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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1952)
* “ “ “" .SHOPPERS Santa Claus has come to town, his great bag overflowing with glittering, glgamorous and useful things for giving; his eyes twink ling a heart warming invitation for everyone to lose no time in coming to O’Neill to see his wonderful collection of gifts. Santa Claus came to town very early in deed this year—far in advance of the exciting holiday itself—to give everyone the best pos sible oportunity to choose what they will give their loved ones and friends with care and consideration. Santa Claus has come to town so early that none need lack the chance to make the 1952 yuletide the most perfect in all history for their friends and loved ones. There are 12 full shopping days until Christmas. A great corps of assistants has unloaded the contents of his overflowing gift pack, spread them on gaily bedecked counters and shelves in stores of our city, to await your admiring inspection. Show windows scintillate with myriad suggestions for giving that you will find mul tiplied tenfold inside the stores themselves. The Chamber of Commerce retail trade committee has announced that O'Neill stores will be open until 9 Thursday evenings, December 11 and 18, and Monday and Tues day evenings, December 22 and 23, in addi tio to the customary Saturday evenings. On Saturday evenings, however, the stores are open until 10. We must mention here that Ol’ Santa will greet the smallfrv in O’Neill at 2 p.m., on Sat urday, December 20. He customarily buzzes here by airplane, boards a fire truck at the airport, and greets his young admirers at the O’Neill public school auditorium. He’ll have a corps of helpers and there’ll be goodies for the youngsters. And this special issue of your favorite newspaper—The Frontier—is brought to you with the cooperation of Old St. Nick and his assistants to give you a preview of his collec tion and to help you chart your course through the Christmas gift wonderland that awaits you. There are several reasons, especially im portant this year, why Christmas gift shopping should be started without delay. The postoffice will be burdened with its i greatest yule mail volume in history. Weather has been wonderful and the early shopper can still enjoy grand weather for shopping. This issue of The Frontier—our 7th annual Christmas gift-shopping issue—enters virtual ly every rural home in Holt and Boyd counties as well as all the city and town homes where this paper is a weekly visitor. Circulation this issue exceeds 3,800 copies. In its columns this week you’ll find gift suggestions galore from the leading stores in north-Nebraska. Ol’ Santa has dumped his pack in O’Neill. .Hurry in, won’t you? —THE PUBLISHER. “voice —--^ 24 PAPF^ OF THE FRONTIER” _ d A^JL^3 Frontier m non |. „ -- SECTION 3 780 *• c* Pages 31-24 North-Central Nebraska’s BIG Newspaper v “ Volume 72.—Number 32. O’Neill, Nebr., Thursday, December 1 1, 1952. Seven Cents, Music-Lovers Await • (Messiah9 Presentation ■ - < George Frederick H a n d e l’s crowning masterpiece, the sacred and immortal Christmas hymn, ‘■Messiah,” will be presented by the O’Neill Civic chorus at 3 p.m., Sunday, December 14, in the O’ Neill public school auditorium. The chorus is under the direction of Charles B. Houser. This marks the second annual presentation of the oratorio with its message of “Glory to God.” The chorus erf 50 voices is to be assisted this year by Mrs. Clara Peacock, soprano; Mrs. Phyllis Johnson Loy, alto; R. W. John son, tenor, and John L. Schwartz, bass. . The chorus, a strictly non profit volunteer organization, is made up of people from O’Neill and surrounding communities •who enjoy the chance to meet and sing. A cultural asset to the O’Neill community, the chorus gives these talented people a chance for creative expression which many have missed since their graduation from college or high school. Much credit for the work of the chorus goes to the accom panist and assistant conductor, James G. Bastian, jr. He has given freely of his time in the evenings, Saturdays and Sun days to work with soloists and to prepare the difficult accom paniment for this Sunday s performance. During rehearsals on Monday and Wednesday evenings, Mr. Bastian coached the tenor and bass sections as the chorus spent this time in hour and half long sectional rehearsals. Mr.. Bas tian, vocal music teacher in the O’Neill public school, spent the past summer in graduate study at Northwestern university, Evan ston, 111., where he studied with the head of the piano depart ment. O’Neill is indeed fortunate to have the services of John L. Schwartz, Atkinson band direc tor, as bass soloist. Mr. Schwartz sang the bass solos with the Alli ance community chorus in 1951. