National Poppy Day

I received a poppy today outside our local grocery store from an older veteran who was wearing his American Legion cap. It reminded me of how members of American Legion Post #299 used to stand in front of the Raymond Post Office each year, handing out the small fabric poppies. 

As a young kid, I would wait patiently for one of my sisters to help me attach the thin wire to a button on my shirt or to my belt loop, and then go on about my day, excited to be wearing a cheerful little flower. It wasn’t until much later, probably my early teenage years, that I learned the history behind this nearly 100-year-old program and what the poppy symbolizes.  

The following information about National Poppy Day is on the official American Legion website:

After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists attributed the growth to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt and mud grew a beautiful red poppy. The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem was written in December 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D., while he was serving on the front lines.

On September 27, 1920, the poppy became the official flower of The American Legion family to memorialize the soldiers who fought and died during the war. In 1924, the distribution of poppies became a national program of The American Legion.

Led by the American Legion Auxiliary, each year members of The American Legion Family distribute poppies with a request that the person receiving the flower make a donation to support the future of veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families with medical and financial needs.

Poppy Day is celebrated around the world. The American Legion brought National Poppy Day^® to the United States by asking Congress to designate the Friday before Memorial Day, as National Poppy Day.

On May 28, wear a red poppy to honor the fallen and support the living who have worn our nation's uniform.

In Flanders Fields
by John McCrea

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row.
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Smoking Break

 

A friend of mine recently posted this photo on Facebook and it reminded me of the 1970’s, when dad sold toys similar to this as well as packs of candy cigarettes at the Raymond Variety Store. Back then, it was very fashionable for kids to carry around candy cigarettes and toy smoking accessories. I remember dressing up for the Easter Sunday sunrise service with my little white shoes and matching purse that contained a pack of candy cigarettes. The “cigarettes” were chalky sugary sticks that had an orange spot on the end. To make it even more realistic, you could blow into them and they would release a little cloud of sugar “smoke.” Given that nearly half of the adult population smoked real cigarettes back then, no one thought anything about it. To be honest, I never thought too much about it until recently, some fifty years later, when I was explaining the Facebook photo to my son. The look on his face made me realize how crazy it all sounds by today’s standards.

My dad smoked Winston’s for years; the ones in the red pack. Although he was busy -- running the store six days a week and then coming home to do outside chores or go off again to a meeting somewhere, he always took a break every night after supper to enjoy a smoke or two with his coffee. One year when Santa brought me a Ring Toss game, Dad and I got into the habit of playing a few rounds while he smoked and listened to John Chancellor and the NBC Nightly News that was on the TV in the other room.  

Every night I would ask if he wanted to play and every night he would say yes. It was just me and my dad, and I’m not going to lie; the smoke smelled kind of good and having my Dad’s undivided attention was even better. We even played on that day in January when Grandma Bandy died. I remember being anxious about asking him that night; after all, there was Grandma, down the street at the Hough Funeral Home and my aunt and uncle had travelled up from Carbondale for the funeral and were staying with us. Aunt Pauline had teary eyes all through supper, even when she tried to smile, and I wondered if it was proper to ask Dad to play ring toss at a time like this. Finally, as the plates were cleared and Mom brought coffee to the table, I worked up the courage to ask him and he still said yes. He probably needed that smoke break more than ever on that particular day in his life.

Having a father who smoked led to all kinds of possibilities when it came to gift giving for his birthday or Christmas or Father’s Day. Not sure what to buy? A new lighter and lighter fluid were always useful gifts, and he could always use another ashtray or a new shirt with a pocket for his smokes. Grandma Gamlin saved up the money she made selling her handmade kitchen aprons at the variety store and bought him a carton of Winston’s every year for Christmas. One year, we got him a wooden case for his desk that held 20 packs and neatly dispensed one pack at a time. It was my job to load them.     

