Village of Secor

This Site Is Up and Running Again

Bob Meginnes — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:05:31 +0000

The past several months have been difficult for the Village of Secor website, what with people hacking it, a virus infecting it, and someone not paying the bill (that someone did not know the bill was even due) and finding everything shut down. However, all the problems have been resolved, happier days are here again, and this site will once again be updated on a more or less regular schedule. Please stay tuned, and if you have anything to contribute, please let the site manager know at grumpa1515@gmail.com.

Secor School Club Minutes October, 1960

Bob Meginnes — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:36:43 +0000

The October meeting was called to order by President Harold Sparks. The minutes of the September meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer’s report was accepted as read.

Mrs. Shuman reported that she had been asked to pick out any clothing that could be used by the needy children in school before the P. T. A. rummage sale November 3rd and 4th.

Mary Hunsinger reported on the survey work that has been done by the Representative Committee.

Evelyn Edwards made the motion that the Representative Committee meet with the School Board, seconded by Connie Wilkey. Motion passed.

Louise Bell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Wilkey, that the School Club buy a 5 cent Halloween treat for each school child. The chairman of the Room Mothers was directed to buy the treat.

Virginia Garrels reported for the Finance Committee that plans for the dance are progressing.

Mr. Don Schelegle made a motion that the Laws be amended to have all committees report their plans back to the School Club for approval.

Jane Van Scyoc made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Shuman, that we hold our meetings on the 3rd Tuesday all year. Motion carried.

Mr. Wilkey (made a motion) that the Refreshment Committee have the authority to loan the coffee maker out within the school district. Motion seconded by Mr. Jake Graber. Motion carried.

Mrs. Wessel made the motion, seconded by Louise Bell, that the Refreshment Committee buy meat and other food for Club activities from Mr. Meyers, as they do for the lunch programs. Motion carried.

A program consisting of music by the Band students was enjoyed by all.

The Room Award was won by Mr. Schlegele.

Art Wilkey moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Jane Van Scyoc.

Anna Belle Mc Ghee, Secretary

Secor School Club Officers and Committees, 1960-61 School Year

Bob Meginnes — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:14:15 +0000

ROOM MOTHERS

Mrs. Wessel, Joanna Sparks, Jane Van Scyoc, Mrs. Shuman, Irene Hartman,

Mrs. Moser, Mrs. C. Graber, Mrs. Clements, Caroline Jording, Esther Robenstein,

Mrs. Schlagel, Louise Bell, Anna Belle Mc Ghee.

COMMITTEES

Finance

Martin Duffy, Virginia Garrels, Joanna Seggerman, Raymond Bigger, Connie Wilkey.

Program

Jane Van Scyoc, Mrs. Shuman, Mrs. Gerald Crump, Mrs. Cecil Mc Clure, Mrs. Clara Jakob.

Membership

Mrs. Leona Menton, Mrs. Doris Heller, Mrs. Shirley Schlagel, Mrs. Kenneth Mc Clure, Mrs. Wesley Attig.

Refreshment

Dolly Toole, Esther Robenstein, Dorothy Miller, Elfrieda Peters.

Evelyn Edwards, Mrs. Herncjar, Betty Stiedinger.

Representative

Erby Mc Ghee, Louise Bell, Mary Hunsinger.

After the Walls Came a Tumblin’ Down

Bob Meginnes — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:01:59 +0000

This is an update to the photos posted following the demolition of the buildings adjacent to the Secor Post Office. As can be seen from the new photos, things are looking up, with most of the debris removed, a new paint job and improvements to the structure and the roof by the building’s owners (compare with the orginal photos below.) Just in time for the possible (likely?) closure of the office. Left click once on each image to enlarge it and twice to further enlarge it.

From the Way Back Machine “Bartender. Another Beer for Me and the Boys”

Bob Meginnes — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:26:26 +0000

Here is a nifty old photo found on a post card. No idea who, no idea when, no idea where. But worth a look just the same.

click to enlarge

From the Not Quite So Way Back Machine

Bob Meginnes — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:09:55 +0000

click to enlarge

Here are a couple of photos taken in the late 1990′s of the west end of Gilman Street showing the business buildings on the north side and George Garrel’s old garage on the south side. Sadly, these are all gone now.

click to enlarge

Building Streets in Secor

Bob Meginnes — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:52:12 +0000

The accompanying undated photograph was recently discovered in an old album. This shot was taken on North Second Street, looking northwest. You can see from the photo that ditches were being created, possibly, for the first time. In the background, the houses shown still exist, although considerably altered. The one closest to the camera is at the corner of Second and Van Alstine. Mike and Pearl Garrels lived there for a time. Mike was once owner of what later became Doc’s Tap, and following several other versions is now the Secor Saloon. The house beyond is the former Herman Prior home. Mr. Prior once owned and operated a creamery and produce business on Gilman Street. That building later became for a time, the home of the Secor Fire Department and still later, of several businesses. If you look closely, you can see a gas or kerosene lamp in the yard of the nearest house.

The men operating the equipment are unidentified, although the back of the photo has the word “father” printed in pencil. It is possbile that the man on the engine is Morris Gassner, who owned a steam tractor and did quite a lot of grading. The photo also shows a two story frame house on the far left of the photo. It is unknown who lived in that house or what became of it, since that is the site of a single story house that for many years was known as the Lew Powell residence. If anyone might have any information about that house, or anything else about the photograph, please contact the website administrator at the address on the lower home page. For that matter, anyone having any historic photos of the Secor area should contact the site administrator for potential posting on this website.

click on image to enlarge

School Days, School Days – Secor Grade School 1964-65

Bob Meginnes — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:34:41 +0000

This list and another like it from the following school year recently came to light. This might be of interest to those kids who are still around or to their families or friends. Perhaps the other list will be offered later.

