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Newspaper
Elgin Echo
Location
Elgin, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 29, 1938
Page
5
Merchants in Elgin report a robust Christmas shopping period with widespread praise. The Beho records show nearly 20 percent growth in total business from Thanksgiving to Christmas over the previous year, continuing a pattern of rising sales since 1937 and 1988. A recent Saturday drew one of the largest town crowds in years as stores remained busy and buying brisk.
A committee floods the northwest yard to level ice for a skating rink amid cold weather. D R Roberts, a leading promoter, cautions on exact readiness. A grand opening is planned with Mr and Mrs Louis Klingman to lead a dedication match and waltz.
Mrs Efford Hunsberger celebrated her eightieth birthday on December 28 with an all day and evening open house for neighbors, relatives and friends. Coffee and lunch were served and the Little German Band joined in the entertainment during the evening with old-fashioned music suitable to the occasion.
The passage notes that ancient Roman gladiators drank together before duels to prove no poison was present. A challenger poured wine between glasses, mixing contents to show safety, a ritual that evolved from a formal custom to simply clinking glasses.
A postal card from Mrs. F. W. Hughes dated December 16 reports she visited Paul McIlree of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. McIlree of West Union, and that she will land in Los Angeles on December 28.
Mark Thornburg state secretary of agriculture elect Friday announced appointment of 20 employees for the dairy and food division. R G Clark Webster City named chief of the division and B O Bownlee Des Moines named chief inspector. Eighteen inspectors named with three more to be added later. Six of the inspectors appointed formerly worked under Thornburg. B W Patsey Maynard is first Fayette county man named by an incoming state official. Inspectors start with a 1800 dollar salary and a 1900 dollar limit plus an expense account.
The writer recalls getting stalled in a snow drift Sunday evening while returning from Paulj Waters home, just north of the Martin Amundson farm. Help from Mr. Amundson and Arthur Helsgerson averted a night stranded. Amundson noted aiding a third party that evening and urged Clayton county to install a snow fence on that stretch.
Christmas carolers visited shut-ins in Elgin this weekend. A Baptist church group sang at homes Friday night and a school group carried on Saturday afternoon. The old fashioned custom brings happiness to those who cannot go outside and appreciates the kindness.
Attorney General elect Fred Everett announces a staff of five assistants to be led by district judge J. M. Rankin of Keokuk. The office will also cut clerks from six to five, matching a smaller total than the prior administration. Elgin's Little German Band to play New Year's Eve dance at the Elgin opera house Saturday night. 16c¢
Wm Kohls Jr returned Thursday from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota after a brief stay for evaluation. He had been there since Monday with Earl Kiple escorting him. Doctors found no serious illness and with good care he is expected to regain health. A minor operation may be needed later, to be decided soon.
The state cannot provide the full 25 mill homestead tax credit in the first half of 1939 for taxpayers who pay their homestead taxes in full. The Board of Assessment and Review told county treasurers that lower-than-expected sales and income tax revenue may mean insufficient funds to cover the full credit.
Mrs Isabelle Torkelson hosted a Christmas Eve family gathering at Farmersburg with Oscar Torkelson and family, Carl Torkelson and family, C. O. Torkelson and family, Oliver Torkelson and family, Wm Torkelson and family, Tom and Otto Torkelson, Herman Scholen and family, Philman Larson, George Landsgard and families, and Elmer Benson and spouse.
Mrs Louis Klingman and Mrs C Christ hosted the Batoffe club Tuesday at Klingmans cafe with a 6 30 dinner and Christmas table decor. Guests later moved to Mrs Christ s home for a bridge evening with various prizes awarded including Mrs E L Morris of Maywood Ill Mrs D R Roberts Mrs Chas ONeill and Mrs Arthur Herrling
Judge J. J. Halloran of Polk County declared Iowa's use tax unconstitutional. He ruled that taxing out-of-state mail order shipments would restrain interstate commerce. Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward had faced suit to collect a two percent use tax on shipments to Iowa customers.
The editors note a likely Olson party would fill the house given 24 Olson families listed in the subscription roster, suggesting Olson appears most often in the reader list. The item plays on the abundance of Olson readers in the paper’s audience.
A family church supper is set for Friday evening January 6 at the Methodist church. Mr and Mrs P J Anderson and Mee were dinner guests on Christmas day at the George Anderson home.
