Big Shoes to Fill

While on a recent shoe shopping trip with my thirteen year old son, I had a sudden realization: the kid has Bandy feet. As we walked out of the store with his brand new sneakers, size 11.5, I thought back to a minor crisis in our family in 1971 when my dad had trouble finding dress shoes to wear with his tuxedo for my brother's wedding. He wore size thirteen or fourteen and back then, it was uncommon for men to wear that large of a size. In fact, none of the stores in Hillsboro, Litchfield, or even Springfield carried sizes that big, and the shoes for the wedding had to be special-ordered from St. Louis. Traveling down there was a big deal, and I remember riding in the back seat of our red Chevy Impala from Bandy's Chevrolet (It's a dandy if it's from Bandy), and pestering dad to turn up the KXOK a little louder, so I could hear Heart of Gold by Neil Young through the static.

While growing up, I had heard a lot of stories that involved dad's feet. Like the time when a tornado touched down in Raymond right at the intersection of Route 48 and 127. It happened on April 24, 1937 when Dad and grandma were living in a second floor apartment in a brick building on Main Street (located where the current fire department and ambulance building is today). Grandma owned and operated Bandy's Cafe, the restaurant directly below the apartment. As the storm grew worse, Grandma became concerned that the strong winds might blow in one of the plate glass windows in the front of the restaurant. She woke up dad (a sophomore in high school) at 1:30 a.m., not to send him to the cellar, but to have him lie down in front of the plate glass window and use his feet to push against the glass and hold it in place. The window stayed in and there was no damage to the restaurant, but a large section of Raymond sustained considerable damage as the tornado swept North through town. Fifteen homes were damaged and the power and phone services were cut off. Traffic on Route 48 was halted for eight hours. The worst damage occurred a few doors down from Bandy's Cafe at the intersection of Broad Street and the highway, where Haarstick Implement Company, the pool room, the tavern, and Guthrie's Jewelry Store were located. 

Dad was fitted for Army boots on November 20, 1942 and began his journey "across the pond" on the Queen Mary on May 27, 1943. Not long after arriving in Europe, he got separated from his unit, and unknowingly walked across a live mine field. Apparently his drill sergeant was both upset and impressed that Bandy had made it across that $%^#* field with those big #$%*^# feet of his (needless to say, dad was not fond of his drill sergeant). Luckily, he managed to stay out of harm's way and two and half years later, those feet were planted firmly on the the deck of the S.S. Exchange as it sailed back into New York Harbor. Most of the men in his unit were from the Northeastern part of the country and planned to stay in New York City to celebrate their discharge. My dad and his big feet went straight home to Raymond.  

A few years after the war, my brother Joe and Rex Pitchford were born within a day or so of each other at Hillsboro Hospital. Joe was born first, and the next day, Cecil Pitchford brought Frances to the hospital. Dad was there visiting, and the privacy curtain was pulled around mom's bed, exposing only dad's feet. As Frances was being wheeled down the hall to the delivery room, she glanced at the feet under the curtain and said, "Well, Charlie Bandy, what are you doing here?" She told him that she was sure it was him behind that curtain because she would know those feet anywhere.  

I've heard other stories too, like how the Raymond Bowling Alley had only one pair of bowling shoes that would fit both dad and Rise' Johnson's dad, who also wore a large size. Apparently it was a weekly race to see whose family could get uptown first on Sunday night. I had also heard stories of how the size of his feet was always a running joke at the firehouse, and that he had his very own pair of fire boots because no one else could wear them. 

I can't say for sure if my son will make it all the way up to a size thirteen or fourteen, but it looks promising. I think it would be great to have another pair of those feet in the family.  
  

Days Gone By...

This week, I've been reading through the booklet that was published in 1971 in commemoration of Raymond's Centennial year. Raymond Stewart was mayor, Bert Martin was Village Clerk, and Raymond R. Hough was Village Treasurer. Board members included Carl Peger, Joe Martin, Pete Henderson, Verne Pinkston, Kenneth Wagahoff, and Glen Myers. Raymond's oldest citizen at the time was Mrs. Mary Peger, born August 28, 1974.

Back then, "Main Street" was busy and there were times when it was difficult to find a parking spot on either side of the railroad tracks. I was amazed to see how many businesses were open in Raymond in 1971, and reading through the following list brought back a lot of good memories. Enjoy!

