By Arline Adamsick
The Beecher Herald: February 1, 1973
A little history about the chain of papers to which the Beecher Herald belongs…
“Today We are Seven!”
“This week Russell Printing Company launches its seventh newspaper, the Steger News. The move expands the chain’s already comprehensive coverage of eastern Will County papers.
“G. Lee Russell founded the family company when he purchased the Peotone Vedette in September 1942, having previously worked on the paper for many years. The Monee Monitor was established by Russell Printing Company in 1957.
“Two more papers were added in 1963, the Beecher Herald in January and the Crete Record in October. They were followed by the acquisition of the Manhattan American in November 1964.
“As the papers grew, other members of the Russell family were brought in to help. By 1968, Lee’s two sons, Gilbert L. and Lanson, became full partners in the ownership and management of the papers, while Lee ‘retired.’ Although no longer a publisher, Lee Russell continues to take an active part in the various newspaper enterprises.
“Another milestone for Russell Printing Company was reached in December 1969, when the mechanical operations were switched from letterpress to offset. All typesetting now is done on computer-controlled machines, and the papers are printed on a two-unit high speed Goss Community Press, capable of printing and folding eight, 12, and 16 pages at a time.
“The new process made press time available for more papers. In July 1971, the first Park Forest South Post rolled off the press, an outgrowth of Park Forest South news columns that had been carried in the Crete Record for several years. The Steger News is, likewise, a ‘spinoff’ from news columns in the Record.”
Back in the day, to those readers of a “certain age,” do you remember telephone charges for Call Paks? Illinois Bell was asking the Illinois Commerce Commission for approval of new telephone rates.
According to the article, “Call-Pak – Increases in monthly rates for suburban subscribers near Chicago (within about a 28-mile radius of the city) would be from $1.15 to$1.90; for outer suburban subscribers, $1.25 to $2.15. Unlimited Call-Pak would go up to $3.50 in all areas.
“Message Units – The charge for message units not included in basic monthly rates would go up a half cent per unit. Connections, Move, and Charge Charges – Charges for connecting, moving, or changing telephone services would vary, depending on the amount and type of work done. At present, there are flat charges for this work.”
Seems lots of items were on the way up… “The PTA Hot Lunch committee found it necessary to raise the price of pizza served on Fridays at Beecher Elementary School. Beginning this Friday, February 2, the cost will be 35¢. Sandwiches sold Mondays and Wednesdays will remain at 30¢.”
The Peotone Vedette: February 2, 1973
“Fire Department Issues 1972 Report”
“Peotone Fire Chief Allan Harms issued the 1972 activity report of the fire department. The firefighters answered a total of 94 alarms in 1972. This is up from the 74 answered the previous year.
“In the Village of Peotone, firefighters responded to 14 fire alarms, one less than last year. Fire losses in the village totaled $1,850, down from $21,625 incurred in 1971. The emergency squad of the department was called 22 times in the village, for an increase of six. False alarms, most from malfunctions in equipment, accounted for 28 calls.
“Firefighters responded to 24 fire alarms in the rural area. This is a decrease from 1971, when they answered 31 calls. Fire losses in the rural area amounted to $8,800, up from $7,900 in 1971. The department’s emergency squad responded to six calls in the rural area, one less than the previous year.”
It seems March was the busiest month for fire calls, with firemen answering seven; May, June, and July – six each; August – four; January – three; October and December – two; April and September – one; and February and November – none.
August was the busiest month for the emergency squad, when they responded to 10 calls, and was followed by December with four; September and November – three; April and May – two; February, June, July, and October – one; and January and March – none. The department averaged 15.4 firemen responding to each alarm.
The Holiday Theatre in Park Forest was showing Charles Bronson in “The Mechanic.”
There also were ads for Don’s in Manteno, featuring a Wednesday Chicken Smorgasbord for $1.69, plus specials on Wednesday and Thursday, including sirloin broiled steak with potatoes and vegetables or a New England-style hot beef sandwich, with whipped potatoes and vegetable – either one for $1.29.
Couldn’t help but notice the Suburban Home Company ad for a two-bath, four-bedroom tri-level, with family room, for only $24,400. The ad said these Bourbonnais homes were listed at $5,000 to $10,000 below market prices.
