Say It Can t Be Done . . ,
Page Women Prove It Can!
By MRS. N. D. ICKES, SR.
The Frontier Feature Writer
PAGE—There was a time when
Page was a prosperous small town
with much promise. Folks here
abouts were content in being rath
er self-sufficient, living in the
1X1 a thriving community
within easy driving distance of the
countyseat (O’Neill), where peo
ple went to pay taxes, get legal
advice, occasionally to serve on
the jury.
During Page’s heyday, the town
boasted two banks five stores,
two livery barns, two elevators,
two lumber yards, a newspaper,
three barber shops, three restau
rants, one cafe, one hotel, sale
barn, a variety store and dress
shop combined, a doctor, dentist,
beauty operator, drug store, silent
movie and a daily passenger and
bus service. A transcontinental
highway went through the town.
Sidewalks increased, houses
sprang up on town lots, windmills
disappeared, a livery barn became
the sale bam and the other livery
stable became a garage. The Meth
odists built a new parsonage.
Competition was keen and there
was an air of prosperity about
the town. The surrounding com
munity reflected both hard work
and thrift.
Then came . the dust bowl
drouth-depression days of the
thirties. The town lost, in succes
sion, the doctor, drug store, dent
ist, bank, elevator, lumberyard,
hotel, restaurant, butcher shop,
dress shop and beauty shop.
One after another, they preced
ed or followed the sale barn out
of town.
Business came to almost a
standstill. Those who could went
into defense work. Some left for
a time; others left for good.
Weeds grew, rubbish collected
and junk piles increased in size.
When prosperity flew out the
window, pride ran a close second.
Buildings lacked paint, fences
went unmended and houses,
which went begging for tenants,
soon became unfit for occupancy.
Neglect was the order of the day.
There were many for whom the
place was home. Some of these
could neither sell out nor move
out. Those for whom the die was
cast, those who had no choice ex
cept to ride out the depression,
stayed on.
On May 31, 1946, the first meet
ing of the Page Improvement club
was held. Mrs. O. B. Stuart acted
as chairman. The membership was
a cross-section of the population,
nearly all church, lodge and so
cial groups represented.
The depression already had left
its mark. Reversals among people
occasionally left ill-feeling; the
bad times encouraged laziness and
bred contempt; children were de
nied happy childhood and educa
tions.
Those were days when people
who had shared with those who
had not. Sometimes a cow would
be loaned to a family; there was
bartering and trading.
Records at some of the pub
lic weighing scales bear silent
testimony of feed and seed bor
rowed and paid back with a
disregard for price or length of
time between buying and pay
ment.
It was an unhappy era when a
man was lucky to feed his family
and livestock.
Out of this weary mental and
physical lethargy came a healthier
frame of mind with the birth of
the Page Improvement club.
While the club conceded there was
no money with which to work,
members decided to give the place
the works—the soap and water
treatment. And “Operation Im
provement” was on!
Dues of a dollar were collected.
Boundary limits were defined.
Boys were hired for 35 cents an
hour; vacant lots, unsightly trash
and junk piles that had accumu
lated everywhere were hauled
away or burned.
Residents were invited to join
the cleanup and people were en
couraged to do what they could
to improve the looks of the
town.
In the earlier days of the club’s
operation, the intent was taken
lightly — just another place for
women to go! But soon critics
were forced to admit the Improve
ment clubbers meant business.
Husbands, especially, developed a
cooperative frame of mind and
backed up their new attitude with
actual labor and money. Presently
the town reflected polish in
physical appearance and many of
the citizens acquired a more
cheerful outlook.
The club sponsored the first
achievement day that later came
to be known as Page’s free day.
Prizes were offered for the best in
many lines of gardening, flower
growing and homemaking and the
affair is now a traditional labor
day event.
The park and the theater were
the club’s responsibility from the
beginning. Recently the Commer
cial club became interested and
took over the management of the
theater
After several years of effort, a
light was set in the park for the
convenience of after dark visitors.
Fireplaces were built and tables
placed for the picnickers’ conven
ience. The old water fountain was
repaired and placed there; a new
one was installed at the bank cor
ner.
ine theater has proved to be
an expensive and worrisome un
dertaking, requiring all the mon
ey that could be coaxed out of a
community and constant and vigi
lant supervision. In time the the
ater became a paying proposition;
even became a money maker with
a sizeable bank balance to prove
it.
The repair and redecoration of
the theater was a yearly house
cleaning project — one of the
things that could have failed and
passed out of being had not the
Improvement group doggedly
stuck to the task of keeping a
movie in town for the kids.
