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16 PAGES — 2 SECTIONS SECTION I — PAGES I -8
North-Nebraska’s Fastest-Growing Newspaper
VOLUME 69—NUMBER 34 _O'NEILL. N^KPL^THURSPAY, DECEMBER 18. IMS ~~~~ PRICEi 7 CENTS
STATE HIST SOC «x
Blizzards Top I
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’49 News Story
Death on Highways Ranks 2d in Frontier’s
Annual Year-End Survey
(1949 Chronology Begins on Page 2)
(1949 News in Pictures on Page 6)
Holt residents don't have to rely on a newspaper to tell them |
that the Recurring Blizzards of 1949 made the biggest news of
the year now drawing to a close.
Even though the first portion of that historic seige belonged
to the chronology of events in 1948, the terrible blizzards com
manded more linage in The Frontier’s news columns than several
other of the first 10 news stories combined.
Here are the 10 biggest topics as determined by The Frontier's
news-gathering staff:
1. Recurring Blizzards of 49.
2. Eight traffic deaths and other violent deaths.
3. O’Neill’s Diamond Jubilee.
4. St. Anthony’s hospital fund-raising drive.
5. Spring floods.
6. Page school file.
7. Rural electrification.
8. Irrigation talk.
9. Holt county fair.
10. Niobrara river landslide.
"Radio Diary,” a chronological compilation of blizzard and
storm news broadcasts during the hectic Winter through the
“Voice of The Frontier” radio studios, provided readers with a
“play-by-play” description of the storms and the relief news.
Holt rural families were |
snow-iocked for months.
When fuel and food supplies
ran low an emergency was
declared. Finally, the Fifth
army was called in to liberate
the peoples and their live
stock.
Death stalked Holt county’s
highways and three times as
many lives were taken in traf
fic accidents than in any other
Northeast Nebraska county.
Highway fatalities:
James Patrick Boyle, 14, son
of Mr. and Mrs. James P. Boyle,
of O’Neill, died instantly at 11
p.m. May 12, when truck in
which he was riding overturned.
Robert Mattison, 3, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Ray H. Mattison, of
Medora, N. D., fell from a mov
ing car 3 miles West of Emmet
on September 18; died hour lat
er in hospital.
Mildred Ruther, 15, and
George Ruther, 13, daughter and
son of Mr. and Mrs. John Ruth
er, of Ewing, died from injuries
received when ther family car
upset on August 2. Mildred died
the next day; George died five
days later.
D. F. Morgan, 60, and his
mother, Mrs. Viola Morgan, 86,
both of O’Neill, died from in
juries received in a car-truck
crash 2 miles Northwest of O’
Neill on October 22.
Clarence P. Stevens, 41, of
Page, and Robert C. Heck, 01,
of Inman, were killed instantly
on December 10 at a point 0
miles East of O’Neill on high
ways 20-275. Their car collided
with a truck.
There were numerous violent
deaths from other causes, in
cluding three drownings, sever
al tractor upsets, etc. (See 1949
Chronology).
The year now drawing to a
close will also be remembered
as O’Neill’s Diamond Jubilee
year. The Frontier in June pro
duced a 64-page Jubilee edition
—largest single edition of a
weekly newspaper ever pub
lished in Nebraska. Many nat
ive sons and daughters living a
considerable distance away
made pilgrimages to the city
during the Summer. Chamber
of Commerce plans to com
memorate the 75 years of pro
gress were off-again-on-again.
Finally, Simonson post 93, oi
the American Legion, undertook
the sponsorship and the celebra
tion went over with a bang. * ea
ture was a colorful Jubilee par
ade.
St, Anthony's hospital fund
raising campaign made big
news week-after-week. The
plan for a 300-thousand-dollar
community hospital was re
born, the sum of more than
106-thousand - dollars (cash)
was raised, and the hospital
was officially designated—all
after mid-year. Construction
is expected to begin in the
Spring.
Spring floods caused consid
erable apprehension, but the
run-off of snow was orderly,
even though the Elkhorn river
was out of its banks for days at
a time.
