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f ? J P laindealer Staffs Through The Years L 'K»UST 6 I ' . 'S PLAiNDfcALER CENTENNIAL EDITION PAGE 11 ' V -i f-'if! IN HOLIDAY MOOD ~ These men and women "put the Plaindealer to bed" about the year 1954. From left, they are Andy and Willard Grant, Ronnie Walters, Dave Ayers (partly hidden), Irv Zilly, Earl Walsh, Adele Froehlich, Bill Moore, Marie Yegge, Lonnie Rooksby and Florence Patula. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO - The Plaindealer staff was small twenty-five years ago, but the holiday celebrations were no less enthusiastic. This was the scene in the back room of the plant on Green street about 1950. From left, Adele Froehlich, Ben Jung, George Bradley, Helen Lucas, Earl R. Walsh, Bill Moore and Frank Hofka. STAFF OF THE 'FORTIES - This picture, taken about 1945 in front of the former Plaindealer office at 1304 N. Green street, shows the staff of seven who "put the paper to bed" each Thursday at that time. From left to right,4hey are Charles M. Adams, linotype operator (now president of McHenry Savings and Loan); Adele Froehlich, editor; Milt Peterson of the composing room; Paul Albert, foreman; former publisher and Mrs. A.H. Mosher. The hat peeking above Mr. Albert's head belongs to no one else but today's sports editor, Earl R. Walsh, who even then was busy keeping the folks informed on local happenings. All modern photos by Plaindealer Photographer Wayne Gaylord 'TWAS CHRISTMAS - This was the newspaper staff about the year 1957. Sitting, in front, are Jackie Guffey and Fran McCreery; in back, from left, Bill Moore, Emmett Roberts, Marcella Larsen, Grace Meyer, Marie Yegge, Adele Froehlich, Mary Miller, Earl Walsh, Jack Buckie and Dave Ayers. REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN - Skating on the old mill pond with a big bonfire to get warmed by, was popular? The merry-go-round, opposite the Empire Theatre was an annual occurrence in McHenry? The Johnsburg Bridge went out? The old Fox was located in Mike Conway's grove? The "Mary Griswold" carried passengers and freight to the lakes and Wilmot? William Althoff started his show shop in Johnsburg and made many a pair of wedding boots for the young men? The old cannon was dragged out and fired off at any .kind of a celebration at Johnsburg? Frank and Stretcher Bennett and Sox caught red horse on the old Fox River bridge? 4 HOLIDAY SPIRIT - This was the Plaindealer staff of about 1960, in the old office on Green street. Sitting is Adele Froehlich. In back, from left, are Earl Walsh, Stan Sweeney, Grace Meyer, Don Roths, Marcella Larsen, Bill Moore, Ann Nye, Walt Deterding, Lee Hachmeister and Mary Miller. 0* 93 Years Of Community Service Our First .... Our First . . . . f l 'RHITURF N . , U w U W r-r Nick J. Justen sits in front of his first store, established in 1882. It was located on Main Street in West McHenry. D e v e l o p m e n t . . . . !! Sometime later, a partnership formed between Nick Justen and his younger brother, Jacob. The firm became known as Justen Brothers Furniture and Undertaking. 93 Years of Community Service, The first week of February marks the ninety-third anniversary of the founding of the N.J. Justen Furniture and Undertaking firm. Established in 1882, it is the oldest business in McHenry still in operation by members of the original family. Today the firm is known as the Peter M. Justen & Son Funeral Home, located at 3807 West Elm Street. It was 93 years ago that Nick and Gertrude Justen moved from the Kennebeck farm, east of McHenry, to Main Street and opened one of the first under­ taking establishments in McHenry County. A year later, Nick Justen employed his younger brother, Jacob. At the end of a year, a partnership was formed which lasted twelve years. When it was dissolved, Nick Justen remained on Main Street, then known as West McHenry, while Jacob Justen located at the corner of Green and Elm Streets. In the early days, all hearses were horse-drawn, and the Doherty farms for many years furnished a pair of fine black horses for each funeral. However, when the first auto hearse was manufactured, the progressive Nick Justen purchased one of the first power-driven hearses In the County, It was in 1915 that his son, Peter M. Justen, entered the business1 and in 1939 built one of the finest funeral homes in the area. The latter's son Daniel A. Justen, took over the management and operation of the busi­ ness in 1958, later engaging the services of Laverne R. Sund. t The chapel now has two state licensed embalmers Funeral Directors, Daniel A. Justen, and Laverne R. Sund We who have conducted the business are grateful to the many friends and business acquaintances made through the years. It is our sincere hope that we may continue to serve the local community in the last decade of our century in business. We Know It Today Nick J. Justen is shown driv ing the first horse-drawn hearse in McHenry County. With the first license number under the Illinois Law No. 123. Our Latest . . . . We have the finest automobile available for funerals. U \J 3807 West Elm Street PETER M. JUSTEN & SON Funeral Home. McHenry, Illinois \ i