How Time Flies for Oct. 26, 2008:

100 years ago

Oct. 26, 1908: James Wakefield, 49, of Heyworth, has died. He is known for having discovered natural gas on his farm and ultimately supplying it to the entire town of Heyworth. His grandfather was Campbell Wakefield, who founded Heyworth.

75 years ago

Oct. 26, 1933: New Salem, the home of Abraham Lincoln as a young man, opens to the public today as a state park. The village has been reconstructed in part, with thirteen cabins being dedicated today. Governor Horner was among the notables present.

50 years ago

Oct. 26, 1958: This was homecoming weekend for both ISNU and Wesleyan. Each school staged parades in Bloomington or Normal. Start times were just far enough apart that ten thousand parade-goers were mobile enough to see both of them.

25 years ago

Oct. 26, 1983: US troops, assisted by others from the Caribbean, invaded the island nation of Grenada. President Reagan said the mission was to protect about 1000 Americans there, and to restore a country run by "a brutal group of leftist thugs."