Looking Back for Dec. 25, 2019

1919 – 100 YEARS AGO

Wiswall and Wirtz, the furniture merchants are today driving a new Ford one-ton delivery truck. The body is specially built for the furniture trade the work being done by the DeKalb Wagon Works. The body presents a neat appearance, the inside being completely lined. Other appliances and devises have been attached. The recent increase of business by this popular firm necessitated the acquisition of a new delivery truck.

Old Martin Gavin is back. As regular as a clock, Martin, as he is familiarly known to the attaches of the police station, blows into town on or about Christmas day and “rooms” at the station a of couple of days and then continues on his aimless way. Martin is a great character. He first came to DeKalb years ago as a member of the construction force which put in the steel for the double track system on the Chicago and Northwestern. For some years he made periodical visits here but for the past seven years has been on a “tour” of the country and during that time has never missed a Christmas in the city. He sleeps at the police station and gets his meals from friends.

Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Bradt will have members of the John Glidden family, Miss Annie Glidden and Glidden Sweitzer and Mrs. Marietta Robinson for dinner tomorrow. On Sunday another company will be entertained at the hospitable Bradt home on North First street.

1944 – 75 YEARS AGO

Believe it or not, those persons of the city on the downtown streets about 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon witnessed a horse and cutter mode of transportation the first of the season. To many of the youngsters, the snow vehicle was a novelty, and even many of the older people took a second look, and remembered way back when. In some places in the country such vehicles are far easier to handle than an automobile at the present time.

At the close of business this evening, the Montgomery Ward Store on Somonauk Street, locks its doors for good, as far as the Ward Company is concerned. The announcement of the closing was made a few weeks ago, and during the holiday buying season, much of the stock remaining, has been well-cleaned out. Some of the merchandise left in the store, it is understood, will be transferred to the DeKalb store, to replenish stocks there.

Jennie Little, official court reporter at Sycamore, for 35 years, yesterday announced she will give up the work December 31, and retire.  “I am going to take a rest, enjoy my home and spend much of my time reading,” Miss Little said yesterday, when asked if she had any future plans.

The Mission Covenant church is having its traditional Jul Otta service on Sunday morning starting at 5:30 o’clock. For hundreds of years the people of Sweden have welcomed Christmas day in this manner. The opening hymn “All Hail to Thee” by Wallin is a translation of the hymn used in Sweden, and will be sung by the congregation.

Mrs. Elizabeth Van Artsdale, well known Malta resident, was very well remembered by trainmen on the Galena division, when she was presented a purse of $81, from some 70 or more railway men whom she has been waving at for many years’ past. For more than 20 years she has been waving at every train that passed her home, which is about 150 feet from the railway, and oftentimes her son would be a member of the train crew. Mrs. Van Artsdale, known to the railway men as “Mother Diedrich” has lived in Malta for nearly a half century.

P. L. Lanegan, who resides on Sycamore Road between Electric Park corners and Sycamore on the old Claycomb farm, reports that about 70 of his nicest chickens were stolen sometime during the night Tuesday. The exact number stolen is not known but it is thought that about 70 of the best birds were taken.

1969 – 50 YEARS AGO

Dear Santa, I am 7 years old. Would you please bring me an ice skating rink? your friend Todd Crawley

“I’d like to explain to people that this is the way is – so they may as well accept it,” said Margie Rey, a young mother of two. Mr. and Mrs. John Rey, DeKalb residents, have what is considered today as a “very unusual family”. Besides their son Dan, age two, the Reys have adopted Timmy, who is nine months – and of a racially mixed origin. The breakthrough has begun in DeKalb. “Trans-racial adoptions are spreading in this community,” said Margie. As a member of the Open-Door Society, she stated that “we have 11 families who have, or are planning to adopt racially mixed children.”

Hockey play on the new skating rink on Alma Street all be regulated by restrictions, The Chronicle learned this morning. The decision came about due to a couple of small children being struck by a puck and a sign outlining the rules of play is expected to be posted by Sycamore Park Superintendent Dick Richardson in the near future.

An unusual Christmas tree made from pine branches, building material and a string of lights was erected inside the new Chronicle plant last week. Complete with a red brick cross in the center, the tree was put together by the workmen during noon hours. Spirits are high at the construction site as work is on schedule and the new building should be ready for occupancy by February.

1994 – 25 YEARS AGO

The spirit of the holiday season burns brightly in the Chesebro Elementary School community this holiday season. At the end of November, a Chesebro family lost everything in a fire. Chesebro special education staff member Susan Traver, who knew the family from tutoring one of the children, immediately went into action. The day following the fire, Traver penned a letter requesting assistance from other school families. The letter went home with every Chesebro student. “When I came into my office the next morning, it was already overflowing with donations,” Traver said. In total, Traver estimates she has brought up to eight carloads of donations to the family.

All Tony Bannon wants for Christmas is his Santa Claus back. For the last 18 years, Bannon has adorned his yard with a 5-foot tall Santa. That all changed last weekend when somebody stole it from his yard. Bannon said the decoration is about 30 years old. He said putting him out is like a signal that the holiday season is starting. “It doesn’t come apart. So, they put it into a truck or a mini-van. Bring it back. That’s all I want,” he said.

• Compiled by the Joiner History Room, DeKalb County Archives.