Raymond Post Office
The Raymond News
Telephone Exchange
First National Bank
Irwin Electric
Spring Air Motel and Restaurant
Spring Air Texaco
Gino's Pool Room
Dr. T.L. Wagy
Jo's Standard Service Station
Nannie's Tavern
Local Propane Gas Company
Raymond Cafe
O.K. Grain Company
Raymond Handi-Wash
Walch Electric
Raymond Lumber and Hardware Company
Eckhoff Western Wear
S & S IGA Market
Mizera's P.A.G. Market
Cal's Service
Dr. Nicholas Dub
Held Sales & Service
Heid Drug Store
Hank's Sales & Service
Bandy Chevrolet Company
Raymond Variety Store
Ray's Jack Service
White Cottage Cafe
Poggenpohl Construction & Materials
Bud's Tavern
Raymond Implement Company
Raymond Super Service
Carl Routt - Standard Oil Agent
Herman's West End Grocery and Service Station
Ye Olde Barber Shop
Hough Plumbing & Heating
Angle Welding Shop
Home Oil Company
Raymond Ready Mix
Ralston-Purina Elevator
Johnson Builders' Supply
Montgomery Service Company
Raymond Food Market
Montgomery County Housing Authority (Raymond, Illinois Project)
Raymond Bowl
Darald Peters Ford
Benning Equipment Company
Mick's Auto Body Shop
W.H. House, Sr.
Sorrell's Farm Supply
Mosby's Garage - Raymond Tile Company
Lancer Den
Hough Funeral Home
Beauty Shop owners: Cheryl Herman, Bernice Keller, Mary Ann Durbin, Lucille Rossi, Jane Barry and Norma Bray. Operators: Kathy Vieregge, Elaine Walch, Marie Germman, Mary Brown, and Alice Marsch.

Vietnam

Vietnam Veterans Day was observed last Saturday, March 29th. Three million U.S. service members were in the Vietnam War, and the death toll of Americans surpassed 58,000. The last U.S. troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973. In 2012, President Obama proclaimed that this anniversary would be observed to "reaffirm one of our most fundamental obligations:  to show all who have worn the uniform of the United States the respect and dignity they deserve, and to honor their sacrifice by serving them as well as they served us."

Men from Raymond who served in Vietnam include:
Robert Bandy, Joseph Barto, Robert Barto, William Barto, Gordon Casey, Ross Clark, Mike Dagon, Kenny Duff, Don Fuller, Tom Glover, Rick Hailstone, Ronald Hefley, Robert Herman, Robert Holder, John Honnies, Terry House, David Huber, Fred Huber, Norman Jackson, Mike Langen, Larry Lewis, Carl Mayer, Jr., James R. McCallum, Loy McCart, David Mills, Kenneth Mondhink, Richard Polston, Terry Polston, Rollie Pope, Charles Rhine, Freddie Roach, Mike Slightom, Michael Stephenson, Francis "Butch" Todt, Louis Tucker, William Tucker, Joseph Wagahoff, James Walch, Thomas M. Walch, Thomas Walz, Melvin Wempen, Jr., and Dennis R. Williams. (Since this is my blog, I am also including my brother-in-law, Tim Lebeck, of Harvel.)

Pete Henderson provided the names to me back in 1996. Pete had kept extensive records on Veterans from our area and he gladly shared the information with me when I was doing research for Raymond's 125th anniversary celebration book. I apologize if any names were omitted. There were several other men from Raymond who also served our country during the Vietnam era, but were not sent directly to the battle zone. My brother, Joe, was one of those men.

I have somewhat vague memories of 1970 when both my brothers were serving in the U.S. Army. Bob was sent to Vietnam, and Joe was stationed in Germany. Even though mom and dad did their best to go on as usual, it was obviously a stressful time for our family. My dad and I still played Ring Toss every single night after supper, but I could tell he was distracted by the NBC News coverage showing images of helicopters and jungles, and protesters, and Richard Nixon. Sometimes we had to stay home to "sit by the telephone," and I'm sure mom held her breath every time the phone or the doorbell rang. She was so nervous that she lost most of her hair and eventually had to wear a wig. Our family looked forward to the white envelopes with the red, white, and blue borders that would arrive regularly from my brothers, and occasionally Joe and Bob would be mentioned in The Raymond News under the heading, "Men in the Service." To keep busy, mom and Grandma Gamlin baked homemade oatmeal raisin cookies, and shipped them overseas in half-gallon milk cartons. The boys came home when I was seven. Mom's hair grew back. Life went on.

