-ffebr. State Historical Society
VOL. NO. LIII
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1937.
NO. 12
Presbyterian
Re-Dedicatory
Service Sunday
Rev. H. G. JlcClusky, D. D., and Rev.
Luther M. Kuhns, D. D.,
Conduct Service.
Frtm Miisdny's nily
Flattsmouth's Fresbyterian church,
built in 1SS9, was rededicated in ai
service opening at eleven o'clock
vesterdav morning. The church was;
partially
destroyed by fire October
31, tnd yesterday marked the
tlrst ifng service since the recon
struction, j
Mrs. Henry Goos, organist, opened i
the worship with the organ prelude,
"Melodic." Rev. Luther M. Kuhns.
I). I)., of Omaha read the scripture
from Hebrews 10: 19-31. It was
followed by the anthem "Open Our
Eyes" by the choir under the direc
tion of Mrs. J. R. Reeder and prayer
by Or. Kuhns.
Greetings were read by Dr. Mc-
V
1L'. T J..
f 4.
REV. H. G. McCLUSKY,
Pastor Since 1914
D. D.
Clusky from Wm. F. Ferry, D. D.,
moderator of the Presbytery, of Lin
coln; Rev. Ross S. M. Cown, D. D., of
Beatrice, moderator of the Synod ; ( Christian flag.
and J. W. Presslev, D. D. of Omaha, i The altar and chancel were artis
executive secretary of the Synod. AIL tic-ally decorated with Cowers. Dr.
messages contained congratulations Kuhns gave the bouquets of white
upon the rebuilding of the church j carnations and stocks on the altar
and wishes for success. A short let-'and Mrs. John Sattler, Jr., donated
ter was rc
d from the Knights of;
Coiumb.is, who generously opened ;
their hall to the members of the j
church for meetings while the church
could not be used. Stephen R. Beck-!
ner, one who assisted in extinguish-! on the new organ
ing the Tie also sent greetings. ing the offertory.
Special recognition was given to'er. Frank Cloidt.
those who extinguished the fire, Carl j sang "Praise Ye"
Schneider, Karl Keil, L. O. Minor,
Sam Am. Ray Herring. Carl Ofe.
Frankin Kief. Dr. O. Sandin, Henry
Jasper. Chas. Tunnell, Wm. Schmidt-
man, Clement Woster. Robert WurLjit." He emphasized the fact that the .
Louie Lohnes, Max l-itzmayer, nem
interior of Restored Auditorium, First Presbyterian Church
Sc hutz. Fred Lugsch, Tom Walling, ; little value unless there is back of it
Steve Beckner, and the Glcnw ood fire j the spirit of the worshipper and of
department. The Plattsmouth fire-; God. The service of dedication fol
men attended the service in a body. ; lowed.
H. T. Barnard of Garnett, Kansas,! "How Firm a Foundation" by the
came to the desolte church after the
fire and studied the charred remains.
In that scene he visioned a plan of
modified Gothic for the church. He
drew the sketch that immediatly
pleased the planning committee, com
posed of Leslie Niel, Roy Knorr, Mrs.
Henry Goos. Mrs. Ru-sell Reeder, j source of pride for the church mem-Mir-
John Sattler, Jr.. Mrs. Sterling j bers as well as the wilton carpet of
Ingwerson, Frank Cloidt. and L. O
Minor. Dr. McClusky paused to pay
tiibute to this committee for their
tireless work and energy in complet
ing the plans.
Recognition was also given to those
who worked on the building, Arthur
Warga, Herbert Johnson, Paul Wohl
farth, Herman Tiekotter, II. L. Kru
ger, Henry Lutz, Frank Gobelman,
William Rice, Fred Rice, E. A. Rice,
lOrval Kintz, Chas. Tunnell, m.
Kiner, Floyd Shanholtz, Glen Ed
wards, and John E. Schutz.
