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wS ERV G THE C -O-LAKES R Volume 81 -- No. 33 McHENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1955 SINCE Musin* and Meanderm1 Riverside Drive, surely one of the most brightly lighted streets anywhere last holiday season, has again taken on a festive look. Certainly worthy of taking a little drive to see, as well as other attractively decorated homes in the community. Bruce Stratton is one of six, Chicago area high school seniors selected to appear on a 'teen-age program on the Home show, Channel 5, from 10 to 11 o'clock Wednesday morning, Dec. 28. He is a senior in the Woodstock high school. Bruce is the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Stratton of that city. His mother will be remembered as the former Carolyn Regner of McHenry. The Plaindealer was happy With a Very attractive Christmas card from young Kenneth Leibach, among others received this season. Have you seen that beautiful Christmas tree in the Legion home? It is one of the largest <£ver decorated indoors in:' McHenry and draws admiring glances from all who visit the clubhouse. Mr. Vachet of the Lakemoor community found it necessary to dispose of the tree which decorate# his lawn and he generously gave it to the Legionnaires, where many might derive holiday cheer from its massiveness. Containers are now in the stores for the polio fund and even in the rush of Christmas shopping folks are stopping to drop in coins for those less fortunate. The actual campaign begins. in January, climaxed at the end :! the month by the Mothers March. Chairman Robert Stueben reminds commuters that the major share of contributions to the annual campaign remain in the local community to aid those stricken in the .McHenry area. Therefore, donations should be made locally. Home Decorating Contest To Be Judged Tuesday Evening, Dec. 27 Next Tuesday, Dec. 27, is the deadline for entering the annual holiday "home decorating contest for the entries will be judged that evening between 9 and 10 p.m. Anyone desiring to have his home considered for judging is" asked to call Albert Barbian. chairman, or pan Justen. Only decorations •'"within the city limits will be considered eligible. Judges will rate all decorations noticed but to insure a particular entry being seen, home owners are urged to contact one of the above mentioned men. Judging will be done by Mrs. Robert Kellogg, Mrs. Fred Lieberson and Mrs. Carroll Dietle, all of the Pistakee Bay area. The sponsoring organization, the Chamber of Commerce, is offering sixty -dollars in cash certificates to the winners. In addition, merchants have been invited to donate gift certificates. The contest is divided into two classes. Class I will be strictly residential, where no advertising appears as part of the decoration. Class II will be any decoration, residential or otherwise, ^where a name or any other type of advertising could be considered as tied 111 yrith the over-all decoration. Judging will be based on general artisticyeffect, originality, ingenuity in utilizing surroundings, conforming to. Christmas and size. SE News, About Our Service Salvation Army Answered Residents of McHenry are responsible for gratifying response to the Salvation Army's annual mail appeal for funds, according to James Larkin, treasurer of the service group in this community. "Anyone who has mislaid his official gift coupon and return envelope, as well as anyone else who would like to make a Christmas contribution to the Salvation Army's work may send contributions directly to me at 517 Main street," said Mr. Laa-- kin, adding, "Don't forget that all donations made to the Salvation Army are tax exfempt up to and including 30 per cent of your annual income." Appeal letters describing the welfare program and emergency assistance work of the organization were mailed last week to the many local people whose contributions? in past years have made the total program possible. All monies will be divided, with one portion remaining in the community in the hands of the service committee to enable them to give help> on an emergency basis. The appeal will continue throughout the month of December, according to Mr. Larkin, and, in his words, "It is your gift that will enable the organization to make the spirit of Christmas,, a reality to many who might otherwise.'be forgotten." McHenry Leads In CROP Donations Christmas came to the Plaindealer office early this year when Mr. and