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-v Volume 78 -- No. 52 McHENRY. ILLINOIS. THURSDAY. MAY 7. 1953 10c Per Copy Musin' and Meanderin' If McHenry's 'teen-agers are *r*)1(lng around with their head in the clouds these days it isn't Only that spring has arrived--it may also mean that they are anticipating Annual prom night, which is. Saturday, May 16. The theme of the prom this year is "Starlight Terrace" and aa guests enter the effect will 1>0 that of walking out of a living room onto a penthouse terrace. An eight-piece band will provide music for dancing. The prom is given by the juniors for the seniors and their partners, who may include underclassmen or out-of-school guests. Ray Bauer of Ingleside has been initiated into Alpha Sigma Nu, national Jesuit honor society for men, at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., where he is a medical student. Young Mr. Bauer is a graduate of Grant Community high school and Illinois Wesleyan. He was one of sixteen Marquette students appointed to the honor society and will serve as vice-president of the society. He has many relatives in~Mc- Henry and vicinity. \ Following the recent mail ballot to over 43,000 memberbreeders, 160 delegates have been elected to attend the sixty-eighth annual convention of the Holstein- Friesian Association of American in St. Paul, Minn., June 1 to 4. These include representatives from every corner of the nation. Delegates from the state included A. C. Thomson of Mc- Henry, one of eight named. The Little Chef restaurant on Riverside Drive has been sold by Mrs. OfSmUffe- FbrtT To" Ml\ and Mrs. Otto Edwards of Fort Atkinson, Wis., where they formed? operated a similar business. WALTER FAY RECALLS EARLY DAYS IN McHENRY Present Dance Specialty The new owners took over the business on May 5. The Plaindealer is this week receiving congratulations on its birthday anniversary, since 1875 the paper has been reaching local readers each Thursday. Nelson Davis of Pistakee Bay left last week for Europe and at present is visiting with the regional director of the English coal board. After leaving Bngtand and Scotland, Mr. Davis will go to France and Germany, where he will visit installation contracts with his own Chicago firm. Mr. Davia will be remembered as inventor of a coal washing machine which revolutionized that phase of the coal business. MoHenry county residents purchased a total of $164,126 in U. S. savings bonds in March, 1953. Of this, $114,816 were invested in series E and H bonds and 24.9 per cent of the county quota for the year has been reached In the first quarter. McCULLOM LAKE INFANT PASSED AWAY UNEXPECTEDLY Richard Lee Menke, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Menke of McCullom Lake, passed away last Thursday, April 30, at the age of forty-four days. Rickie, as be was affectionately called by his family, suffered from an enlarged thymus gland, which was said to have been responsible for his death. Mrs. Menke was preparing the other children for bed when she noticed that the baby was not moving in his crib. She became alarmed when she detected no heart beat and summoned a phy- ' sician. All efforts to revive the child were to no avail. An autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death. Richard Lee was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1953. Besides hi4 parents, he is survived by his brothers. Mark and Charles, and two sisters, Jean Ellen and Judith Anne. Burial was in the Ringwood cemetery. First Boy Scout Movement Started Over 35 Years Ago Pleasant memories of days cf long Ago will be recalled by a good number oV old timers when they read this letter from Walter Fay of Bellingham, Wash., who made his home In McHenry as a young man. Mr. Fay and othermembers of his family, including his mother, are well known throughout the community by friends made during a long residence locally; "Dear Sir:" » "I have just been reading the Plaindealer of April 2, 1953, and noticed in the So I Hear column that Joe Buck would like to trace the Boy Scout activity in McHenry. Maybe I can help as I think I belonged to the first group of Boy Scouts in McHenry. In fact, I am quite positive that it was the first activity in McHenry of that fine movement. Sidney Bullock (how's that for recalling a name after ^ver thirty-five years, was the scoutmaster. He was an Englishman, a very close friend or possibly a relative of Mr. Hunter of the Hunter Boat Works (1914) and I believe resided at the Hunter home on the east side of the river a short mile north of the bridge. "Babe" . Arthur Hunter was a' Boy Scout at that time but I am not sure of names of any other Scouts. We met in <a frame building of the garage or shed variety on the west side of the river about A block north of the old bridge between the street and the river. I think the year was 1914 but it could be a year earlier or later. It seems that Mr. Bullock returned to England, or at least moved from McHenry, shortly after he started this ' troop and I have no memory of any activity during the next year or two. I don't remember of any hikes or anything of that nature--only that we had meetiners in ttns above mentioned building. 