The Page school was destroy
ed in March by a mysterious
blaze which broke out following
an explosion. Page taxpayers
had only recently taken up the
(Continued on page 8)
Dr. Bild, 72, in
First Air Ride
PAGE — Dr. E. J. Bild, 72,
of Page, took his first airplane
ride Wednesday, December 21,
when he left from Grand Island .
for Portland, Ore. He plans to |
visit relatives there before go
ing on to Ladysmith, British
Columbia, Canada, to visit his
other brother, Oscar E. Bild,
who is in “poor” health.
Doctor Bild visited on the eve
of his departure with his son
in-law and daughter, Mr. and
Mrs. Earl Rodman, at O’Neill,
and tney took him to Grand
Island,
He plans to be gone two
weeks.
INDIAN SUMMER
IN RETURN VISIT
_
Oldtimers Not Misled;
Say It’s Calm
Before Storm
Unseasonably warm Indian
Summer weather prevailed in
the O’Neill region Tuesday and
Wednesday. Temperatures soar
ed to a high of 42 degrees on
Wednesday afternoon and water
from melting snow was running
in the streets.
But oldtimers were not to be
caught off-guard. They accepted
the freakish weather as the
calm before the storm.
The region had been ear
marked by the weatherman
for a wintry blast on Christ
mas, but the storm, coming
across Minnesota from the
Hudson Bay and Great Lakes
regions, veered South and
never reached Nebraska.
Most farmers say Winter crops
are shy of moisture. The ground
is frozen and snow or rain will
be of little value until Spring.
County Agent A. Neil Dawes
pointed out that orders for
windbreak trees are running
considerably below the demand
in previous years. Todate 10
thousand trees have been or
dered for Spring planting. A
year ago now tree orders rang
ed from 50- to 60-thousand. Rec
ords show that during post-war
years Holt countyans have been
planting in the neighborhood of
185-thousand trees annually.
This week’s weather sum
mary, based on 24-hour readings
ending at 8 a.m. daily, follows:
Date Hi Lo
December 22 28 4
December 23 - 22 4
December 24 24
December 25 38 8
December 26 20 6
December 27 39 17
December 28 42 22
C. H. Chambers, Sr.,
Dies Suddenly
Funeral services were con
ducted Saturday at 2 p.m. from
ne Biglin Bros, funeral home
for C. H. Chambers, sr., 77, who
died suddenly Thursday eve
ning, December 22, at the O’
Neill hospital. \
He had entered the hospital
early the day before but his
condition had not been consid
ered serious.
Rev. V. R. Bell officiated and
burial was in new Prospect Hill
cemetery. Mrs. H. L. Lindberg
and Mrs. Ted McElhaney sang.
Pallbearers were: W. B. Gilles
pie, H. G. Kruse, Jack Daily, H.
L. Lindberg, Carl Swenson and
L. O. Johnson, all of O’Neill.
The late Mr. Chambers was
born June 11, 1872, at Keichie,
Kans. On October 17, 1900, he
married Jessie Perry at Lead
ville, Colo.
The late Mr. Chambers, a life
long member of the Methodist
church, spent most of his life
on a farm near Livermore, la.
In May, 1948, he and his wife
moved from Livermore to O’
Neill to be near their children.
He had lived in semi-retire
ment for a number of years and
dwelt on an acreage at the West
edge of the city.
Survivors include: widow;
sons—Harry, of Dubuque, la.,
Lloyd, of Columbia, S. C.,
Charles, jr., of O’Neill; daugh
ters—Mrs. H. E. (Esther) Asher
and Mrs. M. E. (Ethel) Asher,
both of O’Neill; a brother and
sister, and 15 grandchildren.
Prices Visit—
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Price, of
Omaha, spent the Christmas
holidays visiting relatives in O -
| Neill.
LARABEE KELLYS
WED 50 YEARS
Page Couple Hold* Open j
House on Golden
Wedding Date
” PAG El—Mr. and Mrs. Larabee
Kelly held open house from 2
until 5 o’clock in the afternoon
and from 7 to 9 in the evening
at their home in Page Tuesday,
December 27, in celebration of
their golden wedding anniver
sary.
