By Arline Adamsick
The Manteno News: December 12, 1974
“Christmas Greetings from the 1910 Era Revive Memories”
“Christmas greetings were once sent on postcards and pictured above are three fine examples from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Williams. These cards, postmarked 1910 and 1911, are typical of the colorful cards of that era. Each is very different from the others, indicating the variety that well-wishers could choose from in the days of yesteryear. Christmas means memories, and tradition plus personal recollections create the warmth we all associate with the Yuletide.”
The Manteno community certainly was getting ready for Christmas as the paper was filled with everything Christmas, including some of these headlines…
“KCC Choir Xmas Program December 19” – The College’s Choir was presenting ‘Home for the Holidays, at the college center, with ‘tea and crumpets’ at no charge. “Maple Crest Club Holds Xmas Party,” a Pinochle Club held a dessert-luncheon at the home of Mrs. Arthur Ebeling.
“Annual Concert Wednesday” – “The annual Christmas Concert of the senior and junior high schools will be presented on Wednesday, December 18, at the junior high. Three bands and two choruses, all in holiday dress, will perform a varied program of choral, band, and solo numbers.” It mentioned that during intermission there would be a drawing for “five valuable prizes” by representatives of the Boosters – but no mention of what the prizes were – just that they were valuable. “Nazarenes to Hold Musical Program” – On December 15, the church choir of the Manteno Church of the Nazarene was presenting the cantata “The Story of Christmas.”
“CCD to Practice for Christmas Eve” – “Practice times have been scheduled for the C.C.D. classes to prepare for the Christmas Eve procession that will take place at 8 p.m. It is stressed all children in classes from the four-year-olds through eighth grade should participate, and parents are asked to encourage their children to attend the practice sessions.
“KCC Vets Club Sponsors Toy Drive” – “The second annual toy drive, sponsored by the Veterans Club at KCC, now is underway on campus. A collection is being made of used toys from students and residents of the KCC District. All toys will be distributed to needy children throughout the area through the Salvation Army.
How about these prices for fresh Christmas trees…Customers of Rabideau’s in Bonfield could chose and cut a tree from their lots (weather permitting), or they could select one that was already cut. Prices were $5 for up to 10 feet, or $6 for more than six feet.
The Peotone Vedette: December 13, 1974
Here’s a bit of history about a former Peotone business…
“Orville Ahlborn Bids Dairy Business Goodbye”
“When Orville Ahlborn sold his South Side Dairy and retired on November 1, he said goodbye to 53 years in and around the dairy business. That’s a lot of milk. Orville was just a youngster when his father, George, who had been a farmer, began the dairy business in 1921. In those days the customers came to the dairy to pick-up their milk. It was bottled and capped by hand in glass pints and quarts, with Mrs. Ahlborn pouring the milk from a five-quart pitcher.
“Milk cost 5¢ a pint, 10¢ a quart, and the method of payment was different, too. Customers bought 25 milk tickets in advance and paid for the milk with the tickets. The switch to a monthly billing system was not made until the 1940s, but some people preferred to use the tickets. When he sold the business, Ahlborn still had two ‘ticket’ customers.
“The milk was not refrigerated back in 1921 but kept in a water tank filled with well water. The water was changed every two hours to keep it cold. In addition to milk, butter was made twice a week. Cottage cheese was made and sold in one pound coffee cans that were returned and refilled. The Ahlborn whipping cream was so rich, 40 percent butterfat, that it almost whipped itself in the container. Today the state requirement for whipping cream is only 32 percent butterfat.
“The family began delivering milk house-to-house about 1922, with a horse and wagon. Delivery, of course, was seven days a week, beginning about 5 or 5:30 a.m. Orville remembers, as a child, he would start on the delivery route and then slip off his overalls and run to school from the wagon.
“The only requirement in the ’20s was that milk sold to customers had to be from TB-accredited herds. Along about 1933, health laws required pasteurization. The Ahlborns installed automatic bottling equipment, a pasteurizer, and walk-in coolers to keep pace with the times.
“After the Depression, people began demanding milk in paper cartons instead of glass. When homogenized milk came on the market about 1952, the Ahlborns had to make a decision. Machines to fill the paper cartons were too costly for a small operation at that time. So, they began receiving all their milk from the Borden Company, in glass bottles and paper cartons. Milk has been delivered to the Ahlborn-owned South Side Dairy from Borden from the past 27 years.
“Six-day delivery here stopped in the ’60s. For five years it was Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Then, it changed to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Although the milk is not so rich now, the bacteria count is lower, the milk is better quality, and keeps better. Ahlborn took over the operation in 1962. The dairy was sold on November 1 to Grade A Dairy in Kankakee.”