While members regret the loss
of the many things, they are
proud to have snatched from
the burning brands the endur
ing qualities that establish and
maintain happy and comfortable
homes.
Down the years, since 1946, the
Improvement club has demon
strated what an overworked im
agination plus ingenuity and a
meager amount of hard-earned
money can do for a community.
A casual inquiry would never
dsiclose all the things the club
deserves credit for nor the crit
icism members have let them
selves in for.
Currently, the Page Improve
ment clubbers have their sight set
on another “impossible” project.
This time they hope to develop a
roller skating rink from which
children will derive a great deal
ot pleasure and from which old
sters might salvage some skating
or dancing enjoyment.
Say it can’t be done and these
eager Improvement clubbers will
prove they can do it!
Mrs. Hunt Hostess—
Mrs. Earl Hunt entertained at a
dessert bridge at her home Tues
day, March 15. Mrs. Virgil Laur
sen was a guest. Mrs. Laursen
had the high score and Mrs. Win
nie Bargar had the low bridge
score. i,i .
• -iit
Marks 81st Anniversary—
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Gatz enter
tained Wednesday at dinner at
their home honoring her mother,
Mrs. Mary MacLeod, on the oc
casion of her 81st birthday an
niversary.
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Barnhart
and Joe of Wagner, S.D., visited
Monday night, March 14, with Mr.
and Mrs. R. D. Yusten of O’Neill.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell Yusten
visited Clayton and Eleta Mesner
Sunday evening, March 13.
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O’NEILL PHONE 11
EVERYONE INVITED TO OUR SPECIAL
BUSINESS SHOW
COMING TO O’NEILL THURSDAY, MARCH 31st
A SPECIAL DISPLAY OF PORTABLE TYPEWRITERS
ROYAL - REMINGTON - UNDERWOOD
and the entire
SMITH-CORONA LINE,
Silent-Super, Sterling, Clipper and SkyRiter j
A PROMINENT DISPLAY OF:
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• BOOKKEEPING MACHINES • CALCULATORS
At Golden Hotel All Day Thursday
BRING YOUR FRIENDS !!
WESTERN TYPEWRITER & OFFICE SUPPLY
435 Norfolk Avenue — Norfolk, Nebraska
Serves in Honor Guard
Pfc. Richard D. Hytrek, 20, son
of John P. Hytrek of Stuart, is
a member of the honor guard of
the Fourth infantry division in
Germany. He was selected for the
special unit, which serves as di
vision headquarter’s security pla
toon, on the basis of his outstand
ing appearance and soldierly qual
ities. Hytrek is a 1952 graduate
of Stuart high school.
Pioneer Noted for
Tree-Planting Dies
Gustave L. Hoppe, 88,
Rancher 40 Years
Gustave L. Hoppe, 88, who re
sided on a ranch south of
O’Neill for 40 years, died at his
home in Gordon on Wednesday,
March 2. He had suffered a series
of paralytic strokes during the
past 10 years, including severe at
tacks on February 4 and Febru
ary 12 this year.
The late Mr. Hoppe was born
July 4, 1860, at Warsaw, 111., a
son of Charles C. and Sophia
Hoppe. He came west from II
linois when he was 17-years-old
with his brother, Hugo.
He was united in marriage with
Hanna Schneider at Chambers on
December 1, 1898. To this union
two children were born—Emma
and Forrest.
Gustave and Hugo homesteaded
in Wheeler county, 28 miles south
of O’Neill, where as partners they
operated a large ranch and raised
purebred cattle for two genera
tions. For years there was just
one large, lone tree for miles
around. So Gustave planted five
large plots of pine trees on his
place. For years it was regarded
as the largest private tree plants-,
tion in the state,
Mr. Hoppe moved to the Gor
don region In 1923., He purchas
ed land near Gordon and on the
Pine Ridge reservation in its
early development. He moved
into Gordon in 1943.
Survivors include: Widow
daughter—Mrs. Ralph L. (Emma)
Swick of Gordon; son—Maj. For
rest H. Hoppe of the U.S. air
force; brother— Albert Hoppe of
Hamilton, 111.; grandchildren —
Loren Swick, Larry Swick and
Deborah Hoppe.
Among those who came from a
distance to attend the funeral of
Mr. Hoppe were: Maj. Forrest
H. Hoppe of Mobile, Ala.; Loren
Swick of Evanston, 111.; Larry
Swick of Vermillion, S.D.; Mrs.