A noonday dinner was ser
ved to 85 relatives and long
time friends. Mrs. J. C. Baxel
maa of O'Neill, was in charge
of the guest book, which was
signed by 140.
Miss Beverly and Miss Gen
ella Park served the guests in
the afternoon, Miss Kelly and
Miss Velma Abney served in
the evening.
The three-tier wedding cake
was baked by Mrs. Alton Brad
dock. It was topped by a minia
ture bride and bridegroom. Or
naments were used by Mrs. Kel
ley’s sister, Mrs. John Burt
whistle, when she and her hus
band celebrated their golden
wedding five years ago.
The room was decorated with
numerous bouquets of floweis
presented to the honored couple
by their son, Jesse, and his fam
ily.
Miss Addie Reed and Larabee
Kelly were married December
27, 1899, at the home of her
mother, Mrs. Wesley Reed, North
of Stanton. They lived on a farm
near Stanton nine years before
moving to town where they liv
ed four years.
In 1913 they came to this
community and lived on a farm
Northwest of Page until about
a year ago when they moved to
a new modern home in Page.
They have one son, Jesse, who
with his family live on the Kelly
farm. They have three grand
children.
Six of ihe guests present
had been guests at the wed
ding of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly 50
years ago. They were: Mr. and
Mrs. John Burtwhlstle, of Pil
ger; Robert Reed, of Orchard;
Sylvester Reed, of Brunswick;
Arthur D. Reed, of Stanton
and Charley Mitchell, of
Butte.
Relatives from out-of-town
attending the observance were:
Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Reed, Mr.
and Mrs. Milford Best, Betty
Lou and Mary Ann Best, Mr.
and Mrs. Delorence Best and
children and Mr. and Mrs. Nor
man Phifer and children, all of
Stanton; Mr. and Mrs. S. R.
Reed and Mr. and Mrs. Lynn
Kettle and Jimmy, all of Bruns
wick; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Bazel
man and Connie Jo, Vera and
Mavis Coburn, all of O’Neill;
Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Reed and
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Reed, Ronald
and Karma, all of Orchard; Mr.
and Mrs. William Crawford and
Lulu Dum, of Atkinson; Mr.
and Mrs. J. L. Burtwhistle, of
Pilger; Mr. and Mrs. Charley
Mitchell, of Butte.
Friends from out-of-town at
tending were Geraldine Hou
fek. of Pilger; Mr. and Mrs. Er
nest Larson, of Magnet; Cyril
Hansen, of Wayne; Mr. and Mrs.
Forrest Henderson, of Orchard;
Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Stinebaugh
and Mrs. Mabel Broodstone, of
Norfolk; Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Ab
ney and Velma Abney, of In
man.
- —--—- --— rt
Death has separated the Sullivan brothers. Phillip (at
right) died last week in Butte. Mont. Daniel (left) and Montana
Jack are pictured with him ir. 9 ♦ysit to O'Neill.—The Frontier
Photo by John H. McCcirri lie.
Gifts for Baby Derby Champ
The $64 question after the
clock strikes midnight on New
Year’s eve is:
Who will be the first baby
4prn within Holt county bound
aries in 1950?
The lucky little guy (or gal)
will be showered with a host of
gifts by a dozen O'Neill busi
ness firms working in coopera
tion with The Frontier.
Details of the 1950 contest—
The Frontier’s fourth annual—
may be found on pages 12 and
13 in this issue.
Here’s the gift lineup:
Midwest Furniture & Appl.
Co. will present a play pen pad,
valued at $3, and a bumper
guard, valued at $2.50; McIn
tosh Jewelry will present to the
lucky one a' 10-karat gold ba
by ring; Jacobson’s will shower
baby’s mother—Knowing full
well that His Majesty (or Her
Highness) will derive her share
of benefit from a Hotpoint pres
sure saucepan.
Gilligan & Stout, the drug
gists, have set aside a B. F.
