USA > Illinois > Woodford County > The Woodford County history > Part 14
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Gradually one-room schools were erected and were usually the center for most com- munity activities, including religious serv- ices, basket socials, cake walks, corn days (country fairs) and spell-downs. The
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names chosen for these schools stir one's imagination-in Metamora Township were Ilappy Hour, Hazel Dell, Lowell, Morse- town, Mt. Pleasant, Harmony and Maple Grove.
The first village school was built at about the same time as was the courthouse, 1845. It was replaced in 1850 by a two-story brick building erected on the corner of Partridge and Hanover streets; here the lower grades occupied the first floor, and the high school and Masonic Ilall the sec- ond floor. This was the set-up until 1872 when fire, unhampered by any fire-fight- ing equipment, completely destroyed the building.
Immediate rebuilding was begun, and by 1873, Solomon Egbert, a local contrac- tor, had completed on the same site a new two-story brick structure which was to serve as both grade and high school until 1915. In that year the orphanage, operated by the Sisters of St. Francis, was purchased and opened in the fall as a four-year high school. Most of this building has since been replaced and new structures erected to ac- commodate the 568 students now enrolled.
The first permanent school of St. Mary's Parish was started in 1874 with Charles Wernert serving as the teacher. For a time it was under the direction of the Ursuline Sisters, but since I894 it has been operated by the Sisters of St. Francis. The present brick building was erected in 1923.
Consolidation of the area schools began about 1935 and gradually the rural school- houses were closed; some of them later were converted to residences, others were used for storage, and a few were torn down. The children are now brought by buses (14 of them!) to the high school, to St. Mary's, and to the new grade school, built in 1952, at the east edge of Metamora.
Modern teaching methods include closed circuit TV beamed from Bradley University in Peoria, offering scienee, art and English material that was largely unknown to the students of a half-century ago. The prac- tice of teaching simply "the three R's" is indeed a thing of the past!
Railroad
First promise of a railroad was heard around 1856, but it was not until 1870 that the first train was greeted by large crowds and a brass band. According to an account in the Woodford Sentinel, "Metamora is now a railroad town and ready to take her place among the great business marts of the country.'
The C. & A. railroad, now known as the G.M. & O., still maintains a depot here, though the plush passenger trains and numerous freights are "gone with the wind." Among the agents who managed the rail business during those busy times were a Mr. Day, Ed Robocker, H. G. Martin, Wm. Sommers, Turner Young and Al Crow. The present agent, Wm. Wil- liams is now serving his 46th year, having started on the job in 1922.
Metamora Herald. The history of any town would be incomplete without the history of its local newspaper. Our paper had its beginning in 1854 when the Woodford County Argus went to press, with a gentle- man named A. N. Shepherd its editor. The name was changed to the Woodford Sen- tinel the same year. The first issue, printed in Peoria, was brought to Metamora and a copy was flown like a flag from a pole.
The years to follow saw a number of different editors and in 1889 the name was changed to the Metamora Herald. In 1904, William Ryan became editor and continued in this capacity for 54 years. After his re- tirement in 1958 the paper again changed hands several times. The present editor of the oldest newspaper in Woodford County is Mrs. Dale Fitzgerald.
Post Office
Over the years the post office was lo- cated in various buildings. In IS94 it was in the Herman J. Pelz drug store and a few years later moved to a small room to the rear of the Metamora Bank building, where it remained until 1939 when the present building was erected. The Meta- mora post office was one of the first in the Middle West to be organized for rural free
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delivery soon after the inauguration of this service in 1902. A complete list of post- masters has never been available, but rec- ords show that D. S. Robinson was ap- pointed in 1858; the present postmaster, Kenneth Willman, was appointed in 1952.
Telephone Service
About 1900 the switchboard was located on the lower floor of the building now housing Roths barber shop, at the same time Louis Meister operated a grocery business there. About two years later the equipment was moved to the upper floor of the building. Peter A. Sommers owned the business in 1907 when it was located in a small frame building on the corner of Menard and Partridge streets. This build- ing was moved to the rear of the lot and a new building erected and in 1909 the switchboard was located on the second floor of the new building.