J. E. Greppin and Mrs. Octavia
Brown, both of Washington, D.C.;
Mrs. Albert Clouse of Custer S.
D.; Mrs. Robert Carter, Mrs. Ger
ret Dyke and Charles Hoppe all
of Platte, S. D., and Lewis Hoppe
of Omaha.
- _
Under Three Flags’
Reviewed at Mission
Meeting in Ewing
EWING—Mrs. Leo Miller re
viewed several chapters of the
book, “Under Three Flags,” at the
meeting of the Missionary Society
of the United Presbyterian
church Thursday afternoon. The
group met at the home of Mrs
Webb Napier.
Topics included meditations on
Abraham, led by Mrs. Napier;
“Three Generations or Four”, by
Mrs. Ralph Schrader; “The
Christians’ Gift”, by Mrs. Carl
Christon; “After a Century_
Churches in Pakistan,” by Mrs.
Luella Bennett.
• At the business session it was
voted to take a freewill offering
at the next two meetings. The of
fering will be sent to the Church
of the Valley at Twin Bridges,
Mont., a town of about 500 with
out a church.
The world day of prayer col
lection will be sent to the Nation
al Association of Evangelicals.
After some discussion, it was
also voted for members to send
letters of protest to Vice-Presi
dent Nixon on his appointment of
Robert L. King as his administra
tive assistant.
Mrs. Carl Christon was ap
pointed as delegate to attend the
Presbyterial meeting which will
be held April 12 and 13 at Mur
ray.
The prayer cycle was led by
Mrs. Ralph Shrader and prayers
were said for the missions and
missionaries of Pakistan and Pun
ji.
Mrs. Leo Miller was appointed
as news reporter. The hostess
served refreshments.
Morgan Ward
Accounting & Auditing
Income Tax Service
Hotel Golden Annex
O’Neill, Nebr. — Phone 414
Don’t let the new Social Se
curity regulations interfere
with your haying or farming
operations. Let me keep your
records and file your returns.
Lynch News
Mr. and Mrs. John Hurd spent
Sunday, March 13, at the Faye
Pinkerman home.
Mr. and Mrs. George Svatos,
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Svatos
and Connie Rae and Mr. and Mrs.
Dale Svatos and Dan of Lake An
des, S.D., were Sunday, March 13,
visitors at he Albert Kalkowski
home.
Anton Drobny of Verdigre and
Mrs. Lydia Reagon of Montey
Park, Calif., are visitnig with
Alfred Stanek.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hewit
son of Gary, Ind., spent a week
recently visiting at the Francis
Shrunk home.
Mrs. Edmund Rohde returned
home from a two-weeks’ visit
with relatives in Lincoln.
Siding—Asbestos and insulated.
Completely applied by skilled me
chanics. Convenient terms. Free
estimates. Prompt sea-vice. Phone
Jim Sessions. 409-J or 548-LR, or
write box 568, O’Neil. 45tf
Mr. and Mrs. Herman Heiser
returned home from a visit in
Texas with their son, Pvt. Gary
Heiser.
Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Haselhorst
entertained relatives from Os
mond and Plainview on Sunday
March 13.
Mr. and Mrs. Orville Holtz and
family returned here from Min
nesota Saturday, March 19, and
plan to live on Sunshine Bottom.
Mr. and Mrs. Vance Anderson
and daughters of Butte called at
the Shrunk home Saturday.
On Tuesday, March 22, the
Lynch junior class attended Boyd
county government day at the
courthouse at Butte.
Sunday, March 13, vistiors at
the James Maly, sr., home were
Robert Maly of Chicago, 111., who
is home on furlough, and his la
dy friend from Norfolk; Mr. and
Mrs. Johnnie Hanslik and children
of Pilger and Mr. and Mrs. Eldon
Sedivy and family of O’Neill.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Christensen
moved into their new home in
Lynch and their son, Richard,
and family moved onto their farm
near Monowi.
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Spencer
and baby have moved to Texas.
Eldora Serk of O’Neill spent
the March 12-13 weekend at the
parental Jake Serk home.
Monuments of lasting beauty
made by skilled craftsmen of
tbe J. F. Bloom Co. . . monu
ments from the factory to the
consumer. — Emmet Crabb, O'
Neill, pbone 139-J. 37tf
The Frank Weeder family vis
ited at he Emanuel Soukup home
north of Spencer Sunday, March
13. x
Mrs. Jack Samuelson and chil
dren of Hartington visited at the
William Havranek home several
days recently.
Mr. and Mrs. Junior Wilson and
Chad visited at the Ray Wilson
home in Holt county.
Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Barnes call
ed at the Herman Schochenmaier
home in Bonesteel, S.D., on Fri
day.
Mr. and Mrs. James Maly, sr.,
and son, Robert, visited relatives
in Fairfax, S.D., Sunday.
Maxine Jehorek of Omaha spent
the March 12-13 weekend here at
the parental Martin Jehorek home.
Mrs. Mary Zach visited with
Mrs. G. L. Mulhair on Saturday,
March 12.
2 Anniversaries—
P- C. Donohoe will entertain at
a dinner tonight (Thursday)
honoring his sister, Mrs. Mary
MacLeod, whose birthday an
niversary was Wednesday. Mr.
Donohoe’s 73d birthday anniver
sary is today.
Real Estate Transfers
QCD — Fred Smith to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add- Chambers
QCD—Ward Smith to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add
QCD— Edw Smith to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add
QCD—Cora Marquis to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add
QCD—Wilson Smith to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add
QCD—Vernon Smith to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add
QCD—Nellie Smith to Lorraine
Smith 4-25-52 $1- Lot 9 Blk 1
Bakers 2nd Add
WD—Rudie Juracek to Clarence
L Sisson 3-1-55 $15,800- S%SEy4
32 Ey>swy4- Ny>SEy4 32 swv4
swy4 32-27-9 N%NWy4 5- NEy4
NEy4 5- Ny>NWV4 4- NEy4NEy4
4-26-9
WD—Edward Menish to Joseph
Menish & Mary Elizabeth Hansen
8-18-51 $1- Lot 16 Blk 20 except
North 65 ft- O’Neill
WD—Edward Menish to Joseph
Edward Mensih & wf 8-18-51 $1
No 65 ft lot 16 Blk 20- O’Neill
WD — Clarence Faulhaber to
Richard Faulhaber 3-10-55 $1
Ey2swy4 12- wy>Nwy4 13-29-9
WD — Maggie Smith to Nellie
Smtih 10-5-46 $1- Part of SWy4
20-26-12
Sheriffs Deed—Leo S Tomjack
to James Van Every 2-7-55 $31.25
Lots 7 & 8 Blk 19- Page
WD—Bennie Hill to Ben Gilli
gan & wf 1-24-55 $12,000- So 83
ft lots 1 and 2 Blk E- Fahy’s 2nd
Add- O’Neill
WD — Clair J Schroth to Wm
Hinze & wf- no date $7250- Sy>
Nwy4- wy>swy4 Sec 12-29-9
WD— Harry E Pelcer to Clar
ence E Spence 3-3-55 $1- Part of
SEy4SEy4 32-30-14
WD—Walter Brown to T E Al
derson & wf 1-6-55 $1300- Lots
4-5 & 6 Blk 1- Cooke’s Add
Chambers
SHERIFFS DEED—Leo S Tom
jack, Sheriff to James O’Connor
2- 7-55 $10- Lot 1 Blk 3- Emmet
SD—Leo S Tomjack, Sheriff to
James O’Connor 2-7-55 $5- No
20 ft lots 5-6 & 7 Blk 3- Emmet
SD—Leo & Tomjack, Sheriff
to James O’Connor 2-7-55 $5- So
20 ft of No 40 ft of Lots 5-6-7 Blk
3- Emmet
WD—Ross E Taylor to Gailard
Albright & wf 11-10-54 $950
South 67 ft lots 1-2-3-4-5 Blk 5
Page
SD—Leo S Tern jack- SheriffTo
R D Cole and G O Cole 2-7-55
$25- Lots 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 & 10
Blk F- Lyons Add- Emmet
Lukemia Blamed
for Child’s Death
ATKINSON—Little Judy Skrd
la, 3, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Lawrence Skrdla, who reside
southwest of Atkinson, died at
1:45 p.m., Thursday, March 17, in
Atkinson Memorial hospital. She
had suffered incurable lukemia
for the past five months. Her third
birthday anniversary was Febru
ary 28.
Funeral services were conduct
ed Saturday, March 19, from St.
Joseph’s Catholic church when the
angel’s mass was said by Rev. R.
J. Parr. Burial was in St. Joseph'*
cemetery.
Survivors include: Parents;
brothers—Larry, 8Vi; Donnie and
Ronnie (twins), 7Vi; Jerome, 8V4
months; sister — Mary Ann, 0;
grandparents— Mr. and Mrs. Ed
ward Jansen of Stuart.
Mrs. Skrdla’s maiden name was
Evelyn Jansen of Stuart.
Frontier for printing!
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