The following is the seventeenth of a multi-part article about the timeline of Chillicothe, IL. This article will illustrate the key dates along with the key individuals who helped to shape our city’s great history.

1965 – City Council members approved the construction of a three-story fire department training tower at the rear of the fire station. The estimated cost of the facility was $11,000. Fire Chief Gail “Mike” Myers informed the council that the tower was needed to provide ladder and gas mask practice. The facility would allow for the simulation of fires to assist in the training of volunteer firefighters.

1965 – Businessperson and local contractor Harold Pribble was elected as the new Mayor of Chillicothe. Pribble became the 27th Mayor in the city’s history by defeating challenger William “Bill” Sweeney. Pribble received 681 votes to Sweeney’s 602. Other election results included Ilion Wait Crabel winning re-election as City Clerk against challenger Yvonne Polk. This marked Crabel’s fourteenth re-election. Henry Terveen cruised to victory against Marty Gollnitz, with a vote count of 325 to 68, and was named Village President of North Chillicothe.

1965 – The Chillicothe Hospital Foundation officially opened the new 60-bed Parkhill Nursing Home wing on May 15, 1963. Construction of the $600,000 building (equivalent to $5.85 million in today’s economy) began on June 21 of the previous year after a three-year planning and fundraising effort. Adrian Vrugt became the administrator of the home, overseeing 15 employees initially and ramping up to 32 when the section becomes fully operational. The land was donated by Kenneth C. Koch.

1966 – Shareholders of Truitt-Matthews Banking Co. and The First National Bank approved the merger plan for the two banks. Tuesday, July 5th, marked the first business day for the Truitt-Matthews First National Bank. Directors for the new bank included Barbara Truitt, Roger Mannering, Jerry L. Weistart, Dwight J. Gallup, Robert H. Truitt, Frank J. Coon, Ervin E. Martin, R. H. Zinser, E.A. Lawson Jr., Frank J. Rolan, Dick Shepard, and Frank N. Coon. Barbara Truitt served as Chairman of the Board, and R.H. Zinser was appointed as the President of the merged bank.

1966 – Chillicothe Park Board President Bob Hicks announced that the fifteen-year Shore Acres lease had been fully paid off, and the board would now take full title to the property. Despite several attempts through bond issues, voters successfully rejected the park board’s proposal to take ownership. Eventually, the park board discovered that they could legally lease the property with an option to buy it for $1 at the end of the lease. The total amount paid during the fifteen-year lease period was $39,800, equivalent to $425,000 in today’s economy. Throughout the lease, the entrance to the park was blacktopped in collaboration with the Township, and over 200 new trees were planted on the grounds by Park Superintendent George Taylor.

1966 – The residents of North Chillicothe Village voted against annexation to Chillicothe. The tally was 525 against and 340 in favor. This marked the second time voters voiced their opposition. In December 1952, voters easily defeated the proposition of the two municipalities being annexed into one.

1966 – Peoples Savings and Loan moved into their new location at 1007 N. Fourth Street on March 7, 1966. The new building project was valued at $200,000 ($1.9 million in today’s economy). Officers of the association were Kenneth C. Koch, President, and Director; William J. Roger, Executive Vice President; Roger Mannering, Vice President, and Director; Charles L. Gauwitz, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and Director; Dorothy C. Henson, Secretary-Treasurer.

1966 – A new Kroger store opened on August 23, 1966, at Fourth and Chestnut Streets. The new store had over 8,000 square feet of floor space. Harry McGee served as the store manager, with Henry Crutchfield as head grocery clerk, Duane “Shorty” Berchtold as head meat cutter, Ed Trunk as head produce clerk, and Mary Hart as head checker.

1967 – Local civic, financial, and religious leader Kenneth C. “Kenny” Koch died at age 48 in a snowmobile accident on his Cloverdale farm property. Koch, a lifelong resident of Chillicothe, was always interested in the advancement of the Chillicothe area. He developed the Plaza Park Shopping Center, the Hillcrest and Cloverdale subdivisions. He donated land for the Plymouth Congregational Church and the Calvary Baptist Church, and the Parkhill Medical Complex (now Arc). Koch started in the trucking business in 1939, which later became known as The Chillicothe Cartage Corp.

1967 – Land was purchased by the City of Chillicothe for a new road heading north from Cloverdale Road to Sycamore Street and running along the east side of the Thomas Subdivision. The land was partially donated by the Martin-Marietta Corporation and partly purchased by the city from the Maud Bradley farm. Once completed, the road would be known as Bradley Avenue.

1967 – Two female firsts took place less than a month apart in the Greater Chillicothe area. Janet Staab became the first female Trustee elected to the Village Board of North Chillicothe. This accomplishment was followed by Ester Donath becoming Chillicothe’s first female Mail Carrier.

1967 – St. Edwards Catholic Church opened their new modern church on September 10, 1967. Rev. Richard E. Raney, Pastor, presided over Sunday mass. Dedication ceremonies took place the following month, on October 19, 1967, at 6 PM. The Most Reverend John B. Franz, Bishop of Peoria, presided over the dedication ceremony. The new church replaced the old church that was erected in 1901 at the same location. The new church complemented the modern rectory and parish office that opened in 1966.

1968 – Friday, February 9, 1968, marked the date that the new traffic lights at Fourth and Walnut Streets were put into service.

1968 – Voters overwhelmingly approved the formation of a unit district on Saturday, voting by a margin of 10 to 1 in favor. The final vote count, comprising seven voting precincts, was 1549 in favor and 153 opposed. The new unit district would result from the consolidation of Chillicothe, Rome, Mossville, and Union School Districts. Marianne Schaffner emerged as the winner of the naming contest held by the Chillicothe Bulletin. The Board of Education selected the name “Illinois Valley Central Unit District 321,” and Marianne was awarded a $25 savings bond.

1968 – Harold Root of Chillicothe was elected as the first president of the new unit school district board. The new board will assume duties for the new district on July 1, 1968. Those elected to one-year terms include Harold Root and Dr. Fred Z. White. William Thorne and Verne Nothdurft secured two-year terms, while three-year terms were granted to Dick Shane, Ralph Hayes, and Elmer Lawson Jr. The selection of a superintendent will be the board’s next primary concern to oversee the entire system.

1968 – will be continued next month