1 do remember we had no money because I accidentally broke a Tight bulb one night and because of my carelessness Sidney said I would have to pay for the bulb, which was 40 cents. I was really scared because 40 cents was hard to pick up in those diys It took two days before I hrd the courage to tell my mother but she scraped up that 40 cents for me and it was a relief to be able to pay for the bulb. Funny how such an event can be remembered so easily but it seems only a short time ago that it happened. Guess I was really worried about it. ~ Enjoys Paper "I enjoy glancing at the^Plaindealer, especially the Twice Told Tales. In this issue is mention of the Wm. Stoffel machinery business sale and I recall when that business changed hands. Also the mention of automobiles on McHenry streets. I worked for John Schaffer at his repair shop (he was actually the first repair shop in McHenry) in 1911 as a flunky. His shop was next to Matt Freund's blacksmith shop. You could count the McHenry automobiles on your fingers then. Dr. Wheeler and his Metz. Dr. Wells had a Ford, Dr. Nyj had a car and I remember when his ambitious son was going to clean the car up so nice--he used something like vaseline on it and what a mess it was. Don't remember if it was Florence Howe (my school teacher) or Dick Wray that had a Jacksonthat was before they were married. And I well remember the first motorcycle cop. He was plenty big anyway and as a motorcycle cop he looked much larger. That was Gib Howard. "Guess I could recall many interesting events of those good old days. I would like to make mention of a McHenry ball club that we had in about 1923. Bolger, Bobby Knox, Winkel, a couple of Meyers boys, Marcellus and Art, the battery was usually a pitcher from Waukegan and Sewell as catcher. I filled in at shortstop " and if 'you will glance at a Plaindealer during the season of 18123 you can find us beating a fine St&teliner team a t G e n o a - R i c h m o n d . S h a r k e y Grant was their catcher and wnile in McHenry a few days before the game he said he would never live in Richmond if we These youiig people belong to the sets which will participate in the specialty number at the last meeting of the young square dance group, to be held at Edgebrook school Saturday evening, May 9. Members of the sets, some of whom are pictured here, include Pat Blake, Susie Sayler, Sandra Altman, Norbert Adams, Kenny Lukarick, Ronald Glosson, Linda Anderson, Jenny De- Young, Cathie Anderson, Sam Smith, Lee Vance, Bill Houck, Sara Kay Douglas, Sue Stinespring, Donna Barger, Dane Marunde, Stanley Pollitt and Ernest Useman. Musicians Win Contest Honors One McHenry vcgal soloist and an instrumental ensemble took top honors among 125 schools in state competition last weekend at Clinton, III. The soloist is Jennifer Houda, who was declared state winner for the .second consecutive year. As a «enior she has entered competition for M.C.H.S. for the last time. The ensemble winner was the woodwind trio, composed of Patsy Goranson, Adele Schmitt and Dorothy Hiller. They were the only blue ribbon winner among five trios entered. The boys' chorus was runnerup to two groups who tied for first place--Normal and Dundee --all other choruses placing in third division. The orcnestra rated well also, placing second behind Batavia and Monmouth. Other "excellent" ratings were awarded to Shirley Dermott, bat^^wirlet^ftfiji^tfee bfigft' £Ctet, f'f' . * • Continued on Page 6 FIRE DAMAGE Fire caused an estimated $10,- 000 damage early last Friday morning at the Cecil Allen building on Benton street in Woodstock. Firemen worked under handicap of darkness for more than two hours to extinguish the flames. Dense smoke inside the structure prevented them from entering the building for a period of time. FINANCE DRIVE UNDERTAKEN BY RECREATION GROUP By-laws and ' membership were among major topics discussed at the meeting of the McHenry Township Recreation association, held at the J. A. Roesch home on Thursday, April 30. Arrangements were made for selecting a paid leader and a summer program is to be planned. Walter Aufrecht has accepted chairmanship of the finance drive. The next step will be a campaign for funds through several forms of membership. The drive will begin as soon as the committee now studying the by-laws presents them tor adoption. Dan Creamer has been named to head publicity and Clarence Anglese will work with future citizens' groups. Young people will select their own representative to M. T. R. A. after hearing a talk on the organization's jilang in g,jjeneral assembly. Mr. Creamer plans to give the people of the township a detailed outline of the services offered within the next few weeks. Results of efforts to date will be presented at a general meeting in the near future. Dance Group To Present Program The echo of lively