Looking Back

By Arline Adamsick

From 50 years ago…

The Crete Record: January 13, 1972

Mr. Donut, on Rts. 30 and 54, had a big thank you ad for their “first month anniversary.” The ad stressed they were open 24/7 and had a large parking lot for the customers’ ease, especially in bad weather. From December 9 – January 9, more than 15,000 customers had purchased either coffee or donuts – or probably both!!

American Savings Bank also had a rather large ad introducing its Giftchek – a specially designed combination card and check, with an attractive matching envelope – for your monetary gift-giving needs.

Also, it was time to think about income tax returns. Crete Post Office was the place to purchase a federal income tax book, with information on completing the forms – though no price was indicated, and it wasn’t free.

To help the community, Steger VFW Post 8283 purchased two new wheelchairs to add to its supply of hospital beds and walkers, which the Post loaned to anyone in the area in need of such equipment.

“Year-Round School Topic When Board Meets”

After agreeing to change the date by one week, the Crete-Monee School District 201-U will hear a report by Crete Elementary Principal Larry Beckley on year-round school.

According to the article: “More districts than ever, the National Education Association estimates 600, are seriously studying proposals that would extend the school year beyond its current nine-month calendar. Only a handful actually have adopted year-round plans, but scores may follow suit.

“Beckley will describe the basic concepts common to all year-round plans, as well as list the mixture of pluses and minuses usually found by those involved in some form of year-round school. All citizens of the district are invited to attend.”

Remember a new ice skating rink in town was in the works? Well, that week’s headline indicated Mother Nature wasn’t co-operating…

“Rink Ready; Weather Isn’t”

“All park district commissioners were present last week, as their regularly scheduled meeting was called to order at village hall.

“Commissioner Fred Swope gave his report early in the meeting so he could leave to tend to the park district’s current project – that of providing an ice skating rink for hockey and free skating on Farm Street. He spoke enthusiastically of the cooperation by the neighborhood people and especially Kenneth Hahn who leveled the area and made the embankments to confine the water.

“It was planned to have the rink ready for skating last weekend, but one of the most important ingredients was missing – the cooperation of the weatherman.”

That was it – no news on what Mr. Swope was going to do to make the rink a reality after he left the meeting and no indication of temps or when the rink might actually open???

It looked like Wozny Travel’s trip to Hawaii didn’t completely sell out, although time was running out. The all-inclusive two-week trip was only $594 per person – double occupancy, but here appeared to still be a few spaces left!

The Manteno News: January 13, 1972

Ever remember walking into a store or restaurant and seeing a dollar bill displayed on the wall? Of course and was probably the first dollar the establishment earned. Here are some other “First Dollar” stories…

“Can You Recall How You Earned Your First Dollar?”

“The first dollar earned is a thrill to almost everyone, and many can recall how they used that. When a dollar was valued at 100 cents, it required more time and effort to get it – a fact that may explain why it is usually remembered. (But it still represents 100 cents, despite inflation???)

“Frank Keigher earned 50 cents a day on his first job – herding cows on the roadside for an uncle in Rockville Township. Roadside grazing was a practice then to save pasture grass, he said.

“‘I probably bought rock candy with at least part of that first dollar, Keigher chuckled, ‘going to the Deselm store, then operated by Fred Shreffler, father of Keith Shreffler, a member of the Manteno High School faculty for about 30 years.’

“Coming from Sweden as a young person, Mrs. Hilda Bringelson first earned 15-to-20 cents an hour spinning yarn in a factory. She watched the spools on a machine for long hours each day and believes she spent her first dollar on clothes.

“Everett Butler started out in the world of finance by cutting lawns with a manually operated mower, making a total of about $1 after five-or-six such jobs. He suspects his initial and many subsequent earnings were spent buying fudge at Guertin’s Bakery.

“Peddling a Chicago newspaper brought Oley Contois about $1 a week by serving about 25 homes on his route, but he has no recollection of what became of the first dollar. ‘There were fewer ways to spend money in those days, but it probably wasn’t too difficult,’ he added.

