
increased the safety and healthful-
ness of working con.htions. One
by one through the years Pana's
mines closed until a period of
years during the 1940's when no
coal was mined from the Pana
field. In 1925 the Springside mine
closed down permanently and the
top works dismantled. Four years
later Mine No. 2 of the Pana Coal
Co. stopped operation. The Penwell
Mine stopped work on Mar. 31,
1941, followed bv the Old Mine on
June 28, 1948.
The Victory Coal Mining Co.
leased the Penwell property in
1942, and in 1944 contracted to
purchase the property. There-
after, Victory assigned its con-
tract to the" Oldroyd Coal Co.,
which operated the mine until fire
destroyed the tipple in February
of 1945.
The coal industry in Pana was
revived in October of 1947 when on
the third day of that month the
contract for the sinking of the
r.ew Peabody Mine No. 17 was let
to Fitzsimmons-Connell Dredge &
Dock Co. of Chicago. The mine
approximately one mile south of
Pana consists of 2 shafts 300
yards apart, one used for hoisting
of coal and the second for trans-
porting material and personnel
to and from the bottom. By No-
vember of 1950 the skip hoist and
washer had been completed and
coal was being produced at the
rate of 5500 tons daily. The daily
output of the mine presently is
11,000 tons.
The shaft of Peabody No. 17
bringing up coal i:- tipped by a
138 foot head frame for 2 skips,
weighing 8 tons apiece. These
skips are electrically loaded 40
feet below the coal seam, which is
720 feet underground.
At ground level the coal is
raised an additional 66 feet before
dumping, making a hoist of over
820 feet for each skip. Skips at
PeaboJy No. 17 alternate unload-
ing at intervals of 38 seconds.
To date, 40':{ of the underlying
coal is being mined with 60'; left
for safety reasons. With the out-
put of the mentioned 11,000 tons
daily, the mine has an annual pay-
roll amounting to more than
$3,000,000. More recently the
Peabody Co. acquired coal rights
to 4600 acres to the south of the
present mine.
Working in 3 shifts the mine
employs 660 men and an additional
35 foremen.
The productive life of Mine No.
17 is estimated at 25 years.
Pana Widely Noted for Wholesale Floral Industry
Supplying flov^'ers to distant
markets of the country, the floral
industry in Pana is second only to
mining as one of the city's leading
economic assets. Greenhouses in
th3 area of Pana supply markets
north to Chicago, south to New
Orleans and Houston, Texas, east
to Cleveland, and west to Kansas
City with 18 to 19 million roses a
year. These flowers are grown
under approximately 31 acres of
glassed-in structures, ranging in
groups from one to 32 per oiganiza-
lion. At present 6 major whole-
sale greenhouses are in operation
in Pana.
The floral industry in Pana is an
offspring of a vegetable growing
maiket inaugurated in 1870 by a
Mr. Cooper who, operating in a
small glass enclosed structure,
grew vegetables throughout the
year, selling his products on local
markets.
Seme years later Cooper sold his
glass house to Frank Shaffer.
Shaffer expanded from vegetable
growing to the cultivation of flow-
R. O. Henderson bought Shaffer's
business in 1908 and grew only
flowers, selling at retail. The
wholesale production of flowers
under glass began in Pana in 1918
when A. N. Nelson erected one
large greenhouse. To this house
he added 3 half houses in 1919 and
■i half hou.ses in 1920.'
In 1921 the Amling brothers,
Walter, Herbert and Martin, came
to Pana from Maywood, 111., where
they had received training in
flower growing in greenhouses
operated by their father.
The Amlings erected 4 large
houses and a power plant. Houses
were added through the years until
there are 28 in all, growing only
loses.
Business grew in volume and in
1927 the Amlings sold their in-
terests to the Maton brothers and
went to California. Upon return-
ing to Pana in 1928 they erected a
new series of 40 greenhouses with
a modern heating plant. The
concrete smokestack connected
with the heating plant is 285 feet
high, the tallest structure in Pana.
This newest greenhouse was lo-
cated west of the city. In 1945
the Amlings sold to a group of
men who organized Illinois Roses
Ltd.
One year following the Amling
brothers' first venture into the
floral industry, the Matons, Paul,
Arthur, and Amol, all former
miners, erected 2 greenhouses and
grew flowers and vegetables. In
1923 a house was added; 2 were
added in 1925; and in 1927 a group
of 9 more was constiucted, making
a total of 14 houses and a power
plant.
Spanbauer & Webb erected a
range of 5 greenhouses with a
steam heating plant for growing
roses in 1925-26.
The Asa brothers, Clarence, Ed-
war-d and John, erected a range of
7 greenhouses in 1923. In 1929 a
range of 7 houses was added to
the original structure.
Thus the foundation for the
name "City of Roses'^ given to
Pana by the Jordan brother-s, for
years editor cf the Palladium.
The 6 major floral wholesalers
operating in the city of Pana
presently are Illinois Roses Ltd.,
Roses Limited, Amling Flowers,
Webb Greenhouses, Pana Rose, and
Asa Bros. All houses but Asa
Bros., which specializes in potted
plants, are producers of roses for
the wholesale market.
Illinois Roses Ltd., recently in-
stalled an air-conditioning system
in 3 of its 6 ranges. This move
was made to keep Pana on the
same competitive basis with Cali-
fornia rose growers during the
summer months. High summer
temperatures in local greenhouses
are responsible for smaller budded
flowers than those grown in Cali-
fornia.
Altogether 171 people are em-
ployed by the greenhouses of Pana.
The Carnegie-Schuyler Library
The first Pana Library Board
was organized in the Young
Men's Christian Association
Building, on the corner of Second
and Poplar streets on May 20,
1901. John W. Kitchell was nam-
ed president.
A month prior to that date,
Apr. 8, the City Council passed
Ordinance No. 58 which established
a library and reading room for the
city, to be situated in the YMCA.
The Mayor had been directed to
appoint a board of directors with
not more than one member of the
City Council to serve on the board
at one time.
Miss Neile Reese was nameJ
first librarian, on Mar. 5, 1902. In
August of 1904 Mrs. Nellie C.
Russell was named assistant
librarian. Mrs. Russell subsequent-
ly became librarian and served
until Sept. 1, 1925, when she re-
tired, having held the position for
a period of 17 years. She was
succeeded by Miss Jennie Long.
After a period of 10 years, a
site for the library was donated
by Mayor H. N. Schuyler, and the
Andrew Carnegie Library Boar-d
erected the building. Carnegie
gave $14,000 toward the structure.
The library was completed late in
1912 at a total cost of $25,000 and
in early January of 1913 the
library moved from the YMCA in-
to the new building.
By 1926 the library contained
11,000 volumes with 1,500 cards in
circulation. The present total of
volumes in the library numbers
6,500 with 1.633 car-ds in circula-
tion. Miss Fannie Vidler is now
Libr-arian, following Mrs. Stamm
who became librarian upon the
tirement of Jennie Long. Assist-
ant librarian is Miss Grace Mouts.
The present Carnegie-Schuyler
Library Board consists of Mrs,
Carl Preihs, Mrs. Edward Hav
rilka, Mrs. C. D. Kemp, Mrs. H
R. Suchard, Mrs. Pauline Russell
Mrs. Bert Deere, Mrs. J. F. Klos
terman, Vernon Anderson and
Gailyn Anderson.
Kitchell Park One of Pane's Greatest Assets
KitcheU Park is a gilt to the citi-
zens of Pana mar'.e bv Cap*ain and
Mrs. J. W. Kitchell, leaders in tlic
city's civic circles at the tu-n of
the century, on July 15, 3908.
Prior to this time what ti-.e citi-
zens of Pana know as Kiichell
Park was the Pana Tair Grounds.
Beginning in the year 1885 and
continuing on for many years an
agricultural fair was held m tho
city. The first fairs were held on
grounds located to thi north an J
east of Webb's Greenhouses. Ap-
proximately 1886, the fair moved
to the Kitchell Park site.
The Pana Fair Grounds was
known far and wide as a meeting
place, containing a half-mile race-
track rated as one of the best in
the country. Grandstands stood on
the west side of the road now nm-
ning parallel to and west of the
tennis courts. The only remaining
hint that some of the country's
finest thoroughbreds pawed the
turf there is the road running in
oval fashion around the present
ball diamonds, which was con-
structed in part from the track.
On this track, Frank James, bro-
ther of the famous Jesse, acted as
starter for the races in 1906, the
last year of the fairs. This was
following the death of Jesse and
Frank's pardon by Missouri au-
thorities. Zora Ledbetter of Rosa-
mond, entering a horse in the races
that year broke a track record and
was presented a winning cup by
James, who made the comment
•'Now, son, keep this for some day
you'll be mighty proud of it."
The entrance to the old fair-
grounds was located approximately
'^ block south of the north border
of the park on US Route 51. The
north end of the fairgrounds was
lined with horse barns. The west
side was used as a picnic area,
with hitching racks available
for vehicles of visitors.
In 1907 a group of Pana men—
J. W. Kitchell, Warren Penwell, J.
K. Reese, and Dr. John Reid— or-
ganized a Chautauqua Association.
The association held yearly ses-
sions in the park usually running
for the duration of 9 days, featur-
ing programs ranging fro m
Shakesperian productions and
grand opera to popular music and
prominent .speakers of the day.
