Elgin enjoyed World Series fever a century ago

"Go, Cubs, go" was the spirit in the Elgin area a century ago as local fans cheered on the Chicago team in their quest for the baseball World Series.

Two Elgin men said they were planning to duplicate a feat accomplished by the Wright Brothers, while a recent city council ruling likely made some wonder about Elgin's reputation as a "City of Churches."

Here's a look at those stories and others that made Elgin area headlines in October 1908.

• "All of Elgin is pulling for the Cubs," reported a local paper, as the Chicago team moved forward in its quest for the World Series pennant. "Even the owners of the White Sox support the Cubs against their opponent," it added.

"Score-itis" was also affecting the community which had an insatiable appetite for the inning by inning results of the games. But, more than team pride was at stake as one source estimated that $25,000 was being wagered by local citizens on the games.

"Money was flowing more freely than campaign cigars," it said.

• Elgin was known as a "City of Churches" a century ago - just as today - but that religious diversity and tolerance apparently did not exert to the city streets.

"The request for a Morman (sic) Street gathering is denied," was the message sent from the city Mayor following a debate in which nearly every one of the 14 aldermen weighed in on the matter.

The request should never have been brought to the Council anyway, he added, saying very few people of this religious faith lived in the community.

* Anyone who wondered if someone was listening in on their your telephone call - a common concern in this era of operator-assisted calls - would need to worry no longer, telephone company officials said. A new device was being added to the Elgin exchange which would immediately "lock out" the operator once a connection was made. No more would the "Hello Girls" be allowed to listen in on "love quarrels and confessions of married people," the story added.

• Those that care for a turkey or other fowl on their dinner table had better plan on buying such commodities, not expecting to win them in raffles, Elgin police said. For the third consecutive year, law enforcement officials said they would be watching closely for such wagering in the local saloons.

The raffles came under fire two year earlier when Elgin butchers charged that many such raffles gave away meat purchased outside the city. The practice also constituted gambling and arrests would be made, police added.

• "Why aren't women registering to vote?" was the question posed by one newspaper to a number of prominent women.

"The women need to be reminded that they need to register," responded one woman."

"I do not much believe in having women in politics," added another.

The apparent lack of interest in politics in this era in which women were only allowed to vote for college trustees was even easier to explain than that, responded still another. "If women were allowed to vote in a presidential election, I am sure they would pay more attention."

• "Get ready to see an Elgin-made airplane in the sky," two recent Elgin High School graduates announced.

The pair said they had already built a glider, but were now perfecting a motor-powered plane.

"The steering would be done in much the same manner as in an automobile," they explained. "The motor would be a powerful one and no attempts are being made to lighten it." More details would be made public as soon the young men received an expected patent.

• Finally, the month ended with a Halloween that in comparison to previous years was rather mischief-free. Police were well prepared for the evening with every available man on duty, four rented buggies added to their disposal, and citizen volunteers calling in from all parts of town every ten minutes.

None of the previous year's vandalism - including greasing street car tracks, tearing down fences, and moving carriages - occurred. Instead, Elginites attended a variety of house parties and events sponsored by local clubs and organizations.

The only major problem was a phony holdup staged at a downtown store - an offense that police excused because it was Halloween.