/ PLAINDEALER-FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1976 V>/ WG old Tales , ocooonooeuuooooeceoooeoi wooer > I! To The Rescue Firemen from Company I and Company II battle blaze that damaged home of Albert Blasius, 5017 Spring Grove road, Sunnyside, Friday at 12:15 p.m. Two people in the house at the time of the fire, Mrs. Albert Blasius and-a daughter, Mrs. Buss, were taken to McHenry hospital for smoke inhalation by the Johnsburg Rescue squad. The fire, which caused $4,000 in structural and smoke damage, began in a downstairs closet. The firemen battled the blaze, of undetermined origin, for one-and-a-half hours. The house is owned by Fred H. Smith of Des Plaines. ST^FF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD FIFTY YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of December 23, 1926) The Christmas season is the time for good fellowship and the community spirit of good cheer and this will be made more noticeable in McHenry this year by an act of the Kiwanis club. At their recent meeting they decided to have a community Christmas tree and George Johnson was appointed chairman of the committee to superintend the work while the Public Service .Co., and the Carey Electric shop was asked to take charge of the lighting and decorating of the tree. A beautiful large tree was planted on the corner of Elgin road and Waukegan street at the public school grounds, where it will remain during the holiday season to spread the spirit of good cheer and good will. That part of Elm street from Justen's hotel to the river is a very busy place these days because of the work on the Fox river bridge. The office of the Widell company has been erected near the hotel and much of the machinery is here, also, as work has been com menced on the coffer dam at the west side of the river. Work is also progressing on the Boone Creek bridge, west of town, and it is expected that the abutments for the bridge will be finished this week. A most unusual sight in this part of the country is a banana tree in blossom but such a sight may now be witenssed at Ringwood. The tree is owned by Miss Bigelow, who brought it from Georgia about seven years ago and being a great lover of plants she has given it the best care and after being transplanted this Fall began to develop this blossom. FORTY YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of December 24, 1936) Nels Pearson was re-elected president of the McHenry Local of the Pure Milk association at the annual meeting held in K.C. hall Saturday night at which about forty members were in attendance. Other officers elected for another year are Paul Doherty, secretary; Lester Sherman, director, and Martin Weber and Peter A. Freund, delegates to the annual meeting held in March. The McHenry local of the PMA consists of 100 members who during the past year have sold approximately 12,333,000 pounds of milk or an average of about a million , pounds per month. The preferment of wealthy Chicago businessmen for farm land as a means of safe in vestment for the accumulating profits, has caused the sale of hundreds of farms in McHenry county during the last year or two and brought new residents to this vicinity. However, with the increasing good times the farmers are also buying more farm land and only recently John A. Miller, a well known farmer in this vicinity, pur chased the Schmidt farm of about 70 acres, north of Johnsburg, which he plans to carry on in addition to his present farm land. Members of the Catholic Daughters of America brought Christmas joy to the children Sunday afternoon when each member brought a child to the annual Christmas party. Each child received a gift and a treat from Santa Claus as he made merry around the Christmas tree and all enjoyed a happy afternoon. The youngsters put on a program, including a reading by Joan Durland, two readings and a song by Dolores Vales: a song by Edward Buss; a song by Bunny Stoffel; reading by Mary Buss; duet, Anna Marie and Katherine Klappejrich; reading, Marion Grace Conway; reading by Marty Klapperich; reacting, Mitzi Durland; song by Donald Howard accompanying himself on the guitar. Y TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of December 27, 1951) After Christmas 1951, it is doubtful if the popular song, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas", will ever again have its old appeal. As one weather forecaster so aptly put