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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1950)
\ 12 PAGES — 2 SECTIONSI SECTION - 8 PAGES ■ North-Nebraska’s Fastest-Growing Newspaper VOLUME 70._NUMBER 34. "" O'NEILL, NEBR., THURSDAY^ DECEMBER 28. 1950. ~ PRICE 7 CENTS -————— -———^' 1 " ———— .. ————*—mm '52 Baby Derby Is Announced T O’Neill Merchants to Again Heap Gifts on Lucky One I Once again Holt county’s first born baby in the new year will be a lucky little fellow. Fourteen O'Neill merchants in cooperation with The Fron tier will shower the honor ba by with an assortment of gifts that would capture the eye of a busy stork. For example: Coyne’s Hardware will present a baby bottle sterilizer complete with rack. McIntosh Jewelry offers a 10 karat gold baby ring. Midwest Furniture & Appli ance will provide the honor m " fant with a child’s training chair. The J. M. McDonald company says “Nothin’s too good for first baby” and will present a Sluin ber-Gro safety Sleeping bag. The Neligh Creamery has ear marked one case ot vitamin D homogenized milk. Spelts - Ray Lumber company knows that baby must keep warm—hence 500 pounds of coal. The New Outlaw Grocery will herald the first one’s arrival with a case of Gerber’s baby food. O’lNeiii rnoto company offers photographs valued at $15, in cluding one 8”xi0” timed en largement and 12 3”x5” mount ed prints. Shelhamer Foods will maae a vailable with their compliments one case oi neinz oaoy rood. v Gamoies nave set aside a plas tic coveied crib bumperpad for the lucky one. Montgomery’s Hardware, like last year', wui give a porcelain baby bain, 00-quart size. R. H. bhrrner Insurance agen cy wants baby to start the thrift habit early, will provide a sav ings bank and money in it. Mr. Shriner will start the bank with 25-cents lor each pound baby weighs. Gilligan & Stout drug store wants nolt's honor lniant t o have a good hot water bottle, so a special gift pacaage has been wrapped and is waiting lor the derby winner. McCarvilles have a pair of Red Goose snoes lor “his maj esty” or “her highness.” I And, just for good measure, Tho I 'ifrii’ll—i mill mini the lucky one a year’s subscription, Or, if the parents already subscribe, the expiration date on tneir pa per will be extended for a year. This contest marks the fifth successive tirst baby derby sponsored by The Frontier. Kathleen Wanser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. max v7anser, ol In man, won the iirst contest in 1V47. l^ancy Flame tiarsniieid, daughter oi Mr. and Mrs. weai Harsnneid, oi O’iveiil, came a long ai me right time to win the la-Xi contest, james Michael Be ha, son ol Mr. and Mrs. matthew G. Bena, ol u’XMeiil, led tne ly49 parade, and David Bynn Tracy, son oi Mr. and Mrs. t rank Tracy, ' oi Chambers, grabbed the lyou laureis. Two girls and two boys have won the uerby todate and the tirst one in 'ul will break the deadlocK. Any baby born within the Holt boundaries alter midnight on December 31, iy50, is eligible to win. Biury Diana must ue filled out by parents, (bee pages 10 and 111 for ust oi prizes and contest rules.) On your marks . . . get set . . . go! C&NW Asks to Remove 4 Trains Although the application has no bearing on mainline Chicago & North Western rail service * through O’Neill, the company has asited the state railway com mission for permission to discon tinue trams 13 and 14 between Chadron and the Nebraska-South Dakota line and trams 21 and 22 between Nortoik and Winner, S. D. Both are passenger runs. Company oxncials say the road is losing heavily on these trains and they have been generally a bandoned by the riding public. Trains 13 and 14 now start from Omaha and run to Rapid City, S. D., via Chadron. Christmas Buyers Smash All Records For the second consecutive Saturday all records were smash ed by Christmas shoppers in O’ Neill stores. At least eight leading O’Neill firms reported all-time highs in total retail sales at the close of business at 10 p. m. Saturday. Because of the heavy volume in the previous week, most mer chants believed the rush wev ov er when last weekend arrived. Quite the contrary. Buyers "hung on” until stores were closed. Vacations al Chambers— Katheryn Rubeck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elwin Rubeck, ac companied her grandparents, 1 Mr. and Mrs. John Honeywell, of Chambers, home to spend her Christmas vacation. AGNES SULUVAN RETIRESDEC. 