Notables on the Chautauqua
platform at one time or another
were William Jennings Bryan, Ser-
geant York of World War I fame,
•Billy" Sunday, Captain Hobson,
Opie Reed and Senator Gore.
A portion of the music for the
occasions was furnished for many
years by a still prominent local
.\ (■h:iutau(iu;i s< <iii-, lali.ri in Iroiit <>l Ih.- Klk-. « luh tent, >h..w,
many faces familiar on the streets of I'ana in yesteryear. The uiiifiirmeil
semice man, no (lcinl>t a flyer and in those (lays an extraordinary person,
is a Ueiit. I'at O'Brien.
Standing from left to right: Dr. Broering, Prentiss Kellers, Bill Sell,
Johnny Eichelberger or A. B. Cornian, Sjd James, Dr. Louis Miller,
O'Brien, Charles Eichelberger, unidentified, Dr. D. F. Coffey, Otis Slater,
John \\. Preihs, unidentified.
musician, Wayne Hunter, and his
band.
With the end of the Chautauquas
Kitchell Park was used for celebra-
tions held on Independence Day.
Annual Homecomings, etc.
The park today and at the time
of it.' constiuction, contains 40
acres of sodded ground. It was
fitted out by the Kitchells with
electricity and recreation courts
such as for lawn tennis and cro-
quet. For the lagoon, Capt. and
Mrs. Kitchell donated a flotilla of
motor and row boats.
In 1910 the bridge spanning the
lagoon was donated by H. N.
Schuyler. The following year,
1911, Capt. and Mrs. Kitchell in an-
other generous gesture, donated
the present gateway to the park.
Also in this same year the park
auditorium was built from dona-
tions of the citizenry of Pana.
The auditorium was a result of a
6 '2 inch rainfall which fell during
the Chautauqua of 1910. It was
felt if the Chautauqua were to sur-
vive, suitable shelter had to be pro-
vided. The auditorium at time of
construction was deemed one of the
most modern in the country, with a
seating capacity of 3500. The
stage measured 35x45 feet.
In the pa^t 6 months the audi-
torium has been completely reno-
vated through a project sponsored
by the Pana Lions Club. A con-
crete floor, new paint, rewiring
and the installation of 24 overhead
lights rounded out the project. A
majority of the labor going into
the project was done by club
members and local craftsmen who
donated their time and efforts.
In later years additional facili-
ties were added to the park. The
Chautauqua Association was in-
strumental in erecting the swim-
ming pool in 1924. Tennis courts
were laid in 1932 and 1947. The
first court was the Erisman Me-
morial, and the latter a gift of
Delta Theta Tan sorority of the
city.
The most recent Iv completed
recreational facility in Kitchell
Park is the Delta Theta Tau
Picnic Pavilion. Situated in the
.southwest corner of the park
grounds this impressive structure
measures 70x28 ft. and was built
at a cost of $3000. The money
for the Pavilion was raised by th?
sorority through tag sales, dona-
tions, etc. Completed in time for
th3 Centennial celebration the
pavilion is completely furnished
with lights, water and tables.
The park now contains, besides
the recreational facilities men-
tioned, 2 ball diamonds, Softball
and baseball, and a well equipped
children's playground.
Until the recent building of the
Tri County Faiigrounds in 1948,
Labor Day celebrations were held
on the Kitchell Paik grounds. The
Tri County Fail- of today is an out-
growth of the Pana Trailriders
Club. The group organized the Tri
County Fair Association and in-
auguiatid the fairs of several days
dm-ation which are held in the
early fall, ending on Labor Day.
VOTE FOR
NED PODESCH
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
For
CORONER
OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
HONEST # SNDEPENDENT @
• FORTHRIGHT •
The Man Who Will Do the Best Job For You!
VOTE
DEMOCRATIC
NOVEMBER 6, 1956
Congratulations .
To the People of
Pana on a Century
of Growth and
PregressI
SCOTT
E
STATE'S ATTORiMEY
Compliments of
MILTON H. (Swede)
OLSON
^"^'^^
Democratic Candidate For
CIRCUIT CLERK
"Your Vote and Support
Will Be Greatly Appreciated
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 1956."
10 Different Newspapers Have Served This Area
Since the tity Puna was onr year
old, members of the "fourth es-
tate" have been a driving; influ-
ence in its organization and
s;rowtli. A total of 10 newspapers
have been printed for the enlight-
enment of the population during
this period.
The first paper printed in Pana
was the Weekly Herald. Publish-
ed by M. S. Beckwith, the first
edition came off press on Dec. 23,
1857. An independent publication
in the beginning, the Weekly Her-
ald turned Democrat in 1858 to
.-support Stephen A. Douglas.
The successor of the Weekly
Herald was the Pana Plaindealer,
which was issued first on Oct. 7,
1859. Ill the editor's slot was Eli
F. Chittenden. This publication
continued in Pana until Nov. 1,
1860, when the office was moved
to Shelbyville.
In January of the same year E.
P. Sanders, with material and
presses formerly used by the Tay-
lorville Journal, published the first
issue of the Central Illinois Demo-
crat. J. B. Butler served as editor
of the Democrat, putting the first
copies on the street Jan. 7. On
Nov. 9, 1860, G. W. Harper and F.
J. Black purchased the paper, be-
coming editors and publishers.
The new proprietors of the Dem-
ocrat, Harper & Black, immediate-
ly changed the name of the organ
to the Pana Weekly Enterprise.
One issue ui this paper was pub-
lished under this name and on Nov.
24, 1860, the office and equipment
were sold to O. F. Morrison and
M. M. DeLevis, who again changed
the name.
Thus came into existence the
Pana Public, an independent sheet,
with DeLevis in the editorial chaii-.
The Public was an attractive, well
printed, and well edited news-
paper and flourished until June 1,
1862, when the owners move i the
publication to Clinton.
The Pana Gazette then came to
the village of Pana. Richard
Couch and R. M. Carr purchased
new material and issued the first
paper July 27, 1865. On Apr. 17,
1866, Carr purchased the entire
interest in the publication. On
Dec. 11, 1868, he sold half inter-
est to R. W. Coon, the latter re-
tiring in February, 1871. Carr
then continued alone with the pa-
per until 1889 when J. C. Essick,
an able lawyer with journalistic
aspirations, purchased the outfit
and greatly improved the plant.
A year or 2 served E^sick's de-
.sire for newspaper experience and
he sold to Kelligar & Son, who in
turn were succeeded by Burch &
Merry. In a few weeks Merry re-
tired. Burch sold out to E. Gorell
several years later. Gorell kept
the paper a short time and sold
to W. S. Childress. In 1895 Mrs.
Lizzie Weaver became the owner
( h.inlai
iho is shown posed here
; f.-ii)iir.-d till- limi.ius 0|.i.- i;.;i(l
H nsiM-oplc of the tinu'.
Left to right: (front row) unidentified, Mrs. Julius Broehl, Kead,
unidentified, Dr. K. C. Daiiford;
Back row: Jessie Voght, Mrs. Amy >Ieteer Met^ilf, >lrs. CW-llIii
Reese Mohler, H. C. MohJer, Julius Br«<'hl, Dr. John Keid, Ida >IulI,
Florence Robb. Mrs. Bertha Aughinbaugh Ha>-\vood, Mrs. Will Seller.
by purchase but wlien she did not
meet the success anticipated, dis-
posed of the paper to C. N. Walls,
who moved it to Assumption.
The Central Orient appeared in
Pana with the first issue on June
20, 1866, with J. F. Hamer as pub-
lisher and C. S. Hilburn as editoi-.
This publication gave its support
to Democratic policies and candi-
dates. After a short and quiet
career, marked with lack of sup-
port, the paper was discontinued
in May of 1868.
There had been no Demociatic
newspaper in Pana until the birth
of the Palladium in the latter part
of 1869, with S. B. Rich as the di-
recting hand. On April 23, 1870,
the Palladium was transferred in-
to the care of Messrs. P. A. and
J. J. Farley, the former retiring
after several years. J. J. P^arley
turned the paper over to A. W.
Chabin on Mar. 15, 1877, who sold
a half interest 3 months later to
Jacob Swallow. Three months
later Chabin became sole owner
and continued until Mar. 10, 1879,
when the office reverted to the
Farley brothers, who, in turn,
sold to Mr. Swallow.
In 1906 Swallow sold the publi-
cation to the Jordan brothers, v/ho
edited the paper.
In the late 30's the Jordans re-
linquished control of the Daily
Palladiimi to a new corporation
composed of Spi ingfield men, who
re-equipped the shop, splashed
briefly in the business community,
and failed. Much of the new equip-
ment was repossessed by suppliers,
the Daily Palladium became the
Weekly Palladium, and James
"Tex" Travelstead picked up the
goodwill, subscription list and re-
maining assets of the once proud
and distinguished Daily Palladium.
Travelstead and his son, Lee
Cavltt Travelstead, later to give
heroic sei-vice in World War II,
edited the Weekly Palladium,
farming out the printing job to
Pana News Inc., publisher of the
steadily growing Pana News.
In 1941 Pana News Inc. pur-
chased and moved to the building
at 129 East Second street occu-
pied for scores of years by the
Palladium. The corporation has
-s-ince purchased and partially oc-
cupies the adjacent building at
127 East Second, as well as ac-
quiring the small cafe building and
lots l.ving between Poplar and
Commercial Alley, and between the
Downs Garage and the rear of the
newspaper building.
