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Newspaper
Pella Chronicle
Location
Pella, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 14, 1939
Page
7
A local note recalls Adrian Rodriguez's idea that great changes come from small deeds by each member. It urges avoiding laziness or prejudice, praising steady conviction even if mistaken, and condemning public lip service that sabotages movements. The column also offers light humor and safety ideas, and commends new citizens and Pella merchants for holiday spirit.
Citizens are urged to visit downtown during the season as businessmen spend to spread goodwill. A warm downtown glow conveys the message of Good Will to Men, with decorating for Christmas shown as a practical merchant gesture.
The piece accuses the Writers League of widespread Communist ties, echoed after a Saturday Evening Post claim. It cites Dies Committee findings linking federal workers to similar groups and warns the intelligentsia masquerade as tolerant critics while aligning with foreign influence.
Webster City editorial laments farm overproduction and low livestock counts while urging anti American teaching weed out of higher learning. Williamsburg paper notes lack of positive handbill notices for local firms or residents and asserts praise appears only in local newspapers.
Widom Reporter recalls the old millinery stores in towns where the arrival of the new trimmer before Robins brought a festive rush. Young men eyed the train arrival hoping for dates while hometown girls cast looks of disdain.
Joan E. Briggs argues to rename the Skunk River to the Iowa Indian word Chicauqua or Chicagua, citing historical sources from Albert Lea’s map labeled Chicagua and Lea’s 1835 War Department report spelling Shukauk. She favors conforming usage to the widely preferred Chicauqua with a suggested spelling update.
Forty years ago a Pella Blade issue reports an antiwar meeting as Dutch South Africans rally behind Transvaal. It recounts the river origin of Transvaal, a nursing volunteer Dr Cornelia De Rey, a gym exhibition, blizzard weather, and local talk of a beet sugar plant. The Otley News comments on coal mine trust prices and Teddy Roosevelt tackling trusts. Cecil Rhodes schemes about a balloon escape during the Kimberley siege.
scattered town items report library closure due to miners strike and reopening with coal, street lights restored after darkness since December, Vogelaar replacing Brand, a car rear ends a train with no injuries, William Wagner basks in clothing ads, Dr J W Bailey notes severe cold in Leaver Colorado, five hundred horses for sale, Mattie Neyenesch resigns teaching post, and local remarks on ponds and weather.
Dec 12 1929 note recalls Mrs Gerald Paardekooper, society editor of The Chronicle, having served in that role for a decade and contributing social news coverage.
Streets in Pella iced over cause minor car crashes and a major cream and eel laden van overturn. Connie unhurt after an omelet season joke. Town decorates for Christmas with Old Santa visits on Saturday the sixteenth. Ladies' Aid pledges half earnings to Central College, about $800 yearly, addressed by Mrs A N Vander Linden. Central basketball strong with eight lettermen. Newport road project updates after north section flood. Foster Park Chicago church calls Rev Ralph Nordlund. J C Penney Sears merger rumor denied by company president.
The football squads of Pella High and Central College were celebrated at a Dec 6 banquet by the Rotary Club and local business leaders. 162 attendees heard awards for players, heard Coach Claypool introduce letter winners, and saw the annual C blanket award to Omar Ray. Also notes on basketball opening win over New Sharon and other events.
A 30 year- old era summary from Pella reports William 20 and Henry 27 in Evert Beyer home fallen to typhoid malaria with their mother widowed. Dan Lacey of Monroe a tall 82-year-old stock buyer shot himself. Ebenezer church members visit Paul Synhorst at Leighton with lunch and gifts including a gold watch. John Braam buys stake in Royal Dutch Bakery. Y M C A debate on dogs vs cats and Joe Fanssen reads a Peoria poem. Local tales include Halley’s comet, library officers elected, Jim Croll’s head injury, holiday ads, and new garages and houses under construction despite stormy weather.
In week 18 of 1919 Everett Kruseman, a Navy veteran, wed Grace Vos. The Pella Tigers opened basketball with a 26 to 24 defeat to Des Moines YMCA in a hard fought game featuring F Rhyngburger, M Rillihan, R Brand, F Den Adel and Harry De Cook.
Pella High renews the longtime rivalry by hosting Knoxville Friday evening December 15 at the Pella gym. The Dutch seek revenge after losing to Knoxville in both conference games last season and after Knoxville fell to Sigourney Friday night. Knoxville, missing guards Charles Volee and Jack Mabie, fields a lineup led by Frye Core and Dixon despite losses.
A brief look at homemaking club members discussing their projects. Francene De Prenger describes a plain zip front dress with a white collar yet to be added, Florence Robinson sketches a jacket or blouse, Harriet Klein calls hers the dumbest item, Corena Turner makes a sport blouse, Minnie Hol designs a plaid dress with a midfront button line, Mary Van Zunk pursues a plaid woreable dress, Marjorie Boot envisions a green princess style spun rayon dress, Donna Mae Rietveld notes a rose striped green blouse.
On December 7 the newly formed radio club under Prof Greendyke met for its third regular meeting. Seven members attended including Mildred Bishop and Norma Jean Schreiner. They studied radio tube principles and uses and discussed building crystal and radio sets at home for later analysis. More members may join as the club grows stronger.
A fragmentary diary style note describes locker room mishaps during basketball practice. Marcia V S is mentioned with a white and blue sock while Jewel F Jean Van Gorkum and Mrs Tysseling face dressing calamities. The girls prep for the intramural tournament and comment on hairstyles and mishaps.
After reading The Bubble Reputation the Junior Literature classes list current celebrities and the trivial things they may be remembered for. Names include Hitler for his mustache Chamberlain for his umbrella and Corrigan for his wrong way flight. Students also compose essays on Iowa and Vermont to explore state facts in a formal or informal style.
The Sophomore English Club met last Friday in weekly sessions using parliamentary procedure. Judson Waechter reported on his World’s Fair trip and several book reports were presented as part of a short program.
M. M. Dockendorf, instructor of Vocational Agriculture, attended the American Vocational Association meeting in Grand Rapids Michigan last week as a delegate representing Iowa through the Iowa Vocational Association. He participated in sessions on vocational guidance and toured related activities.
Editorial criticizes excessive cheering at Pella High School basketball games. Teachers and citizens, while supportive, complain that loud whistles and noise drown out referees and disrupt play, potentially harming the team’s chances to win.
Girls who stay for dinner are allowed in the gym each Thursday noon from 12:00 to 12:30 to compete and improve fundamentals. Their first game was held on December 7, offering opportunities for students who have not played before to learn and enjoy physical training days.
Mr Staples the magician wowed a packed high school and grade school crowd with flight of hand tricks, a key hole stunt, rabbits and pigeons from a hat, and a chalk drawing finale. His trained monkey performed loop the loop while chewing a carrot, delighting children and adults alike.
A sty is an infection of a small eyelid gland. Ill health reducing resistance or defective vision not corrected by glasses can trigger localized infections, especially in crops of styes. Such conditions should be corrected by a physician, not the patient.
Students compete in a school program offering a Home Room League for boys not on the varsity team. First games Thursday at 7 00 in the high school gym. Schedules list Groendyke Hopley Dockendorff Ver Heul Birdsall Healy Claypool and Dockendorf with matchups across December and January.
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