Mrs. Gus Moritz brought a Variety of holiday sweets and coffee to shorten Friday afternoon considerably and, make employees feel that there was nothing that quite compares with the spirit so prevalent during this season. Having neighbors like the Moritzes is one of the best reasons we know for McHenry being such a nice place to live. Risk little on the opinion of a man who has nothing to 16se. JOHN ANDERSON, RESIDENT SINCE 1916, IS DEAD John Anderson, 75, died in the Mayo clinic hospital, Rochester, Minn., about 1 o'clock Wednesday morning, Dec. 21. He had been at the hospital for fifteen days and had been in poor health for several months. Mr. Anderson came to McHen-. ry with his family in 1916 and farmed in the Bull Valley area before establishing Broadway Barbecue on Elm street in 1928. Survivors include the widow, Eva; eleven children, Carl of Barrington, Walter of McHenry, Mrs. Anna Traub of Elgin, Alibin of Grand Junction, Colo., Arnold of McHenry, Theodore of Gages Lake, Mrs. Evelyn Henke of Woodstock, Mrs. Marion Reinle of dhicago,. Glenn of Palatine, Clarence of Ontario, Ore., and Harry of Springfield, Mass. The body is at rest at the Peter M. Justen funeral home. Funeral services were incomplete on Wednesday afternoon. Joseph Stoffel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Stoffel , of John street, is experiencing a trip which might well be the envy of many as a holiday gift. "Joe," who is serving aboard the U.S.S. Lake Champlain with thi Navy, found himself in Naples recently and with a friend requested a three-day pass to make a tour of Rome. He was fortunate in securing an audience with Pope Pius XII and received the papal blessing. The young man will spend the holiday in Cannes, France. He is starting the second half of a four-year enlistment period. Donald Aeverman, serving with the Navy, arrived by plane on Wednesday of this week to spend Christmas -with his parents, the Walter Aevermans. FJe will return to duty on Monday. Prior to his arrival in McHenry, the young man visited his sister and her husband, the Jack Randalls, in Coraopolls, Pa. He is stationed in Newport, R.I. Staff Sgt. Richard Adams has arrived home on a sixteen-day furlough to spend the' holidays with his parents, Mr .and tyrs. Math Adams. Marine Sgt. Ronald J. Buda, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Pietrak of Route 2, McHenry, was promoted to his present rank Dec. 1, while serving aboard the seaplane tender USS Curtiss, operating in the Pacific. HEART ATTACKS L^AD CAUSES OF DEATHS IN COUNTY NOTICE The ^Plaindealer office will be closed Saturday, Sunday Monday, Dec. 24, 25 and 26. and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Weber and family ^attended a presentation of "The Messiah", given at De- Kalb college last Thursday evening. Coroner Theron J. Ehorn released his annual report this past week for the year ending Dec. 6, 1955. There were 121 deaths recorded by him, with forty-nine inquests and sixty-seven inquiries .conducted. On three occa£ions two people were killed and one occasion three were killed. Top killer proved to be heart attacks, there having been sixtythree. Other deaths were reported as follows: Auto accidents, 26; suicides, 8; falling accidents, 6; cerebral hemorrhage, 4; drownings, 4; suffocation, 2; train-pedestrian, 2; electrocuted, 2; natural causes, 1; pneumonia, 1; cancer, 1; gunshot accident, 1; homicide, 1. McHenry had twenty-three deaths which required investigation by the coroner. This ranked second to Woodstock with thirtysix. The Plaindealer staff wishes its readers a very merry Christmas. Senator Douglas Speaks Young Democrats Senator Paul H. Douglas will pay a visit to McHenry on Friday evening, Dec. 30, according to Charles M. Adams of this city, a candidate for the legislature from the 32nd district and president of the Young Democrats of McHenry County. Senator Douglas will speak before the Young Democratis at a fish dinner to be held at the V.F.W. clubhouse at 6:45 o'clock. The public is invited to attend. The county-wide drive for funds for the Christian Rural Overseas Program / endeda last week; With the shelling of 1,055 bushels of donated corn va£ the fair grounds^ The total donated in the county, including the $1,092.67 received for the corn, was $1,730.22, according to Clarence Aavang, Huntley farmer, county chairman. Numerous individuals worked on the soliciting of funds and corn in the county with credit given in the names of 4-H clubs