Dad traded vehicles at Bandy’s Chevrolet every four years, and was very particular about the condition of the car. The same no-eating-or-drinking-not-even-water rule that applied to the living room applied to the car. But smoking was allowed. He never used the built-in ashtray or lighter, but instead kept a small beanbag ashtray on the dash that he emptied after each trip. When I think of the Sunday drives and short trips we took when I was a kid, I can still hear the static on the AM radio along with the constant whistling noise coming from the vent window that he cracked open when he smoked.      

This photo showing nurses selling cigarettes to a patient in the hospital was also posted on Facebook recently. It reminded me of a trip to the emergency room in 1979 when I broke my collarbone. It was a Saturday night. and Mom and Dad drove me down to Hillsboro Hospital about 11:00 p.m. When the X-rays revealed that I had a broken right clavicle, Dr. Telfer said there was not much he could do except give me a harness-type brace that he would adjust every week until it healed on its own. 

When Dr. Telfer was fitting me for the brace, he had a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth, right there in the emergency room next to all the oxygen cylinders. I had to stand facing him for what seemed like an eternity as he made adjustments, and I watched the glowing ash on his cigarette, just inches away from me, grow longer and longer until if finally fell on the ER floor. At least it took my mind off the pain.

I eventually graduated from candy cigarettes to real ones, and smoked here and there in my teens and early 20’s, before giving it up all together. Unlike dad, I was mainly a social smoker and while I enjoyed it, I was never really hooked on it. Nowadays, I mostly hate being around cigarette smoke, although occasionally, I’ll catch a whiff of it and it will remind me of my dad and ring toss and supper back home.  

The Lincoln Heritage Trail

 The following information appears in a self-published book by former Raymond resident, David A. Sorrell, called “As I Remember.” The book features Mr. Sorrell’s recollections about the early days of Raymond. The stories appeared in a weekly column in The Raymond News from 1963-1972. 

Another very interesting thing related to Raymond, and a very valuable one in in my estimation, was a map showing the old Lincoln Douglas Trail which did pass directly through our town. The map shows the trail in Hillsboro coming up on through Butler, passing the Moses Berry farm on up to the Fred Mondhink place. It goes on past the Doyle and Seward farms and to Elias Miller’s place where the trail crosses the East Creek, past the Asbury Cemetery. Straight across looking East for about a quarter of a mile would be the Quinton cabin, and on past that what we now know as the Nokomis Road. Here we angle northwest a bit and on our right is a log storage building. Now the road runs straight north again past the Pepperdine and Gamlin places and the Free Methodist Church, where the trail angles Northeast past the Carter-McClurg, McNaughton, Moore, and Scherer homes, and on past the Lincolnwood High School. It again heads due north where it goes by the Gurthrie, Eads, and Berry farms.

No, none of the places mentioned were there when Abraham Lincoln went along this muddy road that wound through the tall prairie grass except the Sam Quinton cabin. I mention these other places that came later so that you might know just where the Springfield Vandalia trail passes through Raymond. How appropriate is the name of the present High School. How fortunate that both of Raymond’s schools are located right on the Heritage Trail. How fine it would be to place a marker there on the site of the old tavern where Lincoln must have spent many nights as he travelled his sometimes-weary way along the muddy trail that led between Springfield and Vandalia. It was some of Abe Lincoln’s soldier boys that planted the trees and laid out the park where the Lincolnwood High School now stands. Who were these men you say - they were: Winfield Carter, Hezekiah Moore, Thomas Sorrells, Wm. Guthrie, and Reynolds Chapman - all of these men were Abe’s boys and had followed the flag they loved through many fierce battles to save the Union. I doubt if any of them knew that the park they were making to beautify their little town was right beside the road that their beloved Abe had travelled over many times as went up and down the state of Illinois during his various campaigns. How pleased they would all be in they could know the Lincoln Heritage Trail activity.

The tavern, you say, where was it? Early historians say that it was there on the south bank of the east Creek as you come up the trail from Hillsboro on Route 127.

Memories of Main Street

Please enjoy this encore TBT Post originally published in 2014... 

