Little Known Facts about Leaf River
The old jail, housing a transient "bum", floated off its foundation                                                     during a flood.
A Mr. Kuntzelman owned a dray wagon (freight wagon) in Leaf River.
The Slaughter House was on Pond Road near the railroad crossing.
There was a milk train to Chicago.
A Creamery was located on East First St.
Eggs were put in a brown paper bag when you bought them in the        grocery store.  The farmers brought them in cates of 15 dozen in exchange for groceries.  The grocer often added a sack of candy for                                                        the kids.
President Herbert Hoover (1931 or 32) went through Leaf River on                                                      the train.
   In 1935 you could buy a complete chicken or fish dinner at a                                                 restaurant for 25 cents.
In 1935 the local Methodists celebrated the 50th anniversary of their                                                      church.
Dean Fossler, son of Isaac & Emily Fossler, played the organ for the Amos and Andy radio show.  He also furnished music for the                                                   "Goldbergs."
  Ellis "Stukey" Stukenberg played drums for the Lawrence Welk show.  Ellis is still living in LR and is still very active in his music                                                   interests.
Everyone in the community and rural areas who had a telephone       was on a party line, and each customer had to answer to one or more rings.  Of course, when you heard your neighbor's ring, you                could listen in, join in, of find out the latest gossip.
The Sunday School picnic was the big event of the year, and gallons of homemade lemonade were on hand.  Ice Cream was served from a                 big leather-covered container filled with dry ice.
The Grade School and High School were in the same building until                       the new High School was built in 1922.
Time for school was called by the ringing of the bell in the belfry,                  with the first bell at 8:30 and the second at 9:00.
When water was piped into the Grade School, there was no longer a                   need for the two "privies" out behind the school.
At one time the "School Band" consisted of harmonicas.
The High School had two literary societies, the Shakesperians, and                                             the Arthurians.
The Fire Truck "horses" were town men who pulled the cart                           carrying fire hose and water tank.
  The neighborhood kids were treated to apple cider pressed by Bill Lang, who lived at the north edge of town, across from the Riverside                                                     Hotel.
"The last of the Blackhawk Indian tribe camped on the Fred Ross      farm west of Lightsville and also below the Van Brocklin farm on Pond Rd.  When the tribe dwindled to 17 in number, they no longer    returned to this area."  (David White, born in 1865, and father of                               Nile White, told this story to his son).
In 1897 postage rates for first class letters to any part of the U.S. were 2 cents per ounce or a fraction thereof, if prepaid.  Unpaid              letters were sent to the Dead Letter Office in Washington.
In 1897 an old account book shows "wages paid to                   Jimmerson-- $ 1.00 for a day's work.
There was no bridge over the Leaf River at Adeline, and a group of     people were attempting to cross the river after aspring flood by         means of a raft.  Just as the raft reached the shore, it capsized,                            throwing everyone into the muddy waters.
In 1909, in spite of many bitter protests, and a petition signed by a large number of voters of the Village, the members of the Leaf River    Horse Co. erected a barn for breeding purposes on the lot at the                                 rear of the Leaf River State Bank.
In 1902 revival meetings were held in the Christian Church with Rev. R.W. Pittman in charge.  Rev. Beers, presiding Elder of the           United Brethren Church, conducted the services, and all the            meetings were very well attended.  The same year the Methodist Episcopal Church Choir gave a concert of home talent and musicals                                        of stringed instruments.
        Garner's Feed Store, formerly a buggy shop, and the Leslie Kretsinger Building on Main St. were favorite spots for the men to sit              on the benches and gossip.  (Just like Mayberry Huh !)
     The town yougsters were surprised to find that Sweeney's pet alligator had gotten loose and invaded their favorite swimming hole                                                by the bridge.
In 1950 Herva Knodle had a siren mounted on his Cadillac so he     could lead the fire truck t the location of the fire.  The siren drew too much current and ran down his battery.  Chief Herva had to be                         towed back to town by the fire truck.
In 1967 Grandpa Hartje cut down the pine tree in his front yard          and put it in the Village Square for the Christmas Holidays.
The Odd Fellows Lodge bought the old opera house.  The 2nd floor,      which had been an apartment, became the meeting place for the Lodge.  When the Lodge members disbanded, the building was sold                                            to the Rebecca Lodge.
  In 1954 Harley Garner's feed store burned and along with it, the Opera House.  Trains had to be stopped because of fire hoses had to            be laid across the tracks while firemen fought the fire.
In 1958 Pearl and Shelby Bowers opened the "Pantry Restaurant".     It was open 7 days a week.  Everyone came to the "Pantry" for hospitality and homemade pie.  People could also tell their troubles to Ann Landers of Leaf River (Pearl), who was known to be a good       listener, while others enjoyed the pool hall in the back of the                                                          restaurant.
   More to come ! 
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