Miss Eda Zurbriggen daughter of Mr and Mrs M Zurbriggen and William Weibel son of A M Weibel married Friday December 23 at Greene Methodist parsonage with Rev Stanley Kenderdine officiating. Attendants were Elaine Zurbriggen and Harold Weibel. They plan to reside in Greene where Weibel is temporarily stationed with his company. both graduates of Elgin High School.
The Upper Iowa alumni segment on WOI radio features Fayette county educator R D Noble Oelwein superintendent and King Palmer West Union representing the Lettermen's club. Iva dell Brause West Union presides, Mrs Clarke Hileman Maynard recites poems, Kathryn Hetzel Arlington performs violin, the eighth chapel studio broadcast airs Wednesday Jan 4 at four oclock.
Edith Talle wife of Congressman elect H O Talle died at her Decorah home after a two year illness from Addison's disease The funeral was held in Decorah at 2 pm Saturday She lived in Hatton South Dakota and came from Grand Forks North Dakota She is survived by her husband and three daughters Helen 18 Marjorie 16 and Mary Jane 14 Talle a Republican won the fourth district seat defeating Democrat Fred Biermann in the November election
The 1938 Iowa fall pig crop is estimated at 3,172,000 pigs, 17 percent larger than 1937 but 20 percent below the 1932-33 average. Spring 1939 farrowings are projected at 1,643,000 sows, up 15 percent from 1938, with next spring 9 percent below the 1932-33 average. Estimates derive from June and December Pig Surveys conducted with the Post Office Department via Rural Mail Carriers.
The Waukon park board purchased 47 1/2 acres of land south of the city on highway 51 for a city park. Voters approved a $22,000 bond issue at a special August election to fund the purchase and development with a PWA grant assisting the program.
The M. E. Ladies Aid Society announces divisional meetings for Thursday January 5. The first division convenes with Mrs. Walter Bovis, the second with Mrs. Albert Schori, and the third with Mrs. Ethel Kohler.
Mr and Mrs Charles Capper returned last Thursday from a six weeks vacation through the southwest visiting Los Angeles and San Francisco. They met numerous friends and former Elgin residents now in California and announced their preference for this Iowa area as home and business location.
The Elgin Ladies' Cemetery association will meet Thursday afternoon January 5 at Mrs Ern Schori's home for officer elections and other business. All members urged to attend. Also noting the New Year's Eve dance at the Elgin opera house Saturday night with music by the Elgin German Band and moderate admission.
Virtus, driving his father’s car at Delwe on Sunday night, hit ice on a turn and ran into a ditch. The car was badly damaged, about $300, and Virtus suffered a broken collar bone but escaped more serious injuries. The wreck required loading the car onto a truck for transport home.
Elgin merchants and professionals publish year end cards of appreciation in the Echo. They note 1938 had ups and downs in business with sporadic gains and some increases for others. Optimism for 1939 grows as leadership qualities and experience are cited. The Echo and business interests extend New Year wishes to all.
The Fay ette county farm bureau annual meeting at Fay ette drew the largest attendance in years. Officers elected include Ray A. Bell as president and W S Rothlisberger as vice president.
A Decorah bootlegger convicted a third time for illegal liquor possession was ordered to serve a penitentiary term not exceeding three years. He appealed to the supreme court, which upheld the district court verdict and ordered the regular sentence with potential good behavior reduction.
A brief note dated December 28 1934 from Rev Paul F Zoschke of the Baptist church expresses gratitude to Mr Strauch and The Elgin Echo for church publicity provided at no charge. The letter wishes happiness and prosperity in the New Year.
Irvin Lyon, son of Mr and Mrs Delbert Lyon of Elgin, was shipped over for four additional years in the United States Navy on December 14. He is stationed at the Great Lakes Training Station for two and a half years of shore duty in Chicago.
U S army engineers studied flood records for the Turkey River dating back to 1865. G E Larson of Roche Island NL collected photos and data from Clayton county files in Elkader. The worst Elkader flood was 1916, halting the Milwaukee railroad branch for 28 days.
Houg aged 77 died Sunday forenoon December 25 at West Union hospital after months of illness. A prominent Union township farmer for forty years, he was born in the Elgin area. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 at his home and at two at the Presbyterian church in West Union.
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