and F.F.A. chapters who hauled in the corn in the area. They are: Busy Beavers, Algonquin, $7 and 206 bushels corn; Alden Speeds, $15 and 130 bushels corn! Hartland Hotshots, $10 and 83 bushels corn; Greenwood Gremlins, $28 and 158 bushels corn; Riley Ramblers, Marengo, 115 and 187 bushelf corn; Rush Creek, Marengo, $94 cash and 75 . bushels corn; Goal-Getter, Woodstock, 20 bushels corn; McHenry FJF.A., $9 and 417 bushels corn; and Woodstock F.F.A. Chapter, 18 bushels corn. Churches turned in from collections: Community Methodist, McHenry, $119.04; First Congrega*, tional, Crystal Lake, $35.81; First M.E., Crystal Lake, $35.80; St. Paul's Evangelical, crystal Lake, $35.80; First M.E., Harvard, $26; Greenwood M.E., $12. The Sunday School young people of ]Woodstock, under Rev. Robert Anderson, collected $80.10. Board May Extend Term Of Chairman In January At the January meeting of the board of supervisors, membe^ may decide whether or not to extend the term of board chairman to two years. This is iri effect in many other counties and is said by some to be more efficient. % Should that proposition be approved, it would become effective starting with the chairman appointed next spring0. BIKE RIDERS ' By order of the police department, bicycle riders must walk their bikes on the sidewalks ^hrough the business sections. 0IYC FIRST MiTSI llCIIOi; SIT The first meeting of McHenry's City Council since the special election was held Monday evening, with the newly elected aldermen present. Perhaps the most important action taken by the Council was approval of the disposal plant plans, subject to state approva and designating Monday, Jan. 23, 1956, as the special meeting date for receiving bids. Minor engineering changes have been made to coincide with recommendations and requirements of the state department. Due to changes in the Council, Mayor Freund submitted new committee lists that met approval. A well-received report of activities in the police department was submitted by Assistant* Chief Grobel, showing the various violations and problems given attention by the department during the month of November. It was agreed that the new electric "Speed-Watch" Machine will be put in operation in the near future. This was delayed due to the shortage of one man in the police department previous to the appointment of Officer Bell. The police department will soon sport new winter coats as a •program is under way to create uniformity in dress. Summer ;uniforms will also be the same throughout the department. The city has received the sum of $3,936.55 from the state as its portion of sales tax for the month of September.- A list of all business places in the city is being compiled to submit to the state ir> order to make certain that the city is receiving proper credit on returns. Due to Monday, Jan. 2, being designated as a legal holiday, the, next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3. SEAL SALE CONTINUES TO GAIN STRENGTH The Christmas Seal Sale continues to grow in strength. The all-time high in McHenry county was reached in 1954 with a total of $12,059, and yet, this method of financing the voluntary tuberculosis prograrm is not a' highpressure method. Almost 95 per cent of the total is contributed through the mail. In the privacy of his home, the citizen makes up his mind whether or not to give. There is no payroll" deduction, no pressure from the boss, no doorbell ringing. People affparently buy seals because they believe in the cause and have confidence in the integrity of tuberculosis associations. Rich and poor alike make .their contributions gladly, looking forward hopefully to the day when tuberculosis •?Shall be no more. - Few people hear about the Christmas Seal Sale except during a short period each year. But the fact is that the program financed by the money is a continuous one and" prepares the way for the next sale. The brief Christmas campaign is more than a money-raising plan -- it also carries the educational message to millions of people and the opportunity "to help by contributing time, service and active support. APPOINTED ASSESSOR Paul Doherty has been appointed assessor for Nunda township. He replaces the late Charles F, Schroeder. FINE TWO FOR SPEEDING Vernon Reinboldt of McHenry and Kendall Browne of Chicago were apprehended for speeding in the city during the past week. Make Plans For Future Amateur rams In Area The> McHenry County Civic Arts association has announced a program