The Beecher Herald: December 12, 1974
“Touch-Tone Phones Coming to Beecher”
Beecher area telephone users will notice a change in the sound of the dial tone on Thursday, December 12, according to Jim Garrison, Illinois Bell’s local manager.
“‘It’s caused by new central office equipment that will make Touch-Tone telephone service available to customers in this area,’ said Garrison.
“Equipment installations are being handled by the Western Electric Company, the manufacturing and supply unit of the Bell System. Illinois Bell switching personnel will begin testing the new equipment as soon as installation is completed. According to Garrison, Touch-Tone telephone sets and service will be available to Beecher customers with ‘946’ telephone numbers by January 1975.”
“Salvation Army Collects $1,499 Here”
“A total of $1,499.06 was collected in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive held Saturday, December 7, in Beecher. Of that amount $279.06 was contributed in cash, while the rest was in checks, including a personal check for $1,000. The drive was conducted by the Women’s Welfare Club, with Stella Weber and Betty Johnson serving as co-chairmen.”
“Consumer Forum”
“By Illinois Attorney General, William J. Scott
“The holiday season is a time when our hearts become full of joy, and our bank accounts become depleted of money! Many of us will feel the strain of inflation, as we set out on our holiday gift buying. So today, I’d like to offer some hints as well as some words of caution.
“Pickpockets: If you are carrying money and or credit cards, beware of the pickpocket and the purse snatcher. Men – Keep your wallet in an inside jacket pocket with your overcoat buttoned overtop. Women – Keep your wallet in an inside, zipped compartment of your purse and carry a purse with a strong clasp or zipper closure. Also, it might be wise to carry credit cards in a separate case or compartment.
“Where not to shop: At this time of year many fly-by-night outfits open storefront establishments especially to lure a holiday crowd. Oftentimes, a consumer will purchase an item from a storefront business, only to return for an adjustment after the holidays and find the storefront closed and the salesmen and merchandise ‘flown-by-night.’
“Mail orders: Many people find mail order shopping much more comfortable than fighting holiday crowds. But use caution. Again, the best advice is to use only catalogues offered by established merchants. If you receive an unsolicited catalogue in the mail and see an item you’d like, be sure it doesn’t sound ‘too good to be true.’ It probably is. Also check the return policy and guarantees.”
The Crete Record: December 12, 1974
“Hickory Committee Reports to Board”
“Opinions and suggestions from the Ad Hoc Committee on Hickory School were heard and discussed at the 201-U School Board meeting Monday. The committee, which is headed by Assistant Supt. Larry Beckley, includes parents, teachers, teacher aides, and principals, and met twice in November.
“After reviewing information prepared on all elementary schools in the district, the committee decided to present a community survey to help focus on concerns and give an indication of community feelings about various options.
“Though some of the alternatives may prove to be unworkable, they were brought out so they might be discussed. In this way the community could be informed as to why a certain alternative would not work.
“The list includes: 1. Geographical busing; 2. Volunteer busing; 3. Sixth grade at Deer Creek; 4. Mobile units on site; 5. A 45-15 year-round school plan; 6. Split shifts; 7. Build another school; 8. Split the school district; 9. Change Hickory Elementary to traditional classrooms; 10. Add traditional classrooms to existing open space; 11. Addition to Hickory; and 12. Others.
“The committee believe number 3 is not possible, as Deer Creek is not equipped to handle sixth grade; #4, #9, and #10 are limited by building capacity; and #7 and #11 could not be completed in time for a solution for next year.
“Keeping enrollment projections in mind, the board will consider, during the next several months, the direction they wish to take on new construction and/or renovation of old buildings. Within this period, the board will apply to the Capital Development Board for construction grants, which can relieve the local financial burden as much as 60 percent.”
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Christmas is quickly approaching, whether you’re ready or not, but there’s still nearly two weeks to get everything done on your “to-do” list. Just don’t forget to take some time to be gentle on yourself. If everything doesn’t get done, that’s really OK. If you’re not completely exhausted when Christmas arrives – then you’ve found that great balance for a perfect holiday!! Don’t forget to catch some of those wonderful Christmas specials – there’s a ton of them. Found myself watching a special with Ossie Davis and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra the other evening and, despite being tired, I soon realized I was smiling as I enjoyed the lovely music. Nothing like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to put a new spin on all the old favorites. Did you know – they will be at the Rosemont before Christmas? Hang in there – Life is Good!!!