I can't tell you how many times over the years I have wondered about things from "back in the day," and have wished I would have asked my parents a lot more questions and recorded the information. Fortunately, life-long Raymond resident, Anna Uhrig, enjoyed writing and she shared her memories in Raymond's 125th Anniversary Book that was published in 1996.

Anna was the daughter of William and Margaret Coen Fireman. She married John Uhrig (son of Thomas and Druscilla Hebenstreit Uhrig) at St. Raymond's Church in 1927. For fifty years, the couple lived at the junction of Route 66 and Route 48, and according to the Uhrig family history printed in Raymond's Anniversary Book, it was quite an experience: People stopped by to use the telephone, to call for help at a wreck, or because they had run out of gas. The orchard fence was damaged so many times by wrecks, it was finally removed when the road was widened. The white chickens were quite an advertisement and many eggs were sold to customers from St. Louis to Chicago. Later, the Stop Lite Cafe and Standard Service Station were built on the corner.

Anna eventually moved to town, where, according to the book, she spent her time crocheting, quilting, and writing verses. She was a sweet lady, and I am so thankful that she took the time to record her memories of Raymond:  

Anna Uhrig

As I Remember Main Street
by Anna F. Uhrig

Having lived near and around Raymond, and now in Raymond, for all of my soon to be ninety years, I Anna Uhrig, have recollections of many services no longer on Main Street, now Broad Street. I was born on a farm six miles north of Raymond and at the age of five, and moved with my family to a farm southeast of Raymond, which was my home until my marriage in 1927. I lived in the square white house on the comer of the junction of Routes 127 and 48 and I-55 for the next 50 years and now I am in town, just a half block off Main Street, now Broad Street. 

Memory tells me that the present library was the home of the Doyle family whose son donated the home for the library. The present home of Veda Slightom was owned by the Dr. Kenton family who had two sons, Harold and Bruce.

Part of the Mizera home, by the present bank, was the sacristy of the old St. Raymond Church which was tom down when the present St. Raymond Church was built. The First National Bank stands on property that was Ira Doyle's Livery Stable where you could rent a stall horse for horses being ridden or driven to High School. Later, Henry Bergman had a black smith shop there where he shod horses and sharpened plow shares.

Another view of Main Street in the early 20th Century

On the local Post Office site was a large wooden two story building that housed Whalen's Poultry and Egg Station. Mr. Newt Scott drove a wagon through the country, collecting poultry and eggs from the local women.

The Walch store of memorabilia across the street, housed Roy Reineke's Hardware Store where new stoves could be purchased as well as hardware. Later, the Raymond News was published there.

The present bowling alley was the local theater where pictures and many local plays were given. In fact, my High School graduating Class of 1924 received our diplomas on the stage as that part of the new Community High School had not been finished. On one side of the entrance to the theater was Gutherie's Jewelry Store and the other side was Dr. Driskell's office. Later, Boss McConathy had a barber shop there. The present school office housed the First National Bank. J.E. McDavid, Clarence McNaughton, D.D. Cox, and Alvin Carriker were officers there for many years.

Perry Donini (brother of Dot Pinkston), owned and operated the Raymond Food Market on Main Street from 1936 - 1978. 

Next in line was a grocery store owned by A.W. Foster, and later by Perry Donini. An exercise gym, The Lift Station, now occupies the space.

The Dance Studio was a pool room owned by Ted Lessman, then by Gino Casolari. When he died, his wife Louisa ran the business for several years before returning to Italy.

One of the Walch's stores was a millinery store, run by the Werts sisters who hand-made many of the beautiful hats sold there. The middle Walch Electric Store was Elmer Eickoff's Feed Store.

The next building was a beauty shop occupied by Margaret Jenkins, and later by Irene Brachear.

The present town hall was the Raymond Post Office. The Post Mistress was Miss Mayme Convery, assisted by her nephew, John Convery, who later became Postmaster.

The corner wash was Stoeveners Mens Clothing Store. Above it was the local dance hall, before the Legion Hall was built.

Across the railroad tracks was the Carlin Jones Lumber Company, managed by Sam Scherer and daughter Gladys, which later closed and was recently torn down.