The Weekly Argus was fii-st
published by A. W. Chabin, Mar.
15, 1879, 5 niuiibers at Shelby-
ville, and then brought to Pana.
•IG
Chabin sold half interest to Col. J.
A. Haj^vard. who purchased ma-
terial and presses. Ha\'ward be-
came sole owner on June 1, 1880,
and continued to publish as a Dem-
ocrat organ. The plant was then
moved to another city.
Soon after Mrs. Weaver had
acquired the Gazette, Childress,
through the assistance of Col. Hay-
ward, bought new presses and
type and issued a paper, both
daily and weekly, known as the
Beacon Light. He later sold the
paper to E. O. Gilmer, who con-
tinued its publication with vary-
ing success. Arthur Paine & Co.
eventually purL based and changed
its name to the Pana News. It
was a Republican supporter, pro-
moter of public spirited and bene-
ficial movements, but finally ceas-
ed existence.
About 1930 a Presbyterian min-
ister named Hartwich set up a
little printing shop in what is now
the Fribley building at 107 East
Third, and indulged his hobby-
printing.
In time the business was pur-
chased by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J.
Hellman, who had formerly pub-
lished a nevv'spaper at Strasburg.
They went into the religious pub-
lication field, under the title Luth-
eran Co-Operative Press, once
publishing more than 50 monthly
8 to 24 page magazines; and sup-
plying local commercial printing
needs as well.
In October, 1932, the Hellmans
launched a free circulation shop-
per, "The Weekly News," in Pana.
In July, 1933, Pana News Incor-
poi-ated was organized by A. E.
Vandever and Don B. Pauschert of
Nokomis, O. P. Miller of Bartles-
ville, Okla.. and Mr. Hellman,
Pauschert coming to Pana to be-
come editor and business manager
of the newspaper.
The free circulation Weekly
News expanded in size and scope,
went on a paid basis, and in a
couple years progiessed to twice-
weekly publication.
The status quo obtained through-
out World War II in which Lee
Travelstead of the Weekly Palla-
dium, and G. W. Michelman and
Don B. Pauschert (2 of the then '^
stockholders in Pana News Inc.).
besides 7 fellow-workers in the
News organization, were engaged.
During the war years the busi-
ness was managed by C. E. Schu-
macher.
After the war Travelstead went
to law school and is now practic-
ing h-. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. His
father died in November, 1948,
and immediately Pana News Inc.
acquired the Weekly Palladium
assets and consolidated the paper.s
into PANA NEWS-PALLADIUM,
wliich continues alone and grow-
ing in the service of the commun-
ity.
Pana News Inc. also owns and
cpeiates The Herrick Bulletin and
the Tower Hill Times, in neighbor-
ing Shelby county villages.
The corporate stock is now held
entirely by Michelman and Pausch-
ert.
The News-Palladium circulation
runs between 4100 and 4200.
Small Airport Serves Area's Needs
Keeping up with the air age, the
city of Pana has an airport, lo-
cated approximately 2 miles east
of the city in the vicinity of the
old basin of the reservoir.
Primarily for small planes, this
strip is capable, if need be, of ac-
commodating medium-sized air-
craft.
The first of Pana's airports was
located south of the city approxi-
mately 3 miles. From material
now available not too much flying
took place there but the location
was quite a social center in its
day. On or about the premises is
said to have been a night spot
called "The Wings."
This airport, however, did play
an important role at one point in
the city's economic development.
At the time of the banking crisis
in Pana, during the early '30's, a
sum of $250,000 was sent from
Chicago via airplane to the Pana
airport for the Pana National
Bank just m case of a run after
the closing of the Schuyler bank-
ing house. In this instance, Bank
President C. B. Parrish called Chi-
cago on a Friday morning, the
plane left that city at 11:30 a.m.
and arrived in Pana at 1:55 p.m.
Elevation at the present air-
port is 665 feet above sea level.
Traffic at the airport is some-
what slower now, with a few local
private planes and frequent busi-
ness and transient ships using its
facilities. Earl Hallett, formerly
of Pana, now living in East Alton,
wa.s msti-umental in construcimg
Pana's present airport.
Plans were made for the pres-
ent Pana airport in September of
1945. Flight strips and taxi-ways
were laid out early in 1946. The
first airplane, one of 3 ordered
from the Piper Aircraft Corp., was
received in April of the same year.
It was flown from Lockhaven, Pa.,
to the Pana airport. This was the
first Cub trainer. The second
liainer was received in August of
1946 and a Piper Cruiser in Decem-
ber.
The 2 landing strips of the air-
port were 2100 ft. and 2300 ft.
long, respectively, and 300 ft. wide.
These were seeded to grass early
in 1946.
First owners of planes purchased
at the Pana airport were Ray Os-
boin (first purchaser of a plane
from the local airport), Raymond
GroU, Raymond Foor, and Dan
Murray.
During the busiest year, 18
planes were based at the Pana
airport, at which time there were
approximately 50 flight students
in training.
The airport buildings were con-
structed during 1946 and 1947,
and were necessary to meet the
requirements of a commercial air-
port.
Some of the instructors employ-
ed at the field at various times
were Jack Staff, Bill Smiley, Joe
Wiley and "Hank" Johnston.
Mechanics included Omar Richard-
son and Bob McAfee. Homer San-
ders was employed in the airport
office for a time.
Former YMCA Building Put to Many Uses
The Pana Young Men's Christian
Association building, still standing
in part, at the corner of Second
and Poplar- streets, whose upper
story is said to have been torn off
by a tornado many years ago, is
believed to have been built in the
late 1890's (no record available).
Then one of the more imposing
structures in the city, it was the
confer of activity of the younger
generation. In 1913 a swimming
pool was added in the building.
Due to crowded conditions in
the schools of Pana, the YMCA
was conveited and used for a
period as a high school. It was
used for this purpose until 1909,
when the Pana High school was
built.
This building also housed the
first "reading roo)n" or library of
Pana. Presently occupying the
location are business houses in-
cluding Alex Rochkes' Barber
Shop, Roberts' Sport Store, and
the Hi-Ho (Tuetken's) Tavern.
The upper floor of the building
contains the commodious Moose
Club rooms.
Pana Is Proud of Its Huber Memorial Hospital
Pana's fiist refuge for the sirk
became a reality in the year 1908
when the Deaconess Hospital, lo-
cated on Orange street, across
from ihe present Field School site,
made its facilities available to the
citizens of the community.
The hospital was established by
the churches of Pana and social
club.'. Several organizations each
contributed the equivalent of one
loem foi the hospital. Maintenance
fov the hospital, a branch of the
American Congregational Deacon-
ess Association, came from individ-
ual contributions of citizens. Kath-
erine Dockery served as superin-
tendent of the institution.
Huber Memorial Hospital, pres-
ently serving the citizens of this
commimity, was the dream of
Doctor Jacob Huber, a physician
who practiced in the city of Pana
for a period of 50 years, also dur-
ing that time serving as a sui--
geon in the Civil War.
Upon his death his will provided
that $20,000 of his estate should
be used for the construction of a
modern hospital for the city of
Pana. Mrs. Amanda Huber, his
wife, consulted with the Rev. Fr.
John P. Moroney, pastor of St.
Patrick's parish on the possibili-
ties of acquiring a healing institu-
tion for the city. Mrs. Huber sug-
gested that Fr. Moroney shoulJ
induce some Catholic order of nuns
to come to Pana to take charge of
the proposed work of the hospital.
Fr. Moroney then made a jour-
ney about the country consulting
the different orders of the Catho-
lic faith but found shortages of
personnel in most quarters. He fin-
ally succeeded in inducing the
Sisters of Misericorde, whose head-
quarters are in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada, to build and operate the
hospital.
By this time the building site of
the hospital at the extreme end of
South Locust street had been pur-
chased. Groimd was broken for
the institution May 12, 1913.
The first spade of earth making
way for the construction of Huber
Memorial was turned by Mrs.
Huber, assisted by Fr. Moroney.
Will F. Jordan elaborates in his
1926 history of the hospital: "There
was a great parade in which every
minister, every physician, every
other professional man, every city
official and hundreds of civilians
took part. It was headed by the
Pana Band, which gave a concert
on the building site. Everyone
joined heartily in the festivities.
There were 34 cars in the celebra-
tion."
The task of construction of the
hospital was awarded to Joseph
Horse-drawn ambiilunc*' show ii In front of lluhi-r !>!cniorial Hospital
an undeterniineil number of years ago (the hospital opi'ni'd in 1914), and
with unidentified attendants, belonged to the former Kirkpatrick Funeral
Ser\ice (now McC'racken's) which dates back to 1864. — Photo from Mo-
Cracken files.
McCarthy, Pana contractor, and
work began immediately after the
ground-breaking. The building
was completed and ready for occu-
pancy on May 10, 1914. It was
dedicated exactly one year from
the date of the ground-breaking
ceremonies on May 12, 1914.
More than 2,000 people took
pait in the dedication ceremonies
which were held on the hospital
lawn. Among speakers for the
day were Capt. and Mrs. J. W.
Kitchell, ex-Mayor Warren Pen-
well, Dr. L. C. Taylor of Spring-
field, Dr. William Scott of Chicago
.^nd the Rev. Fr. J. P. Moroney.
