History Of Odell – Part Four

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In 1916, the Standard Oil Company of Indiana built a bulk plant here and Mr. Patrick Leach was the agent.  In 1929, Mr. Leach retired and Clarence W. Gordon became agent. The plant was later enlarged to accommodate the needs of Odell and surrounding area with all petroleum products. In September of 1924, the “Abraham Lincoln,” first all steel train on the Alton Railroad passed through Odell. About 400 took the opportunity to pass through from coach to coach to see this finely equipped train. The Odell Times, a weekly newspaper, began publishing in 1940 by Schutz Publishing, based in Emington.

At the time of the Centennial celebration in 1954, Odell’s businesses included the Odell State Bank, two grain elevators, furniture and undertaking establishment, four grocery stores, two general merchandise stores, one drug store, three restaurants, three taverns, one hardware dealer, two beauty shops, a home appliance store, two plumbing shops, and the Crystals, Inc., factory. There was no resident physician, but a doctor from Pontiac had an office and was in town three days a week for a few hours. There were times in the past that Odell had four or five physicians at one time. After 50 years on the same site, the Odell Post Office was moved in 1957 from the southwestern side of Waupansie St. to a building on Front St., owned by Otis Wykes. In July of 1969, the Odell Post Office  was move to its present site, located on the northwestern side of Waupansie St. between Tremont and Hamilton streets. It was built on a lot 67.85 feet wide and 125 feet long.

On July 15, 1958, William Miller, a resident of Odell, donated five acres of land to the American Legion Post #666 for recreational use in memory of his brother, John Miller, who died n World War I. The area, located on the southeastern edge of the village, is known as Miller Park. It includes a public playground, lighted baseball diamond, bleachers, picnic area, rest rooms and shelter constructed by the Lions Club.

In July, 1970, workmen partially uncovered, under the village dumping ground on the south edge of town, a grave which may have been part of an old cemetery. The discovery was made when a small portion of a ditch wall collapsed, revealing what appeared to be a child’s boot, human bones, and fragments of a decayed casket. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department investigated the site and searched the county records. Nothing was found, however, that would indicate that the site was formerly a cemetery. The bones were reburied in the Odell Cemetery. Some of the old residents at the time of the discovery recalled having heard that a private cemetery was once located near the village dumping grounds.

The finding of the bones, brought to mind the story told that in 1874, Charley Ross, a young boy, was kidnapped in Philadelphia, brought to Odell, and held for $20,000 ransom. The youth disappeared, and his abductor suddenly departed for Ottawa with a bag under the seat of his buddy. Some residents at the time suspected that the kidnapper murdered the boy and buried him in what was later the Odell dumping grounds. Parts of the rugged boards at the dumping grounds found in later years seemed to have indicated that it was possibly the site of a mine at one time.

Thousands of spectators were on hand Aug. 29-30,1971, for the State and National Plowing Contest, hosted by Earl Muir and his father, James Muir. Past plowing champions Earl Muir and Alvin Wolf spearheaded efforts for the event to be hosted locally. Orion Samuelson of WGN’s Country Fair Radio Show, was the master of ceremonies. Other special guests included Mayor Gordon Speers of Odell, Mayor Joseph Trainor of Pontiac, Illinois Director of Agriculture Gordon Ropp, Illinois Agriculture Association President Harold Steele, National Fanners Organization President Orin Lee Staley, 1969 Miss America Judy Ford; Lt. Gov. Paul Simon, State Senator William C. Harris, State Auditor Michael J. Howlett, National Farmers Union President Tony Dechant, Illinois Council of Churches Executive Secretary Rev. Frederick A. Roblee, Peoria Diocese Bishop Edward O’Rourke, Illinois Knights of Columbus Secretary John P. Higgins, and Farmers Union President Raymond Watson of Odell. Gary Wolf and Robert Stadel, both of Odell, were state plowing contest winners in the large plow and small plow competition, respectively. Alvin Wolf won the national competition to advance to the world championship in England. Alvin Wolf won first the previous year, as well.