In the early 1920's, Mr. Sommers built a two-story dwelling to house the equip- ment; after his death in 1942, his family continued to operate the business until it was sold to Ray Rauh in 1945. In 1957 the new building was erected to house dial switching equipment and a business office. Dial service began in 1958 for 1,160 phones in the Metamora-Germantown Ilills area. Direct distance dialing was inaugurated in 1963 and automatic number identification for direct distance dialing was placed in service in February 1968. There are now 1,860 telephones in the Metamora-German- town Itills system.
Waterworks
The first village waterworks was com- pleted in ISS9 and it was said that no village of its size could boast a finer one. The system included a duplex pump. 800 yards of cast iron mains, a brick tower 65 feet high, upon which rested a 1,600 barrel tank. Through the years improve- ments have been made to the system and in 1959 a new 200,000 gallon water tank and softening plant were built. George Gangloff is the present water superintend- ent. With the $1,250,000 sewer system now
under way the department is now known as the Water and Sewer Department.
Electricity
It was fifteen years after the question of electricity for the town was first asked, that its use became a reality. W. J. Whetzel of Eureka approached the village board in the carly part of 1909 and promised im- mediate service. His plant at that time supplied electrical service to Eureka and Roanoke and lines could easily be extended to supply the village of Metamora as well as residents. On July 17, 1909, Marshal Henry Martin turned a key on a switch- board in the Opera House, throwing Meta- mora's lighting system into practical serv- ice.
Village residences were wired as rapidly as possible, although electricity was only provided in the evening until midnight. By the end of 1912 a large circuit from Peoria Gas and Electric Company was connected. providing 24 hour service. Thus ended the era of gas lights, candles, lanterns and the old lamplighter.
The use of natural gas was made avail- able in 1957 and today about 85% of the residents use it for either cooking or heat- ing or both.
Metamora Fire Department
Until the year 1889, the citizens of Meta- mora were virtually unprotected from the hazard of fires. Before this time two major fires had destroyed large sections of the business area. As the dread cry of "Fire" moved the people of that era to action, this same fear moves the present genera- tion to strive for better fire protection.
With the construction of the original water tank in 1889 came the formation of the first volunteer fire company. Officers of the first company were Frank Gichl, fore- man, and Harry Sweeney, assistant.
Equipment used at the time of a 1900 inventory consisted of two hose carts, six ladders (carried to the fires by the men). four rubber coats and hats, two axes, 14 wrenches, eight lanterns and, 1,700 feet of hose; all housed under the bandstand in the park.
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In 1917 a Buick car chassis on which a fire truck body was mounted became the first mechanized piece of fire equipment. The first custom-built fire truck was a 1932 Dodge pumper and is still used for pump- ing basements, and it could be used for fire fighting should the occasion arise.
In 1941, a major fire destroyed several business houses on the east side of the square, causing the fire company and citi- zens of the area to realize the need for more fire fighting equipment. A new pumper was purchased in 1946.
As the community grew in size, the fire equipment was again found to be inade- quate to provide the best fire protection. The Metamora Rural Fire District was formed in December 1961. Three trustees were named to work with the village board and the fire company to provide better fire protection for the rural area. These trus- tees, named and still serving, are Russell Shea, Ben Streid, and William Tanton. In 1963 the district purchased a pumper, owned by the district but housed and maintained by the village of Metamora and the fire company, which is used for both rural and village fires.
The present fire station was completed in April, 1964. A new rescue van was pur- chased to aid in the department's rescue operations and at the present time the Rural Fire District is getting a water tank truck to be used by the fire company. Metamora Woodworking has formed a fire brigade to assist the firemen should there be a fire at the plant. The present fire com- pany has 25 volunteer members, all of whom belong to the Woodford County Firemen's Association and the Illinois Fire- men's Association.
Present officers of the fire company are: Robert L. Garber, chief; Richard Hodel, Ist assistant chief; Jerome Stickelmaier, 2nd assistant chief; Kenneth L. Smith, secretary-treasurer; and Roland Elbert and Robert Mason, captains.
Metamora Organizations
In the 132 years of its existence, Meta- mora has seen many civic and social or-
ganizations rise and flourish, some of which are still serving the community.
The earliest one was probably that of Metamora Lodge No. 82, A.F. & A.M., which was chartered in 1850. The group was active until 1872 when fire destroyed their hall and all its contents. A charter was reissued in 1873, but in 1885 the chap- ter merged with Taylor Lodge in nearby Washington.