Goodrich standard baby water
bottle, and Montgomery’s Hard
ware has reserved an extra
large size white enameled ba
by bath. Spelts-Ray Lbr. Co.
doesn’t want baby to suffer
from the cold during his first
weeks in the big world so the
parents will receive, without
charge, 500 pounds of coal of
their own selection.
Neligh Creamery joins the
shower move this year and will
present one case of vitamin D
homogenized milk. Shelhamer
Foods will provide baby with a
case of Heinz baby food and the
New Outlaw Grocery has ar
ranged to provide the champ
with a case of Carnation evap
orated milk.
The J. M. McDonald Co. has
a dozen white new-fangled dia
pers—called Snappi-Didi— for
the winnah. These are regularly
sold for $3.98.
O’Neill F’hoto Co. wants the
parents to bring the winner in
to the studio as soon as conven
ient for complimentary photo
graphs valued at $12. these in
clude one 8x10 tinted enlarge
ment with frame and a dozen
3x5 prints, mounted.
A highboy drying rack will
be presented to first baby’s
mother by the Coyne Hard
ware. Rack’s regular value is
$3.95. McCarvilles’ have a pair
of Red Goose shoes for the der
by winner—just like last year
and the year before.
When you hear the bells and
fire sirens come New Year’s
eve you can be sure the 1950
first baby derby is on!
Parents must file their baby s
entry with the First Baby Con
test Editor, The Frontier, O’
Neill, by mail. Entry must be
postmarked by 6 p.m. on Mon
day, January 9, and winner will
be announced on Thursday,
January 12.
Day of Country School Box Socials
Isn’t Over When One Nets $103.90
By MAUDE SILVERSTRAND
Special Correspondent
ATKINSON — Did someone
say the rural school box social
was on its way out? Well, don’t
you believe it.
One of these traditional rural
Christmas gathering netted the
pupils and teacher of district
213 a neat profit of $103.90 on
FORMER RESIDENT
DIES IN MONTANA
(Picture below)
Funeral services were held
Wednesday, December 21, in
Butte, Mont., foi Phillip Sulli
van, 77, a forme* resident here
and a member of ore of the first
families settling in the O’Neill
colony
Sullivan, a former Holt coun
ty rural school teacher, died
Sunday morning, December 18,
at a hospital in Butte. He had
been in failing health and had
entered a hospital two weeks
prior to his death.
The late Mr. Sullivan was a
frequent visitor to O’Neill. His
last visit was in the Fall of
1948.
He was cashier at the general
office of the Anaconda Copper
mining company at the time of
his death.
Born July 4, 1872, in Calumet,
Mich., he was the .second eldest
of 10 children At the age of
five, he and his parents settled
in O’Neill with its first /group
of founders. He lived on a farm
a half mile North of the O’Neill
city limits.
Following his graduation from
O’Neill high school, the late Mr.
u livan taught school for three
years at th old Holland and
Coffee scho 1 five miles West
of O’Neill.
He left O’Neill in 1894 and
first joined the (old) Anaconda
Mining company on J^me 18,
1895. He first was a laborer and
at the time of his death was
serving as cashier for the gen
eral office of the company. He
had served 54 years with Ana
conda.
Survivors include: sister —
Miss Mary Sullivan; brothers • -
Jerry, Dan, Montana Jack and
Gene, all of Butte.
Tuesday evening, December 20.
Mrs. Elmer Vogel and her 12
pupils gave an “excellent” pro
gram. The children emerged
from the “wings” as Negro min
strel performers and kept the
audience in stitches most of the
time. They were given an en
core many times and the patrons
declared the performers gained
stage poise with each encore.
Raymond Schmidt was auc
tioneer.
These rural gatherings at the
little one-room schools have
been a part of rural community
life for as long as America has
had country schools. They are
as much a part of Christmas in
America as mistletoe and holly.
Many a romance has bloomed
at one of these affairs and trag
edy has struck too, before safe
ty measures ruled out the light
ed candle on the school Christ
mas tree.
Time was when young men
and their lady friends attended
the Christmas social on horse
back or in bobsleds.
