Events chronicled by the Fairbury Blade as early as 1876, helped to depict a more complete picture of what the local residents did to entertain themselves. While some people were able to travel to Chicago, or closer to home, Bloomington, the local residents of the community were able to enjoy a variety of things without traveling far from home. Much of life in Potosi was centered about work, church and school activities. The year was punctuated by various events and activities - social, political, religious and recreational. What follows is an overview of these events as taken from the newspaper.

January was seen as the time when “protracted meetings were held at Fairview Church by Rev. Sanders and Buck,”1 and “Rev. Vandervort and Dr. Green held protracted meeting at Antioch Church.”2

Farm sales, or public sales, were generally held in the months of January, February and March. They were occasions for people to congregate and visit. This was an opportunity for those farmers getting out of the business, moving to a western state, or moving to town to sell to farmers who might like a bargain. The next item demonstrated the prices:

           W. T. Morgan’s sale the 27th, near Potosi, about $1500 
           realized. Mules $200-2 14 per span; horses over $90 ea:
           brood sows $1 0-25; double seated buggy $93; fanning
           implements brought fair prices. The day was a fine one 
           and a large crowd was present. John Stiles, Auctioneer.3

Local elections were often held in the early spring. The following item reported the recent election of 1877. This would have been when Anchor Township was set off from Cropsey Township. However, no mention of that occurrence was made:

           Election is a thing of the past. Everything passed off
           quietly. We have a good set of officers. The defeated 
           candidates as usual have sailed up that river consisting 
           largely of chloride of sodium. Supervisor — H. L. Terpening;
           Collector — A. W. Green; Town Clerk — H. Thomas; Assessor —
           J. W. McCullough; Justices of the Peace — John Hinshaw, J. C.
           Whitney; Comm. of the Highways P. J. Decker, J. C. Arnold,
           Ed. Ward; Constables — Hiram Bishop, Joseph Ramsey.4

It is interesting to note that this small township had two or three people holding the position of Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of the Highways and Constable.

The closing of the schools’ spring term in June or July was always a grand affair. Sometimes several schoolteachers would combine efforts to organize a school picnic where the students would demonstrate their scholastic acumen. Music and good food were added to the day long activities as announced by the newspaper in 1877:

           The schools of T. J. Loar and the Misses Van Petten and
           perhaps others5 will hold a picnic on South Side of Indian
           Grove on Saturday July 14th. If rains prevents, the exercises
           will be postponed until the following Tuesday. The exercises
           consist of essays, recitations, declarations, dialogues, 
           orations, music, etc. which will last until 2 p.m. A long 
           table will be filled and emptied, too, we expect. Croquet 
           and refreshments will close the exercises. Arrangements for  
           stands must be made with T. J. Loar the week previous.6

The day was celebrated, and the students performed for the audience to make their parents and teachers proud of what each student had accomplished. The following article described the day:

           Travis Grove - At Travis Grove, the schools of T. J. Loar
           and the Misses Van Petten celebrated the close of schools in
           magnificent style. The exercises which consisted of readings,
           recitations, declarations, songs, and instrumental music 
           mixed together with a big dinner and croquet occupied the 
           entire day. There was a large number of people present in 
           addition to the pupils of the schools. Mr. John Myers and 
           his daughter Miss Cora, furnished instrumental music for 
           the occasion. It was late in the evening before the crowd 
           dispersed. The creditable manner in which the scholars 
           acquitted themselves in the exercises of the day, evinced 
           the systemic and thorough training they received at the 
           hands of their teachers. May their days always be as bright 
           as last Saturday.7

In the summer-time patrons of Green’s general store could be refreshed with a cool drink. The newspaper reported that “Potosi boasts a soda fountain; good drink even if you have to put a stick in it.”8 The ice supplied from Greens s ice house, which had been packed during the winter, provided some relief from summer’s heat.9 Independence Day was always celebrated with lively activities, whether or not they were officially sanctioned. The newspaper stated that Potosi, too, would be patriotic:

           The American eagle will “screech” in Potosi this time.
           We are not going to roast an ox, neither will we commit
           any depredations, but we are going to have one of the 
           “all-firedest” times we have had since the butternut war  
           of ‘68. This will all come to pass in the David Crum
           grove. The orator of the day has not been decided on.10

Baseball11 was represented in the village of Potosi with competition for bragging rights between the neighboring towns. In 1876 the newspaper printed brief articles with the results of the games.