The first patient, according to
!ecords, to enter the Huber Mem-
orial Hospital was Ruth Brink
Dorman, with the late Dr. Eber-
spacher as her physician. This was
on the 10th day of June, 1914.
On Sept. 2, 1914, doctors and in-
terested persons met and formed
a staff for the new hospital, the
following being selected to hold
office: Dr. John Miller, president;
Dr. R. C. Danford, vice-president;
Dr. Fred J. Eberspacher. treasur-
er.
Prior to Apr. 30, 1914, the Sis-
ters of the hospital had been
housed in the McCarthy home in
Pana and later in a cottage on
Poplar and Ninth streets, but on
this date occupied rooms on the
first floor of the hospital.
In early histories of the hospital
Mrs. F. Crooker is listed as being
the first to use the hospital's elec-
tric elevator.
The hospital's school of nurses
was registered in the Secretary of
State's office in Springfield on
Nov. 26. 1919.
In the 1920'.'!, the hospital had
outgrown itself and $25,000 was
raised for additional facilities.
Movement for the erection of
Villa St. John Nurses' Home be-
gan the same year at a meeting
of the Knights of Colombus on
Mar. 26, when Fr. Moroney ex-
plained the need for a nurses'
home and urged all who were able
to contribute.
The most generous contribution
for this cause was made by Mrs.
J. \V. Kitchell with the donation of
38 lots in the Kitchell Park addi-
tion as a site for the nurses' home.
The value of the Kitchell lots was
stated at $6000.
By April oi 1920 a report was
made that there was in the fund
for the home a total of $14,000.
But, it was not until 2 years later,
Apr. 22, 1922, that bids were open-
ed, with Joseph McCarthy, builder
of the hospital, receiving the con-
tract. A month later in observ-
ance of National Hospital Day,
May 22, the laying of the corner-
stone of the Villa St. John took
place. This ceremony, as the hos-
pital's, was preceded by a parade
with the local population turning
out in "hundreds" for the affair.
GREETINGS . . .
FROM DECATUR LOCAL 279
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
TEAMSTERS, CHAUFFEURS, WAREHOUSEMEN
AND HELPERS OF AMERICA
PANA LOCAL 73, CHARTERED IN 1903,
AMALGAMATED IN 1945 WITH LOCAL 279
"We are Proud to Have Had a Part in
Pane's Growth and Progress!''
Compliments of
CITY OF PANA
OFFICIALS
JOHN M. JONES .
CHARLES L. JOLEY
ROBERT L. HOLDING
Mayor
. Clerk
Treasurer
JOE DeMEYER . Police Magistrate
BILL J. SLATER . . City Judge
PAULINE SILKNITTER . Court Clerk
ALDERMEN
Joe Chladny
Victor Dunn
Max Finefrock
Wilbert Hall
Roy Henderson
John Lesko
Paul Schmitz
Harold Snooks
Henry Wolf
Cyrus Zahradka
COMPLIMENTS
and
CONGRATULATIONS!
CARL H. PREIHS
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW ~ PANA
State Representative 5 Terms
Democratic Nominee for State Senate
40
Placed in the cornerstone of the
villa were the names of all who
contributed to the fund. The home
was completed and opened on May
12, 1923, only one year after lay-
ing the cornerstone.
The building of the villa was the
last addition to the Huber Me-
morial hospital until ground was
broken in December of 1953 for the
erection of a new 42-bed annex,
completed and opened on Oct. 2,
1955.
Plans for the new annex grew
out of a meeting held Jan. 30, 1952,
at Villa St. John, attended by Sis-
ters, physicians, surgeons, and rep-
resentatives of the community at
large. At this gathering the S-s-
ters of Misericorde proposed to
build and equip an annex at the
estimated cost of $275,000 with the
stipulation that the people of the
Pana community would pay '» of
this smn. This estimate later grew
to $300,000. A committee of 12 doc-
tois, with Dr. R. B. Siegert as
chairman, was selected to assist
the project. Mayor John M. Jones
was elected general chairman.
In argument for the new annex
it was stated that in the past years
the hospital had been constantly
overloaded and in a time of emer-
gency or disaster its facilities
would be severely lacking. The
new annex would not only add an-
other 42 beds to the hospital but
would make the entire second floor
of the nurses' home available for
an additional 22 beds for the aged
and chronically ill.
The drive for funds was started
by the "Pana Hospital Building
Committee " Members of this
committee, their names now in-
scribed on a bronze plaque mount-
ed in the vestibule, were O. J. Aus-
tin, John M. Jones, Geo. J. La-
Charite, Don B. Pauschert, Geo. V.
Penwell, A. C. Robertson and Dr.
R. B. Siegert.
First bids for the construction
of the annex were received and re-
turned, the amount being some-
what more than expected. Archi-
tects Hadley & Worthington of
Springfield revised the plans and
specifications, shortening the pro-
posed annex by 15 feet, changing
construction from steel to rein-
forced concrete, and altering plans
for elevator and floor construction.
New bids were received on the
revised specifications in November
of 1953. In the meantime, juris-
dictional appiovals were secured
by the Pana hospital administra-
tion, and a long term loan in the
sum of $250,000 arranged with the
Northwestern Mutual Life of Mil-
waukee, the company which simi-
larly imderwrote a part of the cost
of the original hospital building 42
years ago.
Final bids for the proposed an-
nex were received and awarded to
the W. H. Franklin Co., Spring-
field, general contract, $220,900;
Industrial Electric Shop, Decatur,
electrical, $32,142; heating and
plumbing, Pana Plumbing Supply.
$130,845
The 3 contracts totaled $383,887
with a 350-day completion clause.
The new structure was to be
44x125 feet, basement and 3 floors
to join the old hospital with Villa
St. John.
The basement of the annex
houses the kitchen and dining
rooms; 1st floor, patient roim.^:;
2nd is devoted to chronics and
pediatrics (childien's diseases,
etc.); and the 3rd is a completely
modern maternity department,
also containing rooms for s;irgery
patients.
After 21 months of work the
annex was officially opened Sun-
day, Oct. 2, 1955, approximately
1500 people visiting during the
afternoon and evening. It v.'as
blessed the same day following
Mass at 10:30 a.m. " by Bishop
O'Connor of Springfield.
The annex has raised the bed
capacity of Huber Memorial from
40 to 94, many patient rooms being
large enough to accommodate 2
beds when necessary.
A beautiful addition to the tree-
covered lawn of Huber Memorial
hospital is the shrine of the
Imm.aculate Conception, located on
the southeast corner of the
grounds.
This shrine was initiated through
the efforts of Sister Bonaventurc,
and completed on Apr. 26, 1938, by
friends on the hospital staff !n
celebration of the Sister's silver
anniversary.
The shrine Ls patterned in a
grotto fashion. A portion of the
rocks used, amounting to one ton.
were transported from the Ozarks
by the father of a nurse then on
the hospital staff.
3 Major Cemeteries Serve Pana Area
Three cemeteries are located on
the outskirts of Pana. To the west
one mile is the first burial plot of
the city. Mound (or West) Ceme-
tery, although its present location
is not the original one.
Prior to tlie coming of the New
York Central Railroad, then the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago &
St. Louis, remains were placed in
the approximate location of the
tracks to the north of the prese.it
cemetery. With the construction
of the railroad approximately 12
bodies were exhumed and reburied
in a lot located in the present
Mound Cemetery. Mound Ceme-
tery was plotted in 1857 by the
owner, John Coon of Chicago, a
minister. A descendant of Mr.
Co('n, said to be his grandson, is
presentl.v sciving as a minister in
Decatur. First interment in
Mound Cemetery is said to have
been Joseph Madkins. Mound Cem-
etery consists of 15 acres.
Adjacent to Mound Cemetery on
the west is Calvary Cemetery, bur-
ial place of Pana's Catholic dead.
This plot covers 5 acres. The
cemetery was first known as St.
Patrick's Cemetery but in later
years (exact date not known)
changed to Calvary. The ceme-
tery is owned and supervised by
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic
Church. Ellen Burke, wife of
James DeLane, who died Oct. 15,
1865, was the first interred there.
During these early days Si.
Patrick's was used by Catholic
residents of both Nokomis and
Shelbyville.
In the pioneer days of Pana the
burial route from the city took
the procession west on Seventh
street to the road bordering the
west side of Calvary whence it
turned to right and proceded to an
entrance to Mound Cemetery run-
ning east along the southern bor-
der of the Calvary Cemetery.
The bunal route has changed,
but the strip of land u.sed as a
road into Mound is still owned l;y
the cemetery association. 'i'oUow-
ing the paving of the highway
west of the city, funeral directors
used the new pavement to reach
the burial grounds.
All was not well along this
route at times, as trains, belching
smoke and cinders, frightened the
horses of the procession, some-
times throwing matters into a
state of confusion. The age of the
gasoline engine eliminated this
disadvantage.
The third cemetery of Pana,
Linwood, lies one mile to the east
of Pana and was organized in
1867. The plot covers 20 acres.
Standing in the cemetery are the
impressive mausoleum of the Pen-
well family and the Civil War
Veterans bronze and granite monu-
ment erected through popular sub-
scription and supplemented by
donations of J. W. Kitchell and
W. E. Ha>'ward.
Among pioneei- cemeteries in
this vicinity is the plot of the
Combest family, located 4 miles
south of Pana along the right-of-
way of the Illinois Central Rail-
road. It is said I hat many of the
builders of this road aie buried in
this family cemetery.