A fund left by Mrs. Mary Fetzer,
a former member of this church, was
iused for the chancel, including all
furniture as pulpit, paneled screen,
i communion table, session benches,
and choir section. This beautiful ad-
dition to the church was dedicated
yesterday as a memorial to Mrs.
Fetzer.
Cary Marshall, twelve-year-old son
of Mr. and Mis. C. A. Marshall, gave
his birthday money which he has
been saving since his first birthday,
to buy the pulpit Bible. Dr. Me
Clusky commended the lad highly on
his generous gift to his church.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cloidt restored
' the organ blower in honor of Mrs.
j Cloidfs father, John Becker. The
j baptismal font, contributed by Misses
I Caroline and Estelle Baird in honor
j of their father and mother. Dr. and
Mrs John T. Baird. was redecorated
ito match the new walnut furniture.
i
' Members of the Young People's so-
ciety have given a Bible book mark
jand the pulpit lamp is a gift by Mrs.
Robert Cappell and Mrs. L. L. Mc
carty in honor of their mother, Mrs.
Christian Wohlfarth.
iae console.- lamp usB"-"
Tearl Staats in honor of her father i
and mother. Mr. and Mrs. Geo
Staats. Ladies of the church Feder-:
ation contributed the beautiful carpet!
anu me ujmuais n putu j
I members and sponsored by the irls
j of the Westminster Guild.
Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Ferry
gave ; ,
the offering plates and the vases forjthe United state3t thev settling in
the chancel were donated by Dr. and jTazewe1 coum minois, where so
Mrs. McClusky. Two folding screens j
in the Fellowship room were also
given by Mrs. McClusky.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knorr gave the
music stand for the choir. Members
of the Sabbath school class, taught
bv Miss Pearl Staats, contributed a
the bouquets of red carnations, white.
calla lilies, and pussy willows which
stool at either side of the entrance to
the chancel.
Shubert's "Serenade" was played
by Mrs. Goos dur
Mrs. J. R. Reed
and L. O. Minor
by Verdi.
Dr. McClusky gave the sermon of ing. experience last night along high
the morning, using Pslam 127:1 asway Xo 7r, lipar Fort Crook
the text, "Except the Lord build the; The g-roup had st0pped Here for a
house, they labour in vain that built ! shprt while at one of our refresh-
oeauty oi any nouse oi v.orsnip is oi ,
congregation was followed by the
benediction by Dr. Kuhns and the
postlude.
Outstanding in the new furnish
ings are the new pews which were
made by D. W. Woods. The Reuter
organ with the detached console is a
mulberry and the lovely chancel
Among the former members who
were able to attend the rededicatlon
from a distance were Mrs. John G or
der of Springfield, Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Johnson (Mrs. Johnson was
formerly Miss Grace Walker), Mrs.
Agnes Chapman, Mrs. Nellie Agnew,
and Mrs. Marjorie Agnew Hastain,
all of Lincoln.
SHOWS SOME IMPROVEMENT
Mrs. Herbert Nelson, who was
taken to the St. Joseph hospital at
Omaha on Thursday, is reported as
responding nicely to treatment. It is
hoped that she may continue to im
prove and soon be able to return
home.
Wendell Hei!
Observes Passing
of 89th Year
One cf Well Known Residents of This
Section Of Cass County Where
TTo tTac T?pcilpfl Vpars
j charts kept on the increased sales of
Friday. March 12th. marked the! the product advertised,
passing of the eighty-ninth birthday! Monday of this week. A. G. Iless
anniversary of Wendell Heil. one of,ler. representative of the Quaker com
the long time residents of Eight Mile jpany. was in Plattsmomh and re
Grove precinct and at present living' newed the Journal's advertising con-
at Louisville.
Theoccasion was marked by a
pleasant gathering cr members of thither paper in southeastern Nebraska;
familv at the Heil home in Louis-! are the only two in this ana that are j
iville, all but two of the children be- !
j ing present to join in the well
,,-ichnc to thp fnthf-r ns will ns sev
eral of the grandchildren and their
i- .,- rr 1 , l . c .1 . .
i lainuies. i lie iuemuem oi n:e pai i
had come with well laden baskets
and which produced a fine luncheon.
