Elgin football coach lobbied for stricter rules in 1909

It's time for the state of Illinois do something to reduce high school football injuries, said new high school football coach T.A. Larsen in 1909 who also advocated for a less stringent academic eligibility policy.

The seed for what would become the world-famous Elgin National Races were laid, and residents learned that one well-known local state institution found a unique way to save the taxpayers' money.

Here's a look at those and other stories that made Elgin area news in November 1909.

Reducing injuries: "The old fashioned mass play must be a thing of the past," said Elgin High School football coach, T.A. Larsen who was advocating stricter rules for high school football.

"More open play will be promoted and the forward pass and open kick should be advocated."

Ninety percent of the state's 400 injures could be eliminated, claimed Larsen, and "Elgin will take the lead" in encouraging a change by the Illinois High School Athletic Association.

The Elgin team was considered fortunate during the past year with a broken nose, sprained ankle, and fractured collar bone among the few injures reported.

Eligibility to play: Members of the Elgin High School football team reportedly "breathed a sigh of relief" when they learned that they didn't need to get "statements" from teachers in order to be eligible to play football for the upcoming week.

Previously, student athletes had to get a statement from all their teachers each week, but that number was being reduced by one.

"In effect, students would need to have good marks in all but one of their classes to play," explained to the coach who worked for the change.

Start your engines: Would Elgin be the location of one of the country major road races? That's what local car racing enthusiast Frank Wood - also a member of the Chicago Automobile Association - hoped and he was trying to do something about it.

A 10-mile course west of the city, bounded by Larkin Avenue and on south Highland Avenue on the north, would be "ideal" for such a race, said Wood added that the course "rates as a first class racing circuit."

Elgin was also served by two railroads and street cars which would greatly assist visitors. Wood's efforts would pay off a year later with the first running of the Elgin National Raid Races - a contest that began a year before the Indianapolis races - and which attracted many of the nation's finest drivers and cars.

Hospital farm: Taxpayers were likely less critical about the cost of operating the Elgin State Hospital - now the Elgin Mental Health Center - when they learned about the institution's ability to grow its own food.

"They raise for themselves most of what they eat," a report said.

Over 1,300 patients were being fed by crops raised by dozens of patients who worked the institutions 300 acres of farmland. These include corn, carrots, onions, turnips, peppers, cauliflower, spinach, and a variety of other crops. Seventy-three cows added to the hospital's supply of dairy products.

Mine deaths: Finally, as news of the Cherry Hill Mine disaster near LaSalle reached the Elgin area, residents learned that some former Fox Valley residents figured prominently in the tragedy.

Taking a key role in assisting the injured and bereaved in the tragedy, which claimed 259 lives, was Mrs. M.P. Ringland, former director of staff of nurses at Sherman Hospital.

Newspapers also reported Olaf Freeborg, who had relocated from St. Charles two years earlier, was among the first bodies to be removed.

"His trousers were worn threadbare and his hands blistered showing he had crawled some distance for air," an account said of the deceased.

Public reaction about the working conditions at the mine would eventually lead to stricter regulations followed by a state liability act and the Illinois Workman's Compensation Act.