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Newspaper
Thomson Review
Location
Thomson, Illinois, United States of America
Date
Jan 01, 1953
Page
3
Santa visits fade into town chatter as residents toast holidays and plan dances. Traffic fatalities near 750 for Christmas period warn readers to drive safely. Local updates include dieting notes, bowling pride, new 1953 Chevrolets arrival, and Christmas Day gatherings across multiple households in Linton, Chawick, Carroll, Monmouth, and Canes with family dinners and gifts.
reader Mary Lou Meyers writes from Fairbanks about winter cold and long nights. She mentions a 70 plus page anniversary edition of the Fairbanks News-Miner and a Civil Service job as Assistant Training Officer. Charles Brock, in the Seabees, visited family after Casablanca service and will head to Port Hueneme, California for schooling before overseas duty.
Dr. M. P. Dommers of Savanna, a reserve officer, will report January 10 to Fort Sam Houston San Antonio Texas for active duty. He served in the Navy and held a captain’s rank during medical training and residency. He practiced in Savanna since 1947 and co founded the Savanna Clinic with Dr. Karl H. Reddies.
The bulletin lists multiple church services and events. Catholic Fulton mass at 8 and 10 AM led by Rev. Mark Witmer. York Baptist Church with James W. Gillespie preaching and special February activities. Methodist services under Albert V. Ihne. Argo Fay and Hickory Grove notices. holiday revival remarks and a Union Watchnight Service scheduled for Dec 31 at the Community Church. Community members’ visits and dinners are noted.
The column lists multiple local health updates including Mrs. Elzie North recovering from an infected knee caused by a thumb tack, John Grimm injuring his wrist playing basketball, Mrs. Brkljack undergoing emergency appendectomy, Richard Brown having tonsils and adenoids removed, Joyce Melendy undergoing a tonsillectomy, Mrs. Claus Prins ill with high blood pressure, Ely Cochran a pneumonia patient in Mercy hospital, Timmy Gray treated for pneumonia in Chicago, Ed Kay a pneumonia patient in Jane Lamb hospital, Mrs. Eldon Hickey and children ill with flu, and Mrs. John Acker improving and able to be up and around.
Union Watchnight service set for Wednesday evening December 31 at 9 p m in the Community church to be hosted by the Baptist Methodist and Community churches of Thomaston. Families asked to bring sandwiches. other refreshments to be provided or solicited by the committee.
Joyce Sack entertained friends at her home Friday evening December 26 in honor of turning sixteen. Guests included John Fed dersen Naomi Olson Norma Cate id Holland Andy Houzenga Jr Donna Hyde Bill Halfman Jan ice St. Ores John Brinkman Roberta Williams Jack Brearton Shirley Hoover Patsy Falls and Carl Otto of Savanna. She received many gifts. Separately Mr and Mrs Guy Libberton Fulton announced the engagement of their daughter Helen to Larry Roper son of Mr and Mrs Richard Roper Clinton Ia with no date set. Lavonne Robison Mt Carroll engaged to Marlow Glotfelty Mt Morris. wedding date not announced.
Mr and Mrs Ralph Stearns and relatives plan New Year visits to Plumley and Rhymer households in Fulton and Sandwich Michigan. Numerous neighbors and kin including the Grims Maydens Greeleys and Hollands gather for Christmas and New Year meals and visits across Clinton Chadwick Silvis and Davenport with extended relatives in Milwaukee and Detroit.
Christmas vacation begins Tuesday at 4 PM after a party at 2:30 with singing dancing gifts and refreshments. Thomson Trojans lose two games to Milledgeville 79 69 and 60 57 and fall 74 72 to Elizabeth in a Mt Carroll tournament. FHA ball at YCHS draws praise with decorations and corsages for sponsors mothers and guests.
Fulton high school cagers defeated Orion 66 to 50 to win their own holiday tournament championship on Tuesday night. Geneseo took third place with a 49 to 44 win over Mount Morris. Score by quarters listed in the report.
Paul Lewis of Lewis Motor Co announced a display of a radically new Chevrolet model in Milwaukee after a 1953 planning meeting with company dealers. He cited strong promotional backing and confident sales potential, predicting one of Chevrolet’s biggest years in 1953. The model will be showcased in Lewis’s showroom starting January 6.
Grand View and Savanna residents hosted relatives and friends over Christmas and the weekend. Attendees included Mr. and Mrs. Howard Leavens with Mrs. Law of Savanna, Ed Schueller with Chas Miles family, Mrs. Martha Hunt of Hanover, and the Krahn, Miller, Raymond, and Schlegel households plus Rockford and Freeport visitors. Mr. and Mrs. John Small visited Savanna relatives.
The West End Home Bureau meets Friday afternoon January 9 with Mrs Richard Williams. Members answer roll call with a courteous promise. Dorothy Footitt presents the major lesson Keep Developing Mentally followed by a nylon flower making session by Mrs Fred Peters. P T A meets January 8 at the high school with Lt Col Wm R Shurley speaking on Future Plans and Military Service. Upper Grades Chorus to sing. hostesses are Mesdames Cecil Frosch Ella Tousley and Edith Robbins.
Thomson news lists Christmas dinners and visitors from Clinton Prophetstown Chadwick Morison Fulton Savanna and Sterling. In a note a topcoat was taken during the Xmas ball and Bob Carroll of Thomson requests its return.
Mr and Mrs Gilbert Holland hosted weekend guests including Frank and Glenn Miller R Thorngren and families Milleredgeville Milledgeville Sterling Moline Wilfred Hazen Norma Jean Rock Falls and others. Ernest Whitney joined Christmas day dinner with Gus Roggen dorf and Dorothy. John Seger stayed with his girlfriend and Harry Sever in Quincy Alexis and Davis in Alexis.
Cradle News reports a son born Friday Dec. 19 at Community Hospital Morrison to Mr and Mrs Lawrence Half man. The Frazier couple of Clinton Ia welcome a son born Dec. 25 at Mercy Hospital Clinton weighing seven pounds one ounce named Danny Robert. Derr ie Bergsma of Grand Rapids Mich and his wife greet a daughter born Thursday Dec 25 weighing eight pounds ten ounces named Debra Lynn. Bergsma is daughter of Mr and Mrs Martin Bielema of Morton and niece of Mr and Mrs Clarence Bolhous.
Two Thomson Girl Scout patrols hosted holiday gatherings. The Junior Patrol and leader held a Christmas party December 22 in the Grade School gym with 16 girls, gifts hidden and found, decorations, cookies, cake and pop, plus games and dancing. The Senior Patrol and leaders met at the library basement for a New Year party with 12 girls, seasonal decor, gift exchanges, games, dancing, cupcakes and chocolate milk. Next meeting scheduled at the usual time and place.
Mrs. Cora Catherine Pratt Hiestand, aunt of Paul A. Pratt of Milwaukee, died December 17 in Buffalo where she had lived with her son James Hiestand. She was born April 11, 1863 on the Pratt farm in Thomson and would have been 90. She is buried with her husband William T. Hiestand and a daughter Ethel. Survivors include her son James, two grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces.
Alfred Williams visits his brother in law and sister Mr and Mrs John Johnson. The Potter family from Chicago holidaying with Mrs Ethel Potter and relatives. The Ihnes and Prins host Christmas Eve gatherings. Porters and Wilbur Stiles host Xmas Eve guests from Folletts and Savanna. Multiple couples visit for New Year and Christmas meals across Geneseo Thomson Cordova and Sterling areas.
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