I wouldn’t wonder but what
a ride to the box social at the
school was the inspiration for
“Jingle Bells.”
Mrs. Vogel and her pupils are
given special mention because
the amount of money gathered
was an outstanding feat. Many,
many other teachers and child
ren labored for weeks to pre
pare for this climax of pre
Christmas work and most of
them netted on the average <>
*40 to $50, which amount will
help purchase swings, curtains,
ga.nes and “extras” for the
schools. This money always be
longs to the teacher and pupils
to spend as they wish for the
benefit of the children in the
district.
Atkinson Firemen To
Hold Annual Dance
ATKINSON — The Atkinson
Volunteer fire department will
hold its 58th annual New
Year’s eve ball Saturday eve
ning at the Knights of Colum
bus hall here.
Joe Seger, in charge of pub
licity for the annual event, said
it would be in carnival fashion
with noise makers and appro
priate festive arrangements. He
also said the public is invited to
attend. Music will be played by
Johnny Mullen and his orches
tra. .
Seger said the dance is sched
uled to get started around 8:30
p.m.
Justice Tomlinson
Frees Prisoners
Freedom was handed to three
prisoners here Saturday morn
ing by Justice of the Peace H.
W Tomlinson. The trio was re
leased in time to join members
of their families for Christmas.
Those with commuted sen
tences were Frank Hood, o f
Norfolk; Floyd Johnson, of
Spencer, and Alexander Mous
seaux, of Martin S. D.
All were serving sentences in
the county jail here.
Mrs. Phania Friedrioh and
son, Douglas, of Omaha, spent
Christmas in Atkinson at the
home of her daughter and her
husband, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd
Waldo. They visited the Lowell
A Johnsons late Sunday and
Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Verne Reynold
son and family left Sunday to
visit his parents, the Clarence
Reynoldson and her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hursh, of St.
Edward
WOMAN KILLED
ENROUTE HERE
Mrs. Ida Connell Dies
Instantly Near State
Line in Crash
Mrs. Ida Connell, member of
a prominent Burke, S. D., fam
ily and mother of the Burke
postmaster, Robert Connell was
instantly killed last Thursday
afternoon enroute from Burke
to O’Neill. The accident occured
near the Nebraska South Da
kota line between Butte and
Fairfax, S- D.
Mrs. Connell’s son was driv
ing the family car, which fail
ed to make a turn on highway
281 about three miles South of
Fairfax.
Mrs. Connell and her son
were enroute to O’Neill to meet
a daughter, Mrs. Milfred Def
fengaugh, of Arcadia, Calif.,
and (Mr. Deffenbaugh, who were
arriving for a Christmas reun
ion.
The car overturned and was
reported demolished
Mr. Connell was taken to a
hospital at Burke for treatment
for severe bruises and other in
juries.
The scene of the atocident is
only a short distance from the
place where Edwin Faatz, of
Butte, was fatally injured a
short time ago.
iThe death was charged a
gainst South Dakotas highway
fatality record for 1949 — not
Nebraska’s.
Polio Campaign
Slated January 16-31
Emmet, O’Neill, Amelia, In
man and Chambers have been
assigned 1950 March of Dimes
campaign chairmans and each
is ready to initiate the annual
drive for polio funds, according
to Mrs. Ralph Brown, of O’Neill,
Holt county campaign director.
Campaign dates are January 16
31.
Mrs. M. E. Jacobson will di
rect the March of Dimes opera
tions in O’Neill; Mrs. J. W. Wal
ters in Chambers; Miss Patricia
McMahon at Inman; Miss Helen
Martens in Emmet, and Mrs.
Blake Ott in Amelia.
Fund-raising teams that will
be canvassing O’Neill are: Mrs.
H. D. Gildersleeve and Mrs. Wil
liam Artus; Mrs. L. M. Diehl
man and Mrs. M. J. Golden;
Mrs. J. B. Gardy and Mrs. Cle
tus Sullivan; Mrs. D. C. Schaf
fer and Mrs. Howard Manson;
Mrs. W. B. Giliespie and Mrs.