it, "We asked for snow but who asked white on white"? Many a holiday trip was cut short and many more were never un dertaken when the beautiful snow of Christmas eve con tinued on into Tuesday turning at times to a fine rain. With sleet predicted later in the day it was no wonder that local residents decided to confine their repasts to the contents of their own refrigerators. Loridale Dixon, 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dale Dixon of Green street, McHenry, was the attractive youngster whose picture was selected recently to appear on a full page devoted to wishing a Merry Christmas to all the readers of "The Benefit News" a publication of the National Mutual Benefit Insurance company of Madison. Wis. The picture was encircled with a large Christmas wreath. John Shadle leaves today for Los Angeles. Calif., for an indefinite stay. His family may join him in the near future if Mr. Shadle decides on California as their permanent home. TEN YEARS AGO (Taken from the files of December 29, 1966) Dr Carl Bergstrom. school superintendent in McHenry explained again this week the manner in which tax monies made available through Dec. 10 referendum would be used. His discussion of the subject was undertaken because Dr. Bergstrom has been ap proached by persons with misconceptions concerning the matter. The referendum which was supported by a 3 to 2 margin was asked for three funds: Education, 21 cents; transportation, seven cents, and building, five cents, bringing the total to an increase of thirty-three cents. The thirty-three cent figure provides a new ceiling on these funds, but contrary to some fears, will not all be asked in the levy next year. At the December board of education meeting. Richard A. Swantz was appointed to the position of director of special projects for school Districts 15 and 156 After six months of operation, the McHenry County Board of Health held an open house recently to show its quarters to those concerned about the role of the new group. Dr. Edward Wilt, McHenry, is president of the seven-man board. GIFT CERTIFICATE! i •1 BEARD & STOVALL 1 Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHenry, Illinois will deliver on presentation of this certificate Twenty dollars ($20.00) discount on the purchase of any SPORT COAT $55.00 to $80.00 value in either Beard & Stovall location ( Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase - before December 31, 1976. REDEEM THESE GIFT CERTIFICATES AT BEARD & STOVALL FOR *83.00 IN DISCOUNTS (but hurry - cert i f icates expire Fr iday, Dec. 31, 1976.) 'GIFT CERTIFICATE! i BEARD & STOVALL 1 I Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHenry, Illinois will deliver on presentation of this certificate Five dollars ($5.00) discount on the purchase of any PANT $ 12.00 to *20.00 value in either Beard & Stovall location ( Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase - before December 31, 1976. GIFT CERTIFICATE 5 BEARD & STOVALL Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHenry, Illinois will deliver on presentation of this certificate Ten dollars ($10.00) discount on the purchase of any ! GIFT V JACKET *50.00 to $75.00 value in either Beard <& Stovall location ( Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase - before December 31, 1976. J CERTIFICATE BEARD & STOVALL Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHenry, Illinois will deliver on presentation of this certificate Four dollars ($4.00) discount on the purchase of any DRESS SHIRT $ 11.50 to * 16.00 value in either Beard & Stovall location ( Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase -- before December 31, 1976. 1! r GIFT CERTIFICATE"! Ji ilL in BEARD & STOVALL Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHenry, Illinois will deliver on presentation of this certificate Eight dollars ($8.00) discount on the purchase of any SWEATER *20.00 to *30.00 value either Beard & Stovall location ( Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase - before December 31, 1976. I GIFT CERTIFICATE 1 i R GIFT CERTIFICATE BEARD & STOVALL Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHJenry, Illinois we will deliver on presentation of this certificate Six dollars ($6.00) discount on the purchase of any SPORT SHIRT $ 18.00 to $24.00 value in either Beard & Stovall location (Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase -- before December 31, 1976. I ry) 