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Newspaper
Pella Chronicle
Location
Pella, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Sep 14, 1939
Page
3
A Northern era column blends reflections on neutrality talk with social calls for prudent civic behavior. It laments sensationalism, praises thoughtful public duty, and notes the need for better history and geography education while urging calm in political debates.
Knoxville Journal editorial marks twenty years of women’s suffrage and urges women to wield their vote to influence national life. It argues voting power can grow and urges citizens to promote peace, noting war brings greater horrors to women and calling for strong, vocal citizenship.
Thirty years ago this week residents note weather records with a high of 88, public opinions on citizenship, and local notices. The New Sharon Fair runs September 14 to 17 led by C. G. Tice, while Daniel Dieleman Jr. sails to Hope College. Rattlesnakes appear in Knoxville with a 50 cent bounty. Taft to visit Des Moines on September 20 with 6000 soldiers and dirigible demonstrations planned.
Twenty years ago Pelth schools report 546 pupils with 132 in high school 264 in Webster and 150 in Lincoln enrollment rising to 633 in 1939. Speedt tried the express agent job briefly before Marsh Grant and Edward took over. College opened crowded chapel rooms scarce and Cotton Hall filled. Chamber banquet planned Sept 22 with no fund solicitation. Bank deposits reached 602862.09 after a 56 percent gain. Salvation Army drive led by Walter Kester Sept 22-30 urging help for soldiers and poverty. Local residents Cody Bell Mrs Bell Rube Brand veterans and Des Moines trips noted along with coach Mark McWilliams and a strong Pella team outlook. Senator Hiram Johnson’s visit to Des Moines drew crowds amid peace treaty debate. Fred Breuklander went to Iowa City for wounded hand check.
The report lists local affairs including the Pella Fair scheduled for September 23 to 25 with $5000 in premiums and $2000 in entertainment. It mentions Bob Hites a discharged Rainbow Division veteran now in Des Moines, Ed Van Gorp and John Weyers traveling to Detroit for Cadillacs, Pete Vander Werf selling lumber and machinery, and Max Harkness slated to coach the high school football team. It also notes Editor W A Young debating the peace treaty and Republican Senate opposition with references to Uncle Billy on partisan critiques.
Discussion urges teachers and students to set standards for class officers. Emphasizes interest in class and school, active participation, and consideration of peers’ opinions. Warns that popularity and athletics often drive elections, especially among freshmen and sophomores, and calls for serious pre election talks about qualifications.
Ten years ago in September 1929 the Spencer Iowa service organization outlined how its Number 1 Legion charter for Iowa was earned. The charter process began May 12, 1919 with fifteen men gathering in Spencer at midnight to sign the petition.
An eventful sequence follows a Ford breakdown near Carroll as the Spencer brothers catch a train to Des Moines to deliver a petition. Notes include Reverend Danhof’s upcoming installation, Ila Fox’s pilot training and flight to Carroll, Western Union’s new downtown office with Lulu Dade as manager, and local anecdotes about Jacob Sterrenburg and a drought-impacted corn outlook. Highway 63 work advances with concrete to be poured next Monday and heavy daily material shipments planned.
A school mixer in the Pella Public Schools auditorium featured seniors directing barefooted blindfolded freshmen through a hazing sequence. Tasks included electric shocks and mud with water, molasses, raw eggs and sardines, though most freshmen cooperated. Shoes and stockings were later found mixed in a paste-board box.
Pella High School expands offerings without enlarging faculty adding Journalism Music Appreciation Speech and Drama and Freshman Guidance. Journalism will be taught by Miss Helen Hopley with about eighteen enrollments. Music Appreciation by Miss Anne Tysseling limited credit. Speech and Drama by Mr Maurice Birdsall with about a dozen students. Freshman Guidance led by Mr Buerkens to aid freshmen study and schoolwork.
The column notes local high school life in Pella, mentioning hopeful bachelors pursuing a home economics teacher, Miss Tusseling’s mice fear, journalism class support, Miss Hopley’s new course, Buck De Wit nicknamed Oskaloosa's Stockyard Romeo, and farewell to Tom Beyers moving to California.
The speedy camera captured Gene Stientjes a high school back with one foot raised. Opponents will think he has three legs when he gets going.
The third day of school saw the junior and senior classes elect officers led by President Willard Kalden berg Vice President Howard Van der Linden and Secretary Treasurer Freda Zwank The piece runs through a string of campus anecdotes including teachers college rushes and a carnival kissing booth curiosity and notes Locker room humor and a tease to Albert Kenning for more information.
In the first week of school the Pep Club reorganized naming Coranne Vanderinden as former president and electing Harryette Schilder as president Dorothy Jane Langerak as vice president Gertrude Vander Ploog as secretary and treasurer A committee of five consisting of Cora Mae Vander Linden Margie Veenman Freda Zwank Lois Van Vliet and Jean Van Gokum will draft club laws Thirty six former members remain and the group seeks fresh underclassmen and enthusiastic upperclassmen to join.
The speaker promises that with the help of students and faculty, teams will receive full support and energy for the football, basketball, and track seasons. Daily school spirit and collective effort are highlighted as key to success.
The article notes a guard potential question about fishing, mentions freshmen and sophomores being encouraged to join football, and references the locker room glee club with six o'clock lights out. Bud Van der Ploeg, and Carl De Wit are named in the context of team status. An unidentified member was stopped for going too slow by an artificial copper.
Agricultural program led by M. M. Dockendorf trains farm boys in rope handling, splicing, knot tying and whipping as preparation for the Dairy Cattle Congress at Waterloo on September 26, 1939. Four team members will be chosen for judging dairy cattle, with plans to travel to Ames for the annual dairy show after September 16, aided by CCC crews in Oskaloosa.
About fifty freshmen attended a Friday initiation event. Students dressed unusually with inside out dresses and reversed trousers. Girls wore green ribbons, mismatched shoes, and carried signs labeling them Freshies and Inferior to Seniors as they toiled through the day.
A large crowd of Pella students and townspeople attended the Friday night carnival held by the high school Band. The event featured Bingo telegrams a House of Horrors and beauty salon with lunches served outside. Miss Faber was named the city's most popular woman. Proceeds will fund new band uniforms, with about sixty needed and roughly thirty already raised. The community praised band director Robert Ruby and his students.
The P H S Junior Class play The Cat is in early prep with Birdsall keeping details private. Tentative cast includes James Gordon Gordon Ruggard Sara Buwalda Jimmie Betty Anna Mae Langeral Theodora Lola Carter Henry Jerry Carpenter and others. Assistants not yet chosen. Marcia Ver Tee named assistant director.
Pella High football begins the season with a Sept. 15 Friday night game against Knoxville at an area stadium. The squad holds scrimmages and plans a Sept. 12 workout with Newton High to sharpen skills before Knoxville clash.
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