Businesses of Unknown Location

This is a list of businesses which were in Milford, or outlying, sometime within the last 150 years. We do not know their location. If anyone has any information on any of these businesses, or has discovered any errors or omissions in the previous listings, please contact Imogene (Mrs. Robert) Wolfe in Milford.

(from page 53 the Milford and Vicinty Sesquicentennial Souvenir Book 1830-1980 transcribed by Carrol Mick)

Milford Hospital Twig

The Iroquois Hospital was founded in 1913 through the generosity of Mrs. Anna H. Donovan, who gave a sum of $50,000.00 towards its erection, in honor of her husband, John L. Donovan. On February 28, 1916 with a bed capacity of 25, the hospital first opened its doors. That year 274 patients were cared for. In 1979 that number had grown to 3, 800 inpatients.

The Iroquois Hospital Women's Auxillary was organized on Septermber 13, 1949, with 43 charter members. This group included Mrs. G.W. Akerly, Mrs. James Bailey, and Mrs. Ed Sumner or Milford. In 1951, the auxillary formed small groups in area communities to be known as "Twigs". Miford was an active Twig from this beginning until 1967; it was reorganized in 1970 with Ruth Keen as chairman and Ethel Kimble as vice-chairman. The twig now has 58 members whose volunteer work and financial assistance have contributed greatly to the hospital. Money they help raise is also used to provide scholarships for area students wishing to study in the health-care field. Kathy Sorensen and Curtis McKinnley of Milford have been amonth the county scholaship winners.

The Twigs Community Health Education Committee has made available to the local schools the "Dino" Immunization program stressing the need for vaccination against childhood diseases. They are currently involved in a good nutrition program in the schools using a puppet shoe and program entitled "Jethro, the Junk Food Monster", and have recently purchased a film and teacher aids on the subject of child abuse. They also have been responsible for placing the "Heimlich" posters showing haw to treat a choking victim in all the area restaurants and the school cafeterias.

Their many money making projects include a mini'-mall in the spring, coffee hours, Tupperware parties, a salad luncheon, bake sales, and garage sales in addition to participating in the county wide annual fall bazaar.

Vivian Rosenberger is currently chairman of the Twig with Alice Callahan, Vice Chairman, Joan Sattler, Secretary and Marian Hasz, treasurer.

(from the Milford and Vicinty Sesquicentennial Souvenir Book 1830-1980 page 36)

"Hello, Central"

The first telephone exchange in Milford was above the First National Bank building, which later was Lautenschlagers' drug store, southeast corner of Jones and South West Avenue, about the year 1903. The telephone company was owned by S.O. Wright at that time. Sam Wright sold it about 1930 to the United Telephone Company.

In 1937, the manager, George Stolts, Sr., was transferred to Indiana and Carl Haines took his place, as manager, in Milford. The office was then located south of Lyle Street, along the west-side of the railroad tracks. There were 400 telephones on the lines at that time, including the subscribers from Stockland. There were the crank-type telephones, with everyone, except a few businesses, being on party-lines.

In 1941, the company moved the office to a house behind Dorothy Meyer's Store, on Axtel Avenue. The telephones were now the common battery type, where the reciever was lifted and the operator answered. Among the operators who worked for the telephone company at one time or another were: Lorraine Sivill (head operator), Daisy Kivell, Minnie A. Smith (night operator), Margery Smith, Hilda Lautenschlager, Vera Hubner, Lena Sivill Stehmen (night operator), Alice Frame, Imogene Wolfe, Rosemary Rader, "Boots" Heintz, Vivian Johnson, Bernice Asbury, "Tee" Ritenour, Dorothy Davis, Elsie Cross, Mable Cross, Frances Haines, Natalie Haines and Goldie Riley. In 1944 Carl Haines was transferred to Indiana and Lewis Haines became the manager, and has continued to be so, up to the present time.

In 1955, when dial-system was introduced, the present telephone office was built. Two and four party-lines continued into the late 1950s.

The telephone company is owned today, by Eastern Illinois Telephone Corporation, and there are 1,800 telephones on the Milford lines.