           Resolute Ball Club of Potosi went to Strawn to play with
           Forrest. Forrest didn’t appear. George Powell of Strawn
           picked a nine. Game 29-7, favor of Potosi.12

A month later, the clubs of Lexington and Fairbury were playing against Potosi. The following article included the names of Potosi’s players:

           Potosi plays baseball vs Fairbury. 49-13 for Potosi last   
           Friday. H. Van Petten, catcher; Loar, pitcher; V. Van
           Petten, 3rd b; Culver, lf; Crum, rf; Kent, 2nd b; J. Van
           Petten, p; Williams, cf; Skillman, 1st b. Tuesday Lexington  
           beat Potosi as bad as they had beat Fairbury.13

The Belle Prairie Fair, first held in 1875, became an annual event at David S. Crum’s residence. It provided competition for agricultural and stock endeavors. The event was often recorded as having a large attendance, numbering at 1000. The Premium list of the Belle Prairie Agricultural Society indicated that ribbons were to be awarded; blue for 1St and red for 2nd.14 The fair must have been successful as the need for a new hall, 28 feet by 40 feet, was built by the Belle Prairie Grange on the land of D. S. Crum.15 Several articles appeared in the newspaper over the years and are repeated here:

           The Belle Prairie Fair was held at residence of D. S. Crum,  
           Esquire, one mile west of Potosi last Thursday and was a
           decided success. The crowd present was estimated at about  
           3000 people. The exhibits in each class were good. At noon
           dinner was served a la picnic in a grove near the house,  
           where George W. Patton delivered an excellent address. At 8  
           p. m. in the evening Charlie Arnold, the “Little musician,”  
           gave a concert at the residence of Mr. Crum which was well  
           attended. A goodly number of Fairbury people were in 
           attendance at the fair and next week a detailed report of 
           the fine annual reunion with a list of premiums will be 
           published.16

The list of premiums and the detailed report was not found in the subsequent issues of the newspaper. However, another smaller article on the fair did appear in a different part of the same newspaper:

	
           The Belle Prairie Fair, 4th annual, held on the 10th, at the  
           residence of D. S. Crum, Esq. It was a success in many  
           respects, not withstanding the gale that blew all day and 
           at times enveloping everything and everybody in clouds of
           dust. The attendance was much larger that before being 
           thought by some that nearly 1000 persons attended.17

In 1879 the newspaper article mentioned the number of entries as well as the names of the officers and directors of the Belle Prairie Fair:

           Belle Prairie Fair last week. Entry books closed at 11 a.m.
           375 entries. There were 75 horses entered, 1 cattle, no 
           sheep, over 100 farm products; turbine pump received 
           attention.
           New officers elected were: Pres., Ira C. Pratt; V.P., 
           William Brooks; Sec., Win. Stickler; Treas., D. S. Crum
           Directors: Joseph Green, P. J. Decker, H. L. Terpenning, 
           J. H. Howarth, G.F. Freshcom, J. W. Vawter, and John  
           Straesser.18

It is interesting to note that a literary society was created in Potosi during November of 1878. “The Potosi Literary Society opens out it grand work next Saturday evening,”19 and the question for consideration was, “Resolved, that money power exerts a greater influence upon man than moral power.” Essays, readings and recitations were also on the program.20 At the McKee school house, a Library Society was organized, and 31 names were collected.21
Contests of intellectual skill between the schools were challenging affairs. Spelling bees were notable and were recorded in brief accounts of the newspaper:

           Spelling bee at Hess school by T. J. Loar was a pleasant  
           affair. After a hot contest of 1 ½ hours, Miss Ada Brooks 
           carried off the laurels. The literary exercises and singing
           by the children later in the evening were heartily 
           applauded.22