First Grade

STUDENT PARENT

Armstrong, Tracy Kenneth Armstrong

Breach, Julie Donald Breach

Cooley, Rodger James Cooley

Egger, Darelynn Darrell R. Egger

Egger, Walter Darrel R. Egger

Fairchild, Carol James E. Fairchild

Garrels, Valerie Ray Garrels

Hartman, David Wilbur Hartman

Hockman, Carol Jean Guy Hockman

Ledford, Peggy Mitchell Ledford

Long, Anthony Russaw Long

Martin, Larry Lester Martin

Myers, David Charles Meyer

Rice, Joyce Rufus Rice

Schumacher, Tina Kenneth Schumacher

Simpson, Allen John Simpson

Turner, Laurie Albert Turner

Wagner, Laura David Wagner

Miller, Sarah Lyle Miller

Second Grade

Armstrong, Ronald Kenneth Armstrong

Casey, Paul Thomas Casey

Graig, Colin Stanley Craig

Harris, Roger Leroy Jording

Hayes, William William Hayes

Martin, Teresa Lester Martin

Meyers, Charles Charles Meyer

Moser, Gregory Lyle Moser

Rarick, Ricky Frank Rarick

Rice, Charles Rufus Rice

Sandstrom, Shirley Dorothy Simpson

Schumacher, Theodosia Kenneth Schumacher

Smith, Dale Willis Smith

Steidinger, Nina Harold Steidinger

Turner, Gail Arthur Turner

Turner, Ricky Albert Turner

Van Scyoc, Charles John Van Scyoc

Wagner, Celia David Wagner

Wolfe, Kevin Howard Wolfe

Third Grade

Armstrong, Leslie Kenneth Armstrong

Branson, Donald Mrs. Evelyn Kiesewetter

Cooley, Ronald James Cooley

Duffy, Matthew Martin Duffty

Egger, LInda Darrell Egger

Fairchild, James James Fairchild

Froman, Eileen Mrs. Ruth Froman

Graber, Myron Clarence Graber

Knoll, Mary Fred Knoll

Martin, Alan Lester Martin

Miller, Patty Lyle Miller

Moser, Shirley Lyle Moser

Simpson, Dennis John Simpson

Smith, Dean Willis Smith

Thomas, William William Thomas

Fourth Grade

Armstrong, Steven Kenneth Armstrong

Breach, Loren Donald Breach

Craig, Ray Ann Stanley Craig

Harris, Stephen Leroy Jording

Hartman, Denise Wilbur Hartman

Greenwood, Melanie Kenneth Greenwood

Jarman, Joy Jean Jarman

Knoll, Bonnie Fred Knoll

Long, Darrell Russaw Long

Martin, Roberta William Greathouse

McGhee, Mike Erby McGhee

Pierceall, James Dwight Pierceall

Schumacher, Kenneth Kenneth Schumacher

Thomas, Willia William Th0mas

Wilkey, Randy James Wilkey

Fifth Grade

Craig, Donald Stanley Craig

Crump, Cynthia Gerald Crump

Edwards, Thomas Fred Edwards

Garrels, Charles Ray Garrels

Graybill, Candy Millie Scheibler

Hungsinger, Susan Harold Hunsinger

Jakob, Crystal George Jakob

Johnson, Mark Joseph Johnson

Jording, Leroy Leroy Jording

Ledford, Jowanda Mitchell Ledford

Martin, Donna Lester Martin

Sandstrom, Victoria Mrs. Dorothy Simpson

Servis, Leroy Fred Servis

Secor Business Association

Bob Meginnes — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:23:03 +0000

For those in Secor who have never know of any businesses other than the Co-op elevator or the Secor Saloon, the item included with this post should be interesting. Right click on each image to enlarge.

And the Walls Came A Tumblin’ Down

Bob Meginnes — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:08:52 +0000

Two of the last buildings still standing in what once was Secor’s bustling ”uptown” finally met their sad end over the past several days.

According to the Secor Centennial Book, the Gassner Building, on Bestor Street, was the oldest of the two buildings. It was a single-story brick structure, dating back to the early 1880′s when it was the site of Henry Gassner and William Dehority’s Saloon. What it was in later years is no longer known. But in 1944, it was owned by George Hunsinger, who decided to start a business there: Hunsinger Sales and Services. George originally sold farm implements and equipment as well as hardware. In 1946, he added a concrete block building at the corners of Second and Gilman Streets and concentrated on selling only hardware and associated services. He added a small frame structure, originally planned as an auto body shop, on the south end of his building in 1948, and that enterprise eventually evolved into a full-service auto repair shop.

George decided to retire 30 years later and finally closed the business in October of 1974. The buildings passed in and out of the hands of several subsequent owners, but a lack of upkeep finally left both buildings unusable, unsafe and beyond repair. The Village of Secor accepted title of the property in 2010 and recently contracted with Beitz Trucking and Demolition, of Colfax, Illinois, to raze the buildings and clean up the sites. Although a few little things have yet to be done, the project is mostly complete. The Secor Post Office, which for years huddled in the shadow of Hunsinger Hardware looks pretty lonely now, sitting there all by itself.

click on photo to enlarge