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Mr. Schwartz ma jored in piano, studied voice with Dale Ganz. sang with the University Singers, played vio lin in the University Symphony orchestra and flute in the Uni versity band. The O’Neill Chamber of Com merce has again consented to un derwrite expenses for music and incidentals as it did in 1951. No admission is to be charged. Since April 13, 1742, when the “Messiah” was first performed at the Music hall in Fishamble Street, Dublin, Ireland, with the composer conducting, audiences the world over have been pro foundly moved by this majestic music, so appropriate to the Christmas season. A custom was established by King George II of England, con nected with the stirring “Hal lelujah Chorus.” When the ring ers burst into the famous chorus, the king was so moved that he spontaneously stood up in his box, beginning a tradition that persists to this day whenever this glorious music is rendered. _ ‘Fatima’ Film Coming to Royal “The Miracle of Fatima,” a Warner Bros, color film which is receiving widespread attention, has been scheduled at the Royal theater here Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, December 14, 15 and 16, according to Mrs. Georgia Ras ley, manger. The film stars Gilbert Roland and Susan Whitney, an 11-year old starlet. Mrs. Rasley has announced re vised admission charge for this show only—adults, $1; children over 12, 50 cents; children under 12, 25 cents. These prices in clude the tax. Children under 12 will not be admitted free at this picture when accompanied by parents, Mrs. Rasley said. Or dinarily children under 12 are admitted free when with parents. (The admission prices quoted in the advertisement on page 5 are in error.) The three-day showing of the “Fatima” film will begin with a matinee Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The grade and high schools of St. Mary’s academy and O’Neill public school were guests of Mrs. Rasley for a film, “Dickens’ Christmas Carol,” shown in the morning and afternoon on Wed nesday at the Royal. Unemployment Highest Since May, 1952 — {NORFOLK—The count of em ployment office job seekers on December 1 was 197, a gain of 130 per cent over the number ap plying for work on the first day of November. This is the highest level of un employment registered with the Norfolk employment office since May, 1952 but is aproximately 15 percent under the count one year ago. About 23 percent of the job seekers were women, and 27 per cent were veterans. Shortage of fully qualified workers continued in some im portant occupations. Hershiser Eected IOOF Noble Grand — The Elkhorn Valley IOOF lodge, 57, met in regular session last week with a large attend ance. The meet was the election of officers for the coming year. They are: Francis Hershiser, noble grand; Elmer DeVall, vice grand; Clav Johnson, jr., secretary; John C. Watson, treasurer; Lowell John son, trustee (2-year-term); Dar rel Baker, trustee (3-year-term). After the meeting a lunch was served including ice cream, cook ies and coffee made by John Wat son. It is believed that railroad sleeping cars were first used in 1873 in England. > XXX SOLOISTS • • • bsss# Strausser Facing Kidnapping Charges Prosecution Fixing Route of Flight A parade of witnesses filed in and out of the Custer county, S.D., courtroom at Custer, S.D., as the prosecution attempted to establish the route taken by Sher wood Franklin Strausser on a flight with a 14-year-old girl. The man, who is facing kidnap ping charges, and the girl, Ruby Pond, spent Thursday, Septem ber 11, in O'Neill. Principal witnesses were Ne braska po.ice officers connected with Strausser's arrest Septem ber 13 and a Sidney, Nebr., phy sician who examined Ruby. A number of other witnesses testified to having seen Strausser and the 14-year-old girl whom the defense has maintained was never forced to accompany him against her will. Capt. William Rezac, police cap tain at Sidney, told of having ar rested Strausser. Rezac said he thought it was strange Strausser should call him on the telephone for assistance in moving his car when he was wanted by the po lice. The policeman said Ruby was reluctant to sneak. Corroborating some of