It would be many years before I would even begin to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that were made by my brothers and by all the men and women who served during the Vietnam era. I'm sure that even today, I don't fully realize the extent of those sacrifices. I do however, make it a point to always remember (as the saying goes), freedom is not free. Thank you to all who served.

Raymond's Claim to Fame

Did you know?

Actress Kate Capshaw, wife of Steven Spielberg, had relatives in Raymond and Waggoner. Myron Nail was her grandfather, Henry Nail was her great-uncle, and Edith Hantla was her great-aunt.

Francis Martin's shrine along the West frontage road was featured in Route 66 books and videos, aired on "Nightline" with Ted Koppel, and was featured on several Route 66 programs.

Bruce House and Alan Pecht, known as the "Tapekho Brothers Juggling Act" were featured on the "Regis Philbin Show" and the "Corky the Clown" program.

Gus Sutter, a rural mail carrier in the Raymond-Harvel area, was on CNN, CBS, NBC, and featured in local and national newspapers when he retired from the U.S. Postal Service after 64 years of service.  He was recognized for being both the oldest and the longest-term mail carrier in the United States.

Rusty Bergman, son of Harry and Evelyn Bergman went on to become a well-known college basketball coach.

Jim Held and Wendell Egelhoff were related to American Statesman, Lewis Cass, who ran for president of the United States in 1848. He was defeated by Zachary Taylor. Cass later became a U.S. Senator and served as Secretary of State under President James Buchanan.

Verne Pinkston served as General Patton's jeep driver.

John Dillinger was a cousin to Raymond resident, Jimmy Richardson, owner of "Jimmy's Junk" store on main street in the early 1930's. The store was located next to Temple Hough's beauty shop and Bob Hough played cards with Dillinger when this notorious gangster was in Raymond "hiding out" shortly before his death.

Hank Scheisser went to school with Theodore Kaczynski, "The Unabomber."

(The information above appeared in the book commemorating Raymond's quasquicentennial published in 1996.)

The Year Without a Summer

Although today is the first day of spring, the long-range forecast for my area includes highs in the 30's and another possible winter storm on the horizon. With the winter lingering on, I thought it would be appropriate to share an article that my friend and former Raymond resident, Sherri Lanter Cook, sent to me a few months ago. The article below, published in The State Journal Register in 1915, includes a letter to the editor that was first published in The Blue Mound Leader an unspecified number of years prior to that. Apparently in 1915, Central Illinois was experiencing unseasonably cool weather, which prompted the article.

Although the details are sketchy and the author of the letter is not even identified, a quick Internet search reveals that something strange did occur in 1816. While I have not conducted any formal research on "the year without a summer" based on some of the information online, it seems that the strange weather event is thought to have been caused by the eruption of Mt. Tambora in Indonesia in April of 1815. Apparently it created food shortages in the United State and Europe, and some historians link the event to an accelerated expansion of the United States as people moved West, searching for better farming conditions. It is interesting to note that Mary Shelley wrote her classic novel, Frankenstein, during this time period.

I have always been fascinated by stories from "back in the day" about events that caused folks to believe that the end of the world was near. If any readers have information about "the year without a summer" or stories about other events that were thought to signal the end of the world, please share them.  

Lincolnwood Goes to State!

Forty two years ago this week, the Lincolnwood Lancers won third place in the IHSA State Basketball Tournament at the Assembly Hall in Champaign. Although I was only eight years old, I can remember many details about that weekend. I was so excited that people from Raymond were going to be on TV, and I remember "warming up" our RCA big screen (28") console television in anticipation of the first game. The Lancers won a tense game on Friday night and advanced to the semi-finals. The following day an unprecedented event occurred: my dad closed the Raymond Variety Store on a Saturday afternoon so he could watch the ballgame. As my brother pointed out, no one in town would have been doing any shopping that day anyway. 

Of course it was disappointing that the Lancers lost the semi-final game, but it was exciting to watch them on television again Saturday evening when they won third place. On Sunday, many people in town lined the streets and cheered as the Raymond police and the fire department (lights and sirens blaring) escorted the players' bus and the fan caravan in a victory parade through town that ended at a pep rally at the high school gym.  

Do you remember when the Lancers went to state? See below to relive some of the fun and excitement from March 1972... 

(From The Raymond News, March 16, 1972)

School News

Sandy (Peger) Smith sent this article to me over a year ago. It is from the Raymond Community High School newsletter that was published in the fall of 1938. This particular issue featured my dad and Sandy's mom, Phyllis (Bechtel) Peger.

Below is a picture of the Raymond Community High School Class of 1939.