05/25/2026
Today in Homer History – May 25
1881 - Dave Swearingen has purchased J. E. Lefferentz's Saloon, in Danville, and has taken charge of the same.
1884 – Never in the history of Homer has Memorial Day been so universally observed as it was this year. On Sunday, the 25th, a grand union memorial service was held at the town hall, which was largely attended. The meeting was called to order by Col. H. J. Wiggins. The "union choir," under the leadership of Mrs. S. E. Young, opened the exercises with an anthem "O give thanks," after which Rev. W. D. M. Young delivered a very impressive and interesting memorial address, which was highly appreciated by the large audience, and the old soldiers in particular. At the close, the choir sang, "They died for you and me." At night, Rev. McNutt delivered an address. Under the supervision of Col. Charles E. Hardin, a beautiful monument was erected in the public square 21 feet high with 1st base 8 1/2 feet square, second base 3 feet high and 6 feet square. The shaft was 16 feet, feet at the base and 2 feet at top, made of white muslin. The corners were trimmed with ropes of evergreen, and black and white. The 1st base was surrounded with the national colors of red, white and blue, draped in black and heavily trimmed with evergreen and flowers. From each corner waved a small flag. On the 2nd base was the name of fallen comrades who are buried in the Homer and other cemeteries, trimmed with black and white rosettes. Above these words were "In Memorium," a wreath of evergreens and flowers, with the figures in large evergreen, 1862-65 and evergreen star. Above also the pictures of Washington, Lincoln, Garfield and G.A.R. Memorial on the four sides of the monument; the top was trimmed with black boarder and the whole was surmounted by a large urn of living flowers and a large American eagle. From the top of the monument there were 4 long evergreen ropes extending to the 4 corners of the public square, trimmed with the flags bearing the army corps badges and the stars and stripes. Above all this was the large American flag floating from a liberty pole. The whole presented a beautiful scene and well worthy the admiration of any people, - reflecting credit upon all those who assisted in its construction, and upon the G.A.R. and the city of Homer, who love liberty and freedom and Homer the nation's dead.
1896 - The Mueller motorcycle left for Indianapolis at 6 a. m. Sunday, from Decatur and as far as Danville it followed the line of the Wabash. At each town along the route Fred Mueller would wire the time to Frank Dorwin, the Wabash dispatcher. The wagon reached Bement at 8:15 a.m. They passed Sidney at 2:25 p.m., Homer at 3:50 p. m., Fairmount about 4:15, and reached Danville at 5:20. Frank Pahmeyer, who rode ahead as far as Danville on his wheel and warned all teamsters on the road that the motorcycle was coming, arrived home yesterday. He said that at every town along the route the people turned out to see the novel wagon. Farmers along the route had heard of it and there were some stretches of over a mile that the road on either side was literally lined with people. A procession followed them for some distance out of each town. The roads were very bad for a great portion of the distance, and first class roads were not struck till after they reached Fairmount. From there to Danville the roads were fine. This was the first automobile to arrive in Homer.
1904 - The Homer-Ogden interurban line is now a reality, affording the people fine service to the main line east and west of Ogden. Notwithstanding the many delays caused by bad weather, etc., by hard work day and night the contractors were able to send the first car over the new line at 1:30 o'clock in the morning. A work coach filled with enthusiastic laborers and others came in from the north a little after midnight and by their joyful shouts awoke many of our citizens. It was the first trip over the new line by a motor car. At 7:30 yesterday morning the regular coach, rebuilt bright and new, arrived from Danville to begin its regular round trips. It is the regular Homer-Ogden line car and will remain here permanently, stopping over in Homer every night. The car begun yesterday in making round trips every two hours, giving all a free ride the first round trip to Ogden. From Charles H. Wallace, who served as our representative on the trip, we learned the following facts; a crowded car of Homerites made the first round trip and many took pleasure rides during the day. Round trips will be made every hour when the track gets in better condition. It required 25 minutes each way and all were surprised at the smoothness of the track. Sixty-eight passengers left here and 52 returned. The oldest passengers were C. C. Stearns, aged 88 years, and L. M. Hall, aged 77 years, both of whom were former residents of old Homer, a point on the line where the interurban bridge now spans the Salt Fork creek. Edward Grub and Ira Henry, motormen, and Hubert Houtron, conductor, are the men in charge of the car, all of whom will reside in Homer. The crowd of jubilant passengers gave three rousing cheers for W. McKinley both on the departure and return of the first car. Some plan of celebrating the event of the interurban coming to Homer may soon be carried out in a fitting way.
1904 - A couple of boys were arrested by Marshal Sites for disorderly conduct in the gallery at the opera house during the commencement exercises.
1906 - Homer is now suffering from an epidemic of automobile fever, says the "Enterprise" of that town. In the past week orders for three machines of standard make have been places and a number of other citizens have about decided to invest, for down Homer way there are a few men who will be outdone by their neighbors, no matter what the occasion may be. It takes money to buy automobiles and it takes still more money to keep them in repair after they are bought, but Homer is a town of money.
1907 - J. W. Davis and J. P. Shannon, two oil prospectors, have been in this vicinity for several days trying to secure leases upon 5,000 acres of land with a view of later drilling for oil When the required amount of land is secured a well will be sunk somewhere in the vicinity of the Wm. Bailey farm north of town. The greater part of the leases have been secured and it is hoped that development will soon follow.
