Galesburg is a record-making city

Tracking History

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Ward Weatherford owned a motor company on Ferris Street and was determined to set a record. Ward was an agent for the Presto Recording Company in 1941. Area residents were afforded the opportunity to hear themselves talk, sing, whistle or even play a musical instrument. A soundproof private studio complete with a piano and stringed instruments allowed participants to record any size record. Recordings could be transcribed at both 78 and 33 1/3 rpm.

The equipment provided an immediate playback to allow users to hear how their voices or instruments sounded before completing the record. Many families took advantage of the service to send information to relatives or loved ones in the service. Area music teachers found the device helpful with classroom preparations. The Weatherford Motor Company building is now occupied by Office Specialists.

The Big Store on Main Street sure knew how to market products. The O.T. Johnson store in downtown Galesburg conducted a "Victory Opening" the evening of March 12, 1919, and 10,000 people showed up for the festivities. When the doors opened at 7:30 p.m. the on-rushers were greeted by orchestras on all three floors playing the "Star Spangled Banner." Beautiful live models garbed in exquisite gowns of red, white and blue opened parasols as the last strains of the anthem sounded. Great cheers went up as the surprise opening ended.

All floors of the main store and the annex featured special colorful displays of new merchandise including apparel, linens, fabrics, furniture, china, jewelry and books. Portia Duncan displayed the latest styles in hairdressing. Attractive young women, including sales clerks, modeled merchandise throughout the store including Eva Harkness, Jewel Payne, Lucille McDonald, Hyhe Payne, Genevieve Nelson, Ethel Linderholm, Hilda Johnson and Emeline Gabrielson.

Mr. Barker, the Big Store's merchandising manager, proclaimed the 10,000 visitors was the largest crowd ever to attend an O.T.'s event. The beautiful window displays were admired by thousands and executed by H.A. Stone, the display manager. The O.T. Johnson store may be gone, but it will forever be remembered.

Former Galesburg Mayor Leo "Curly" Morrison traveled a rough road to office. A recount of mayoral ballots from the city election of 1953 was made necessary when Independent mayoral candidate Paul Lindberg challenged the apparent election of Curly Morrison. The official canvas of votes listed Morrison the winner over Lindberg by 106 votes. Lindberg asked for a recount because numerous ballots were not properly initialed by election judges and should be thrown out. Following the recount, attorneys for Lindberg claimed the difference to be 27 votes and Morrison's representatives listed the difference to be 41.

Lindberg issued a statement following the recount that, "In view of the recount, it would appear that the people of Galesburg have elected Leo W. Morrison as their mayor for the next four years." Mayor-elect Morrison stated, "I am happy that the recount proved that I am the duly elected mayor of the city of Galesburg."

The recount attracted considerable interest and was the first recount of a mayoral election in more than 45 years. In 1906, George Shumway was elected mayor by a margin of six votes over his opponent J.D. Welch. The recount indicated Welch the winner by 18 votes. Shumway appealed the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court. By the time the case was settled, Shumway served his two years as Galesburg mayor and thus Welch never occupied the mayor's chair.

In the column on Curly Morrison last week, it was indicated that following his death he was buried in St. Patrick's cemetery; the correct burial site is St. Joseph's Cemetery.

Tom Wilson is a local historian. Write to him at wilsont29@insightbb.com or at 140 S. Prairie St., Galesburg, IL 61401.