Wendell Heil was born in Hesse-;
rjarmst
Germany, March 12, 1S43
and when a babe of three years
of
to
ace was orougnt oy nis parents
manv of
their countrymen had lo-
cated. Here the childhood days of
Mr. Heil were passed until in the late
sixties he moved to Nebraska, settling
in Cass county where other of the
old friends and relatives from Illinois
; had purchased farms and were mak
i ing new homes. Mr. Heil in 1S69
! purchased a farm in Eight Mile
i Grove precinct and where he resided
for many years.
j Mr. Heil has retained his health
i in splendid shape and is able to be
. . f. a ,,,,
younger years, looking after his daily
tasks and meeting the old friends.
HAVE TOUGH EXPERIENCE
From Wednesday's Daily ,
A party comprising residents of
Union, had a very chilly and annoy-
ment places but this entertainment
Drovptl to be tt o tarnp n,.d ;if.f.f)1dinE-
ly the suggestion was made that the
party move on to Omaha where the
(entertainment is bigger and better.
One of the party insisted on driving
the car and away the ga3 wagon
spun northward over highway No.
hitting the shoulders of the pa v-
ing on each side as it sped on. At
last other members of the party were
able to get the car stopped and at
: which the driver became peeved and
grabbed, (or at least the members j
of the party thought he did) thej
keys to the car, he dashing off on foot j
in the direction of Dan Butler's J
stronghold. -
The remaining members of the
party decided at last to try and place
a call to Union and secure a key that
would allow them to start their car.
This was done and the members of
jthe party hovered in the cold along
the road until at last relief came
from Omaha. The examination by a
flashlight disclosed that the keys to
the car had been thrown on the floor
of the car and had been there all the
time the group shivered and waited
for help.
OPENS COURT TERM
E'rtm Monday's Daily
District Judge W. G. Kieck and
Court Reporter Glenn WoodbuTy, de
Parted for Papillion this morning
w.'u iv they opened the March term of
the district court. It is expected that
Judge Kieck will be kept the rest of
the week in hearing the cases at
Papillion.
Quaker Oats
Finds Journal
Ads Profitable
One cf Two County Seat Papers in i
This Area Given 26-Week !
Renewal Contract.
Six month ago, the Journal car
ried a news story about Quaker Oats
company cutting down its magazine
and large city daily newspaper ad
vertising to substitute small town
1 dailv and weekly paper advertising!
of its product. This changed plan
was in the nature of
a test of the !
relative merits of the two forms of;
advertising, and a close check has!
been made of results, not onlv as a
' ... i
whole, but lor eacii ot the news
papers in which the ad., have ap-
jpeared, including the Journal.
' a 26-week contract was entered
irxt:t with many county seat papers
; over the state at that time, and
tract for another 2 6 weeks. In doing;
so, he stated that the Journal and one.
to he Siven
enewal contracts.
The Journal welcomes the samej
close check on results by other ad-i
vertisers that has been given by thej
Quaker Ots company, confident thatj
the steady user of advertising space I
in our columns will find it
proiita oie.
!
It has long been this newspapers)
.i.
toil itii I I o . 1 nidi juuniuus iit-nri'aini
j advertising is the mainspring of
'business success. Not all advertising
is profitable; in tact, measured oy
the yardstick of a large national
space user, advertising is virtually
wasted unless it is (1) seen; (2)
read: (3) understood: i 4) believed
and (5) wanted. The Journal can
supply the first two essentials, but it
is up to the advertiser himself to
supply the latter three. Stated dif
ferently, but with the same mean
ing, is the old axiom: "Have what
the people want; TELL THEM you
have it."
It is most gratifying to be selected
as one of the two southeastern Ne
braska county seat papers to con
tinue carrying the Quaker Oats ads
for another 20 weeks, and a distinct
tribute to the pulling power of Platts
mouth Journal advertising.