E. F! Sullivan; and Mrs. James
W. Rooney and Mrs. L. A. Bur
gess.
West State Director James
Edington, of Grand Island, will
j meet with the Holt county
i chapter during the first week in
January to discuss final plans
for the drive, Mrs. Brown said.
Meanwhile, plans are being
completed for the kickoff day
acfiv:ties, January 16 and
plan* are in the making for
other forms of entertainment
during the course of the drive.
Mrs. Brown said "that funds
for aid to polio victims in the
national foundation are deplet
ed and that a crisis exists. The
patient care bill has been four
times greater during 1949 than
in previous years, and four
times the amount of money
must be raised.”
Minnesotans Here—
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Jeffrey,
of Fairmont, Minn., formerly of
O’Neill, spent the Christmas
t holidays visiting relatives In O’
Neill.
MRS. N. G. MILLER,
PAGE, SUCCUMBS
Holt Woman, 79, 111 With
Heart Affliction for
10 Years
PAGE — Funeral service*
were held at the Methodist
church here Tuesday afternoon
at 2 o’clock for Mrs. N. G. Mil
ler, 79, a resident here for 38
years. Rev. T. O. Brownfield
conducted the rites and burial
was in the cemetery here.
Mrs. Miller died Friday eve
ning at her home. She had suf
fered with a heart affliction for
10 years and had been bedfast
for a month.
In charge of the flowers
were: Mrs. Hester Edminston,
Mrs. George Rost and Mrs. Sor
en Sorenson, sr., all bf Page.
Pallbearers were: Alfred Nel
son, Vernie Hunter, Loren*
Riege, Harley Kennedy, Lee
Taylor and Elmer Edminston,
all of Page.
MRS. N. G. MILLKR
Singers were: Mrs. John La
mason, Mrs. Alton Braddock,
Mrs. Gerald Lamason, Mrs. Ray
Snell. They were accompanied
on the piano by Mrs. Harold
Kelly.
Born February 11, 1870, at
Mound City, Mo., Edith Jean*
etta Bates married Nels G. Mil
ler February 26, 1891, at Pres
ton, la. To them nine children
were born.
Mrs. Miller was a member of
the Methodist church.
With her husband and fam
ily, she came to Holt county
March 19, 1910. They settled on
a farm lVfe miles North of Page.
In 1948 the farm was sold and
Mrs. Miller and her husband
moved into town.
Survivors include: widower;
sons—Lowell, of Lincoln; Leon
ard and Arthur, both of Page;
Spencer, of Gresham. Ore.: Har
)ld, of Portland, Ore.; daugh
ters—Mrs. A. L. (Gertrude) God
dard, of Richland, Wash.; Mrs.
J. W. (Anna) Hurst, of Earl
ham, la.; Mrs. A. C- (Hazel)
Stewart and Mrs. R. G. (Cora)
Gray, both of Page; three sis
ters; five brothers; 11 grand
children and eight great-grand
children.
Advanced Planning
For Chambers Port
CHAMBERS — S. R. Gilbert,
airport engineer for the district
Civil Aeronautics Administra
tion office at Lincoln, has ad
vised the village of Chambers
that planning for Chambers’
20-thousand- dollar airport is
now in the “advanced stage.”
Already the runway sights
have been surveyed, reports
have been compiled and blue
prints have been drawn.
Ed Thorin, chairman of the
village board, said a special
meeting will be called in Janu
ary to complete final papers.
The federal government is help
ing foot the bill
Site of the proposed port is
on land donated to the village
last year by Mr. and Mrs. Dan
iel B. Perkins.
Stores To Close
On January 2
Member business firms of the
O’Neill Chamber of Commerce
will close Saturday, December
31, at 5:30 p.m. and remain clos
ed until the regular opening
hours Tuesday, January 3.
In this manner O’Neill busi
ness houses will observe Mon
day, January 2, as the legal New
Year’s holiday.
Meanwhile, Secretary Jame*
Rooney said that five addition
al business firms had been sign
ed as members of the Chamber
for 1950. Total signed todate m
75 out of possible 200. i