3 j A : lJ IL BEARD & STOVALL Store for Men Woodstock, Illinois McHenry, Illinois will deliver on presentation of this certificate Thirty dollars ($30.00) discount on the purchase of any LEISURE SUIT '75.00 to *110.00 value in either Beard & Stovall location (Woodstock or McHenry) Must be presented at time of purchase - before December 31, 1976. HERE AND THERE ~IN BUSINESS DECLARE DIVIDEND The board of directors of the Echlin Manufacturing com pany has declared the regular quarterly dividend of 12 cents per share on the common stock, Frederick J. Mancheski, chairman of the board, has announced. The dividend will be payable Jan. 18, 1977, to shareholders of record on Jan. 7. Nl-Gas Offers New Solar Energy Rate Installation Northern Illinois Gas com pany, the principal subsidiary of NICOR. has received Illinois Commerce commission ap proval for a new rate schedule to provide supplemental gas heating to solar heated homes. The new rate, effective Dec. 16, will be applicable until Dec. 31, 1981, for the first 100 residential and general service customer applicants requiring gas heat to supplement their solar energy installations, said Larry Forsell, vice-president and treasurer of NI-Gas. Definition Marriage: A system of producing motors for tri cycles. -Tradewinds, Honolulu. - - - - J ' Candid Comment When opportunity knocks it only means the new electric chimes aren't working. -Wall Street Journal. V rv*> dF* € V.A. NEWS ONE SANTA ( I \ l S Ever think what it would bo like to have Christmas around all year long'. ' Jn the process of automating it« files on veterans a few years ago. VA discovered nearly n.oon who do have reminders of thf holiday no matter whether it 's July or December (hen- family names are No<>| and Claus That many former ^er vicemen and women with common last names illustrates Veterans administration s dilemma when an ev ' .I wi ites in with a problem out neglects to give VA as much pertinent information as possible the old "name, rank and serial number" bit As of Nov. 6 of this year. :h« agency had 32,491,197 names.of living and deceased veterans on file About 1.200 of these veterans were named John Smith, with no middle name or initial Another 11,000 .John Smiths in the file had middle names or initials. When John Smith inquires about his GI Bill eligibility and sends in no other information about his military history, this puts VA in a quandary But John Smiths are fairly few and far between when yon consider that VA's vast files contain over 202,000 indiv iduals named Johnson, almost 150,ooo named Williams and almost that many named Jones and Brown. There are about 55.(ton veterans named Young on VA's rolls, around 53,000 Robinsons. 46,000 Hills, 38,000 Stewarts. 30,000 McDonalds. 28.noo Howards, 24.000 Wagners and approximately 23,000 Schmidts VA points out that 35 percent of the veterans in its files have the following given names John, Robert. William, James. Charles, Joseph. Richard. George, Edward or Thomas With more names being added daily, it 's easy to see why VA needs as much specific information as possible about veteran's service record so that his or her claim for benefits can be processed and completed as rapidly as possible With Christmas approaching however, VA can give assurance to any children concerned about name con fusion: a search of its files confirms there's only one Santa Claus. How today& woman savesfor tomorrow Today's woman i s f r e e t o m a n a g e a h o m e o r a c a r e e r . O r b o t h , i f she wishes. But how she m a n a g e s h e r m o n e y m a y b e t h e k e y t o r e a l l iberation. That's why a s m a r t lady buys U.S. Savings Bonds. W hether she s i g n s up for the Payrol l S a v i n g s P l a n a t w o r k , o r t h e B o n d - a - M o u t b Plan where she sa\ es. a l i t t le is set aside r e g u l a r l y t o b u y Bonds. Hither way. B o n d - i n s u r e y o u r r i g h t s t o f i n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e So buy Bonds t o d a y . A n d l i b i t u p tomorrow . Si ri«-s K K<>n<K J > . I \ « . • : , » hen held 1.1 iii.it.: r i t . I 4 ' V V, til. ti r-t \ • .! r i l:i i • is nut sulij.i t t<> st.it. , r i1.. ,ii iiuonn t.iv. - ;uni f.-<).• r.1! t.i\ In iti'li rri il until r. • i.• ini»tI<»ii d* VV Take^^®y . stock ; inlAmcrk ' i i , 200 wars HI :1K-vmh FORMAL WEAR . RENTALS for ALL OCCASIONS 6 ell S Sfawff - . ;..0u ifou 'M W 1214 \. Green St., MeHeniy