Rezac’s testimony was Sol Willis, Sidney police chief. He said Ruby had told him she and her sister, Jo Ann, had been picked up by Strausser while getting the cattle. Testimony concerning a physi cal examination of the girl, or dered by Custer county States Attorney Floia Hoagland, was taken from Dr. Jason B. Roche of Sidney The physician said his exam ination wou’d lead him to say Ruby had been molested. The examination took place the night of September 13, shortly after Strausser's arrest. The state case was nearing its end Monday. The girl sat in an O’Neill beau ty parlor most of the afternoon the duo spent in O’Neill. Mr. Strausser, however, always lin gered nearby. The fact that they had stopped here was learned when Strausser passed checks on a local bank. He signed his rightful name but had no account. Spencer Polio— SPENCER •— Darlene Prokop, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Prokop, who has been a polio patient at St. Francis hospital, Grand Island, the past two months, has returned to her home here. MARKS 73D ANNIVERSARY . . . Mrs. William Grothe, sr., (above) recently celebrated her 73d birthday anniversary. She and her husband reside north west of Emmet. (Story on page 20.)—O'Neill Photo Co. Leader of U.S. Church to Speak Dr. Herman N. Morse, Presbyterian Head, in 3 Stops in State The holder of the highest hon orary office in the Presbyterian chursh of the U. S., Dr. Hermann Nelson Morse of New York City, general secretary of the church’s board of national missions, will be an ONeill visitor next Thurs day, December 18. Doctor Morse will address a meeting of the Niobrara Presby tery during the afternoon. Pres byterian clergy and lay leaders from throughout northeast Ne braska will be present, according to Rev. Samuel D. Lee, host pas tor. The Woman’s association will serve a turkey dinner at 5:30 p.m., in the church basement. A moderator’s service will be held at 6:15 p.m. A public session will be held in the church starting at 7:30 p.m. It is said to be the first visit of the general secretary to the Niobrara Presbytery in a half century. Doctor Morse was elected by acclamation as moderator of the 164th general assembly of the church held in New York City in May, 1951. He suc ceeded Dr. Harrison Ray An derson of Chicago, 111. The duties of the moderator in clude presiding at the general as sembly meeting and at meetings of the general council, visiting churches, presbyteries and sy nods and representing the church at official gatherings and func tions, both civic and ecclesiastical. The term of office is for one year. Widely known as one of the most influential statemen in American Protestantism, Doctor Morse’s principal field of activity has been home missions. His lead ership has been on both denom inational and interdenomination al levels. As general secretary of the na tional missions board, he is re sponsible for administration of the board’s work in 48 states and in Alaska, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. In 1950 he was elected first chairman of the division of home missions, national coun cil of Churches of Christ in the United States. Doctor Morse was bom in Lud ington, Mich., September 29, 1887. He was graduated from Al ma college, Alma Mich., in 1908, received his theological training at Union Theological seminary, New York. Alma college confer red the doctor of divinity degree upon him in 1927. In 1913 he married Miss Flor ence Vorpe of Van Wert, O. They became the parents of two chil dren. Doctor Morse will be making three stops during his visit to Nebraska. Mother of 15 Leaves Hospital Msr. A. S. Engelhaupt, 37, Spencer farm woman who gave birth to twin daughters on Sat urday, November"^!), was dis missed one week later from St Anthony’s hospital. With the ar rival of twins in the Engelhaupt family, the number of children was increased to 15. The twins, who have been christened Dorothy and Doris, are expected to be released from the hospital today (Thursday). Last summer Mr. Engelhaupt raised <0 bushel of potatoes and Mrs. Engelhaupt supervised the canning of 200 quarts of com and 240 quarts of tomatoes in preparation for the winter. Dr. Morse . . . highest office. Retired Educator Buried at Stuart Mrs. Downey Widow of Lecturer STUART — Funeral services were conducted here Friday, De cember 5, for Mrs. Florence Downey, 80, who died Monday, December 1, in Cincinatti, O. Florence Emma Zink Downey, born December 30, 1872 in Union Star, Mo., was the eldest daugh ter of Nathanial