Another spelling bee was held a month later in which the schools of D. W. Loar and Frank Bennett competed. It featured Cassie Wharton and Ada Brooks as the two left in the contest. “Brooks won on ‘stationary.’ Prize for Loar’s school.”23

For those with budding musical talents, “Prof. Chadwick commenced another singing school at Fairview church.”24

Christmas was always a time for families to be together when possible. Church services were held and traditional festivities celebrated. “The Christmas tree at Fairview M. F. church was a success,”25 and ....presents were numerous and valuable. Many people were present.”26

With the coming of winter’s snow and ice, sleigh riding was noted as an activity of enjoyment for the youth. The newspaper recorded the following item: “The boys and girls are having a gay time sleigh riding.”27 For those capable of handling a gun, the marksmanship of each was tested in friendly contests. The short article, below, described one at Potosi:

           A shooting match comes off on Christmas Day. There 
           will be plenty of ducks, game and turkeys to be gained 
           by shooting with a pistol, revolver, and shot gun. It 
           will be to suit all kinds of marksmen.28

While Christmas is usually a quiet and peaceful time, sometimes events
happen which result with a loud commotion. Such was the situation on
Christmas of 1876. The occurrence was noted in the newspaper as
follows:

           Christmas has come and gone and with it the Potosi
           cannon. It was loaded with Hayes powder and touched off 
           by a Tilden man, blowing it into fragments, one of which 
           weighed 9 1/2 lbs and was thrown 6 or 8 hundred yards. No 
           one was hurt but we would advise the boys
           not to mix things up next time.29

This small and embryonic village of Potosi, along with the surrounding rural community, was abJe to provide a diverse array of activities for its residents. The civic, spiritual, academic, and political leaders of the community generally brought with them an eastern milieu, or at least the experience of eastern (i.e., New York, Pennsylvania, etc.) ideas and education. These leaders recognized the basic needs for church and school before the establishment of Potosi in 1868. Their efforts were successful in building edifices for worship and teaching which provided the foundation for an assembly of people to grow into a society.

1 Fairbuiy Blade, Potosi News, Jan. 26, 1878.
2 Ibid., Jan. 24, 1880.
3 Ibid., Feb. 3, 1877.
4 Ibid., Apr. 7, 1877.
5 Gleaned from Potosi News of various Fairbury Blades, 1876-80.
Teachers identified, and their school indicated in parenthesis:
Henry Barnes (Wilson); Frank Bennett (not given); Mr. Bishop
(Merrill); Fletcher Freshcom (Fairview); D. W. Kent (Stewart’s Bunch,
Potosi); D. W. Loar (McKee’s); George Loar (Eames); Libbie Loar
(Fairview); T. J. Loar (Hess, Potosi); Della McCullough (Cropsey);
Miss Schafer (Cropsey); Win. Stickler (west of Potosi); Sabra Van
Petten (Maple); and Miss Van Petten (not given).
6 Ibid., June 30, 1877.
7 Ibid., July 21, 1877.
8 Ibid., June 2, 1877.
9 Ibid., Jan. 26, 1878.
10 Ibid., June 22, 1878.
11 Historical perspective: professional baseball was organized in 1871.
12 Ibid., Sept. 22, 1876.
13 Ibid., Oct. 26, 1876.
14 Ibid., Aug. 11, 1877.
15 Ibid.,Aug. 17, 1878.
16 Ibid., Sept. 28, 1878.
17 Ibid., Sept. 28, 1878.
18 Ibid., Oct. 6, 1879.
19 Ibid., Nov. 2, 1878.
20 Ibid., Nov. 9,1878.
21 Ibid., Jan. 18, 1879.
22 Ibid., Dec. 28, 1878.
23 Ibid., Jan. 18, 1879.
24 Ibid., Dec. 7, 1878
25 Ib1d., Dec. 30, 1876.
26 Ibid., Dec 28, 1878.
27 Ibid., Jan. 11, 1879.
28 Ibid, Dec. 13, 1879.
29 Ibid., Dec. 30, 1876.