Written by Lewis Haines

(from the Milford and Vicinity Sesquicentennial Souvenir Book 1830-1980 page 36)

When Milford Was 100 Years Old

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 reduced the supply of investment funds, and at the same time, shattered the confidence on which investment expenditure depends. It reduced personal expenditures and profoundliy disrupted international capital flows and international trade. The effect of all this on economic activity was prompt and very real. Thursday, October 24, 1929 is the first of the days identified in history with the panic of '29; measured by fear, confusion and complete disorder, it was. 12,894,650 shares changed hands that day, most of them at panic prices that exploded the hopes and dreams of those who had owned them. The Crash of '29, and the big bull markets of the 1920s that led to it, launched the Great Depression.

In 1930, during these dark days of the Great Depression, Milford reached it 100th birthday. Not surprisingly, the birthday went by unsung. People had other, more pression worries. Farmers were seling their corn for fifteen cents a bushel; a man would do hard manual labor for one dollar a day. Hard times.

in 1931, when the economic circumstances had eased, slightly, the Milford Chamber of Commerce adopted Eugene L'Hote's idea of having a celebration to mark the occasion of Milford now being 101 years old. Mr. L'Hote ws the former publisher of the Milford Herald-News and a very enthusiastic booster of the town. The week-long celeberation he planned and executed that summer, in 1931, was called "Home Coming" (!) Not Centennial (plus one), but Home Coming. Since Milford is the oldest town among neighbors, centennials were unknown and it was not until later years, that a town, on reaching the ripe old age of 100, would have a "Centennial." We had a Home Coming, and a grand and memorable wekk it was, filled with afternoon and evening programs in a big tent in the park, a parade, a Queen ("Miss Milford"), and attendants, and fireworks, and all free!

Invitations had been sent out months before to hundreds of former residents, to come home to Milford for the week beginning, Sunday, August 16. A great many came home, and more would have, surely, if economic conditions had been better. Nevertheless, the crowd lining the streets to watch the parade on Friday night, was estimated to be of 4,000 persons.

Among the participants in the afternoon and evening programs in the park were: the Cobb sisters (dancing); Bessie Osgood (a reading); the Garner sisters, Sarah Jane and Ethel (vocal duet, playing ukeleles); Wilma Jean Maggee (piano solo); Henry Hartberg, Jr. (tenor solo, accompanied by Kenneth Houck at the piano; Dorothy Smith (vocal solo); the Methodist Mixed Quartet (Dr. and Mrs. Green, Mrs. S. O. Wright and Rev. Zinser. accompanied by Mrs. David at the piano); June Wright (vocal solo); and Mrs. E.F. Firchau (vocal solo); Polly's Pets puppet show, with assistants: Mary Spurgin, Alice Louise Wood and Warren Hartberg.

Buddy May, dressed as an Indian chief, lead the parade on Friday night. The Knights of Pythias float also had an Indian theme, with braves whooping around "paleface" Ruth Fleming, who was tied to a stake. The Odd Fellows used Bill Thomas' wagon and team to make their float representative of a "prairie schooner," recalling the early pioneers. The American Legion had a simulated tank, firing "shells," to remember the wars. Bobby Herron rode his bicycle which had to be adapted to resemble a little float representing "Old Ironsides," another remembrance of the past. The Lions Club also had a beautiful float, and of course, there was the Queen's float; Lydell Chevrolet Sales provided the truck for it and Vera Belanger designed it. The Queen was Virginia Disosway (Schoettle), with attendants, Mona Degener (Williamson) and Geraldine David (Dean) and the train-bearers were: Martha Lockhart and Betty Stolts. Fireworks rocketed and showered on each side as the parade progressed west on Jones Street. Friday night's grand finale was a fireworks display on the Athletic Field, complete with "Old Glory" lighting up the skies.

Home Coming ended late Sunday afternoon, August 23, with Mr. L'Hote giving one of his characteristic talks. "Although things are not just right economically," he said, "they are far better than in other countries, and while people bemoan hard times, only a small percentage can be found who do not have the necessities of life."

It is heartwarming to think about the pleasure this Home Coming gave to so many people, in 1931, as the Great Depression dragged on.

(from the Milford and Vicinity Sesquicentennial Souvenir Book 1830-1980 page 65)

Milford Township

Businesses of Unknown Location

Milford Herald News Paper Articles, etc.

Schools

Milford Hospital Twig

"Hello, Central"

When Milford Was 100 Years Old