In the next few years, Odell continued to be well represented at the national and international levels of the plowing contests. Earl Muir, who was a 1965 national champion, added a 1975 crown to his accomplishments. In 1973, James Nolan won the large plow national contest and competed in the world contest in Finland. Nolan was also the 1974 national champion and competed in Canada in the world contest. Colleen Wolf, daughter of Alvin Wolf, won first place in the state contest in 1974, making her the first woman to win first at the contest’s state level. Bob Stadel garnered first in the state small plow competition in 1974 to also advance to the national contest in Ohio.

Doug Muir won the national plowing contest in the summer of 1978 to advance to the world competition in Northern Ireland. His father, Earl, was a two-time champion. Doug successfully defended his title the following year to qualify for the world contest in New Zealand. His brother, Steve, qualified in 1979 for the national contest in the small plow event after placing second. Gary Nolan of Emington had won the small plow contest, but was unable to attend the national contest, therefore, Steve represented Illinois after finishing second. The 1979 state competition was held on the Roger Austin farm, east of Odell.

The move to begin plans for a modern sewage treatment facility began on June 13, 1978, when the Odell Village Board approved a $132,000 contract for engineering services. The need for the new system became apparent several years earlier when the Environmental Protection Agency tested water in the south fork of the Mazon River. At that time, fish were found dead downstream and the tests concluded the raw sewage was being deposited in the stream. With some retracing it was found that the raw sewage was coming from tiling at Odell. Much of the raw sewage was going through septic untreated and into tiles.

The proposed project was estimated to cost $2.4 million. The contracts were awarded on Nov. 7, 1978, to Wiegand & Storrer, Inc., East. Peoria, for $1.7 million to construct sewer lines and lift stations, and to Mid-States General & Mechanical Contracting Corp., Decatur, for $337,413 for construction of the treatment plant west of town. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has provided a grant to fund three-fourths of the project’s cost and the Farmer’s Home Administration had given Odell a grant and a loan to finance the village’s share of the cost. An $18 debt service charge was added to water/sewer bills to help pay off the sewer bonds. The installation of sewer pipes in the village began in May of 1979. Sufficient work on the new sewage treatment facility was completed by June 3, 1980, to allow for residents to begin connecting to the system. Once each home or business owner completes the proper forms, as required by the Farmer’s Home Administration, the connection to the system was made.

As part of the installation of the new sewage treatment plant, it was also necessary to install new sewer mains under or near the village’s streets and alleys. Many citizens often complained about the rough conditions of the streets and alleys due to the construction work. Good news was reported at the Sept. 2, 1980, village board meeting as trustees were informed that nearly all of the streets have been repaired that were dug up by the construction project. On average, about 100,000 gallons per day will go into the sewage treatment plant. The system is set up to serve a population of about 2,700. The population of Odell in 1980 was 1,076.

Smoke billowed hundreds of feet into the air following a series of explosions that ripped through the A.J. Custom Fiber Glassing Company in Odell on Sept. 30, 1980. No one was injured in the blast and the fire which totally destroyed the building and contents owned by James George. Barrels of polyester resin exploded within minutes of the fire. The building was located on W. Scott St. near its intersection with Old Route 66 (West St.). Retiring mayor Gordon Speers presented a king-sized gavel to his successor, Joe L. Verdun. Mr. Speers, in turn, was presented with a plaque denoting his 40 years of “outstanding and dedicated service as mayor, board member and citizen of Odell.” The presentation was held on May 5, 1981. A representative of Prairieland Cable Corporation met with the village board on Sept. 1, 1981, to introduce a proposal to install a cable television system in Odell. On Nov. 10, 1981, village trustees and Prairieland Cable Corporation finalized the franchise agreement.

Odell resident Don Wall picked up a landslide victory over two challengers on the Republican ticket in the March 18, 1986, primary for Livingston County Sheriff. He was unopposed in the Nov. 4, 1986, election and sworn into office the following month.

Part 5