for fostering local talent throughout the bounty in the fields of drama, art and music after receiving encouragement by the success of its initial stage presentation. Art Gait, president, said the group plans to produce further, amateur theatre efforts, sponsor local art shows and encourage the organization of choral and orchestral groups. Back in October, a cast was recruited for the first production, "Our Town," hoping that a good theatre could be presented by an amateur group. Charles Paetow of Wonder Lake, who came to the county with a group of professional players a few years ago, directed the undertaking, which Was hailed as an artistic success. Scholarship Fund1 All proceeds from the group's activities, after expenses, will be put into a scholarship fund to be awarded to a deserving student from the county. Mr. Paetow was named drama chairman in charge of future stagel^resentations and J. P. K. Matthewg of Wonder Lake is business manager. The new arts group is compiling a mailing list of persons Who would be interested in either attending or participating in art shows, theatre productions, chor- 3«1 singing or orchestral music. Anyone interested' in receiving announcements or taking part in these activities is asked to send a post card to the association, Box 46, Woodstock. LETTERS TO SANTA These are the last of the letters to Santa sent in by McHenry youngsters, expressing their desire for a full stocking on Christmas morning. They are printed exactly as received. "Dear Santa: "I am 7 years old. I have been a good girl. I want a bike and a -stuffed dog. My 'brother has been a good boy. Will you get my brother some toys ?My sister forgot to tell you. Your friend, "Deborah Sue Kuhlman" "Dear Santa Claus: "My mommy is writing- this for me, because I am only in first grade and cannot write very good yet. "Please bring me a -boy doll, a bride dress for my dolly, a set of dishes, a pair of pajamas, a red sweater, a Campbell soup set .and a telephone set. "Please bring the other- little girls and boys nice gifts too. "Thank you very much. ' "Susan Cermak" "Dear Santa Claus: - "I have been a very good boy and I help my mommy, daddy and my brothers and sisters as much as I can. I am 4 years old. For Christmas I would like a tractor I can ride, a paint set?1 and a rubber ball. Please remember the rest of my family too. Thank you. "Ralph Nowak" "Dear Santa; -- "This is to remind you that I wanted a gate for my train set and the flasher light for the crossing. I hope I am a good enough boy to get this for Christmas. "D. Robert Liska "Dear Santa: "I have been a good girl and this is what I want -- Chris-cut easel, crayons, typewriter. "From Kathy Knaack" "Dear Santa: "I have been a good boy and this is what I want -- gee-wee crayons, stage, coloring book. "From Kurt Knaack" "Dear Santa: "I would like a doctor set, a blackboard and a toy typewriter and a desk. My brother Jimmy Continued on Page 8 POST OFFICE SETS MAILING RECORD IN '55 HOLIDAY SEASON McHenry residents have the holiday spirit of cooperation, according to Postmaster Ray Mc- G^e, who said this week that the assistance of the public has enabled the post office department to set an all-time, high record locally. Patrons heeded the appeal to mail early and the result is the very heavy work period in the days before Christmas week. Sunday, particularly, many folks took advantage of the bpportunity to buy stamps and mail packages, making lighter the load on Monday. Saturday, Dec. 17, turned out to be the peak day, when 50,589 pieces of first class mail were cancelled. This compares to 46,289 pieces for the corresponding day a year ago. Receipts are also up and probably will end with about a 20 per cent increase when final tabulations are made. Monday, Dec. 19, set a new record for incoming mail, when about 25 per cent more was received than for the corresponding day a year ago. The local organization, Which consists of twenty-five employees assisted by eighteen additional helpers for the Christmas rush period, have been able to keep up with this tremendous mailing and there is no back-log of mail. It remains the goal of the local offices to live up to the slogan of the post office department and have every piece of Christmas mail delivered before Christmas Eve. The weatherman has been most cooperative as far as snow fall is concerned and it is hoped he will continue to smile on those men who are performing deeds beyond their regular line of duty