“‘I stooped, I sat on the ground, and I crawled on my hands and knees to earn a penny a quart for picking strawberries,’ said Mrs. E.W. Lawrence smiling. ‘One day I managed to pick 100 quarts, and that was my first full dollar. Incidentally, a day in the patch lasted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I was a Tomboy but probably spent my first dollar on material for a dress.’

“Disappointment followed an attempt made by Mrs. Fred Nusbaum and her brother, Harvey Marr, when they set out to get a pony by selling subscriptions to The Youth Companion magazine. They sold enough subscriptions, but the magazine agency sent them a mere picture of a pony, along with some cash.

“‘We got at least $1,’ Mrs. Nusbaum estimates, ‘and I spent my share at Wright’s store on striped cinnamon candy and white wafer candies with old-fashioned pictures pasted on each piece.’”

Stayed tuned! I just peeked at next week’s edition and a very pressing question will be answered. I’ve asked many people about this information, with no luck on the answer. BUT, next week I will share it with YOU!!!

The Peotone Vedette: January 14, 1972

Thought this was an interesting headline – check the spelling…

“Supreme Court Decision Affects Marihuana Cases”

Yep – marijuana was spelled with an ‘H,’ plus throughout the article. In summary, the Supreme Court of Illinois in People vs. McCabe reversed a marijuana conviction on the basis the inclusion of marijuana as a drug classification was unconstitutional, “since there was not enough medical information to justify classifying marihuana as a narcotic drug.”

Remember this…

“Kathy Dubbert Entered in Miss Ammo Contest”

“Kathy Dubbert, a Peotone girl, will be one of 10 contestants for the ‘Miss Ammo of 1972’ title at the U.S. Army Ammunition Procurement and Supply Agency and the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant in a contest on Saturday, January 15, at Byrum Hall. A panel of six judges will select the winner on the basis of beauty, personality, and poise, noted Barbara Davis, chairman of the contest committee.”

What could one expect at the grocery store that week…?

At Kasco in Manteno, an eight-pack of 16-oz. Coke was 69¢, plus deposit; Hill Brothers Coffee – $1.39/2 lbs.; Meadowmoor 2% milk – 38¢/half gallon; Jonathon apples – 35¢/3 lbs.; red potatoes – 10¢/10 lbs.; and Armour Star pork sausage – 39¢/1 lb. roll.

This is what students were enjoying in the school cafeteria…Chicken noodle soup, snappy pizza, and pickles; mac and cheese, green beans, and fruit; stew, hot biscuits, and pears; and hot dogs, baked beans, relishes, and fruit.

The Beecher Herald: January 13, 1972

Beecher schools did this every year but don’t remember this happening in other districts…

“School Buses Will Reverse Routes Monday, January 24”

“Beginning Monday, January 24, all students transported to Beecher Community Unit District 200-U will begin a reversal of their present bus schedule. That is, those students who were picked-up first now will be picked-up last, and those students who were picked-up last will be picked-up first.”

This tiny article was the extent of what happened at the village board meeting that week.

“Village Board Holds Meeting”

“John Storbeck was appointed secretary pro tem, in the absence of Village Clerk Les Smyrick, at the village board meeting Monday night. Bills amounting to $2,974 were authorized for payment.

“The Streets and Alleys Committee asked the village engineer to stake out the alley right-of-way behind the Haseman, Kaack, and Boecker homes.

“The bill presented by Arthur Graham for the storm sewers in the Graham-Konow subdivision came up for lengthy discussion. It was finally decided the village will pay $1,000 towards the cost upon the satisfactory completion of the project.

“A discussion followed on whether the phone is still needed in the sewage disposal plant. The consensus seemed to be it should be removed.”

*****

As I looked through the Herald from that week, it brought to mind how things have changed regarding the content of small town papers. Many of us still remember reading the summaries of club meetings, what the Scouts were doing, family celebrations and gatherings – whether it was a birthday, anniversary, or baptism – it was all there. There also were cards of thanks, new organization and club officer pictures, plus the one many of us of a certain age remember – who was in charge of the guest book and who poured punch at the reception. I really dated myself with that one, but we all read the articles and managed to place that same content in our announcements. Oh, how different…

Have a great week! Life is Good!!!