the First Christian Church recalls that William Pharis donated his one third holding in the West Frankfort Elks Building to the church in the late Thirties. That building, originally the Elks Building, stands at the corner of Oak and Emma Streets and currently belongs to Morthland college.
As the automobile replaced the horse and buggy, Willam E. Pharis (inset) secured a Ford dealership, which he opened in the 300 block of East Main, former location of Coleman-Rhoads furniture and more currently Morthland College. The ornamental brickwork is still visible today. (Photo Franklin County Illinois War History)
$218,000 to build and sold for $36,000 at the height of the depression. The Arshts, along with the Burgs, were also involved in the purchase of the Jewish Community Building in Benton, which was the beginning of the Jewish Temple there. In the Seventies, the apartments on the upper level of the south side of the 300 block of Main were still named the Arsht Apartments. The Arshts left their mark not only on West Frankfort, but on adjacent communities before they returned to St. Louis. Sam died in University City, MO and is buried in Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in St. Louis. In crediting people who contributed greatly both in financial investment and influence in West Frankfort, we would be remiss not to mention William and Lula Pharis, a couple who established themselves here, lived out their life here and are buried in Tower Heights Cemetery. Pharis was born in Christopher, only a crossroads at the time. After his father’s death, Pharis married Lula Jones, of the pioneer family from Browning Hill. The young couple moved to Marion looking for more opportunities, but soon followed the blossoming coal industry to West Frankfort, where they opened a small restaurant. His business ventures made him a top man of means in the community. After successfully operating the restaurant for eight years, Pharis secured the Ford dealership, which he opened in the 300 block of East Main, more recently Coleman Rhoads furniture and currently Morthland College. As that dealership rapidly became the most prosperous busi-
ness in the county, Pharis went on to organize the West Frankfort Trust and Banking Company, where he served as vice-president. He was treasurer of the West Frankfort Building and Loan Association, as well as director of the Plumlee-Pharis wholesale Grocery Company. The Pharises had two children, Raymond and Juanita. Tragedy and heartache found them in 1927, when newspapers across the state blared headlines similar to “Son of Local Rich Man Engaged to Local girl Found Dead.” Raymond Pharis was the subject of the article which reported that the 30 year old banker and wealthy businessman was found dead on the banks of the lake at the Franklin Country Club where he had been fishing. His death was attributed to a brain hemorrhage caused by a fall. His pole and minnow bucket were found nearby. The somewhat strange newspaper story tells us that “Although there was no indication of violence of any kind, It is believed that young Pharis may have been attacked in the early hours of the morning.” We can never know the blessings that William Pharis and his family may have contributed to this community. The history of
William and Lula Pharis are buried in Tower Heights cemetery, along with their son, Raymond, who died a mysterious death at the at the age of 30 when his body was fount at the Franklin County Country club lake. Photo by Michael A. Thomas
I vaguely remember Mrs. Pharis, who still lived at their majestic home at 307 East Oak Street, just next door to the home that Sam Arsht built. When I was still a little girl, I used to go to her house to sell her my homemade potholders about once a month. I don’t know that she ever cooked a thing in those days, but she sure bought a lot of potholders. A sweet news story I found in the 1962 Southern Illinoisan reminded me of those times. In 1962, at the age of 86, she was a permanent patient of the Franklin County Hospital in Benton. She was known for her knitting of baby caps, and had knitted over 4,000 over the years for “non- royal babies.” But upon hearing that Princess Margaret and Lord Snowden of Great Britain were expecting a baby, a nurse at the hospital wrote to ask if they would like to have a hand knitted cap for the baby. Mrs. Pharis received this response from a lady-in-waiting. “I am bidden by Princess Margaret to tell you that Princess would be delighted to tell you that the young Royal Highness would be delighted to accept a baby cap from Mrs. Pharis. It should be addressed to Kensington Palace.” The article went on to say that the cap was blue with pink trim and it took her one day to make it. I can’t help but think about a story we wrote for one of our earlier magazines in Summer of 2009, It was the memoir of Helen Nicholson. She had just turned 102, and shared some of what it was like in the “Good Old days.” She married her husband in 1923. “We used to walk three miles to church every Sunday,” she said. “We’d carry our shoes, at least to the sidewalk. Everything was so muddy. Main Street was just mud, mud, mud, and that intersection of Emma and Main was muddiest of all.” Helen and Clyde eventually acquired a 1929 Dodge Touring Car, and she made up for all those years of walking through the mud. We all walk over pavement that we didn’t lay. We profit from persons we did not know.
Good Living in
Good Living in WF Fall 2106 No.indd 19
West Frankfort No. 28 Fall 2016 19 11/11/16 10:57 AM