MARRIED AT OMAHA
Saturday afternoon at 2:20 at the
home of Mrs. Olive Johnson, 525
So. 2Cth street, Omaha, occurred the
marriage of her daughter. Wilda
Elizabeth, to Mr. Kenneth Morehouse
of Belvidere, Nebraska.
The wedding was very quiet and
attended by only immediate relatives
of the bride and the attendants.
Miss Johnson wore a gown of dark
blue crepe with accessories in the
same tones of color. She was attend
ed bv Miss Mayone Sylvester of this
j city.
who wore an attractive gown
! of gray taffeta
in gray also.
with tlie accessories
i Mr. Morehouse was attended by
Dale Brumbaugh, of Council Bluffs,
both wearing gray suits,
The marriage lines were read by
the Rev. Gommet of Kansas City,
grandfather of Mr. Brumbaugh.
The young people will make their
'home in the future in Omaha as Mr.
Morehouse is engaged with his fath-
er In the conduct of a fleet of trucks
between Omaha and Chicago.
The bride was a member of the
class of 193C of the Plattsmouth
high school and since completing her
school work has made her home with
the mother in Omaha.
RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE
Fnun Monday's Daily
This morning in the county court
a hearing was had on the charge filed
against Harvey Elledge, charging
him with assault and battery on his
wife. The court after hearing the
evidence in the case gave a sentence
of ninety days in the county jail.
i the sentence to stand suspended dur
ing the good behavior of the de
fendant, otherwise the sentence to be
in effect and every other day to be
served on bread and water.
RECEIVES CHURCH CALL
The Rev. C. Loyd Shubert, who
has served as pastor of the Chris
tian church at Murray, has received
all to one of the Omaha churches.
hristian church of Benson. The
resignation of the pastor was an-
nou--( ed at tne Friday service and
regretfully received. The call to the
Benson church will mean
field of activity for this
a wider
talented
young man.
Rev. and Mrs. Shubert will locate
soon in Benson to take up the active
work of t lie charge.
High School
Music Groups
Heard at Rotary
Young People Furnish a Very Fine
Program at Meeting: This Noon
at Hotel Plattsmouth.
! From Tuesday'.-; Daily
" Dick Hall opened the program at
i the l'lattsmouth Rotary luncheon to
iuay with the vocal number "Song of
Steel." "Troubadour" and "Alexan
der" were given by the boys quartet.
' The personnel included Dick Hall,
' Robert Vallery, John Jacobs, and
jJohn Tidball. Jean Knorr played
"Scherzo" as a piano solo and Mil
dred Knofiicek presented" the violin
solo "The Bee." Jean accompanied
all the numbers. This was a fine
display of musical talent from the
Platsmouth high school. George Jae
ger had charge of the program and
int rnrlnft innc
were made by Supt. L.
" T .
Iia" Kinssley
and John Welch of
Omaha were visitors at the club this
noon. A report was made by Wm.
Baird, chairman of the nomination
committee for the annual election
which is to be held in April.
Have a Fine Meeting1.
The Plattsmouth Rotarians wTio
visited at Ashland last evening, re-'
port a very fine time and a royal re
ception from the members of the host
club. There were present in addi
tion to the Plattsmouth delegation,
groups from Omaha, Lincoln, and
Fremont.
Carl Panzer, president of the Ash
land club, who is well known in this
city, presided and presented the
guests of the evening.
The Plattsmouth quartet, composed
of Frank A. Cloidt. Dr. H. G. Mc
Clusky, R. W. Knorr and John E.
Frady, gave three numbers, "Bells of
St. Mary's." "Highways are Happy
Ways," and "Lights Out," with E. II.
Wescott as the accompanist.
Seal S. Davis of this city gave
very interesting talk on the Rotary
work in responding for the local
delegation while others from Omaha
and Lincoln were heard.
