Notes from the White County Historical Society as they appear in "The Carmi Times."

Copyright ©2001 by "The Carmi Times" Permission to reprint granted to Cindy Birk Conley and the ILGenWeb by Barry Cleveland, editor, "The Carmi Times."

Grayville did a lot of public relations work while trying to secure the
prison location in its area. Perhaps this type of thing is not new for
them. I was reading The Grayville Mercury, Jan. 19, 1889, issue and came
across the following:

"A bill has been introduced in the Illinois government for the
establishment of an Illinois Southeastern Hospital for the Insane. If
this bill becomes law, Grayville must have that hospital.... Grayville
must not be backward in asking for anything she wants in business
enterprises. If they don't come to us, we must go after them." I don't
suppose Grayville succeeded in that endeavor; I never heard of it.

Also, I noted a number of advertisements in that same issue.
Nat March, The Popular Clothier, advertised suits made to order and
guaranteed to fit. March was also paying highest prices for hides, sheep
pelts, tallow, feathers, rags, etc.

William Hargrave advertised his new bakery and confectionery on Main
Street one door south of Charles' in the Michael Smith building. A
specialty was fresh oysters prepared every style.

Then there was an ad for Tuff's Pills for Torpid Liver, and Hood's
Sarsaparilla, which sold 100 doses for $1. And, of course, Carter's
Little Liver Pills.

The more sick population among the readers might want to try Paines
Celery Compound, a guaranteed cure for headache, neuralgia, dyspepsia,
biliousness, kidney disease, constipation, female trouble, fever,
partial paralysis and nervous prostration.
.......

In April 1916, the White County Democrat carried an ad from the Becker
Dept. Store of New Haven. Some groceries advertised: salt, $1.65 per
barrel; pumpkin, 2 cans for 15 cents; evaporated peaches, 3 lbs. for 25
cents; Karo syrup, 10 lb. bucket, 50 cents; coffee, 15 cents per pound;
25 lb. sack of flour, 75 cents, and small can of Log Cabin Maple syrup,
5 cents.

Men's dress shirts, 39 cents; calico, 6 cents per yard; wall paper,
double roll, 10 to 18 cents; and best house paint, $2 per gallon. Fancy
lamp chimneys, 10 cents; and large cuspidors, 9 cents. Two-quart
coffee pots, 18 cents; granite dippers, 7 cents; and extra large wash
pan, 10 cents. 1 3/4 horse gas engine, $31.

A good place for one-stop shopping!

........

Several readings from different cemeteries are coming in. Here's hoping
all the volunteers are taking advantage of what warm and sunny days we
have left this fall.
........

The Genealogy Library is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m.
........

Address letters to Genealogy, White County Historical Society, PO Box
121, Carmi, IL 62821.

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The Coordinator for the White County, Illinois ILGenWeb page is Cindy Birk Conley

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