so that everyone has a merry Christmas. Due to Christmas falling on Sunday this year, the department will observe Monday, Dec. 26, as a holiday also and no mail will be received or dispatched. There will not be any deliveries on the city or rural routes on that day; however, lobbies of both the station and main office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the convenience of boxholders. WONDER LAKE MAN, RETIRED CHICAGO POLICEMAN, DIES Barney Donash, 63, of Wonder Lake, died in Memorial hospital, Woodstock, on Friday, Dec. 16, having been confined there for eight days. An active member of the Wonder Lake community for a number of years, Mr. Donash was a retired Chicago policeman and a member of the Police post, No. 207, American Legion. Surviving are the widow, Amanda Burkart; two daughters, Geraldine Elberson and Jacqueline French; seven brothers and sisters, August, Julius, Felix, Elizabeth Lundquist and Susan Block of Chicago, William of Pell Lake and Clara Richardson of Los Angeles, Calif. The body rested at the Peter M. Justen & Son funeral home until 10 o'clock Monday morning, when last rites were conducted from Christ the King church, with interment in the church cemetery. IMS RITES SET FOR FRIDAY IN MILWAUKEE All churches in the McHenry included in the worship hour. Andrew J». Goggins died Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Memorial hospital, Woodstock, following a short illness. He was 79 years old. Surviving are the ' widow, Helen; three sons, Eugene and Joseph of Oshkosh, Wis., and Leon of Portland, Ore.; two stepchildrertf Stanley Cha'dwick* of Chicago and Gwendolyn Gothberg of Cleveland; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. , Services will be held Friday at 8:15 o'clock from the George Weiand funeral home, 3412 W. Center street Milwaukee, to St. Mary's church at 9 o'clock, with interment in Holy Cross cemetery, Milwaukee. Jack Pepping is home from the University of Iowa/to spend his vacation with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Pepping. are^ are fanning for special rites on Christmas, where the faithful will ' gather to offer praise to the Christ Child. St. Mary's Worshippers at St. Mary's Catholic church, will be attracted again this year to the Bethlehem scene. There will be midnight mass at which the adult choir will sing the Exultate Deo mass by Ahrens 'and the proper by Tozer. Other high masses will be sung at 7, 8:30 and 10 o'clock. The girls' choir will offer ,music at the 7 and-8^30 rites. " , At the(7:30 low mass, hymns will be sung by the young people. Other low\masses ^will be at 11 and 11:30 o'clock. Confessions will be heard Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock and at 7 in the evening; also Thursday and Friday evenings -at 7 o'clock. „ St. Patrick's A midnight mass is being planned for St. Patrick's Catholic church this year, the first of six services Christmas Day. The large church will be beautifully decorated as in past years, welcoming the hundreds of faithful who will be attending holiday rites. The adult choir' will sing Christmas Carol mass at midnight, preceded by "O Holy Night" and;: "Silent Night." At the offertory they will sing •"Adeste JTideles" and as the throngs flepve will offer "Angels We Have^Heard on High." *" •' Later masses will be at 7, 7:45, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 o'clock. The 10 o'clock high mass will be sung by -the children's choir. Confessions will be heard Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m., from 2 to 5 p.m. and at 7 o'clock in the evening. Zion Lutheran The Sunday School Christmas Eve service at Zion Evangelical Lutheran church will be held in the McHenry high school auditorium on Saturday, Dec. 5^4, at 7:30 p.m. The service will open with "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful," by the congregation, followed by scripture reading and prayer by the pastor. Then will follow recitations and songs by all the departments of the Sunday School under the supervision of the superintendent, Clifford Kiehl." Classes from pre-kindergarten to primary will sing "Away in the Manger" and "Two Little Eyes," while the junior and senior department will sing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," and "Silent Night, Holy Night." The service will close with the singing of "Let 'us All With Gladsome Voice" by the congregation and the distribution of gifts to the Sunday Sclioo£ pupils. On Christmas Day, there will be two services, at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The theme for the Christmas message selected by the pastor will be "Our Christmas Praise." The services on New Year's Day will be at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A cordial welcome is extended to all to attend these services. 