The Old Settlers Association, formed in 1875, drew together the old-timers of the entire county, and the annual picnics held in the Metamora park were anticipated by all. Over the years the group has reor- ganized several times, and the celebrations now held are sponsored locally. Many prominent persons have served as speaker of the day, perhaps the best known being Adlai E. Stevenson HI, while he was serving as governor of our state.
The businessmen of the village banded together prior to 1906 to serve as both a civic and social group. In the days when entertainment was not furnished by a tele- vision set or a movie screen, gay indeed were the parties held in old Wikotf Hall! But along with the fun, the members were ever ready to keep the wheels of progress rolling, a tradition that is still carried out today.
A Boy Scout troop was organized in Met- amora about 1917 by Prof. H. W. Seitz; it was short-lived, but the program was re- activated in 1938 with the Rev. Melvin Soltau and Floyd Nuhn as scoutmasters, under the sponsorship of the local Ameri- can Legion Post. Scouting has played a big part in the lives of many boys of this area the past thirty years, and indications are that it will continue to do so in the future. A number of patient scoutmasters deserve warm thanks for the hours and hours they have devoted to our youth.
An organization of Campfire Girls was in existence here for a short time back in the early '20's, but no Girl Scout troop was started until 1943 when two high school teachers, Miss Margery Kraus and Miss J. Agnes Malkus, were instrumental in get- ting the program started. Later affiliation
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with the Kickapoo Council gave the girls and their leaders access to the advantages offered by the national group. Since its de- velopment by Kickapoo Council in 1957. Camp Tapawingo, located just west of Metamora, has furnished the setting for many camp-outs and field trips for girls of the Peoria arca.
The American Legion Post organized shortly after the close of World War I was named Fred Herring Post No. 89 to honor the memory of a local boy killed in service. Joel A. Ranney was elected the post's first commander, and he and Louis A. Willman have now enjoyed 49 years of continuous membership each. Ernest L. Sullivan was the post's one life member.
Many community projects have been promoted by the Legion members over the years. They have sponsored the Boy Scout program, lead the annual Memorial Day services, have each year sent a local boy to Illinois Boys' State, and have given Legion awards to outstanding students. They made a substantial contribution to the drive for funds for the swimming pool, beside supporting their own American Legion projects. Working along with them since 1932 has been the Ladies Auxiliary. whose members actively promote various veterans' activities.
A number of other groups have sprung into being. flourished for awhile, then have become inactive. Among them might be mentioned the Catholic Order of Foresters, started in the 1920's; the Modern Wood- men of America and its Auxiliary group. the Royal Neighbors; the Grange, pro- moted principally by farmers of the sur- rounding area; the Townsend Club, affili- ated with the national movement which advocated that all citizens of the U.S. over 60 years of age be paid $200 per month, the funds to come from a 2% tax on the sale of goods; and the Lion's Club which was very active from the early '40's until about 1954.
Three organizations that have several years and many accomplishments to their credit are the Knights of Columbus, started in 1947; the Woman's Club, begun in
1955; and the Home Extension unit, origi- nating in the 1930's as the Home Bureau.
Since 1960 we find in town an active VFW post and its ladies' auxiliary; the Jay Cees, to whom we are indebted for our beautifully decorated streets during the Christmas season and for many sports ac- tivities for our young people; the newly created Park Board which has interesting plans for the future of our town; and the Rotary Club which is still in its infancy in this area.
Each of the above mentioned organiza- tions has played or is now playing its part in the development of the community; without them and the fellowship and de- termination they have engendered, our town could never be!
Library
According to the Woodford County history, 1878, the first library in Metamora was established in 1857 and was larger than those usually found in a small town. It had 1,200 volumes and was conducted on such a liberal scale as to allow all citi- zens to enjoy its benefits. A share of $4. with $I a year dues constituted a member- ship and, with the revenue thus obtained. the society was constantly adding valuable books to the library.
About 1928 or 1929, another library was started and was located in the Metamora Courthouse. It was operated by high school students on a volunteer basis. The board members were S. M. Snyder, William Ryan, and Ida Belsly.
