Santa Claus dispute from 1897 letter inspires belief
Virginia O’Hanlon asked if Santa exists and the Sun’s response by Francis P. Church affirmed belief, emphasizing unseen truths and the joy of childhood. The case shaped Virginia’s teaching career and later life in North Chatham, NY, where she died in 1971 at age 81.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North Chatham
N.Y
UPI
Virginia O’hanlon
New York Sun
Francis P. Church
Virginia O’hanlon Douglas
New York City
Columbia County
Virginia
the Sun
Santa Claus
Papa
West
95Th St
Church
Grosset and Dunlap
Douglas
Voice of the People A Christmas Poem
A Christmas poem notes wintertime cheer across towns. It mentions friendly gatherings, music, snow, gifts, family meals, shopping, and greetings as the season’s warmth and good will spread among people. The piece ends with well wishes and a hopeful holiday list.
Things Dixon Talked About 10, 25, and 50 Years Ago
A digest from Dixon shows three past dates. In 1979 the airport board meeting stretched nearly three hours as members debated steps, with the president stressing progress one step at a time. In 1964 a court ruled the school safety code illegal, yet the district proceeded with its survey. In 1939 city officials and union leaders debated the need for a building code in a one hour public forum.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dixon Municipal
Dixon
Winnebago
Albert S. O'Sullivan
Rockford
Ray Page
A Christmas Greeting From Father Tony Becker
A heartfelt Christmas message emphasizes absolute trust and love through faith in Jesus Christ. Fr. Tony Becker speaks of renewing personal relationships, finding security in the Creator, and offering prayers for loved ones as he recalls Christ’s birth and its enduring significance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jesus Christ
Tony Becker
Grandma’s plea to Santa to bring back old rhymes
A grandmother writes to Santa asking for the return of favorite childhood rhymes and figures. She laments missing nursery tale characters like Little Boy Blue and Humpty Dumpty, hoping toys or memories reconnect children with timeless verses. She signs as a grandma in Telegraph island.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Santa
Blue
Diddle Diddle
Jack & Jill
Miss Muffet
Jack Horner
Old King Cole
Bo Peep
Jack Spratt
Old Mother Hubbard
Telegraph l
Time to be serious about this holiday
A reflective holiday column urges keeping Christmas spirit year round. It notes gifts matter from the heart, quotes Alcott Tusser and Dickens, and recalls a pastor’s history about Christmas born in summer. The author wishes readers a Merry Christmas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Louisa May Alcott
Thomas Tusser
Jesus
Scrooge
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Peter
Virgina O’hanlon Douglas
Voice of
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Berry
NEA, Inc
NEA. Inc
NEA Ing
Gorby
P.S
Dixon Telegraph
Alexis de Tocqueville
William E. Shaw
Mike Chapman
C. A. Maronich
Ken Brown
Brian Olmsted
Louise Brass
Lori Fagan
Ellen Farias
Patty Gluntz
Clark Kelly
Chip Marshall
Mark Sauer
Jerry Pauser
City
Sandy Burke
Jim Nelson
Ed Bushman
Laura Buller
Deana Heintzelman
Elizabeth Lovett
Mark Robins
Diane Shehorn
Linda Ross
Kathy Grossman
Rhonda Klavenga
Jane Monroe
Bernadine Willstead
Tracey L
Montgomery
Cathy Harshman
Edwin E. Smith Jr
Trina Rebly
Scott Brown
LeeAnn Harn
Stephanie Heather
Thomas Mekeel
Gunars Kulikovskis
Richard Devine
Robert Dogwiler
Rosemary Flowers
Robert Gorman
John Jacobs
Dick Kibble
Joe Leadman
Angela Bester
Robert Fenwick
Bruce Belman
Matt Brady
Dave Johnson
Jo Anne Mills
Carol Hemminger
Barbara Maves
Carole Houck
Joanne Smith
Delbert Pitman
Joe’s
By Joe Eichholz
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!