and Sarah Zink. She moved with her parents and six brothers and sisters to Stuart in April of 1890, where her parents started farming 8 miles northeast of Stuart on what has since been known as the Zink ranch. She taught in Holt county rural schools from 1891 to 1895, when she returned to Stans bury. Mo., to further her educa tion, graduating from the Mis souri normal school in 1897. After graduating from the Mis souri normal she remained in Missouri to teach one term of school in the school her mother had taught before her marriage. Returning to Stuart she taught in the high school here from 1898 to 1902. In 1903 she entereu the Peru normal school for a year of high school review work after which she taught one year in the Bassett high school. In 1905 she was elected county superintendent of schools of Holt county, serving four years. Married to I Alvadore Downey in December, 1910, they made their home in Lincoln and Swath more, Pa., where her husband was a Chautauqua lecturer. In 1916 they established their home in Cincinatti, O. In 1924 she entered the National college of chiropractor of Chicago, grad uating with the degrees of D.C. and Ph. c. After her husband’s death in 1926 she practiced her profession in Cincinatti until forced to re tire because of failing health. She is survived by two broth ers, Fred O. of Stuart and Ernest R. of Cincinatti, O. O’Neill Child Is Rushed to Omaha; Swallows Bottlecap An O’Neill youngster, who swallowed a bottle cap, was rushed Saturday through Nor folk to an Omaha specialist with the state patrol providing an escort. The youngster is the child of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Shores, who on the advice of a physi cian made the trip to Omaha. Patrolman Frank Dineen provided the escort through Norfolk to Wisner, where he was relieved by Patrolman Willard W. Green, West Point. SCOUTS TO CANVASS O’Neill Boy Scouts will make a city wide canvass, including both business and residential districts, after school classes are dismissed* Friday. They will be collecting canned goods and other items. Edward Welton, 85, Burial at Atkinson Homesteader Dies Saturday ATKINSON—Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church at Atkinson at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 8, for Ed ward H. Welton, 85. Mr. Welton died at his home in Atkinson about 7:40 a.m. Sat urday, December 6. Rev. Frank Payas, church pastor, was in charge of the services. Mrs. Glenn McClurg and Mrs. Frank Payas sang “In the Gar den” and “There Is No Night There.” They were accompanied by Mrs. Floyd Spindler. Pall bearers were Glenn Butterfield, Glenn McClurg, Conrad Frickel, jr., Alex Forsythe, Oliver Shane and Eugene Hickok. Burial was in Woodlawn cemetery. Out - of - town relatives who were here for the services in cluded: Mr. and Mrs. William Gladfelter and son of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Finnegan, Mrs. Thelma Murphy and chil dren and Norris Murphy, all of North Platte; Mr. and Mrs. Nel son Fish and family of Gordon; Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Ammon of Bassett, and Mr. and Mrs. Mor gan Welton and family of Bur welL Edward H. Welton, son of Adaline and Barnabas Welton, was born in Cleveland, Minn., on July 18, 1867. He came to Holt county with his parents in 1879 and later, as a young man. he moved to Dawes county for a few years. He was married to Myrtyle Amy Handy in 1893 in Dawes county. In 1902 they returned to Holt county where they home steaded on a section of land in the southwest part of the county. Mrs. Welton died on March 4, 1932. Eleven of their six sons and six daughtesr are among the survivors. On March 14, 1935, Mr. Welton married Ella Mae Levora of Carlinville, 111., and they contin ued to live at the homestead un til their retirement in 1944, when they moved into Atkinson. Mr. Welton was a member of the Presbyterian church. In spite of the fact that he had undergone major surgery when he was past 80 years of age, he was active until his recent ill ness. The past two years he did much of the housework and cared for his invalid wife who has been bedfast for many months. Survivors include: Widow — Ella; daughters—Mrs. Addie Am mon of Bassett, Mrs. Alta Fish of Gordon, Mrs. Etta Finnegan of North Platte, Mrs. Edna Glad felter of Omaha, Mrs. Erma Kenny of Atkinson and Mrs. Thelma Murphy of North Platte; sons — Melvin and Ferman of Wenatchee, Wash., Morgan of Burwell, Clarence of Clatskanie, Ore., and Elvin of Amelia; three