The next block contained Mosby's Garage, a Kroger Store which later moved to Mizera's location, and the Raymond Cafe which was operated by various owners including Loretta Lessman. There was also a beauty shop owned by Temple Hough. In the early twenties, there was a variety store run by a Mr. Drake, and next, Sellers Grocery Store, also Elmer Carriker's barber shop. The Ford Garage was always a car dealership, again with various owners/managers, including Roman Herman, and now Glen Myers and Joe Martin.

George Haarstick owned and operated the Implement Store along Route 48. Later the Paul Brothers, and still later Leo Hannon operated the store. It is now occupied by Myers Radiator Shop.

Now, lets look across the now Route 48, where Deak Lewey ran the Shell Service Station. He was also the Saturday night banker for High Schoolers on dates - a few extra dollars added to the gas fill-up.

In crossing main street, we find a bus stop and gas station run by Alva McNeil. Local girls in nurse's training at St. John's caught the Sunday bus back to Springfield.

In that same block was Thacker's Grocery Store run by daughter Sara. Benning Equipment was a Case Dealer for many years, and Hanks Boats occupied a store before he moved to larger quarters along Route 48.

Ray Walch's Jack Shop and Lawn Mower Repair flourished for several years. Harris Barber Shop - where I got my long tresses changed to a short bob and styled neck line.

Emmett Hughes ran a harness Shop where the comer apartments are now located. He repaired harnesses as well as sold brass trimmed heavy duty sets of harness.

The Sorrells Elevator was managed by Frank Todt and later by others including Bob Deardorf. The present Sorrells Building on the comer was formerly the Raymond State Bank manned by Charles Scherer and later it was the dentist office of Dr. W.H. Scherer ably assisted by Mrs. Emma Seward. The back portion of the building was an apartment of Miss Blance Grubb, a retired school teacher.

Where the Legion Hall is now was a large frame two story house - The Raymond Hotel. Guests were stopovers from the Wabash Railroad Depot.

In the empty space next was the Raymond Mutual Telephone Office. Yes, Raymond had two telephone companies at one time. The other space now empty was Leo LaPlant's Restaurant. He was assisted by wife Elda for many years.

Harold Henderson sold pianos in one of the stores near by. Elmer Eckhoff operated a feed store, now occupied by Super Scissors and Slightom Insurance.

Mr. and Mrs. Gus McLean lived above his dry goods store. Miss Bertha Thompson was a loyal sales clerk. They later built the home now occupied by the David Mills family.

John Fehr had a shoe repair shop along that side also.

George Back and his wife operated Backs Ice Cream Parlor where the Edge Inn is now.

Miss Mary Poggenpohl, organist at St. Raymond Church, owned a variety store, later run by Mrs. Bandy and then her son, Charles Bandy.

One of Mizera's stores was a bakery at one time and one was a locker plant. The original grocery store, on the comer, was as one time a Kroger Store, operated by Clinton Tucker and later by Dorothy and LeRoy Amyx.Claude Maze sold groceries there for several years before Mizeras came to town.

The Watson Auto Repair Store was owned by Ray Trinkle who sold Chevrolet automobiles, and before him by Ray Guthrie who owned the business and lived where Miss Mary Whalen does beside the garage. They later moved to Florida when Mr. and Mrs. James Lyons purchased the house.

Many sales and services have closed, but many new ones have taken over and Raymond, Illinois is a very good place to call "home."

Max Deprinma's Restaurant in 1915. Pictured are the barber, Frank Harris and his son; Max Deprinma, Burress Seymour, Russell Yunker, Joe Beatty, and Kenneth Seymour. 

Seward's Store (around 1915)

Trinkle Motor Company owner and employees who operated the Chevrolet Agency in 1945 were (from left) Claude Todt, Salesman; Bill Long, Service Man; Carl DeWerff, Mechanic; Pauline Weerts, Bookkeeper; and Ray Trinkle, owner. (Ray Trinkle was Marge Hough's father.)