Webber Township
|
An extended story about Bluford by Mrs. Opal H. Wood, follows: In 1881, before there was a Bluford, construction was started on the Air Line Railroad, later the Southern R.R. George Evans, Mt. Vernon banker, laid out the town on 40 acres of land bisected by the railroad. In 1882, Rev. Z. H. Byard, a United Brethren preacher built the first store building and dwelling. Byard also was the first postmaster in Bluford, and the first railroad station agent. Bluford was incorporated in 1925. Paul Wood was its first mayor. Bluford spread on both sides of the railroad. The south section unofficially was called Tilford, and the north, Bluford, both being names of the sons of Minerva (Flint) and Wiley Green. When son Tilford died, all the town became Bluford. No reason was given why the boys should have been so honored. The railroad station also served as Bluford's first post office. Joe Pepple and Mark Martin were the first country mail carriers. When winter roads were bad, the carriers rode horseback used a cart, changing horses at noon. When riding the carts they carried hot bricks under horse bankets to keep warm. Farmers in those days drove turkeys, geese, and cattle to the stock pens in Bluford for shipment to market. Baptist and United Brethren congregations were organized in 1884. The two groups cooperated in a revival. Night meetings were held in the school house. Day meetings were held in a vacant store room. Rev. Calvin Richardson, a Baptist minister, preached. Rev. Anderson, UB Pastor of the Nebo Circuit, save the invitations. The result was over 100 conversions. One of two street cars that served Mt. Vernon 19l4 to 1918. Rev. B. G. Wood built the United Brethren church and its pews. He was the grandfather of the late Guy Wood, of Mt. Vernon, and of those of the family operating the B. E. Wood Printing Co., which was established in 1890. ln 1977 Bluford had four churches - the Nazarene, in Markham City (the Illinois Central Gulf section of Bluford), Church of God, Baptist, the Otterbein United Methodist (formerly the United Brethren), and Oakdale. The Bluford State Bank and the People's Bank were early banks in Bluford. Later the two consolidated. and were closed during the depression of 1929. G. A. Barton and W. R. (Bud) Davis were the first cashiers. At one time Bluford had three doctors: C. Lewis Ellis, G. L. Taylor and W. R. Goodrich. For 28 years Dr. Goodrich served the IC as physician and surgeon. The community first was served by the Crash-Barton Funeral Home, later by the Bluford Funeral Home - Charles and Jean Partridge, directors. Such service now is provided by the Hughey-Pulley Funeral Home. Bluford's economy was given a boost when the Illinois Central cut-off was built east of Bluford in the 1920's. This cut-off is the third longest straight stretch of track in the world - no hills, no curves. The IC made Bluford a division point. The railroad yards had 27 tracks, some being two miles in length. There was a round house and machine shops. An ice plant provided ice for north-bound fruit cars, and also shipped ice to Mt. Vernon. The IC complex adjoined Bluford on the east. Interest in real estate naturally followed the railroad's development. Jesse Pepple and Ben Miller bought and platted 100 acres of the Paul Arendale farm, which became Markham City. To accommodate the railroad men, the town had two hotels, a rooming house and restaurants. Markham also had a movie theater, meat market, a public garage and an auto sales firm. A Round House Quartet was composed of David Garrish, W. R. Carroll, Fred Colwell and Charles Goodin, railroad men all. The quartet was much in demand at social, school and church functions. ln 1967 the Markham City yards were closed, and all services discontinued. Markham City - or should we say, Bluford? - is still a division point for trainmen, most of whom spend their layover in Mt. Vernon. Markham City is now a ghost town, as far as business is concerned. The oldest school in the Bluford area was the Weatherspoon, sometimes called "Screamer" - no reason given. A two-story grade school built in 1911 had a heating problem. When the wind was in the wrong direction, the furnace smoked, Classes then would be dismissed, to the delight of the students. In 1935 a new grade school was built. The first High School was organized in 1920, with C. W. Holcomb, principal. The directors were Homer Moore, Mort Green and Ed. Staley. The first graduating class had four members: Everett Howell, Bessie Gray, Ruth Livesay and Vivian Wood, all becoming teachers. At the graduation exercises the girls wore dresses of tissue-gingham, made from the same bolt of material. In 1940, the present high school building was erected with WPA labor. An addition was built in 1951. In 1976, bonds totaling $375,000 were voted for further expansion. Roger Foxhall was the first principal in the new building. On March 17,1956, by popular vote, ll former school districts were merged into the Bluford Community Consolidated District 114. A new consolidated school was built in 1957, at a cost of $196,457.12. First classes were held in January 1958. In 1975, seven additional rooms were added at a cost of $320,000. Bluford is proud of its schools, and of the devotion of the teachers to their classes and their pupils. Fred Hicks, Principal of the Bluford school for 32 years, is credited for making the Bluford school one of the best in the county. Teachers with the longest service are Mildred Wood, 47 years, and Opal Wood, 46 years. Bluford young people once found diversion meeting in homes and-playing Skip-To-My-Loo, Snap, Post Office and Rook. They also enjoyed riding the 4 p.m. passenger train to Marlow, the first station west, and walking back through the picturesque rock cut. Tragedy struck Bluford about 2 a.m., March 8, 1932, when a fire destroyed a whole block of business buildings north of the tracks. B. M. Hughes, aroused by smoke filling his room at his store, summoned help by firing his gun. The business district never recovered after the fire. A new post office building and a home now stands in the block. Byron Vance is the present ( 1977) Postmaster. A large, brick general store was built by William DeWitt west of the I.C. tracks. Owned and operated by Loren Osborn since 1947, this is now the only general store in Bluford. In spite of the fire, and the railroad ceasing division operations, Bluford has progressed. Dr. David Garrish and Addison Gillespie, and other civic minded men, organized the Civic Club, which was instrumental in securing a fire department. Mr. Gillespie was the first first chief, followed by Vern Johnson. The Civic Club became the Ruritan Club. Members built a house in the Oak Park addition and sold it to raise funds. The Club put up street signs, holds an annual chicken fry, and an annual free Senior Citizens supper in the school gymnasium for all in the township over 65. The club also sponsors National Event of the lllinois Engine Show, which started as Bi-Centennial project by Cornelius Bergbower, Bi-Centennrd Chairman. The Engine Show is held in Donoho's Woods. Electricity came in the late 1920's. Plans for the water system were started and completed in October, 1964. The new sewer system was installed in 1976. New streets have been opened, and approximately 35 new homes have been built. Bluford is on the move. - Opal H. Wood Source: |
For corrections or additions, please contact me: Sandy Bauer