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Sunday, January 18, 2026

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Looking Back- Galesburg’s Neighborhood Groceries
















I grew up in Savanna, Illinois in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Savanna was a small town where you didn’t worry about locking the doors to your house. And it was an era where in grade school it was considered safe to walk home from school, even though it was about a mile walk. 

Between my Avenue School and my house, there were three neighborhood groceries. If you had extra change, you would always stop for some baseball cards, a pop, or a candy bar. Everything was from a penny to a dime. 

As I drive around Galesburg, I see buildings that clearly had to be “neighborhood groceries.” And I hear people who grew up in Galesburg talking about Nelson’s, Shott’s, Dickerson’s, and many more.

Memorabilia- Streaks Boys Basketball












This is a collection of memorabilia from Galesburg Silver Streaks Boys Basketball thru the years. 

To add to the collection, take pictures of your item and send them to emass70@yahoo.com  If it is a program, please take pictures of front and back of scorecards. If it is a booklet, take all the pages. Please share the date if possible!! 

Friday, January 16, 2026

Massey Quiz #29- People of Galesburg













I have fifteen Galesburg pictures of the past and present. There may be pictures of places, people, monuments, parts of buildings, and even more. The quiz is designed to celebrate how wonderful Galesburg is, and test your knowledge of our community. Enjoy and have fun!!

The answers are at the end of the quiz. Keep track of your score and read exactly what your score indicates. If you would like- share your score on the Facebook or Massey Blog under the comments. 

Thursday, January 15, 2026

1945 Legendary Phog Allen Addresses Streaks Elite 8 Team

Coach Phog Allen






























When I think of famous people from Kansas University coming to Galesburg, I immediately think about George Burgland and Brad Bennewitz. When I was going thru old newspapers, I was surprised to find out another Jayhawk,  just as famous as George and Brad came to Galesburg in 1945. 

Coaches’ Corner: Tight DHO for Shooter










This is a great Zoom action that gets the ball to a shooter coming off the DHO closer to the basket in a different action. Normally the zoom comes off a stagger action, this is a backscreen action. 

1999 vs Loyola- Greatest Game & Greatest Headline


 












If you asked Silver Streaks fans, they would label Galesburg’s upset of Loyola in 1999 as the best game in IHSA history. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Monday, January 12, 2026

1957 Streaks- Elite 8
























All these pictures were from Tom Wilson’s scrapbook- the comments are my own. 

As of 1950, only one African-American had played basketball at Galesburg High School. In 1951, Coach Ken Menke changed that. Over his four years coaching at GHS, there were 7 African-Americans on his 4 teams. 

In the 1956-1957 season, 2nd year coach, John Thiel started four African-Americans. He received hate mail for that. The team did not always receive a “warm welcome” when traveling on the road. 

Unranked in the State Polls, the Silver Streaks made it to the Elite 8 where they lost by 2 points to Collinsville in one of the most controversial games in IHSA history. 

Coaches’ Corner: Indiana’s Iverson Cut into Screen-Screener




















There is a common screen the screener action that most teams have in their playbook. Out of a box set, a guard screens to get the post into the low block, and the other post screens for the screener to get a shot at the top. Indiana runs the same thing but does it with a twist.