In the little plot, until very re-
cent Iv caied for bv members of
50
the railroad's maintenance crew,
are a total of 6 marked graves and
5 unmarked.
Readable stones contain the
names of Nancy Combest, who
died Oct. 20, 1851, at the age of
39 years, 6 months, and 16 days,
James Combest, who died Feb. 15,
1866, age 62 years, one month, 9
days and Mathias Combest, age
unknown, who died Nov. 26, 1866.
Mrs. Tom Woods, now living 4
miles southwest of Pana, is a des-
cendant of the Combest family.
The Combest family farmed
east of the Illinois Central tracks.
The reason, supposedly, for
burying members of the con-
struction gang in the family plot
is that at the time of construction
this vicinity was swampy and wet,
diseasD was prevalent and many
workers died. The Combest plot
was probably the only marked
burial spot for miles.
Also located approximately 4
miles southeast of Pana behind the
Joe Denton farm is the Connor
cemetery, a neighborhood plot,
situated on ground formerly own-
ed by William Pryce, pioneer,
Justice of the Peace, first tax
collector, etc., in this area.
It is primarily a family plot but
was reputedly used by neighbors.
It derived its name from the fact
that after an epidemic of cholera,
the first to be buried in this plot
were members of the Connor
family. There are more than 100
graves in the cemetery. It is not
possible to reach the plot by road.
Hany from Pana Have Gone to the Wars
The Civil War
The first of these, the Civil War,
known better as the "war among
the States," began in 1861 and
lasted 4 years. Three million
troops were engaged in this war.
Of this total, 600,000 were mem-
bers of the Confederate army, the
remainder being Union troops.
Chiislian county was represent-
ed in the following Army com-
panies: 14th Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry, Company H; 33rd Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, Company D;
41st Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
Companies G and I; 59th Illinois
Volunteer Infantry. Companies F,
H and K; 62nd Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, Companies G (one sold-
ier) and H; 634th Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, Companies C and
D; 115th Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry (Which was part of the
Iron Brigade) Companies A and
E; 124th Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry, Companies C (one soldier)
and k; 130th Illinois Volunteer In-
fantry, Companies A and D; 3rd
Illinois Cavalry, Company M; 5th
Illinois Cavalry, Companies A, B,
and M; 6th Illinois Cavalry, un-
assigned recruits; 7th Illinois
Cavalry, Company H; 8th Illinois
Cavalry, Company M; 10th Illinois
Cavalry, Companies A, G, L, and
M; 11th Illinois Cavalry, Company
E; 14th Illinois Cavalry, Company
E; 1st Illinois Artillery, Battery
D; 2nd Illinois Artillery, Batteries
B, C, F. K, and M.
Aniong Pana citizens serving at
that time were Dr. Jacob Huber,
J. C. McQuigg, Napoleon B. Chal-
fant, Gabriel C. Butts, Samuel F.
Winters, Charles Walter Sibley,
Cyrus Rayhill, Capt. John W.
kitchell, August Trumper, T. W.
Marling, Newton Porter, Daniel
Lytle, G. M. Ludworth, Wm. M.
Baldwin, Wm. M. Warren, David
E. Thomas, P. G. Galvin, and A.
P. Stover.
The Spanish-American War
The Spanish-American war be-
gan Apr. 21, 1898, and continued
to Aug. 12 of the same year when
hostilities were stopped. Taken
liom the "Roll ot Honored De-
ceased Ex-Service Men and Wo-
men in Illinois" are 3 names of
veterans novvf interred in Pana
cemeteries. In Linwood cemetery
lie Chas. C. Brov.'n and a Mr.
Johnson, who served with the U.
S. Signal Service. Buried in
Mound cemetery is Pvt. Calvin A.
Neff, a member of the 13th Coast
ArUllery, who died in June of
1926. Sam Wilhelm, presently
living on West Sixth street, is a
Naval veteran of this campaign,
having traveled via convoy with
the first torpedo fleet to make a
trans- Atlantic crossing. Others
who served were A. S. Fogler,
Cass Canaan, Roy Smith, Robt.
Hattcn, Owen Crosby and Walt
Robei-ts.
World War I
World War I broke out Apr. 17,
1917, and the last shots were fired
Nov. 11, 1918. To this conflict,
probably the first war in the world
based on the scientific extermina-
tion of man with the use of the
tank and dreaded gases, the city
cf Pana contributed 426 young
men, 10 of this total dying in the
service of their country.
"In honoi' of those who gave
much and in memory of those who
gave all m the Gr.-at World War
conflict," reads the inscription on
the monument erected in Kitchell
Park for the men who served dur-
ing World War I. Those killed
were: Forrest Goffinet, Homer
Mize (first Pana overseas fatal-
ity), Herman Bruns, Michael
Serockey, John McDonald, Bern-
ard T. Beyers, Arthur O. Turner.
Joseph Kowlowsky, John Merl
Kerr (first Pana man killed State-
side), and Edward Virden.
World War II
With the sneak attack on Pearl
Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, by the
Japanese, the country was again
involved in war. No actual rec-
ord of personnel serving during
this time is available; however, a
count taken from a publication
sponsored by the American Legion
Auxiliary Unit 168 following WW
II, containing pictures and data
on men and women of the area
who served, totals 529. Of this
number, 487 were men, 19 women,
and 19 were "gold star" boys.
The Korean Incident
Again in 1951 the Korean
"policing action" sent Pana boys
to war, some returning home,
others less fortunate now interred
in foreign soil.
Pana Has Active Chamber of Commerce
The present Pana Chamber of
Commerce was organized Oct. 7,
1943, with a charter membership
of 15. Incorporators wei-e Nora
Molz, Bruce Penwell and J. A.
Clark.
Mr. Clark was the first presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce
and Nora Molz served as secre-
tary. Directors were: J. A. Clark,
Bruce Penwell, O. H. Brown, Rex
H. Seller, Ewald Siegert, Nick
Tongate.
The purpose of the; organization
is promoting civic welfare. At
present 112 members make up the
organization's roster.
Present officers are: James
.Stumpf, president; Reynold Aide,
vice-president; Clara E. Franken-
feld, secretary.
Wilbur Kuhn, Leonard South-
well, John Ruhl, Frank Duchaney,
Russell Carroll, Gerald Sermer-
sheim and Bert W. Deere serve on
the board.
The Chambei- of Commerce was
preceded in earlier years by no-
body-remembers-how-many unin-
corporated business and profes-
sional people's associations. The
last to sprout, bloom, fade and die
before the Chamber entered the
scene was the Pana Boosters Club.
Pana Has Fast, Efficient Volunteer Fire Department
Ihe exact date of organizing Ihe
Pana Fire Depaitment cannot be
(ieterniined. However, from scan-
ning newspapers printed :"n the
late 1860's in this vicinity, it is
found that the press was clanioi-
ing at that early date for some
means of oiganized fire figiitin.<j in
the city.
Following the old estiolisiied
bucket brigade came the hoi.e cart
drawn by either hand or horse,
whichever >vas more convenient at
the time. Pana at first had 2
hose cart.<; carrying 750 foet of
hose. On these carts also were
chemical tanks which worked on
the same principal as many fire
extinguishers still in use. The
chemical tank contained 4 barrels
of soda water in which was sus-
pended a container of sulphuric
acid. Upon overturning, the .ac-.'l
and water mixed to form the pres-
.sure necessary to play the mix-
ture on a blaze.
During hose cart days, races
featuring fire departments from
various cities were the rage. Ac-
cording to old timers in this vi-
cinity, the Pana Department was
Itnown far and wide for its speed.
I It still is.)
George Searles, semi-retired
plumber, has the record for hold-
ing the position of Fire Chief long-
est — 35 years. He became a mem-
ber of the department at the age
of 19 and was appointed Chief at
the age of 21 under Mayor A. B.
Gorman. Searles is now 78 and
still an active member of the force.
Reminiscing, Searles mentioned
the occasion of the department's
trip to march in a parade at the
World's Fair in St. Louis. Dressed
in their full regalia, the local fire
■laddies" made the march and pro-
ceeded to the railroad station to
await transportation home.
Throughout the day, says Searles,
people had been mistaking mem-
bers of the department for police-
men. But the height of this mis-
taken identity came when a wom-
an with a small child walked up
and presented Bill Mai.sch, who
was standing at ease in the sta-
tion, with a child, saying some-
thing to the effect that the child
wai, lost and \\ould Maisch take
.^are of the matter.
After fmding horsepower more
efficient than manpower for draw-
ing the hose carts, the City pur-
chased 2 animals for that task.
When not engaged in their primary
job, the horses were used in main-
tenance of the business district
.streets.
The horses were housed in a
small brick stable behind the fire
(ieorge Searle.s, retired I'anii
plumber, who holds the I'ana
record for serving in the position
of Fire Chief the longest, 35 years
(he was made chief at the age of
21 under Mayor A. B. Corman), Is
shown in full dress.
house. Harness of a slip-on type
was situated so that the horses
could be moved into place under-
neath and the harness dropped on
and fastened in a minimum time.
In the old days, the first 2 mem-
bers arriving at the fire station
and driving the carts received $1
extra. This practice still holds
true today as to driving the trucks.