sisters; 27 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. One son preceded him in death. Member of Pioneer Family Succumbs Word has been received here stating that George Graham, of Santa Cruz, Calif., died Sunday, December 7. He was the last survivor of a large Holt county family of boys and one girl. His parents lived 10 miles north of O’Neill on the place Joseph Gokie now farms. They emigrated from Wisconsin. Survivors include: Nephews— Harry Graham, Maurice Gra ham, Gerald Graham and Rev. Clarence Corcoran, C M., a Catholic priest teaching at the Kenrick seminary, St. Louis, nieces — Mrs. Lloyd Ritts and Miss Viola Graham; sister in-law—Mrs. Mary Graham, and several nieces and nephews who reside in California. Funeral services were held in Holy Cross Catholic church ac.Santa Cruz, Calif., on Decem ber 10. \ Stove Explosion Nets Pupils Holiday STUART—A faulty oil stove exploded in the school in dis trict 72 Monday morning, De cember 8, covering the teacher and pupils with soot. The blaze followed the ex plosion. It was soon extin guished with no injuries and no damage except a badly smoked interior which will give the pupils another day’s vacation while the building is being cleaned. The school is about 3 miles southeast of Stuart. Larry Krysl is the teacher. Presbyterian Pastor Is Installed, Ewing EWING—Rev. William J. Bo mer was installed Monday eve ning, December 8, as pastor of the United Presbyterian church in Ewing by a commission oi Ne braska Presbytery. Rev. Nelson Warner of Lin coln preached a sermon, Rev. Le land Warren of North Bend gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Paul Sutton of Minden gave the charge to the congregation. Reverend Bomer is a graduate of the University of Iowa and of the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Xenia sem inary. While in school, he served during the summer as student pastor at the United Presbyter ian churches at Mt. Ayr, la., and Rometown, Pa. Mr. Bomer was in the army for 32 months, 22 of which were spent overseas. Before leaving the United States, he served as assistant to a Protestant chaplain at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Bomer, their two sons, Norman and Bruce, moved to Ewing in May, 1952, to fill a vacancy as minister in the United Presbyterian church. In September, Mr. Bomer went to Pittsburgh to complete his work at the seminary. On Sun day, November 30, he was or dained at the Westminster United Presbyterian church, Des Moines, la. Classmates in Service Reunite EWING—Pvt. Estel Cary of Camp Pickett, Va., and Pvt. Dwayne Williamson of Ft. Belvi dere, Va., recently had the pleas ure of meeting unexpectedly. They spent a weekend together sightseeing in Washington, D. C. Private Cary and Private Wil liamson are schoolmates and grad uated from the Ewing high school with the class of 1947. After graduation, Estel was employed at Pickstown and Dwayne assisted his father with farm work, until entering the armed forces. Oklahoma Couple Visits— BUTTE—Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Wallace of Chickasha, Okla., ar rived Sunday evening for a few days’ visit. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace formerly lived at Butte and Mr. Wallace practiced law here. Niobrara, Sitz Stock Sales Next Mrs. Ermer Will Sell December 19 Two registered livestock sales are on The Frontier’s sale calen dar for this weekend. Friday, December 12, will be the big day at Butte when the Niobrara Valley Hereford Breeders association holds its fall show and sale. According to Sale Manager Walter Sire, 35 bulls and six females are in the offering. The show will be held at 9:30 a.m.; sale at 1:30 p.m. (Catalogs have been published by The Frontier.) Next day—Saturday, Decem ber 13—will find 49 head of reg istered Aberdeen-Angus being sold at the Atkinson Livestock Market. This is an Angus pro duction sale sponsored by Will Sitz of Burwell. Seven lots in the sale are consigned by Mitch ell Bros, of Burwell. (Catalogs have been published by The Frontier.) On Monday, December 22: Fritz Bros, and Kenneth H. Meier, both of Niobrara, will hold their annual registered Hereford production sale, 52 lots, males and females, Norfolk Live stock Sales pavilion. (Catalogs j have been published by The Frontier.) Other sales: Wednesday, December 17: Wayne Standage ranch closeout; 2 miles southeast of Amelia; 85 head of cattle, including regis tered bull; complete line of ranch machinery, household goods, frame dwelling; Col. Ed