music and the tappihg of young feet will linger long next Saturday night, May 9, "at Edgebrook school, at least in the memory of the seventh and eighth grade students who will present a dance program to < climax a winter of instruction. The young people represent the junior high and St. Mary's and St. Patrick's schools, all of whom have been taught the art of dancing by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Useman. The entire group will take part in round and square dancing and will invite their parents to participate also. There will be a grand square dance by the entire membership of the dancing group as they perform the number done at the International square dance festival at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago last year, in which 200 sets, or 1,600 adults, took part. A- specialty number will be the Barcerolle Star, in which eighteen members will take part. This will be the last meeting of the ye^r. Since last October, the dancers have been meeting the second and fourth Saturday evenings of each month. FUTURE FARMERS GAVE ORGANIZATION RESUME AT BANQUET LEONA CONNERY ENGAGED AS TEA GUEST ON MAY 21 This year's guest at the W.S.- C.S. annual spring tea, to be held May 21, is Leona Connery, traveler and observer, whose timely and entertaining program is called "Humanity Is My Hobby." WEEK'S TRIP AWAITS MARINE DAY QUEEN; CONTEST DETAILS OUTLINED BY MARY KAUSS AND COMMITTEE LEON ONNERY CENTENARIAN DIES Mrs. Mary Coquilette of Richmond, who was 100 years old last Feb. 13, died on Wednesday of last week. COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH MAKES PLANS FOR BUILDING CAMPAIGN; RECALL LONG HISTORY This week, at the Community Methodist church', plans for a building campaign are in progress which will continue for many months. It is headed by J. Albert Roesch, who is being assisted by many of the church members. As in the days of the early settlers in McHenry, members are rallying together for a challenging task and, are looking ahead to the day when a new unit will be built on the church. Looking back in hi stony as far as 1838, it is noted thaT~~efcrly Methodist pioneers who first settled here felt a responsibility to provide a place for educational needs for their children. Today, third and fourth generations are planning a similar program to keep pace with a growing community. In 1838, when pioneers like Ira Colby, great grandfather of Oro Colby settled in McHenry, comforts were few. pne of their first acts'was'to provide a suitable place of worship. By 1839 Rev. Joel Wheeler, a circuit minister, performed the first ceremony in McHenry towmship between Joseph Fellows and Christina Robinaut. In 1840, Ira Colby built a log house which served for a church and school where Sarah Sherbourne was first pupil to be enrolled. One of Eight The McHenry chapel, one of eight in the McHenry circuit, grew abreast of the need of the people. In 1844, when the courthouse was built in McHenry, the Methodists met there once a month and in ' homes on other Sundays. .. ' The present Methodist church at Main and Center street was constructed in 1859. The land on which it stands was deeded for a sanctuary by George Gage and Martha Gage. Men in the community worked for many hours to build the church and soon it was dedicated, free of debt. The first trustees were William Harrison, Freeman Harvey, Ira Colby, F. G. Meyer and Francis Gale. Meet* Need The building, still in good condition, adequately met the needs of a growing congregation. Through the past ninety-three years young people and adults came to their church, at first o v e r d i r t r o a d s b y h o r s e a n d buggy and then over fine pavement by automobile. At one time there was a cherub choir and also the Epworth League. There was the Ladies Aid society, always famous for serving fine suppers and making prize winning quilts. Today, through the Woman's Society for Christian Service, the women are obliged to work in over-crowded quarters in the service of our Lord and are well prepared to do their share to meet the present need. Increased enrollment in Sunday school made it necessary to add meeting space in 19H7. Today the Methodist church has outgrown its buildings due to the community's larger population and the resultant rise in church membership. With this growth came the great need for new educational and • recreational quarters, ' . Last week Wednesday night, April 29, the McHenry Future Fatmers of America chapter held its annual parent and son banquet in the high school cafeteria. F. F. A. members made this one of the largest to date' by inviting 145 guests for a delicious meal and program. The principal guests, of course, were the boys' parents, but in addition numerous others in the community were invited who the chapter felt were interested in the activities of their group. For the occasion, the F. F. A. members decorated the cafeteria in the blue and gold colors of the organization, with a special design to note that this