31 Completes 15 Years A s O’Neill Postmaster; Succeeded Husband Mrs. Agnes R. Sullivan, O’Neill postmaster since 1935, will retire on December 31. She made the announcement Tuesday upon receipt of her of ficial release from the postoffice department. Thomas J. Sullivan, O'Neill surveyor and former city em ployee, has been named acting postmaster and will assume management of the office on January 1, 1951. It is a case of Sullivan - suc ceeding-Sullivan but there is no relationship. Mrs. Sullivan, who was bom in Clinton, la., became acting post master here following the death of her husband, Michael R. Sulli Mrs. Sullivan . . . new postal records established. — O'Neill Photo Co. van, who died October 20, 1935, He had been appointed postmas ter several years before. In 1937 Mrs. Sullivan super vised the removal of the office from the former location (at the Golden "hotel annex) tc the new building. In 1938 the O’Neill of fice ranked second in the state per capita in the sale of savings bonds. Mrs. Sullivan has served as Nebraska chairman of the Na tional Association of Postmasters, has been district chairman of the association. She is the only wom an to have held the O’Neill of - fice, completing 15 years of ser vice on November 26. ; She served as acting post master here for six months be fore receiving a presidential four-year appointment. In 1940 her office came under civil ser vice. Mrs. Sullivan resides with her her son, Cletus V., and wife. J. C. Shope, of Norfolk, postal inspector, will be here to effect the transfer to Thomas J. Sulli van. The new acting postmaster is a lifelong Holt resident. In the recent election he was an un successful Democratic candidate for the post of county assessor. Mrs. Sullivan stated that in the month of December, 1950, all previous records were broken in volume of mail processed at the O’Neill office. One of the first major tasks confronting the new postmaster will be the inauguration of door to-door mail delivery, which has been approved by the postoffice department. Atkinson Youth Wins Recognition ATKINSON— Leroy Porter, about 10, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Porter, Wednesday noon was saluted on the network ra dio program, “Chance of a “Lifetime.” Leroy, an Atkinson public school student who has been crippled since birth, was asked what he wanted most. He told the program he wanted “a sewing machine for his moth j er.” On Wednesday’s “Chance of I a Lifetime” porgram, it was i announced that Leroy’s moth : er would not only receive a sewing machine but the family would share in 72 pairs of stockings, a wardrobe of trou sers, an electric roaster, some aluminum ware, several dozen bed sheets, some pillow cases, six cases of canned food and other items. Mrs. E. K. Porter, the lad’s grandmother, had written the program in behalf of Leroy. Visit Points in Iowa— The J. H. Doerning family was in Iowa for Christmas. Sunday, in Spencer they visited her brother, James Cullen, and Mon day they visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Doerning, at Mal lard. L. A. SIMONSON SUCCUMBS HERE Retired O’Neill Farm /er, 79, 111 About 6 Months; Funeral Saturday Loren A. Simonson, 79, retired O’Neill farmer, died Wednesday, December 27, at 7 p. m. at his home here. Death was caused by a heart affliction and he had been ill about six months. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a. m. at First Presbyterian church with Rev. Ralph Gerber, church pastor, of ficiating. Burial will be in Pros pect Hill cemetery. A prayer ser vice at 9:45 a. m. at the Simon son home will precede the funer al. Immediate relatives and close friends will attend the earlier rite. The late Mr. Simonson was born January 3, 1871, in Dane county, Wisconsin, a son of Thomas and Caroline Lewis Si monson. He came to Holt county at the age of 10 with his parents, who were farmers. The family resided at Clay Center for a time before coming to the O' Neill vicinity. In 1894 Mr. Simonson and Miss Anna C. Gulleckson were mar ried at O’Neill. They were child , hood sweethearts. Mrs. Simonson 1 died December 6, 1948, in a Sioux i City hospital. In 189a the Simonsons moved onto the family homestead, 14 miles northeast of O’Neill, and resided there until 1919 when they retired, moving into O’Neill. The Simonsons became the parents of seven children, all of whom survive with the excep tion of one son, Gaylor Thomas, who was killed in action at Cha teau Thierry, France, on Septem ber 1, 1918. Simonson post 93 of the Am erican Legion at O'Neill was named for the son who died in World War I. i The late Mr. Simonson was a member of First Presbyterian church and members of his fam ily have always been active in region and auxiliary affairs. Survivors include: Daughters —Mrs. Roy (Ruth) Goree, oi Long Pine; Mrs. Lorena Duffy, of Casper, Wyo.; Mrs. Ralph (Sylvia) McElvain, of O’Neill; Mis. George (Lillian) McCartny, of O’Neill; Mrs. Ralph (Edna) Walker, of O’Neill; McKinley C. (“Mac”) Simonson, of O’Neill and Orchard; 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Quints Set for Benefit Show The O’Neill Lions and College All-Star basketball teams have been going through strenuous workouts this week in prepara tion for the benefit game to be played tonight (Thursday) on the O’Neill public school court. All proceeds will go to the Li ons club milk fund for under privileged children. Coach Amie Doerning’s once beaten Lions, who have run roughshod over most opposition | this season, have been challeng j ed by a band of former St. Jo seph’s hall (Atkinson), Atkinson high and St. Mary’s academy basketball greats to be led by Bob Berigan, currently a mem ber of the St. Louis university ! team. Doerning has been employing the “two-platoon” system with success. One team includes Bob Matthews, Elmer