Many remember the old City
Hall. The Fire Department quai-
ters were located upstairs and had
the much publicized sliding pole.
In describing one of the major
blazes in this city, it was said that
at one time 5 buildings in the up-
town business section burned. That
was about 40 yeais ago. The
structures were on the ea.st side
of Locust stieet beginning with
what is now Art's Clothes Shop,
working north and east. They
were Habecost Bakery (now Sin-
nard's), Alexander's Butcher Shop
I now Schloz Market), Werner
Grocery, a restaurant, and the
Reher Jewelry store (Smith &
Magill law office I.
In 1917. the city purchased a
Seagrave pumper for $5,680. In
1927 a Studebaker ladder t-.uck
was purchased. The vehicle car-
ried 400 feet of hose, 2 Scott air
watt floodlight, one combination
resuscitator - inhalator - respirator
anti one pump mounted on the
front of the liuck capable of
pumping 350 gallons of water per
minute. Both these trucks have
b3en retired.
At present the company's equip-
ment consists of a 1953 Seagrave
combination pimiper 2-ladder truck
capable of pumping 900 gallons
per minute and a 1941 Seagrave
capable of pumping 500 gallons per
minute.
The present fire siren, sitting
alop the firehouse, adjacent to
City Hall, is powered by a 71/2
horsepower motor and ban a range
of 3 to 4 miles.
In case of emergencies the de-
partment is also equipped with a
resuscitator, o.xygen tanks, "Mae
West" life preservers ( used by
membeis seeking bodies after
drownings I and grappling hooks.
At one I'nie Dan Murray of the
department used a home-made
diving set in lh2 search foi- pjr-
sons who had drowned. Thi;:
practice has been done away with
and now only grappling hooks aie
used.
Turning in the alarm of a fire
in the city is quite simple with the
Gamewell system used by the fire
department. The system consists
of a central firehouse indicator, 22
alarm boxes besides alarm bells in
firemen's houses and a siren atop
the City Hall.
When an alarm is sounded a cir-
cuit in the firehouse in the City
Hall is broken, stopping the clock.
At the same time, the number of
the box from which the alarm is
called is punched on a paper tape.
Bells in each fireman's house are
tripped and ring. There are 11
miles of one-strand wire in the
box system.
Since many residents have tele-
phones, most of the fire reports
are called into the telephone of-
fice, where the alarms are set off.
Present members of the Pana
Fire department are: Arthur Ull-
rick, fire chief; Ralph Cothern,
assistant chief; Ben Oakley, cap-
lain; William Shafer, engine direc-
tor; Dave Rowley, assistant engine
director; Dan Murray, secretary;
L. M. Doyle, treasurer; Leonard
Klein. William Metzger, Cecil
Spaunagel, directors; George
Searles, Charles Flesch, Harry
Vaughn. Lyle Koontz, members.
The department is composed of
15 volunteer members on call
around the clock, whether it be to
remove a pet cat from a roof top
or stop a roaring inferno.
CIPSCO Provides Excellent Utilify Services
From the days of the coal oil
lamps, oil for which was furnished
by Ace Cheney, who made his
rounds about the city filling oil
cans, Pana has become completely
modernized electrically through
the Central Illinois Public Service
Company.
The first office of the CIPS,
which took over the task of
furnishing electric light and power
for the city in 1912. and later, in
1917, the control of gas, was lo-
cated on the site of the present
sub-station on Oak street.
At that time 3 workers took
care of maintenance. Today the
total of maintenance personnel
stands at 21, with additional help
added during the summer.
Robert Rollo, division superin-
tendent and general manager of
the local plant, who last month
completed 44 years of service with
the company, remembers that
when the CIPS took over. 90% of
the city stood without electricity.
Rollo says the old plant did not
generate during the day, only at
night. This seems strange, he
said, except when you think back
and remember there were no
electrical appliances to use electri-
city in those days.
Street lights in the "good old
days" were placed at approxi-
mately 5-block intervals. The
eastern portion of the city, then
the more elite, was the first to
receiva electricity.
In comparison, during the early
stages of electricity in Pana the
task of reading meters took ap-
proximately 2 days. This task
has grown to cover a period of 30
days presently.
The present CIPS building on
Locust street was built in 1930.
Power for Pana is furnished
from stations at Meredosia, Hut-
conville. Grand Tower and Joppa.
Prior to the CIPS, Pana's first
electric power and gas were fur-
nished as follows:
The Pana Modern Electric
Light, Power & Street Railway
Company was incoi-porated in
1885. The total cost of the plant
at that time was $50,000. In
1896, a new company was or-
,T:anized under the title Consumers
Electric Light Company. This
company constructed a small al-
ternating current plant which was
located in the old Pana Coal Co.
mine.
After 2 years of operation, Sam
Johns, owner of the original plant
acquired the property of the Con-
sumers plant and consolidated
them.
The following year the electric
utility in Pana was sold to the
Standard Boiler Company of Chi-
cago, but failure to carry out the
terms of the sale caused the
property to revert to Johns in
1901, at which time Robert Johns
became local manager. About
1904, the National Light, Heat &
Power Company acquired the
Pana property and operated it
under the name of the Pana Gas &
Electric Company although gas
service had not yet been estab-
lished.
The CIPS purchased the Pana
Gas and Electric Company prop-
erty in 1912 and continued to
operate the Pana generating plant
until 1916, at which time a trans-
mission line was built to other
power sources and operation of
the local plant was discontinued.
Gas was supplied by the Peoples
Gas Company of Pana, which was
organized in 1911 and incorporated
May 22. 1912. The organizers, a
group of local citizens, were: T. J.
Vidler, president and manager; T.
A. Cutler, Dr. F. J. Eberspacher,
and G. A. V.'ittmann, members of
the board.
The plant was located on the
B&O railway tracks between Allen
and Hickory, Washington and
Front streets. The equipment
consisted of Tinney Water Ga:;
machines installed by Mr. Tinney
himself. The system was put in
operation in July, 1912, and served
approximately 150 customers.
This system continued to prosper
and expand until 1917, being ac-
quired by the CIPS in July of that
year. In July 1932, natural gas
was introduced to the citiz3nry of
Pana.
In 1929 the original plant be-
came inadequate to supply the in-
creasing demand and a trans-
mission main was laid to Taylor-
ville, the supply thereafter coming
from the Taylorville plant.
Postal Increase Index of City's Growth
A far cry today from the first
crudely erected post office in this
vicinity on Stone Coal Creek is the
government mail house now serv-
ing the city of Pana.
Pana's post office on the corner
of Fourth and Locust streets was
erected during the years 1910-12
at a cost of $100,000. It was se-
cured through the efforts of Con-
gressman Ben Caldwell and ex-
Congressman James M. Graham
along with a group of interested
citizens.
The present building was oc-
cupied on Sept. 14, 1912. W. H.
Alexander was postmaster.
Milan S. Beckwith, one of the
'■fathers" of the city of Pana, was
the first postmaster in this area.
His post office was set up on Coal
Creek to the south of Pana, in
1854. With the coming of the
railroads Beckwith moved to Pana
where he engaged in business to
become not only first postmaster of
the city but one of the first mer-
chants.
In later years, prior to occupy-
ing the new building, the post of-
fice was located a few doors west
of the corner of Second and Locust
streets on the north side.
In a Centennial address cele-
brating Independence Day in 1876,
J. E. Southwick stated, "The post
office business is truly astonishing.
The number of letters forwarded
annually from the office is over
160,000."
According to present Postmaster
Charles "Chick" Turvey in his an-
nual report, the local post office.
during 1955, handled 1,170,000
pieces of outgoing mail.
Mail for the citizens within the
city of Pana is delivered on 4
regular routes and one auxiliary
which was added in recent yearj
due to the building of new addi-
tions to the city. According to
post office officials a 100% mail
coverage of the city of Pana means
a distance of 95 to 98 miles walked
by carriers. A parcel post route
is trucked through the city.
Rural Free Delivery service to
families of Pana's outlying areas is
made up of 4 routes totaling 186
miles. Mail is delivered to 2353
patrons comprising 669 families.
Rural mail from the Pana post
office is delivered approximately 8
miles to the north, 7 miles to the
south, 3 miles east, and west to the
end of the Bear Creek Road. A
spscial service furnished patrons of
Pana's rural routes is the handling,
by carriers, of stamps and money
orders, eliminating unnecessary
trips to the city.
Special delivery service through-
out the city guarantees that any
package arriving at the post of-
fice between the hours of 6:00 a.m.
and 6:00 p.m. will be delivered to
the addressee within a period of
1 K hours.
The staff of the Pana Post Of-
fice consists of 23 men.
Also offered by the postal ser-
vice is the Postal Savings system.
At present the local post office has
885 depositors whose Postal Sav-
ings total a million and one-quar-
ter dollars.
Many Names on Roster of "Famous Sons"
Jitnus Vincent Shccan
Perhaps, the most famous native
son of Pana is James Vincent
Sheean, noted journalist and au-
thor. Sheean was born in Pana.
the son of William and Susan
iMacDermotti Sheean on Dec. 5.
1899.
He attended the University of
Chicago when he was 17 and was
described as follows:
"He was 'Jimmy' Sheean in those
days, red haired, freckled, and
rumor says 'the darling- of the
campus.' His first newspaper ex-
perience was on the college daily
Maroon."