is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the national F. F. A. organization. On display were ribbons won at fairs by various members, scholarship charts and medals, farming program and milk testing and soil testing equipment. As toastmaster, the president, Dick Nowak, did a fine job. Jim DeYoung welcomed the guests and the response for the parents was given by Mrs. Joseph Kolar. Guests were introduced, after which John May, Bob Schmelzer, Don Miller and Arnold She will appear at 2 o'clock be fore an anticipated large crowd in the high school cafeteria. This year's tea. promises to be as exciting as were those in the past. Mrs. Connery has traveled through Europe, India, Japan, Africa and Siam. She has observed social, political and economic manners of all these countries and has been dined by rulers in many lands. Her unusual cheerful personality and truly American sense of humor makes her an entertainer who is much in demand. Mrs. Connery's recent visit to the Holy Land gives her a new view and an additional topic to relate. Freund reporte^ on chapter activities. The freshmen boys demonstrated milk testing and soil testing technique. For laughs Bob Kolar and a group of friends presented a pantomime. The sophomores promoted a "What's His Name" skit to reproduce the life of Bill Yung and awarded him an honorary chapter Farmer pin for the fine example he set while in school anrf since graduation. Awards in the form of medals, trophies and letters were made by Mayor Freund, Principal Carl Buckner, Supt. C. H. Duker and William Pictor, vocational agriculture instructor. 171 Pints Blood Donated Locally McHenry area residents donated 171 pints of bloo<^ to the Blood Bank when it visited the city on Wednesday of last week. This, added to the 126 pints donated Thursday in Woodstock and 200 on Friday* made an impressive total of 497 pints given in this county in three days' time. Locally, of the 230 who signed up, 188 kept their appointments and there were a few rejections. Among visitors to the Blood Bank were Corp. Raymond Blake, who recently returned from Korea, and Master Sgt. William Soucie of Chanute Field, who donated blood. The former told Red Cross workers of the many times he saw blood plasma used to treat the wounded and of the great value it proved in recoveries. Volunteers included Dr. Leland and Dr. Bertha Srhafer, Df. A. I. Froehlich, Dr. William #. Nye, Dr. C. W.'Klontz and Dr. S. L. Ruggero, physicians; Mrs. Marguerite Rawleigh, county chairman of nurses aides; Mrs. Harry Abraham, Mrs. Isabel Leslie, Mrs. J. B. Stovall, Mrs. Betty Johnson, Mrs. Pauline Pries, R. N., and Mrs. Christine Krinn. R. N.. nurses aides: Grace Stilling, Alice Barbian. Mabel Johnson. A vie Gans; ELsie J Olson and Lottie Bransford, canteen; | Lillian Miner, Edna Low and Margaret Hoerger, staff aides; Minnie Bohn. Mary Hill, Lura Wandrack and Gertrude Hein, Gray Ladies; Gertrude Barbian, Audrey Glosson, Verona Kent, Lois Downs and' Thelnaa CoV&lt. motor corpjj/ Supper wasT\served to fortyeight workers ^at the Legion Home by Betty ciark, Mary H e t t e r m a n n , L o u i s e S m i t h , Georgia Steuben, Lina Kilday, Gussie Diedrich, Minnie Green, Delia Freund, Ruth Mrachek, Pearl Pietsch, Gladys Soucie and Mrs. Cooke. Cast Of Seventeen Seniors Present Play Friday, May 8 A cast of seventeen seniors is hard at w'ork in preparation for the presentation of "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay," a threeact comedy dramatized by Jean Kerr and based upon the book by Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emily Kimbrough. The story deals with the sparkling and exuberant escapades of two delightful girls, Miss Skinner and Miss Kimbrough, who are determined to prove how "mature and cosmopolitan" they can be on an uproarious and charming trip to Europe. This beguiling comedy is based on the same best selling novel from which the very successful movie was taken. Cast of Characters The cast is as follows: Steward -- Gil Mercure Mrs. Skinner -- Pat--Owen Cornelia Otis Skinner -- Jennifer Houda Emily %Kimbrough -- Ilene Bassett Purser -- Bill Pierce Stewardess -- Val Cappell Dick Winters -- Stan Aim Admiral -- Lyle Davidson Harriet St. John -- Pat Goranson Winifred Blaugh -- Arlene Thiele , Leo McEroy*-- Bill Landgren Inspector -- Marya Bousser Therese -- Mary Nye Madame Elise - Barbara Glorney Monsieur. De La Croix --Craig Baldwin Window Cleaner Charles Brooks Miss Margaret Kruel is director of the play. Although this is her first year in McHenry she has one successful play lo her credit, presented by the juniors last fall. P r o m p t e r s a r e D o r o t h y Doherty, Marilyn Schmitt and CITY TRUCK TO ASSIST CLEAN-UP CAMPAIGN MAY 14-15 As in the past several years, the City Council will again sponsor Clean-Up Week, starting May 10, in the interest of both public, health and making the city as attractive as possible. For those' who do not have a means of disposing of rubbish, the city truck will pick up such items next Thursday and Friday, May 14 