The Illinois Prairie District Library be- came a reality in July. 1950 when it was voted in as a tax-supported library and was composed of seven townships in Woodford County. Metamora was named the new headquarters because of its central location. Mrs. Leta MeNally was hired as the first district librarian and Miss Edith McCaskey was the first Bookmobile librar- ian. The bookmobile would make regular runs to all the schools in the area on a fixed schedule. The first run was in October, 1950 to 23 area schools.
The first district library board was made
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Woodford County History
up of Mrs. Lloyd Wagner, Mrs. Angie Smith, Mrs. Madeline Sullivan, Rev. Ralph Fitch, and Mrs. Arthur Engel. Some of these people still serve on the board and have watched its continuous growth.
The summer reading club, the book float contest for the school children, and the book fair at the Old Settlers Celebration are some of the extra activities sponsored by the library.
The present librarian is Alvin Glaub and the circulation librarian is Mrs. Clarice Hahn, who was one of the aforementioned high school student volunteers.
At the end of the fiscal year June 30, 1967 the book volume had grown to 47,552 and total circulation for the year to 133,821. The selection of books has steadily im- proved and the value of the material avail- able is increasingly important to all who visit any branch of the Illinois Prairie Dis- triet Library.
Industry in Metamora
The early settlers were mainly farmers, business or professional men. The trend has changed throughout the years and to- day a large number of our citizens com- mute to Peoria and other towns to their jobs. The advancement of large industry has brought industry to our town, many of our own men and women as well as those of the surrounding areas are employed in Metamora's industries.
McBride and Shoff Machine Shop opened their place of business in Metamora in 1951, employing 30 men, and since that time the plant has expanded four times and now employs approximately 100 men. It is one of the most modern and well equipped shops in the state and does work for Hyster and the Caterpillar Tractor Company.
Fauber's Greenhouse. What started as a hobby and pastime for Carl Fauber in 1946, has grown to a fulltime business. In 1947 they added the growing of vegetable plants for area gardeners. By the spring of 1948, with some schooling and a lot of ambition, both Mr. and Mrs. Fauber started into the arranging and designing
of floral pieces for all occasions. In 1955 the business had grown and both quit their previous jobs to devote full time to the greenhouse and florist business. The last addition to the building was in 1965 and what started as a local trade now serves a radius of 35 miles.
Metamora Woodworking Co. May, 1947, saw the beginning of this business in Meta- mora. All work was then done by hand, by trial and error, and there was almost 100% personnel turnover. It has grown from 30,000 sq. ft. of work area until it now covers about 200,000 sq. ft. They use the most modern methods and the best equip- ment available to manufacture Hallmark wooden greeting display fixtures. Em- ployees number about 130.
Flynn Drainage Co. In 1958 Mr. James Flynn started his business here in Meta- mora with a crew of about six men. Since then the business of manufacturing cor- rugated metal culverts and related drain- age products has tripled and he now em- ploys 20 men. The products are sold throughout the entire state of Illinois.
Moorman Mfg. Co. operations here in the Metamora Warehouse began Jan. 25, 1960. They handle a complete line of con- centrates and minerals for livestock and poultry, plus a line of products designed for parasite control. They serve a 32 to 35 mile radius around Metamora, employ one man full time with about 12 salespeople who work out of the local warehouse.
Metamore Industries Inc. had its begin- ning in 1965 and employed three men. They manufacture finished parts for Hyster and the Caterpillar Tractor Company. With the addition of new machinery the plant now employs 14 men.
Metamora Abattoir was built in 1945 and did custom slaughtering for farmers as well as processing fruits, vegetables, and meat for individual lockers. In 1960, a retail meat market was added to the plant and in 1967 more cooler space was built to handle the increased number of livestock slaughtered. There are 10 full time em-
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ployees and three part time. It is operated by Harold Zobrist & Sons.
Metamora Implement Co., Inc. started as part of the MeBride & Shoff implement business. On November 1, 1967 the business was incorporated under the name of Meta- mora Implement Co., Inc. operated by Mr. Colman Alig and Mr. John D. Garber. This firm now has seven employees and handles a complete line of Allis-Chalmers, J. I. Case, and New Holland farm machinery, also selling flomelite chain saws.