Blackbird, Max Mossman, Jim Donohoe and Berl Damkroger. The other, Shorty Miles, Bob Jonas, Bill Carlson, Fay Robeson and Bing Volber ding. In reserve are Dan DeBack er, Warren Taylor and Gene j Leach. O’Neill Region Escapes Mishaps State Highway Patrolman Fay | Robeson reported Wednesday that the motorists in the O’Neill region thus far have kept the record free from serious highway accidents. He said the fact was unique in ' view of a rash of accidents from coast-to-coast in which hundreds of lives were lost. Miss Shirley Johring, who is spending the holiday vacation with her mother, Mrs. Martha Johring, and family, will return to Minneapolis, Minn., this week end to resume her studies dt the Minnesota Bible college where she is a freshman this year. Miss Johring was an overnight visit or this week with Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Utterback, of Clearwater, and with Bennett Gillespie fam ily, of O'Neill. 1 V*«S*. Christmas, 1950. was unlike earlier Christmases for the Sterne Martenek family, dis placed Polish people now liv ing on a farm near O'Neill. Santa Claus paid a visit, show ered the Marleneks with clo thing and toys, and the "Voice of The Frontier's" announcer, George Hammond, told the world about it. The Marleneks are Z i g m u n d (centerfore v,;.;.;.;.-:. i ground), Stanley (centerback ground), Henry and the par ents. The lad at lower right was a visitor who collected his quota of toys, too.—The Fron tier Photo. Father of these kiddies is in the army in Korea and recent ly had both feet froaen. They are Jerry. Jack and Mary Jane. , The Jolly Ol' Fellow bright ened their Christmas, too. San f ta wanted to remain anony mous.—The Frontier Photo. Anonymous Santa’s Job Grows When an O’Neill man in work ing man’s clothing came to The Frontier one day last week and announced he wanted to be a Santa Claus for a “family of O’ Neill kids,” he had no idea what was in store. He finished up being Santa for five families—thanks to his own generosity and the yule spirit manifest by several O’Neill housewives, a working girl, and several businessmen. With an automobile full of 'clothing and toys he took off on his mission of goodwill. George Hammond and the “Voice of The Frontier’s” special events unit went along, and recorded some of the goings-on when Santa made his unexpected visits in homes where stockings might otherwise have been empty. First stop was at the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mar tenek and family, living two miles east of O’Neill. Not many months ago the Marteneks were living in Eur ope. Mr. Marienek was a farm er in Poland, he had some land and the family was considered to be in comfortable circum stances. Then came World War II. For five horrible years life was miserable for the Marteneks. Hitler’s Nazis took away their land and all their possessions and transplanted the family to a forced labor camp in Germany. Their only child then, Stanley, was a baby. Stanley was torn away from his parents but later returned to them in a concentration camp. The Marteneks are newcomers to America—no longer displaced. There are three boys: Stanley, 8; Henry, 7; Zugmund, 4. Highlight of the day was a tri cycle for Stanley—recommended by a doctor to help overcome a lameness. The Marteneks speak Polish mostly, but the children are learning English. Santa spoke the “international lan guage.” Hammond reported to the radio audience. The gibber ing of Polish was audible in the background. Next stop was in a home where the father recently had both feet frozen in Korea and where the mother and four small kiddies were depending upon the allotment check. Then there was a visit to per haps the humblest home in O’ Neill. The reception accorded Santa there also was broadcast on the Christmas morning “Voice” pro gram. The children completely ig nored the microphone when Santa appeared and the con versation that spontaneously ensued told the story better than any reporter could. This self - styled Santa, who wanted to remain anonymous, made several more stops in O’ Neill and visited Atkinson, too. Some fellow, this Santa! These visits provided the theme for the Christmas morning half-hour “voice” program heard over WJAG: (Norfolk, 780 k. c.) The program entitled “Christ mas in O’Neill, 1950," opened with St. Mary’s academy first graders introducing and singing “Jingle Bells” and “Up on the Housetop.” By taperecording the First Presbyterian church choir sang “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful,’’ “Birthday of a King,” by Neid linger, soprano solo by Miss Bar bara Bennett, and “Brightest and Best,” by Coombs, with solos by Miss Lois Harder and Stanley Lambert. The music was record ed at the Christmas eve candle light service at the church. Music excerpts from the mid night mass at St. Patrick’s Cath olic church followed, featuring the choir with pipe organ accom paniment. Then came Santa’s visits with the O’Neill public school band, playing Goldman’s “Christmas March,” filling the intervals. The music was recorded. Child Dramatically Rushed to Hospital Hugh James, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred James, of Atkinson, was rushed to an Omaha hospital Tuesday in dramatic fashion. Mr. and Mrs. James began the trip with their car, which broke down at O’Neill. The boy was transferred to a Big lin Bros, ambulance. A Nor folk pilot had been alerted and was standing by at the Norfolk airport when the ambulance arrived. The plane was met at the Omaha airport by another am bulance and a police escort. The boy is suffering from rheumatic fever. Visit Hynes Home— Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Young, of Ravenna, spent Christmas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Hynes. “Voice of The Frontier,” Mon , Wed., Sat,, 9:45 a. m. . . . WJAG . . . 