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Newspaper
Harper Herald
Location
Harper, Texas, United States of America
Date
Dec 20, 1940
Page
4
A historic 1855 Gillespie County Court House structure was razed under County Commissioner Kramer to clear space for a new Federal Post Office. The remains show the jail site burned in a former blaze, with rock walls pulled down by a truck and chain.
Poem reflecting on the nativity and the winter scene as a fitting time for Jesus birth. The speaker marvels at snow, icicles, and bare trees, describing a peaceful night when angels declare peace on earth and hearts turn to faith and hope for harvest days.
Government reporter Robert Walter notes Gillespie County gins 750 bales of cotton before December 1, 1940. This compares with 888 bales ginned in the county during all of 1939, signaling a strong season.
The Gillespie County Rural Telephone Association adopts resolutions opposing United Telephone Company rate hikes from 50 to 75 cents per month and demanding no contract signings. It directs members to continue current rates, notify papers and United Telephone managers, and record the action in minutes. Also notes illness of Ernst Tarr and local notices.
Mr and Mrs Victor Wendel and an eve shopping in Freder.
The Gillespie County Agricultural Conservation Committees elected community leaders on December 14 1940 at the new Courthouse. Community I chose Henry Mogford Alfred Metzger and Harry Wilke with Paul Cornell and Arnon Behrends as alternates. Community II elected Edgar A Gold as chairman Herman Maner as vice chairman Anton Schmidtzen sky as member with Otto Ketron as alternate and Thomas Jung as delegate. Community III named A H Pfiester chairman Hugo Usener vice chairman Walter Kott as member with Willie J Berg as alternate. County Committee delegates include Thomas Jung as chairman Otto H Grona as vice chairman and Harry F Eckhardt as member with Max Grona and Herman H Maner as alternates.
Mrs Arthur Bierschwale and Mrs Bob Rogers served as hosts for a birthday party Thursday evening honoring Bob Rogers on his seventh birthday. First and second graders attended and cocoa and cookies were served.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Seiders of Austin spent the weekend with Mrs. Seider's parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Floyd. Miss Frances Floyd accompanied them home after a week in Austin.
Mrs Dan Wiley suffered a severe eye injury after a lye solution splashed into her eye during refitting work several days ago. Medical officials report she is in guarded condition at a local hospital.
Mrs. Eddie Bierschwabe returned home after visits in North Texas and other places, noting heavy rains everywhere. Mr. and Mrs. V. A. Hopf and daughter Irene visited the Hopf home. Kerrville guests Mr. and Mrs. Burton Brown and two sons stayed with the Whitewoods. Mrs. Mart Stevens and Mr. Stevens visited friends in Mrs. Harper's circle.
The excerpt from Christmas in England contrasts scarce meat and shortages with dietary shifts to capons hens and poultry and mentions pies broth and spice sugar honey. It alludes to music dancing youth and elders by the fire and a festive quarrel over who wears the breeches between master and dame.
A poetic reflection on the Yule log as a warm hearth symbol. The piece evokes Shakespeare Longfellow Dickens and folklore angels and beasts around the first Christmas, noting how songs and ceremony accompanied the lit fire and its memory.
Short verse by Grenville Kleiser expresses a wish to serve others. The speaker vows to perform kind deeds, ease distress, and spread happiness through actions.
In this reflection Nathan Gist argues that absolute justice cannot exist in a human world. He contends suffering persists due to human frailties and recurring causes rooted in the past, and that rough harmony would not arise even if overt woe ceased. The piece emphasizes courage, tolerance, faith, and moral agency as paths through doubt.
Divine worship Mass at 10 o'clock each Sunday and on holy days. Early Mass at 8 30 on the third Sunday monthly and all holy days. Weekday bell 7 30 a m Mass 7 45 a m. Discussion Club meets second and fourth Sundays at 1 30 p m. Christmas Midnight Mass Dec 24. second Mass 9 00, third at 10 00. All services open to the public. all are welcome.
The Friendly Church led by Rev. T. H. Alcorn hosts Sunday school at 10 a m morning service at 11 and evening service at 7 15 p m W M A meets Mondays at 3 p m prayer and teachers meetings Wednesdays at 7 15 p m G A s and RA s meet Fridays at 7 15 p m.
Harper Methodist Church invites attendance with Sunday school at 10 a m every Sunday. First Sunday services at 3:00 p m. Third Sunday services at 11:00 a m. Night services at 7:00 p m. Rev Ellis Thomas, Pastor extends a hearty invitation.
Lutheran Church invites worshipers to English services on the first Sunday at 11:00 a.m. and the fourth Sunday at 7:30 p.m. A German service occurs on the third Sunday. Sunday School meets weekly, Luther League gathers on the second Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Woman's Missionary Society meets the third Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
The Methodist Sunday school classes and members will present a Christmas program at the church on Monday night December 23. The public is invited to attend this evening service.
The eighth ninth and tenth graders held a party at Bein's hall Friday night with Miss Davison Killough and Mr. Howe as sponsors Fay Parker helped decorate and serve cocoa and cake A large crowd enjoyed the event and hoped for another party next year
The home economics class held a Christmas tree event on Tuesday evening at the school and later attended a show at the Palace theatre. Escorts included Frances Floyd Beoma Boatright and another student with their teacher.
Mrs. A. C. Wendel and Mr. and Mrs. B. Markwordt with Mr. and Mrs. Walter Markwordt and daughter Mildred traveled to Wichita Falls to visit Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Scarborough and their children.