After 3'o years of college Shee-
an's mother died and Vincent
had neither the funds nor the will
to continue his education. He then
took a job on the Chicago Daily
News and was fired 2 or 3 weeks
later. From the editor's office
Sheean went directly to the rail-
road station and departed for New
York with "no baggage and not
much moie money." For a time
he worked on the New York Daily
News. In New York he "learned
the formulas of the trade .... sat
at the feet of various radicals ....
in Greenwich village .... got
drunk in small bars and labored
to become sophisticated."
In the spring of 1922 he went
to Paris and in the autumn on an
excursion to Italy became foreign
correspondent for the Chicago
Tribune. After much travel on
the continent Sheean landed in
1924 in Morocco, where he reported
the Rif rebellion. He was the only
foreign coi-respondent to obtain an
interview v/ith Abd el-Kiim, Rif
leader. This adventure he coveied
in his book "An American Among
the Riffi."
Sheean was married in 1935 to
Diana Forbes Robertson, daughter
of great English actor Sir John-
.ston. Mrs. Sheean shared many
adventuies with her husband. She
is also an author, co-editor witli
Roger W. Straus of "War Letters
from Biitain," "The Battle of
Waterloo Road."
Sheean is still called "Jimmy"
by his friends, is a solid 6 ft., 2 in.,
and likes nothing better than dis-
cussion except an argument.
Among Sheean's works are the
"Anatomy of Virtue," his first
novel, written in 1927, "Gog and
Magog," a story of Communist
Russia — 1930, and described as
"having Sheean verve and richnes.s
of political background but defi-
cient in character building and
story interest."
He wrote "The Tide" in 1933
and this effort was received with
"cordial calm as a thought-provok-
ing satire on methods of modern
journalism."
Sheean was described by a noted
columnist friend Dorothy Thomp-
son as a man who in another age
would have been a great poet, and
best of the foreign correspondents.
Sheean is best known for his
wiiting of "Personal History," in
193.'5.
John Zivinak
John Zwinak, commercial artist
and former Pana resident, was
born in this city July 8, 1901. He
received his early education in the
Sacred Heart parochial school and
Pana High School.
It is said he did much ait work
in local schools.
During his career Zwinak served
one year as art editor of Good
Housekeeping, working with Her-
bert and Mayes. At the time of
his death at the age of 47 on May
22. 1947, he was with Kudner Ad-
vertising Agency, New York Citv,
N. Y.
During 18 years of his career
he had been on the staffs of Ward
Wheelock and Young & Rubicam
as well as Kudner.
After leaving Pana he attended
art schools in Cincinnati, Chicago,
and New York.
Relatives of Zwinak, including
his mother, Mrs. Anna Zwinak
of 401 East First street, still re-
side here.
A. J. "Butch" Nowack
One of the most famous Pana
names in the sportsworld is that
of Albert J. "Butch" Nowack, for-
mer west-side boy, star high school
athlete and All-American football
player.
Nowack graduated from Wash-
ington grade school, PTHS in 1925,
and the University of Illinoi.s in
1929.
An All-American his senior year
at the U of I, "Butch" captained
the mini and was selected as de-
fensive captain of the All-East
team that year, playing in the an-
nual Shrine game at San Fran-
cisco. He was coached by the
famous Bob Zuppke.
Following his college football
career, he coached at Cleary Col-
lege in Ypsilanti, Mich., then was
a line coach at Indiana University
under Head Coach "Bo" McMillen
for a year, and then was engaged
as head football coach at the big
LaSalle-Peru, 111., high school,
where he fashioned a remarkable
recoid until his death Sept. 28.
1952.
Nowack wa." born Aug. 6. 1904.
L((jniud Ciundli
Leonard Crunelle, former Pana
resident, later famous for hLs
sculptuie, was born in Lens Pas-
de-Calais, France, on July 8, 1872,
the son of Alberic and Marie
iStrady) Crunelle.
He was a pupil of Lorado Taft,
renowned sculptor, and attended
the Art Institute, Chicago. Dur-
ing his time in Pana Ciunelle
worked in the mines and is said
to have begun his profession shap-
ing stone and coal.
In September of 1893 he mar-
ried Augusta Waughop of Wash-
ington Heights, Chicago. The
couple had 6 childien. Marguerite,
Jean W., Lawrence D., Lucille,
Leonaid and Alice Yvonne.
Crunelle's most noted works
were a statue of Governor Richard
Oglesby of Illinois, which is in
Lincoln Park, Chicago, and a sta-
tue of Governor John M. Palmer,
also of Illinois, now standing in
Springfield.
Crunelle made his home in Chi-
cago.
Florian Zabach
Florian Zabach, violinist, whose
copies of "Hot Canary" have gone
over the million mark in sales, is
Pana's foremost representative in
the field of entertainment.
Zabach was born in Pana in
1918, the son of Florian, a mine:-,
and Anna Zabach, Austrian immi-
grants. The Zabachs first came
to Chicago, then to Pana, the elder
Zabach finding employment in the
mines. When Florian was 3
months old the family moved back
to Chicago.
Zabach began violin training at
the age of 8 under Eduard Doiazil
and was his pupil for 8 years.
He was known as a child prodi-
gy at the age of 12 when he made
his musical debut as a concert
violinist. He continued in the
concert field touring the US and
Europe, until World War II. At
the age of 15, he guest-starred at
the Chicago World's Fair in 1933.
In 1936 he went on a solo tour of
European capitals. For 2 years
before joining the army, he was
a violin soloist with the orchestras
of Roy Shields and Percy Faith,
on the NBC network.
Zabach received his break in
show business when in 1950 he
won an appearance on Arthur
Godfrey's "Talent Scouts." His
performances on this program led
to more contracts and offers.
Zabach visited Pana, while play-
ing In this vicinity at the Lake
Club in Springfield, in November
of 19.')5.
Jesse M. Donaldson
Jesse M. Donaldson, believed to
be the only postal career man ever
to become Postmaster General of
the United States, and who as
holder of that appointment prob-
ably rose higher in the govern-
ment service than any other
native of this community, was
born on a farm south of Oconee
Aug. 17, 1885.
He received his early education
in the Oconee schools and a
Normal school at Shelbyville, took
bookkeeping, banking and steno-
graphy courses in business college,
and grounded himself in law.
He taught school for 4 years in
Shelby, Fayette and Christian
counties, and during summer va-
cations operated a 4th class post
office at Hanson. Consecutively
he became a letter carrier in Shel-
byville, postal clerk and super-
visor at Muskogee, Okla., postal
inspsctor at Kansas City, in-
spector at Chattanooga, deputy
2nd assistant postmaster general
in Washington, deputy 1st assist-
ant, chief post office inspector,
and on July 5. 1945. 1st assistant
postmaster general.
In November, 1947, upon the
resignation of Postmaster General
Hannegan of St. Louis, President
Truman moved up Donaldson, who
served until after the political
changeover in 1952.
Donaldson, now retired, con-
tinues to live in Washington. He
is a Demociat, a Methodist and a
Mason. He still has numerous
friends and relatives in this com-
munity, and often returns to visit.
Jesse Gurney Vincent
Colonel Jesse Gurney Vincent,
retired executive vice-president of
the Packard Motor Company, was
the son of Joseph M. and Nellie
(Gurney) Vincent, born in Char-
leston, Ark., on Feb. 10, 1880, and
between the ages of 5 and 17
yeais, he lived on a farm 7 mile.s
southwest of Pana. His uncle, J.
O. Gurney, was superintendent of
the B&O Railroad shops and J. O.
Gurney's father, also connected
with the railroad, surveyed and
was active in the building of the
D&O Southwestern Railroad.
Vincent was interested in me-
chanics and at the age of 14 had
a blacksmith shop, equipped by
himself, where he repaired farm
machinery.
From 1897 to 1910, when ha
joined the Packard Motor Cai
Company, he was employed by the
following various mechanical or-
ganizations: Universal Adding
Machine Company, where he was
engaged in the development of
the adding machine; Burroughs
Adding Machine Company, where
he was the superintendent of in-
ventions and also developed the
duplex adding machine for trial
balances; the Hudson Motor Car
Company as chief engineer.
Commissioned as a Major of the
US Signal Corps when he entered
the Army in 1917, he was soon
promoted in August of the same
year, to Lieutenant Colonel. He
had a leading pait in the design
of the Liberty Motor and built the
experimental station at McCook
Field, Dayton. On Nov. 16, 1918,
he became a member of the joint
Army and Navy Technical Board.
He received the highest honor to
be given in his profession, that of
being president of the Society of
Automotive Elngineers.
Vincent, a designer, sportsman
and racing enthusiast, was a self-
taught man. He studied in night
schools and also took a home
course from the correspondence
schools. He received the degree
of Master of Engineering in 1929,
one of the highest honors to be
given, at the University of Mich-
igan.
He retired just a few years ago.
Garet Garrett
Garet ( christened Edward Pet-
er) Garrett was born in Pana Feb.
19, 1878, and became an eminent
economist and journalist.
Between 1903 and 1913, he was
a financial writer for several New
York City newspapers; he was
editor of the New York Times
Annalist from 1912 to 1914 and
assistant editor of the New York
Tribune from 1916 to 1919. He
devoted himself for some years to
writing essays and books, dealing
chiefly with political and economic
subjects.