780 on your dial! O'Neill Man Earns Civil Promotion— William D. Allendorfer has re ceived a one grade civil service promotion. He is a department of the army civilian working with a finance unit in Friedberg, Ger many. A native of O’Neill and a 1940 graduate of O’Neill high school, Mr. Allendorfer worked with the counter intelligence corps during World War II. He came to Eur ope on this present tour of duty in October, 1946. Accompanying him in Friedberg is his wife, Vir ginia A. Allendorfer. Moss Family Heads South— Mr. and Mrs. Ira H. Moss and daughters, Suzanne and Sarah Lou, departed Friday for a visit in the Southern states. They con templated visiting Texas and Louisiana and hoped to see the Sugar Bowl football game on New Year’s day. Mrs. P. B. Harty was appoint ed deputy clerk of the district court in Mr. Moss’s absence. S. W. BRION DIES; BURIAL AT EWING i Heart Ailment Fatal to Well-Known Ewing Banker EWING — Funeral services were conducted at 2 p. m., Wed nesday, December 27, at the Methodist church in Ewing for S. W. ("Pete”) Brion, 87, well known Ewing banker. He died at 9:05 a. m. Christmas rn a Nor folk hospital where he had been a patient since November 22. He had been a sufferer of a heart ailment. Survivors include: Widow — Maude; son—Samuel Richard, of Neligh; daughter — Mrs. M. B. (Mary) Huffman, of Ewing; sis ters—Mrs. Eva Davies, of Lin coln, and Mrs. Sadie Jones, of Manatee, Fla.; four grandchil dren, several nieces and ne phews. Samuel Walter Brion was bom March 9, 1883, at Unadilla. As an infant he moved to Holt coun ty with his parents, settling on a farm 10 miles north of town. In 1891 he moved into Ewing where he spent the remainder of his life. The late Mr. Brion began hi* banking career at the age ol 15 with the Ewing State bank. He later transferred to the Pioneer bank of Ewing and later help ed organize the Farmers Stale bank. He initially served as cashier and for many years served as president. He headed the bank at the time of bis death. On October 1, 1913, he married Maude BuiiwhiStle at Ewing. They became the parents of two children. Mr. Brion was active in most community affairs, served as a member of the board of educa tion, village board of trustees and township board. He was a member of the Masonic lodge. Order of Eastern Star, Royal Highlanders and was baptised a Methodist. His hobbies were hunting and fishing. Rev. C. C. Chappell, Methodist pastor, officiated and burial was in the Ewing cemetery. The main auditorium in the church could not accomodate the crowd and loudspeakers were placed m the basement. Masonic burial rites were conducted. His parents and three sisters preceded him in death. New Assessor. Sheriff Take Over January 4 Two new Holt county officer* will assume their duties Thurs day, January 4. Both were vic tors in the November general elections. Leo S. Tomjack, Democrat, of O’Neill, succeeds A. B. Hubbard, Republican, of O’Neill, as county sheriff. William E. (“BUI”) Wefso, Re publican, of Atkinson, will re place L. G. Gillespie, Republican, of O’Neill, as county assessor. Wefso defeated Gillespie in the primaries and subsequently won the general election. Miss Alice French, who ha* been appointed new superintend ent of public instruction, will as sume her duties in mid-January. She has not yet been released by O’Neill city schools where she is a faculty member. Miss Elja Mc ullough, retiring superintendent, will attend college at Wayne af ter the holidays. She left O’Neill last week. Santa Brings 2 Babies for Xmas Santa was not too busy with toys and stuff to lend the stork an assist with two babies — both boys — in O’Neill on Christmas day. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Layh, of O’Neill, became the parents of a son, Ricky Lee, weighing 8 pounds. Ricky Lee is their first child. Rev. and Mrs. Robert Olson, of Christ Lutheran church at O’Neill, had a son, John Rob ert, weighing 7 pounds 2 ounc es. The Olsons have another child. The babies were bom in O’ Neill hospital. Harty Family Reunites— Mrs. W. H. Harty had as he* guests at Christmas her son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. James Harty, of Scottsbluff; her daugh ter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kocina, and daughters, of Central City, and her son. Jack, of Chicago, 111. The James Harty* also visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Bosn.
