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F&M Newsletter - July 2003
90th Anniversary Party a Success! On October 1, 1913, Blake H. Alexander, James H. Spiker and Leonard E. Brewbaker took down the sign that said “Cole Trust and Savings Bank” and put up the Farmers and Merchants sign, on the building then located just across Hail Street from where the Bank is located today. Three months later, on January 1, 1914, the bank was incorporated and chartered by the state as the Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Bushnell. During later years, the Farmers and Merchants State Bank assumed the deposit liabilities of two other banks in Bushnell and one bank in Prairie City. The bank moved into a new building at its present location in 1923, and has expanded and remodeled greatly over the years. The current drive-in facility located on the west side of the railroad tracks was built in 1980, and F & M opened its ATM in 1995 at the junction of Highways 9 and 41.
The bronze and black nameplate that adorns the lobby wall greeted customers for years at the entrance of the bank. It remains a constant reminder to all who view it of the bank’s ability to survive wars, depressions, recessions, inflation, hard times, and good times.
This past month, on June 14th, F & M bank celebrated its 90th anniversary with a party in Bushnell’s East Park for the Bushnell area community. A huge tent served as seating for the approximately 550 customers who were served a barbecue lunch by the employees. There were activities and face painting for the children, and “AC Rock” performed in the evening.
Farmers and Merchants State Bank of Bushnell is proud to still be locally-owned, as it became and ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in 1994. We look forward to serving the West Central Illinois community for many years to come.
The Most Improved Senior award at B-PC High School for the 4th quarter went to Anthony Havens. Good luck this fall, Anthony, at Spoon River College. Jack and Klorris Promisson of Bushnell recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and Marlin and Elinor Pendell of Good Hope celebrated their 50th. Mary King of Bushnell recently celebrated her 98th birthday, while Emma Muir and Mary Griffeth, also of Bushnell, celebrated their 80th . We wish all of you ladies many more years of happiness!
May 17th, Farmers & Merchants donated bicycle helmets to each participant at the Bike Rodeo held at the Bushnell Fire Department. Forty-five children between five and ten years of age received safety instructions and photo IDs in addition to the helmets.
Pam Wolf, of Good Hope, recently ran away with medals! Pam, a 2003 graduate of Roseville High School, won four medals at the state track and field events held in Charleston, and broke her own record in the 300-meter low hurdles. Her parents, Ralph and Becky Wolf attended the events and must have been so proud. Way to go, Pam!
June was a great month for babies at F & M!! Our own Jessie (and Mike) Havens delivered a beautiful little girl, Gracie Lee on June 14th, Dan (and Pat) Cortelyou became grandparents to little Rebecca Elayne (parents Darrin Cortelyou and Crystal Kaffer) on June 2nd, and Kathy Danner became a grandmother to handsome little Elijah Robert, (parents Dustin Danner and Melanie McGrew) on June 12th. Congratulations on all your newest miracles!
Past Newsletter Issues Interested in reviewing a past issue? Here are the past year's!
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Three of the BP-C High School graduates for 2003 included our own April Fisher, Taryn Utter and Charity Weiss. Each of these young ladies also received President’s Academic Awards. Our congratulations are extended to each of these ladies, and to all the other graduates of surrounding communities.
The U. S. Space Camp program held in Huntsville, Alabama in August will have two local boys in attendance. Bronson Tatham of Avon (and grandson of our own Carolyn Carr) and Emiliano Vera of Bushnell recently were surprised when it was announced they were the winners of a five-day all-expense paid trip to the basic training program that consists of sleeping in the Space Habitat, enjoying (??) freeze-dried food, and organizing and participating in a mission to outer space. The program is sponsored by Ludlum Food Mart in Bushnell, and the essay entries of each student were judged at the IGA Corporate office in Chicago. This trip will not only have these boys flying high, it’s sure to provide them with memories they will never forget. Congratulations, Bronson and Emiliano!!