From 1940 to 1942, he was chief
editorial writer for the Saturday
Evening Post and in 1944 became
editor of the periodical American
Affairs. Among his writings are:
Where the Money Grows (1911),
Harangue (1927), The Bubble That
Broke the World (1932) and The
Revolution Was (1944).
Employ<<'> of the first post olfic' in the city <>f
Pana are shown in an InfumiaJ pose, about 1898.
Picture was taken when mall delivery was first
inaugurated in Pana. The post office is the old
Schlierbach building on the comer of Second and
Locust streets.
Left t(. right: H<-nton Butts, clerk; Charles
Alosher, letter carrier; Lawrence Conner, letter car-
rier; Charles Miller, letter carrier; Gabriel Butts,
postmaster; Ella Hunter, clerk; Freeman Butts, as-
sistant postmaster; Owen Crosby, letter carrier. —
Photo from Freeman Butts' collection.
55
Thomas Henry Carter
Thomas Henry Carter was born
Oct. 30, 1854, in Ohio, and in his
fifth year came with the family to
Pana, where he attended the pub-
lic schools. He was employed at
farming, railroading and teaching;
studied law, was admitted to the
Bar and moved to Helena, Mont.,
in 1882 to practice.
A Republican, he was the last
Territorial Delegate to Congress
from the Idaho Territory and the
fii'st Representative from the new
State. He was commissioner of
the General Land Office 1891-2,
and in 1895 was elected United
States Senator for the term ending
1901. He was chairman of the
Republican National Committee
1892-1896.
Dr. C. R. "Bob" Weber
Dr. Charles Robert Weber, Re-
search Associate Professor, Iowa
Agricultural Experiment Station,
Iowa State College at Ames, is a
former Pana boy, now widely
known throughout the United
States and many foreign countries
for his research and experiments
with soybeans. He is professional-
ly known as "a crop breeder."
He was born July 18, 1914, the
fourth of 5 childien of Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Weber, on a farm located
about S'i miles southwest of Pana.
He received his early education at
Progress School and is a graduate
of Pana High School. Weber
later entered the University of
Illinois where he majored in Agri-
culture and received his Master's
degree in 1941. He received his
Doctor's degree from Iowa State
in June of 1948. Weber is known
for the development of the Hawk-
eye and Blackhawk soybeans, and
also worked with the Lincoln var-
iety.
Weber was married in the Little
Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa,
on June 27, 1951, to Miss Margaret
Jane Ogilvie of Edinburgh, Scot-
land.
In his earlier years after leaving
high school Dr. Weber worked for
some time in the Amling Green-
houses and farmed with his
father, Carl.
John Joseph Dudra
The last member of Pana's base-
ball hall of fame known to play
major league ball is John Joseph
Dudra, born in Assumption in 1916
and reared in Pana.
Dudra broke into professional
baseball with Owensboro, Ky., a
Class "D " Club, in 1938.
The next year he was called to
Evansville, Ind.. playing Class "B"
ball, a jump of 2 classes.
During the 1940 season, Dudra
played with York, Pa., another
Class "B" club, and in 1941 went
to Hartford, Conn., in the Eastern
League. Near the close of 1941
season he was called up to the
Boston Braves and made the
team's final western tour of Na-
tional League games.
The following spring Dudra took
spring training with the Braves at
Bradenton, Fla. During this sea-
son he was sent back to Hartford,
Conn., awaiting his draft call.
Dudra saw action in the Euro-
pean Theatre, being awarded 5
major battle stars. Following his
tour of duty in the armed forces
he was offered contracts by Bos-
ton but declined. He is now em-
ployed as an electrical repairman
at Peabodv Mine No. 17.
More Famous Names
Other notables than "Butch"
Nowack in the competitive field of
spDrts from the "City of Roses"
include Bob Diefenthaler. out-
standing high jumper and captain
of the 1939 Univeisity of Illinois
track team, and Michael Cvengros,
major league pitcher who labored
for the Giants, White Sox, Pitts-
burgh, and the Cubs. Cvengros
was known to the athletic world
as "Little Mike" or "Lefty."
During h'.s slay in the majors,
though not so well known as many
players, Cvengros shaied in 2
World Series pots.
Another former AU-American
grid star is Dr. Warren Amling,
who attended Ohio State Unlver-
sity. Amling, now a practicing
veterinarian, was chosen All-
Amerlcdn in '45-'46. He grad-
uated from Pana High School in
1942 and received his degree from
Ohio State in 1947.
Herb Siegert, insurance agent,
following a stint in the Marines
during the years of World War II,
added another star to Pana's
.•porting crown when he was
chosen to captain the University
of Illinois grid team in 1948. His
cousin, Rudy Siegert, PHS athlete,
shared this experience, leading the
mini in 1955. Herb graduated
from PHS in 1941 and Rudy in
1952.
Among names old timers may
remember in sports in and about
Pana during past years are:
Frank Chizevsky, Loyale "Scotty"
Hint on, Everett "Fat" Brown,
John Duck, Orville "Sandy" No-
wack, rated by some as better
than his famous brother, all in
football; "Freck" Hughes, base-
ball; Clyde Hale and Jack Bald-
win, track.
Included .mi the roster of the old
Pana Blues, one of the greater
baseball teams of yesteiyear were
Miller "Fish" Stewart, William
and Joe Mizeur, Loran Peters,
Blaine, Roy and Ted Snyder,
Floyd Higgins, Joe and John
Cvengros, brothers of Mike, Ted
Schafer, "Birdie" King (Cowden).
"Wagon Tongue" Joe Adams
(Herrick), and "Nig" Langdon.
Livery Stables Once Thriving Businesses
Shown is Kennedy's Livery on
Oak street, one of 3 stables in the
city of Pana many years ago.
This livery and the other 2, one
located on the present site of B. C.
King's auto agency on Locust
stieet and the other in the vicinity
of the present dress factory, were
owned by the late Wm. F. Sell.
In determining the location of
the buildings in the above photo,
notice the Paul Brothers sign In
thj upper left background. Mr.
Sell, with the coming of the paved
roads, switched from the livery to
cement and building materials.
Seated on the wagon to the left
is Sell's son, Charles Randall, on
the right in the rig is Sell. Other
men are unidentified. The build-
ing to the right in the photo is
Neely's undertaking establish-
ment. The Sell family lived in an
apartment upstairs.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
PANA, ILLINOIS
JULY 1-4, 1956
Program
SUNDAY, JULY 1
Freedom of Religion Day
Morning— Centennial homecoming at the church of your choice.
5:00 p.m.— Band Concert by Taylor-
ville Municipal Band.
6:00 p.m. — John Colin and His Ac-
cordion Band.
7:00 p.m.— Organ Recital.
8:00 p.m. — Crowning of Miss Pana
Centennial.
8:45 p.m.— Style Show.
9:15 p.m.— Band Concert by Taylor-
ville Municipal Band.
12:00 to 2:30 p.m. — Hours for pic-
nics, reunions and to greet old friends
and neighbors.
2:00 p.m. — Organ Recital, Mrs. Jos.
Zahradka.
3:00 p.m.— Religious Hour, featur-
ing massed Pana Church Choirs and
address by the Rev. Robert Bodine of
Peoria.
4:00 p.m.— Ball Game, Pana vs.
Shelbyville.
MONDAY, JULY 2
Tower Hill-Millersville-Oconee- Rosamond Day
7:00 p.m.— Strike It Rich.
7:30 p.m.— The Gold Dust Twins.
7:45 p.m.— Ortheldo and Dorothea.
8:30 p.m. — Free act on stage.
8:45 p.m. — Lari-y Costello and GJer-
man Band.
9:00 p.m. — Square Dancing in the
Auditormm.
1:00-4:00 p.m. — Visit the antique
and historical displays in the stores in
the downtown area.
4 :00 p.m.— The Gold Dust Twins on
the streets in the business district.
5:00 p.m. — Championship Softball
Game at Kitchell Park.
6:00 p.m.— Greased Pole Contest.
1:00-4:00 p.m. — Visit the antique
and historical displays in the stores in
the downtown area.
4:00 p.m. — Vaudeville acts on the
downtown streets.
6:00 p.m. — Concert by the Pana Cen-
tennial Band at Kitchell Park.
6:00 p.m. — Balloon Ascension
TUESDAY, JULY 3
Pana Community Centennial Day
7:00 p.m. — Jimmy Powell and his
Hill Billy Ramblers, including Little
Eddy, Memory Wizard; the Commo-
dores, Tumbling Act, the Sunshine
Sweethearts and the Albertas.
9:00 p.m. — Ansar Temple Clown
Band.
9:00 p.m. — Square Dancing in the
Auditorium.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4
Independence Day
Come and Spend the Entire Day and Evening With Us!
11:00 a.m.— Giant Parade.
2:30 p.m. — The Beard Contests.
3 :00 p.m. — Free acts on the plat-
form.
4:00 p.m. — Band Concert, Pana Cen-
tennial Band.
7200-SI5
5:00 p.m.— The Start of the Free
Feed.
6:00 p.m.— Burial of the Records
and Historical Book for the next gen-
eration.
7:00 p.m.— Free acts.
9:00 p.m. — Giant Fireworks Display.
PB-31
C
■T ^
f
PERM
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANfl
Q.977381P191P C001
PANA, ILLINOIS, CITY OF ROSES CENTENNIA
3 0112 025398006