1 Community Methodist Two services will be held on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Community Methodist church. On the night before Christmas at 8 p.m., the high school youth group will present a play entitled "Longing for Christmas." Later that evening a candlelight service will be held jjt 11 p.m. A meditation, special music and traditional carol singing and candlelighting will be Christmas Sunday morning will find the congregation worshipping at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. as usual. The choir will sing two carols, "As I Watched Beside My Sheep" and "Lo, How a Rose." The minister will k>e£k on the subject, "The Marvefi of Christmas." Sunday Schools-is-' to meet at the usual times, running concurrent' ly with both services. It is suggested that Santa Claus come on Christmas Eve so as not to ihter* fere with worship on the Sabbath. Last Sunday afternoon, the children of the church school produced^ their pageant, "They Opened Their Treasures." A speech and singing choir assisted in this pantomime presentation. During the holiday week, an informal open house for college students and servicemen who are home will be held at the parsonage on Thursday evening, Dec. 29, from 8 to 11 p.m. Mrs. Herbert Engdahl, student secretary of the W.S.C.S., will be co-hostess with the Corbetts. St. John's The Christmas masses at St. John's church, Johnsburg, will begin with a high mass at midnight, followed by two low masses. Preceding the midnight mass, the St. John choir, assisted members of the grade school choir, will sing "And There Were Shepherds" by Wilson. During the mass, members will lift their voices in the Proper of the Mass, arranged by Tozer, Miss*, Salve Regina by Rossini and at the offertory, "Adeste Fidefes," ranged by Novello. This choir will also sing hymns during the first low mass. Lat^r morning masses will take place At 8:30 and 9. The singing for the 10 o'clock high mass will be provided by the combined children's choirs. * Christ the King Impressive Christmas services are planned for Christ the King Catholic church at Wonder Lake, beginning with midnight mass. This will be followed by low masses at 1:15 and 1:45 o'clock and there will be others at 8 and 10. Traditional carols will be sung preceding the high mass, at 11:45, including "Jesu Bambino," "Horlu ristus Natus Est" and "The Christ 'Child," with Ann Lundborg and Walter Frost as Soloists. Jane Widen is choir JWistress and John VanKanegan is organist. / • The choir has chosen the Queenship of Mary mass by Sister Mary Florentine. Twenty acolytes will appear for the first time in their new white cassocks and red capes and sashes. Nativity Lutheran Several events at Nativity Lutheran church lead up to the actual observance of the birth at the Christ Child on Sunday, Dec. 25. Friday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 o'clock the Luther league will have its Christmas party and those attending will be admitted by bringing a decoration for the tree. There will also be a seventy- five cent gift exchange. Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, there will be the annual Christmas Communion service at 7:30 o'clock, followed by the annual candlelight service at 11:30 p.m. There will be no 8 o'clock rite on Sunday, Christmas Day, but there will be Sunday School and ,the 10:46 o'clock service. (Continued on Page 8) Don't Let Accidents 7 Spoil Holiday Gaiety Turkeys are not the only creatures which experience a drop in life expectancy during the holiday season, according to the National Safety Council. The Christmas-New Year holiday season also is the most hazardous single period of the year for humans. ? Last year, statistics tell us that 515 persons were accidentally killed in two days at Christmas time. Traffic accidents caused 392 of these deaths, fire and miscellaneous accidents, 123. Over two days at New Years, 332 persons were killed -- 296 in traffic accidents, sixty-six in fire and miscellaneous dents. It is a season of gaiety, to be sure, but gaiety to be joyed only if you resolve to protect yourself from accident i to " be your brother's keeper."