The main address of the evening j serve grocery stores were just begin
,r Hi- uovrv r?r,or0,. n rvfict Tr-tor. iniiig to become popular. In order to
national president.
Those from this city to attend the
meeting were Seaii S. Davis, Dr. P. T.
Heineman, L. O. Minor, George K.
Hetrick, Ray Misner, John Frady,
R. W. Knorr, Elmer Sundstrom, L. S.
Dpvop. Dr. II. G. MeCluskv. E. II. I
Wescott, Frank A. Cloidt, William
Baird.
RE-ELECT TEACHERS
From Wednesday's Dally
The board of education at their
meeting last evening took up the
j matter of the teaching force for the
'ensuing year, re-electing all of the
j faculty of the high school, junior!
: high and the grades. i
The contracts will be sent out to
the teachers for their signatures for
acceptance soon.
The board made some slight salary j
adjustments to equalize the salaries
that will be paid for the ensuing
school year, a number of the lower
bracket salaries being advanced.
The salary budget for the year
1935 was $32,220.65; 1936, $32,
265; and for this year will be $33,
265. The district will be relieved of all
bonded debt on August 5th when the
last of the high school bonds are re
tired and will leave the district in
excellent condition.
The custodians of the several build
ings over the city were all renamed
by the board.
phone news Items 10 NO. 6.
Plattsmouth
Business House
is Recognized
Nebraska Farmer Pays Tribute to
Local Veteran Merchant, H. M.
Soennichsen and Family.
Cliff Crooks, the field man of the
Nebraska Farmer, on a recent visit
to this city visited one of the old time
business establishments of the city,
that of Soennichsen's and prepared
the following well deserved tribute
to II. M. Soennichsen which appear
ed in the last issue of the Nebraska
Farmer:
Henry Melchoir Soennichsen was
born in Germany 7 0 years ago. As
a lad of 15 years he came to Platts
mouth and went to work for his
uncle, driving the grocery delivery
wagon. Later he was nut behind the
Henry Henry
The Soennichsens
counter as a regular clerk and there
he learned the grocery business and
with it acquired the desire to have a
store of his own.
He first went into business for him
self in 1SS9. when with George Lehn
hoff as a partner, the Lehnhoft &
Soennichsen grocery was opened. The
following year he bought out Mr.
Lehnhoff.
In 1S91, 9 yea r after he landed
in this country, he bought an odd
shaped lot a block away from the
main street. He filled in this lot,
built a building, moved in his grocery
Grocery."
Ofter selling this store In 1SS5,
for 2 years he was associated with
the Whitebreast Coal Company, but
he had
for the
lormeci ioo strong a iikihs
grocery business to remain
out of it very long and in IS 97 he
became associated with
the H. H.I
Weckback Company, Mr. Soennichsen
being the Company. This partnership t
lasted for 7 years until Mr. Week
back's death, a which time Mr. Soen
nichsen took over the entire business
and since that time has operated un -
der his own name.
Up until 1913, only groceries were
handled, but in this year dry goods
were added and his daughter Ma
thilde, who had been with a dry
goods store in Omaha, returned home
and took charge of the new depart-
a;ment.
In 1922. Mr. Soennichsen pur
chased the building he now occupies,
which for many years had been the
home of Plattsmouth's leading de-
nnrtrnont etnrp Ahmit th? Hmp sp
: 1 f" tit' r r
make a test and find out whether observation I think the greatest trouble
n ot riietfimoi-s lil-tH fVii tvnp nf a
j storc Mr. Soennichsen installed a:
store of this, type in his new build -
j ing before he moved in the balance of j
his stock This new store was m the;
(charge of his son Waldemar. Inas
! much as this cash-and-carry store
- ygw-iwtiWiMt mir:$&iMm&!g jgarP -
fer'--
-IT
"ft !-
Ji
Soennichsen's Dept.