Schierers Dairy. Ben Schierer opened the original plant in Metamora in 1933. From 200 gallons of milk processed at a time they now process 2,000 gallons per hour. The first ice cream was made 212 gallons at a time and now 750 gallons are made per hour. The plant has been enlarged several times and modern equipment installed. Mr. Schierer and his two sons today operate 10 dairy stores in several towns and in all employ 65 people. They also serve farm customers and have two distributors who sell Schierers milk on home delivery routes.
Business Past and Present
From the Woodford County History of IS78 we read :-
"The first store in the village was opened by Wilson Tucker, who was soon followed by Israel and Weeks. The first permanent store was that of Parks who bought a stoek of goods from Philadelphia and opened where Dr. Z. H. Whitmire's office now stands. In 1843 Peter H. Willard opened a store in the Village of Metamora. In 1851 a foundry was built by L. C. Blakes- ley and Company and flourished some three or four years. The large steam flour- ing mill is owned and was built by M. Tool in 1868, it is a two-story building with two runs of burrs. Built just after the war when material was high, it cost about $10,000. It is the only mill in the township and is constantly employed up to its ca- pacity.
"The grain elevator now owned by Peter Sehertz, was built in IS70. It is a strong frame building, holds 25,000 bushels of
grain, and cost $3,500. Mr. Schertz handles grain and also deals in lumber.
"The Metamora Bank was established in 1873 by James F. Earl. In 1875 it was pur- chased by John W. and Adino Page, who still own the institution and do a general banking business. Isaac Wikoff is likewise engaged in banking in connection with his business as a druggist.
"The village boasts of no large foundries, manufactories, wholesale houses or ma- chine shops, but the business is confined entirely to the retail branches of the trade. There are three general stores, two drug stores, two hardware stores and two har- ness shops.
"The practieing physicians are Drs. J. S. and Z. II. Whitmire and A. II. Kinnear. The legal fraternity is well and ably repre- sented in the following gentlemen learned in the law: Judge W. P. Brown, S. S. Page, L. F. Feilitzech, Judge C. H. Chitty, Elijah Planck, W. L. Elwood, Albert Rich."
As the town grew, other businesses sprang up in numbers. In a small 1890 directory it was stated: "There are over 50 different business firms in the city, among them are represented every line of busi- ness common to our inland western towns -merchants, mechanics, millers, grocery- men, hardwaremen, druggists, blacksmiths, wagon and carriage makers, lawyers and doctors.
The village square was deeded to the town in 1836 and was patterned after the village squares in Vermont and New Hampshire. In the years between 1900 and 1960 most of the business was done around this famed village park.
With the dawning of the twentieth cen- tury, younger men were coming into prom- inence. The grain elevators were now owned by J. R. Wagner and the Snyder Bros. Hon. J. L. McGuire bought the old Page proper- ties, the corner where the library now stands, and the corner where the K. of C. building is now located. New buildings were erected within a few years. Frank Giehl Jr., son of Valentine Gichl, opened a hardware store in the first building men- tioned. The telephone switchboard, on the
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second floor, and Dr. Ilarvey, dentist, on the first floor of the old building on the corner of Menard and Partridge, conducted business as usual until the new concrete block building was completed. The old building had been moved to the rear of the lot, temporarily.
Heiple and Kingsbury bought the bank from Peter Schertz in 1902, remodeled it in 1906, and sold it to the Snyder Bros. in 1908.
When the Snyder Bros. sold their grain elevator in 1907, the extensive business was divided. IT. J. Wykle of Peoria, bought the grain and coal business. Jacob Schrepfer, who had managed the lumberyard for a number of years, bought that portion of the business. Schrepfer operated the lum- beryard until 1913, when he turned it over to his son, LeRoy, and Harry Martin, a son of A. J. Martin, a carpenter in Meta- mora for many years.
The automobile, another innovation af- fecting the community around this time, caused blacksmiths to add auto repair ma- chinery, and implement houses to become auto sales agencies.
In 1909, W. T. Bolle opened a black- smith and repair shop on the lots where once stood the firm, Kellogg and Reeder, custom carriage makers, east of the present post office.
J. C. Snyder erected a garage in 1910, on the lot between Adino McGuire's build- ing ( formerly Andrew Wiltz's) and Miller Bros. store, fast on the breathless news that Barney Oldfield had traveled 200 ft. a second at the Illinois State Fair.
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