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Newspaper
Decorah Republican
Location
Decorah, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 20, 1917
Page
2
A long list of social updates from Decorah and nearby towns details visits, trips, and plans. People from Albert Lea to Cresco, Ridgeway to Minneapolis are mentioned visiting relatives, attending events, or traveling for Christmas and holidays. Multiple names and towns, with brief notes on their movements.
Peder Peterson uncle of Mrs. Arneson died Monday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Arneson from infirmities of old age. Born February 24, 1839 in Stavanger Norway he came to America in 1871 and lived in Marshalltown before moving to Decorah with his sister Mrs. Z Halvorson. Funeral at 1:30 this afternoon at United Lutheran Church with Rev O Glesne officiating.
Mr and Mrs Albert Christen received a letter from son Frank at Camp McArthur near Waco Texas describing unusually warm weather followed by two cold nights that reminded him of Iowa. He noted government issue heavy underwear and overcoats and recorded pipes freezing as the thermometer dropped toward zero, leaving the soldiers glad for woolen wear.
The Winne Shiek chapter forwarded its sixth Red Cross shipment yesterday. It included 75 sweaters 85 pairs of socks 75 wristlets and 120 helmets. Local units and branches have shipped 700 socks 600 sweaters and over 500 wristlets plus hundreds of other items.
Fire crews responded last Thursday to a stove blaze in the back room of the Mrs. O. T. Hamre building. Smoke filled the house as fire spread to the ceiling before units removed the stove and extinguished the fire. Damage centered on smoke and soot littering the interior.
Ole Simleness, an elderly East Main Street resident, was found dead in his bedroom Friday morning by Mrs. H. E. Roberg and Gust Westby. He lived alone, was eccentric and reclusive, with his last pension check on the table and between 300 and 400 dollars discovered in the house. A natural cause death is suspected after Dr. Dahl. Relatives include a sister in Norway and a niece Marie Rasmussen in America.
On the session’s final day the board of supervisors elected Henry Gross as county home steward after a four to one initial tally over Clem Funke. Funke’s eight years end with the county home. Gross is expected to be capable. Also chosen were Mary Fortcamp matron Dena Plaeger cook B M Anderson day man C F Bertossa night man Dennis Horan janitor court house A F P Barfoot county physician P H Whalen overseer of poor.
A box of apples and another of oranges, plus candy nuts and cigars, were shipped Tuesday to Camp Dodge to lift soldiers spirits. Ossian Calmar Fort Atkinson Decorah funded the effort with generous donations.
Oscar Norgaard, awaiting orders to join the colors, was told to report to the Minnesota University hospital corps and depart Friday for training. The note urges women to join the Food Administration and save food, with banking and Ben Bear’s store as reporting points. Local notices include a card of thanks from the Josvanger Children and a Red Cross appeal for Halifax sufferers funds. Also, Decorah Public Library won’t be open on Christmas, and Decorah Furniture Co offers gift baskets.
Biblical carol reflections on Christmas as a time of giving. The piece urges sharing joy with friends, family, and the lonely, noting the birth message was first to the humble and poor. It emphasizes charity and a bright Christmas for those alone.
A Christmas program by Decorah high school pupils will be held tomorrow at two o clock in the assembly room. The selections include carols duets violin and piano readings and vocal solos. Performances feature Thora Kramme Norma Johnson Velma Anderson Doris Tuttle Anna Haberly Nettie Gunderson and the High School Music Class presenting The Hallelujah Chorus and other numbers.
The appeal urges joining before December 25 and renewing for 1918. It outlines Red Cross aims to grow from five to fifteen million members to sustain relief for wounded soldiers. Banks and stores host booths to accept membership fees as patriotic duty.
James P. Kirby died at his son’s home in Buffalo New York on December 11 from heart trouble. He had visited Buffalo en route to Lakewood New Jersey for the winter and fell ill there. He was eighty one and survived by his wife and two sons. His widow had been Belle Warren before marriage, sister to Mrs. Portman and longtime Decorah resident.
The Tavener dam ice is about ten inches thick of best quality. Boys are packing the house and plan to start cutting soon after the first of next month if warm weather does not delay.
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