Thorin, O’Neill, auctioneer- Chambers State bank, clerk. The Standages plan to move to Ravenna. (See advertisement on page 11.) Friday, December 19: Mrs. Fred Ermer, who resides 14 | miles south of O’Neill on U.S. j highway 281, will offer her per sonal property at public auction. Mrs. Enner says she is unable to carry on the work since the un expected death of her husband on November 30. Col. Ed Thorin of O’Neill is auctioneer; Cham bers State bank, clerk. (See ad vertisement on page 24 ) Gregory Officer Aboard Plane Down in Alaska— GREGORY—Col. Noel Hoblit, who was born and reared at Gregory, was aboard the Globe master plane which crashed south of Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, November 29. There were 52 army and air force personnel aboard the plane which was flying from McChord air force base, Tacoma, Wash., to Alaska. Colonel Hoblit, dental surgeon at the Anchorage air force base, had just moved with his wife and two children to Alaska. His father, Elmer, lives at Pasadena, Calif. RETURNS TO DUTY Sgt. Orville Banks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Banks of O’Neill, has returned to active duty in Korea. 50 Years i Mr. amd Mrs. Pearl Cary of Inman (right) o n Monday, November 24, celeb rated their golden wedding an niversary with a family gath ering at Hast ings, la. Mr. Cary is 72: his wife, 71. They became the parents of two d a u g hters — Mrs. Vernon (Mina) Crouse of Hast i n g s and Mrs. Ma rye Hartigan of Inman; three sons — Chester, John and Laddie, who is dead. Hearing on Irrigation Scheduled Next Thursday’s Meet' Here One of Four in Niobrara Basin An important official public hearing on a proposed report of a plan for development of the Niobrara river basin will be held at the American Legion auditor ium here next Tuesday, Decem ber 16. It will be an all-day meeting, starting at 10 a.m. Dan S. Jones, jr., chief of the Nebraska bureau of irri gation, will preside. The hear ing has been called by ’ Gov. Val Peterson as a matter of formality. Purpose of the hearing is to draw out expressions of local re actions to the plan to bring an extensive irrigation system to the basin. The governor's agent will be anxious for question® pro and con to be aired thor oughly. The O’Neill hearing is one of four scheduled next week and the results of these hearings will have an important bearing on. the future of irrigation in the re gion. Next day, Wednesday, Decem ber 17, a similar hearing will be held in the Ainsworth city audi torium; Thursday, December 1% at Valentine courthouse; Friday, December 19, at Gordon city auditorium. The reclamation report pre sents an inventory of the land and water resources of the Nio brara river basin and outlines a plan for the development of these resources. The proposal covers 14 inter-related operating units which would provide for the irrigation of about 144,000 acres of land and the generation of some 200,000,000 kwh of elec trical energy annually, as well a® recreational, fish and wildlife and other benefits. An estimated 66,000 acres of irrigable land axe located in Holt county, and the bulk of this lies west and slightly north of O'Neill. The purpose of the meetings is to provide an opportunity for residents of the Niobrara river basin and other interested per sons to learn of the proposed de velopment and to express their reactions to it Clyde Burdick of Ainsworth* area engineer, and others of the U.S. bureau of reclamation will explain the proposed develop ment and answei questions re garding it. “Local interests, federal and state agencies and others who might be affected by the pro posed development are urged to attend the hearings and to be prepared to express their re actions to the plans and to indi cate the extent to which they are willing to cooperate in the proposed developments,” ex plained Harold E. Aitken of Lin coln, who is state engineer for ' the department of highways! roads and irrigation. Several score of prormnend Holt countyans have been out spoken supporters of the basin move. An informational meeting held in O'Neill a fortnight ago under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce pro duced about 40 enthusiasts and no opposition. In the Snake river country southwest of Valentine there is some controversy, but on the d eastern end of the basin (where the largest tract of irrigable land lies) there appears to be nothing but enthusiastic support. If all goes smoothly at the O’ Neill hearing as well as the (Continued on page 6.) o o