and 15. Rubbish must be placed on the ourb and loose articles must be placed in containers. Asli^s and garbage will not be hauled by the city. - With the summer season approaching, it is hoped that all will cooperate in making McHenry a neat, clean city. Vacant lots cause much concern each year and property owners are strongly urged to start early in craning up these spbts. Continued effort will result in McHenry being a healthy, attractive city. St. Mary's Presented Appropriate May Program A program was given in each room of St. Mary's school on the afternoon of May 1 in honor of Our Lady. Appropriate hymns, prayers, readings and short sketches made up the very inspirational program. Posters containing invocations to Our Lady and worked out by the children in block printing adorned the walls and a beautiful May altar was the center of attraction in each room. In the course of the program Sister Immaculate, the principal, visited the various rooms and encouraged the saying of special prayers all during the month of May for peace among the nations. The deceased and living mothers of the. children were prayerfully remembered at the close of the program. GARAGE FIRE McHenry firemen were called to the Newman residence in Chapel Hill subdivision on Monday of this week. Minor damage was reported to the garage, where fire had started near an electric outlet. .! Plans for the 1953 Marine'T^yqueen contest began to take . form last Monday evening at a committee meeting conducted by the chairman, Mrs. Mary Kauss. ; She is being assisted with plans by Mrs. Betty Nielsen. Mrs. Christian Jepsen, Ernesf IJsemart and Arnold J. Rauen. , The contest is opeh to any girl between the ages of, „ 1 6 a n d 2 3 w h o i s s i n g l e and who has resided in the Community high school district at: lenst six months. This residence need not be continuous and" young ladies who may have • spent two. full summer vacations here, adding up to this amount, are eligible. Questionnaires may be obobtained at the high school office. Betty Nielsen's dress shop, Steffan's Jewelry shop or the Toddler shop. They should be._i filled out and returned with a photograph (head . and shoulders only) to Mrs. Kauss. July 5 Deadline Entries will clo?e on July 5, with final judging to take place at the high school July 18 at 8 p.m. From the finalists, a queen and two attendants will be selected by seven prominent judges, all of whom are well known in their respective fields. The selection of the queen will be made as a climax to an 'eve-1 ning of entertainment to which the public is invited. There .will be an admission charge. Prior to the judging, classes will be conducted for candidates so that all girls will have an equal chance to acquire poise and confidence. The girl who is named queen and a guest, will receive a week's trip to a well known resort following Marine Day. The actual coronation ceremony will take place on the banks of the Fox river following the parade on Saturday evening, Aug. 1. Sunday Parade Again this year, the annual, Sunday morning parade, starting at 10:30 o'clock, will be an" attractive feature of Marine Day. It will form at the ball park in West McHenry and take the same route as in the past, made up of beautiful floats and marching bands. The boat races on Sunday afternoon will also attract many thousands. There will be special attractions during intermission in the races, including the ride of the queen and her court down the river and performances Of water skiers. TWO SELECTED TO ATTEND MUSIC CAMP THIS SUMMER Gwen Weidenhoft and Marilyn Flynn were selected by three judges at last Friday evening's junior high band concert to attend the Egyptian music camp this summer, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Alternate was Sue Stinespring. A good sized crowd was in attendance at the high school auditorium to hear the young instrumentalists present a concert which brought pleasure to all in attendance. Paul Raasch is director of the band. Taking part were the following: Clarinets: Judy Lawrence, Continued on Page 6 Scouts In Spring "Clean-up' ipolores Smith; stage manager is Jim Nett and the stage crew is made up of Wayne Dixon, Al. Schmitt, Don Miller. Al. Kosnar, Charles Kopp and Jim DeYoung. Tom Huemann serres as electrician. The costume chairman is Karen Engdahl, assisted bv Marilyn Schmitt, , Val Cappell and- Carol Olsen. Make-up will be in charge of Marcella Etlen and* Shirley Dermott. Propei-ty manager is Ed. Lacy, assisted by Dick Collins and Chuck Johnson. Sally Nye and Kate Freund are business managers and are aided by Cynthia Frett, Lona Nowak and Doris Bauer. This picture might well be entitled "Prelude to Clean-up- Week." sine* it was taken only a short time before the city of McHenry announced its annual observance of the week. The photj shows local Boy Scouts as they set a good example for oth/r McHenry residents by offering their services to put Um city park into readiness for the summer season. McHenry Sponsors Clean-up Week May 10-16