1909 - Clint Ewing is having a great time these days. He has a dog which hitches to a cart and drives about town and yesterday his dog ran away. Clint says he is going to haul brick for the new pavement.
1911 - Homer Park - Many visitors are enjoying themselves every day. Mr. A. Barr and family of Urbana spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday at their new cabin. The artesian and gas well has been fitted with a Welsbach gas mantle and now the novelty of seeing gas that will burn and water flowing from the same pipe may be seen at the park. Last Sunday the park visitors were agreeably surprised with another balloon ascension, no bills or announcement having been made of the attraction. Mr. Burkhardt would rather give more than he announces and will always have something doing. The many buildings, pavilions and cinder walks, affording shelter on rainy days, may be enjoyed as much at Homer park as others. All the buildings are being stained a moss green, this color being chosen for the reason that it does not make the buildings stand out so conspicuous as it is the policy of the park to keep it as near nature as possible. The free moving pictures continue to draw large crowds who enjoy them as much as ever. Owing to the growth of business at the cafe the management has been compelled to put in a double oven range and hot water system.
1913 - Two motorcycle riders from Champaign had a collision in front of T. Davis residence and casualties were narrowly averted. The foremost rider was forced to make a sharp turn on account of a buggy getting in front of him. His companion rider was coming along close behind him and was unable to stop his machine in time, and struck the head machine a glancing swipe. Both men were knocked from their machines, and the cycles were more or less damaged. The machines were taken to the local garage and repaired and the young men then returned to the University city.
1914 - Three Homerites fell into the clutches of the law in Danville and drew the usual fine of $6.85 for two and one got ten and fixins. Intoxication and disorderliness were the charges.
1916 – Mary Elizabeth Hodgson has come forward with what is probably the champion egg story for this season. While doing some cooking at her home one day last week Mrs. Hodgson broke what she supposed was a double egg. Instead of the double egg she discovered the white of an ordinary egg and inside of that a regularly formed egg complete with its shell. This inside egg was complete with shell, white and yolk. The whole was considered quite a curiosity and but few similar eggs have been reported in the vicinity.
1918 - Quite a little excitement was occasioned at Homer park this afternoon when a boat in which two young women and two young men went over the dam at the park, the boat capsizing in the deep water below the dam. The young people were rescued after a severe decking. They were a part of a number of University of Illinois students who were picnicking at the park and had been warned about the pool below the bridge several times by park employees.
1919 - The Jurgensmeyer room in the opera house, occupied by the Salladay Music Store, is being divided into two rooms. It is understood that the rear half will be taken over by the Overland automobile agency.
1925 - David A. Tracy and Leslie Cook were unconscious for some time after a motorcycle on which they were riding collided with a bakery truck from Decatur, at this place, this afternoon, but it turned out that neither was seriously injured. Tracy was cycling south and Cook was riding behind him when the truck going west crossed their path and was struck broadside.
1936 - U. S. Thompson, 57, brother of the late John R. Thompson, restaurant magnate of Chicago, died suddenly at his home in Fithian at 4 o'clock this morning. Mr. Thompson had been in failing health for several months. He had complained of being ill Thursday night. About 3:45 o'clock Friday morning, Mrs. Thompson was awakened by Mr. Thompson struggling for his breath. She immediately called a physician but before his arrival Mr. Thompson had passed away. The deceased was born Dec. 15, 1870, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Thompson, on a farm three miles southwest of here. His boyhood days were spent in this vicinity. After his marriage, he moved to Homer where he had charge of the Homer Light & Water company. In later years he and his family went to Tampa, Fla. A year ago they returned to Fithian. Mr. Thompson purchased the Delong elevator and conducted the grain business here.
1936 - Wabash Railway main line traffic through Sidney was being detoured on other lines between Danville and Tolono as a result of a pile-up of 18 cars of westbound fast freight 92, about 2:15 a.m. Monday at west edge of Sidney. In clearing the wreckage Monday morning the body of a 16 or 17-years-old youth, identity unknown, was found lying on its back completely submerged under water under the bridge of a stream. Discovery was made by John Witt, Sidney. It is believed the youth was riding in the third freight car, loaded with lumber, which was demolished. A broken truck on the engine striking the switch is believe to have caused the engine and one car had already crossed the switch before the truck of the second engine caused the pile-up. Twenty-six cars remained on the track. Rails and foundations of the track were badly torn up, and cars were thrown on both sides of the tracks. The freight cars wrecked contained seeds, automobiles, motorboats, salt, furniture, train car wheels and other merchandise. Two wreckers were at work clearing the debris Monday and it was expected one track could be open for traffic by mid-afternoon.
1946 - Ray Pruitt, eight-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Pruitt, was the subject of an intensive search of Homer community Saturday by the parents and a group of friends. E. C. Harvey and Ray Tate finally located the youngster in a bread box at the Freeman tavern, Ogden, about 11:30 p. m. The child intimated to playmates Saturday afternoon that he intended to go swimming in Salt Fork river, and when he did not return home for the evening meal, it was believed for a time that he might have drowned.
1956 - The Manny & Martin TV Sales and Service Store is being moved this week to St. Joseph from the building at the corner of Main and First Streets belonging to Leo Walz. The reason given for the move is that St. Joseph is more centrally located in their business while Homer is on the edge. Mrs. Zelda Cromwell, who has been employed in the store here, will continue to work for them in their St. Joseph location.