PLAY GIVEN AT LIBRARY
From Wednesday's Daily
A clever presentation v3 given of
the old French comedy, "Bluffers"
at the library last evening by the
5v
members of the Little Theatre Group, so badly damaged by tire th-- pust
Those who took part were Mrs. Wil- week. The work will require the re
liant Gorder and Misses Mildred construction of a Urge part of the
cacy, Edith Solomon, Wilhelmina roof as well as portions of the see. -v.
Henrichsen, Maybelle Taplett and
Gertrude Vallery, Taul Vtndervoort,
Wilbur Hall. Clement Woster. Ed I
Wehrbein, Roy Oleon, Lumir Gerner,
and Bob Wurl.
was to be operated in competition
with the other store, a new name was
sought, and because of the a'.l-whif
shelving and fixtures witi.bl.i'k trim
ming, someone sueg.-'ed. "Why n.t
the Black and Whit Gro ry?" and
the Black and White Groc-ry it be
came. So popular was th nam1 and
so successful the idea that after the
entire store was moved to th n w lo
cation and the grocery departments
consolidated, tb" name P.Ln k ami
White store was retained and the
grocery department is so called today.
The present building is 0t;12'
feet, one-third of it ! in:; used for
the grocery and meat d--parti:-nt,
and the balance for the dry goods,
ready to wear, clothing and sho s.
Two years later, in 1924, the on'i.v
j store was remodeled.
Mr. Soennichsen is very fortunate
'in having his two sons. Henry and
JWaldemar, and his dauEhur. Ma
jthilde associated with him. Henry
and his father have charge of the
grocery and meat department. Ma
jthild" has the dry goods and ready
, to wear, and Wabiemar the shoes and
clothiiiir. In addition to the ho-n-nu
her.s there are l rtsrular t m
plovees. eight of tlum bring in the
M. Waldear
of Plattsmouth
grocery department. While this de
partment operates both as service
and cash-and-carry, alx 'it per
cent of the volume is cash-and-carry.
For many years this store has
a member of I. G. A. Mr. Si-nni' h
sen believes that they pjve received
a great many advantage-: from thi--.
affiliation. They endeavor to follow
all sales promotion events.
Business conditions and business
methods are very much different to
day than they were ."." years ago
when Mr. Soennichsen started lis
grocery career. He lias seen many
changes take place. He has exper
ienced the hard times of the kO's. t:ie
money panics, the hectic war days,
the inflationary years of the 20's. the
depression, long crops and short
crops, but through all he- has guided
his business on an even keel and ly
I taking advantage of evcrv opportun
ity and knowing when to curb and
when to f xnnnd. has made "Soen-
mchsen's" one of Platt.-mouth's and
Cass county's mot substantial in
stitutions.
Today at 70 years, tl.
and Walt say that he is
sons Henry
the iiiost ac
that l;" can
jtve person in the store
always find something to do.
"Of all the years I have le.-n in
business," said Mr. Soennichsen. "the
tovighest times were when l'latts
mouth had her bank failures at:d tl.e
first 2 years of the depression. b:t
business is much bette r now." Wh n
asked if he thought there was as
much chance for a young ma a to'.ny
as when he started ZZ years ago. l.e
answered. "There is just as gooj a
chance today for the aggressive yo n:g
f.im.in a? there- eve 1 was. In lact, I
wouldn't be afraid n- f hesitate to
trv it all over again. From my b-
. with merchants toelav is that they
have not kept themselves abreast ;f
the times. No merchant shou'd think
that he is entitled t business jni
because he puts m a siock oi oltm.
a::d opens the
fight for it all
front door,
the time."
He must
' ' ""q3: fr-'fcftg.Mgfct&t r.-V.
. ' " " ' '
Stcre at Plattsir.ou.th
TO REPAIR RESIDENCE
Paul Wohlfarth, the contractor, to
day started the work of repairing the
residence property o:i Loeust str
near the Christian church, v. hi-h w
t.
floor of the building and a f. :; ral
cleanup of the house,.
Club and Social news are being
featured in the Journal.