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!
This newspaper page contains 14 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Pella Chronicle
Location
Pella, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 22, 1955
Page
8
Dickens described atmosphere of Christmas as a season of sacred meaning and personal happiness. The piece notes the season’s charitable, pleasant time and its broader reservation about true joy. It emphasizes Dickens as a master of English literature shaping seasonal mood.
The Chronicle offers thanks to merchants loyal readers correspondents and all who contributed news this year and extends wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each and every reader.
Critics from passengers and crew condemn alcohol on planes. Stewards threaten strikes via union president R K Quinn citing danger and degraded image. Rep Thomas Lane to push a bill in Congress next session banning liquor sales on aircraft. Airlines hope to preempt by acting now to boost public relations.
A columnist recalls Iowa readers’ initial sympathy for Russians after friendly images with children. The piece argues the second Geneva Conference exposed deceitful behavior by Khrushchev Bulganin and Molotov, accusing Molotov of old Bolshevik tactics and Bulgaria of evasive posture, framing actions as mean-spirited with no moral constraints.
The piece warns against trusting Khrushchev and notes rumors of Kremlin shake-up. It cites Herbert Hoover on Meet the Press proposing an administrative vice president to assist the president, given the heavy workload and multiple agencies. Hoover argues a temporary appointed VP could ease duties without granting executive power. The proposal aims to lighten presidential burden.
Editorials from multiple Iowa papers discuss Christmas sentiment, music trends, and rising Cold War tensions. They decry broken agreements with the Soviets, warn of a lasting cold war era, and urge farm aid as new farmers struggle under debt and price squeezes while long established farmers cope with losses.
The Chronicle recall column highlights events from 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago. It lists notable local happenings, birthdays, retirements, and community milestones, preserving the era's tone and names while offering a concise retrospective.
Fifty years ago the Pella Chronicle skipped a week as the print shop moved to a new bank basement and a large press was dismantled and rebuilt. The issue details reorganizations, community notes, a Pella High basketball win, Christmas ads, tree lighting plans, weddings, travel, and local employment changes with numerous named residents and institutions.
Front page article by Cyrenus Cole of the Cedar Rapids Iowa Gazette traces Central College transfer to the Reformed Church in America and summarizes Pella history. Mentions Dr. M. C. Verhey Ann Verhey and Junior Hospers holidaying in Chattanooga. Gerrit Brand buys East Third Street property from Lenthy. Payne and radio WSUI broadcast noted.
A 30 year old note records a thief taking seven dollars from Leo Vander Kolk’s piggy bank. It also recalls General Mitchell’s court martial and suspension, later vindicated, plus updates on people visiting or working in Iowa towns, a Dutch windmill plan for Pella, and extraordinary corn yields by Ira Marshall and Max Strunk.
Twenty years ago on December 26 1935 farmers toured county quarries after a steak dinner at the C C C Camp in Knoxville arranged by Walter Brown county agent. Fifteen members of the Barn Dance Frolic group from Radio Station WHO Des Moines were coming to perform at the high school auditorium including Tom Sawyer a one man band. Trade had been fair through three Capacity Days in Pella but overall business was weak with farm prices low. Mr and Mrs Jim Vander Pol of Des Moines visited his mother Mrs Dena Vander Pol who was ill.
Ten years ago more than four hundred tickets were sold for the Soil District dinner in Memorial Hall Knoxville with Herb Plambeck of Radio WHO speaker and Ralph Grundman chairing. Bad weather cut crowd to 300. National Housing Agency released ten trailers for GI housing on Central College campus near gym baths. Central College musicians under Anthony Kooiker presented The Messiah to a full house with soloists Harold Reeves Edith Sedrel Le Cocq Della Ruth Thomson and Ralph Appleman praised. Central basketball beat Penn 60 to 38 led by De Wild and Bonwell. Coaches Tharp and Tysseling praised. Amy Goldsmith resigns as home economics head with Mina Baker replacing. Service members on leave: Pfc Ralph Wiese Ray Hagen Elmo Gezel. Pastor Jesse Monkman ill in Barrie Ontario. Feature by Charles Kent on G W Garver and Booker T Washington, once Iowa residents.
Lloyd Hansen of Correctionville narrowly escaped serious injury when Jim Admire’s gun discharged striking the top of Hansen’s head. Medics stitched the wound with 15 stitches to close the injury.
In reflections on life in the old country days readers recall waking before dawn to shuck corn, milk cows, break ice for water, and heat with firewood. The tone suggests distance lends enchantment, as modern conveniences replace cherished routines.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.