Mr and Mrs Jake Casper and their son Perry were seen shopping in Fredericksburg on Saturday, according to a brief neighborhood note.
Mr Alfred Kott and Mrs Glen Hopf accompanied by Mrs Kott traveled to Fredericksburg on Monday for personal business and sightseeing.
The passage argues education should shape human character, curb selfishness, and align society toward justice truth and kindness. It notes reforms may take time to vindicate but promise a happier world once realized.
The Gillespie County Commissioners Court approves a fifty year franchise to the City of Fredericksburg and the Lower Colorado River Authority to build maintain and operate power lines on county roads. The court also reviews county finances retires bonds and sets a special session for January 2 1941 to qualify officers and approve bonds. A road project to cross Beecave area is approved with a minimum 40 foot width and a road patrol unit is leased to maintain roads.
Rev E C Poehlmann ordained as minister by Rev G A Poehlmann at Meyersville last Sunday December 16. A Wartburg Seminary graduate, he will serve Caldwell Deanville parish starting this Sunday. He is the third Poehlmann brother to enter the ministry following Rev W C Poehlmann. The Poehlmann family long served in Meyersville and beyond. Von Jack Huffman of California and Tolbert Huffman of San Antonio visited the Rog ers last Sunday.
Mr and Mrs John White wood and son Robert visited in Kerrville on Thursday Mrs Edgar and her children moved to the area and enrolled a child in a local school.
Dorman D. Sell, Gillespie County Agricultural Conservation Association treasurer, announced 8714.00 in 1940 checks for range and farm producers who met program requirements. Thirty three range and fifty three farm checks were issued as the 1940 program closed November 30. The 1941 program runs December 1, 1940 to November 30, 1941, with early payouts hoped for next year.
Mild outbreaks of colds and non-virulent influenza sparked concern in scattered regions. No virulent influenza was reported, though 30 000 cases were logged in Alexandria Louisiana amid defense labor influx. Soldiers at Camp Beauregard showed no flu cases while other camps reported hundreds of mild infections.
Comfort News reports a Kelly Field plane crashed into a hilltop on the Hugo Albrecht farm nine miles south of Comfort during a routine flight. Lieut. Theodore D. Deweese and Flying Cadet David W. Davis were instantly killed as the craft was wrecked. Mrs. Albrecht and her sons recovered the bodies and aided transport to a Kelly Field ambulance.
Mr and Mrs Raymond Cottle and Mrs J J Cosper traveled to Harper and visited with Mr and Mrs Roy Cottle during a local gathering.
Billie Alexander from Carlsbad near Dallas is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wedekind. The gathering includes hunting activity and shared time with the Wedekinds.
V Cottle drives a new Ford sedan bought from the Ford dealers at Frederickburg bir. and Mrs Uren Cottle travel to Kerrville Wednesday evening for a short outing.
Mr and Mrs Olive Hopf took a trip to Kerrville on Friday evening. The short outing highlights a domestic leisure excursion and local travel details.
Harper Home Demonstration club met with ten members and three new ones present. New members are Mrs. EB O Larkin Mrs Sim Welsch and Mrs W E Fletcher. The Harper school building project No 50884 received federal funds of 55260 with match from the school district. Work expected to start by January 1 1941 after PWA review.
The Harper High School seniors elected class officers on December 6 with Doris Ruth Coggeshall as president Victor Fritz as vice president Doris Hopf as secretary and treasurer Dawn Whitworth as reporter Sponsors Superintendent and Mrs E O Larkin hosted the class at their home. Seniors also chose caps gowns rings invitations and diplomas for graduation.
Seniors and ex-seniors attended a Christmas party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Larkin with games and gifts. Supt. Larkin spoke on the future new school building as cocoa and snacks were served to about 20 guests. A lost dog notice and a business trip note follow.
The Lutheran Women’s Society met at the church hosted by Mesdames Glen Hopf, W A Hopf and Sam Honig. New officers named for the year are Raymond Spaeth president, Chester Itz vice president, Glen Hopf secretary, Clifford Bode treasurer. Refreshments included angel food cake, cookies, sandwiches, hot cocoa. The centerpiece features a cedar tree with red rope, and Silent Night and O Tannenbaum were sung.
Lynn Taylor of South West Texas Teachers College San Marcos is second violinist in the chorus and small symphony orchestra presenting Handel's Messiah Sunday at 4 PM in the college auditorium. He is son of Jim Taylor and brother of Mrs Milton Dyer of Devils River, attended Harper High School finishing in 1939 and has studied at the San Marcos college for two years.
Kerrville traders at City Produce advertise buying chickens eggs turkeys furs cow hides pecans and all scrap metal bones with contact at 129 Water Street. Fredericksburg shoppers noted Mr and Mrs Clinton Brown and Miss Faye Parker visiting Saturday. Belton Tatsch and J S Whitewood visited the Whitewood ranch Wednesday.
A Catholic message urges a world rebirth through acceptance of Christ and God’s law. It argues that nations must submit disputes to Christ’s justice to achieve peace, prosperity, and true leadership, with Bethlehem as the guiding light for individuals and nations.
A narrator recalls attending midnight Mass after seven years and feeling humble. He reflects on his sister’s troubles and critiques worldly baloney while kneeling before the Nativity scene and praying with childlike sincerity.
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