Evan Massey is a former Galesburg High School girls basketball coach who retired as one of the most successful coaches in Illinois history. He writes basketball history features and a weekly Time Capsule column for WGIL.
“This Week in Galesburg History,” Jimmy Isaacson and Michael Phelps kept on winning, and Martie’s Supper Club was having great food and great music.
This is a look back at the history of Galesburg (and the world). What was going on 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago, 25 years ago, and 10 years ago this week?
100 Years Ago — 1926
Who says it is expensive for women’s clothes. Marks and Kuhl in Galesburg is selling “Newly Created ‘Welworth Dresses’ for Fall” for only $1.98.
75 Years Ago — 1951
A couple local restaurants are advertising some exciting options for the summer of 1951.
The Huddle is offering drive-in service. You can get curb service from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., so you can “eat in the comfort of your car.”
Martie’s Supper Club on the corner of Knox Street and Grand Avenue is having a trio playing on both Friday and Saturday nights, and it is air conditioned.
50 Years Ago — 1976
Galesburg’s American Legion baseball team suffered a loss in the Division to end their season, but not before setting a program record with 40 wins.
Post 285 was managed by Galesburg sports legend Jimmy Isaacson.
A few of the players on the team included Eric Doss, Mike Wilder, Steve Cheesman, and Barry Cheesman.
25 Years Ago — 2001
Before you got MLB scores and standings on the internet and the ESPN app, the local paper on a daily basis posted the standings, the leaders, and all of the box scores.
10 Years Ago — 2016
Michael Phelps cemented himself as a legend as he won five gold medals and one silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. With these five gold medals, it brought Phelps’ total of golds to 23. Michael was 31 years old.
Read more from Evan Massey at masseybasketball.blogspot.com, on X at @MasseyBball, and on Facebook at facebook.com/MasseyBball.