The Manteno News: February 1, 1973
“Seek Zoning Same as Neighbors”
“A petition was filed this week on behalf of Clara Flatt to rezone her house lot at 312 West Section C-1, to make it the same as the property adjoining it on the east and the north. Representatives of Mrs. Flatt indicated, at the time of the official village plan adoption, the property was zoned commercial from Main Street west to the Flatt property, but the latter was excluded because planners thought the village might someday want to park on the triangle and left it zoned residential. Mrs. Flatt wishes to sell the property to a buyer, who wants it zoned the same as that adjoining it.
“R.W. Kohlman, a neighbor of Mrs. Flatt, identified himself as the prospective purchaser. He indicated he thought it only fair the property has the same zoning as those adjoining it. He indicated he had no present plans for the property, although he would probably be opposed to any use in the area other than an office type building. Although he expects to be on vacation when Mrs. Flatt’s hearing is held, he stated, the best guarantee neighbors would have that the property would not be put to an offensive use is that he has property that would be directly affected to the northeast and northwest of the Flatt tract, and said, if any neighbors have questions of him, he would be happy to answer them prior to the hearing.”
Kasco Foods on Rt. 50 had these items for sale in their weekly ad: Italian sausage – 99¢/lb., ribeye steaks – $1.99/lb., Friskies cat food – 10¢/can, head of lettuce – 38¢, cherry tomatoes – 39¢/pt., and two pounds Velveeta – $1.15.
Manteno True Value Hardware featured these items on sale: Skil shop 7-1/4 circular saw – $16.99, Eight-gallon wet/dry vac for $29.99, propane torch kit – $7.77, and a two-speed automatic humidifier – $79.99, with water-wheel action, humidifies up to 2,500 square feet, automatic humidistat, refill light, water-level gauge, and 9-1/2 gallon reservoir.
Remember some of these businesses in the area 50 years ago…LaFond’s Repair Shop on First Street; Sha-Dan’s Kennels on Locust; Potts TV Service on Main; B&J Roofing; Chuck’s Kart Shop, also on Main; Agnes Bonsett – Painting and Decorating; Joseph Gagnon – antenna and tower installation; and Two’s Company Photo Studio on West First.
The Crete Record: February 1, 1973
And sometimes predictions just don’t pan out…
“Realtor Predicts Boom in Far South Suburbs”
“The far south Chicago suburbs may well be the ‘sleeper’ area of the century in real estate growth, in the opinion of a prominent real estate executive.
“Realtor and assistant vice president and district sales manager for Baird and Warner’s Palos Heights and Flossmoor offices, John Lane, based his prediction on a recent survey among the firm’s 28 city and suburban sales offices.
“Lane bases his optimistic outlook for the growth of the area on the following factors:
“As reported in the Baird and Warner survey, Homewood, Flossmoor, and Olympia Fields remain strong in sales of homes in the ‘higher priced’ categories. Nearby Glenwood, Hazel Crest, and other communities continue to grow with new developments.
“Chicago Heights, if planned programs are followed, will experience a revitalization and refurbishing of the entire city. A new municipal library, completed several months ago, now is in use. The contract has been let for construction of a two-block-square parking facility in the downtown section. A 10-story office building, tallest in the city, will be under construction in downtown Chicago Heights before the end of the year and, as the first of such planned developments, a 370-unit middle income apartment complex will begin to rise early in 1973.
“Park Forest continues to grow through annexation proceedings, including the expensive homes of Thorn Creek Estates. Also, the first high rise senior citizens housing development in the southwest suburbs, near the Park Forest Plaza, was dedicated early in 1972.
“Just to the south of Park Forest is the ‘new town’ of Park Forest South, which has plans for an eventual population of 100,000.
“Lane also said, ‘To the south and southwest of Chicago, villages with potential growth abound. Near the towns of Crete, Beecher, Steger, Sauk Village, Manhattan, Peotone, Monee, Matteson, and Richton Park, farmland for potential housing development has increased in value steadily during the past four years. Expensive homes on five- and 10-acre estates are becoming commonplace in the region.’
“The Village of Matteson, perhaps spurred on by the giant Lincoln Mall shopping center now under construction, is awakening with new homes in the luxury class. The 173,000 two-level Lincoln Mall will be occupied by such major stores as Wieboldt’s, J.C. Penney, Carson Pirie Scott and Company, and Montgomery Ward. Of the many hundreds of persons employed at the shopping center, scheduled for completion in August 1973, many are expected to take up residence in the immediate vicinity.”
Isn’t it amazing how things change in 50 years – things come, and things go…?
Have a great week. Life is Good!!