1939-12-15; Clare Sentinel

              W-i
~®
^ERYBOD-rl^EAl_S_THir
CLARE  SENTINEL,
ALL  HOME  PRINT
CLARE
THIS WEEK — 20 PAGES
140  COLUMNS
2800  INCHES
_>
<-»-
*
Established 1878
AMERICAN LEGION
POST TO INITIATE
1FTEEN MEMBERS
GLARE, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 15, 1939
New Series Vol. 48, No. lQ
State Commander and Adjutant Expected Here
Tonight
To-night Walter H. Larman Post No.
128, American Legion will hold one
of its finest meetings, when the Post's
1940 membership -record will be celebrated and fifteen men who have joined the American Legion for the first
time will receive the Ceremony of Initiation'which will be given by Legion-
naries from the Lansing Post.
Word has been received by local
Post officials that the State Commander, Everett DeRyke of Milan, and
the State Adjutant, Carl H. Goetz of
Monroe, are both planning to attend.
This will he the first lime that the
Clare Post, at a Post meeting, has
had as guests both the State Commander and the State Adjutant.
The Forty and Eight is composed
of Past Commanders and others who
have held high offices in the American
Legion. It is the Forty and Eight
Degree Team of Lansing, considered
the finest American Legion Initiation
Team in Michigan, that will have
charge of the Ceremony of Initiation.
As persons eligible to the American
Legion are those who were in military service from April Sth, 1917, to
November 31th, 1918, and as most of
those are already members, the securing of fifteen new men by one Post
is a matter which has caused much
favorable comment in Michigan
American Legion circles.
An American Legion Initiation is
entirely according to that printed in
the ritual aud it compares favorably
with that of any other fraternal organization, ft is a fine patriotic service
and will be instructive to both the old
and new members.
In addition to the State Commander and State Adjutant many other
prominent Legionnaires from all over
Michigan will be present and several
delgations from neighboring Posts are
planning to attend. It is expected that
this will be the largest attended meeting the local Post ever held.
After the meeting has been concluded ap oyster supper will, be'aery,q\j
and with the oysters, sandwiches and
coffee will he-'in order. Nothing has
been spared to assure this being one
of the Post's most successful meetings
and all members attending are guaranteed a goo . time.
THE CLARE COUNTY CHILD
HEALTH ASSOCIATION MEETS
IN TEMPLE DECEMBER 6TH
The regular December meeting of
the Clare County Clukl Health Association was held in the Temple
school, Wednesday, December 6 at 8
o'clock -in the evening, Mrs. John
Burnett, president, presided.
Mrs. Roy Meyers, Chairman of
Winterfield Township, introduced the
speaker of the evening, Dr. Oliver
Lohr, Serologist, of Saginaw Clinical
Laboratory.
Dr. Lohr presented an illusrative
talk on Syphillis that was interesting
and informative. Ho outlined the
history of the disease, the cause and
treatment. In spite of the fact that
the cause of the disease and effective
treatment nas been known for more
than 30 years, the inc.idoi.ee of syhilis
and other veucral diseases is appallingly high. Dr. Lohr pointed out
some of the factors which hinder the
fight against this menace to humanity.
Kis discussion included the treatment of-venaral diseases with sulph-
anilimide. Dr. Lohr emphasized the
dangers of-self diagnosis, seif treatment, treatment by quacks and other
unqualified persons. Early diagnosis,
'medical care prevention through
education are the important implements of war against syphilis and
other veneral diseases.
Mt. Pleasant Home of Former Clare Family Shattered
hy Gas Explosion That Jarred Entire City Sunday
HUGE MUSICAL
PROGRAM AT HIGH
1CH00L TUESDAY
Two   Hundred   and   Fifty
Students to Appear
in Chorus
An invocation in local musical entertainment will be presented at the
high school auditorium Tuesday evening, December 19th, at 8:00 o'clock,
when two hundred and fifty school
children will appear in a mass chorus.
The program will include Christmas
carols, solos and glee club numbers,
and with the chorus of two hundred
and fifty voices participating, it will
present a spectacle never before seen
in this city.
A one act play, "In the Light of the
Star," will be a feature of the program, and will be made beautiful with
impressive and intricate lighting effects.
Dramatic instructor John Speare
Will be in charge of casting, musical
director Richard Greenfield will be in
charge of ihe chorus and musicians,
and Miss Geraldine LaRoux will accompany at the piano.
This one hour musical treat will be
produced with 'special permission of
Rowe, Peterson Company, and will be
free to the public.
Ideal Theatre
Will Entertain
School Students
The Ideal Theatre will present their
annual Christmas matinee for the
school children of the community,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,
December. 19, 20th and ,21st..
More .than five thousand students
aud their.teachers,have been invited
from schools within.a radius, of twenty
five milesi and it is expected the city
will take on the appearance of a
field day when the truck loads of
youngsters arrive at the theatre.
The children 'look forward to '.Mr.
Olson's treat each year, and he "has
aei[ecte__-D_.iited'rArtists, .-Little Lord
Fountleroy. V a pnoduGtiop, that is sure
to pftsasd the.syoungsters. >,.for this
year's presentation*
MERRY YULETIDE
SEASON IN FULL
SWINGJERE NOW
Streets and Stores Decked
With Christmas Lights
and Evergreen
With Christmas only a few days
away, the spirit ot the season is -becoming more and more in evidence in
Clare.
Hundreds of shoppers throng the
streets and stores, searching here and
there for gifts for Jane and Jimmie,
brother and sister, mother and father,
grandma and grandpa, sweetheart and
wife, and all the others op their lists.
And as they go from store to store,
from. Cjn_5. veritable Christmas ^Eairy
.Slid to- "another, they' pause to admire
the beautiful array of Christmas trees
and Christmas wreaths which adorn
the business places by day, and the
myriads of twinkling lights by night.
The out-of-town shoppers are greeted by Christmas greenery, festooned
from one side of the streets to the
others, hanging with wreaths in' appropriate Christmas colors, as they
approach the city during daylight
hours; and hundreds of gaily colored
lights in the evening.
Never have Clare's stores had more
complete stocks of pietty and useful
gift merchandise; and it has been
many years since the prices have been
so reasonable, Timeiy gift suggestions
will be found in the advertising
pages of this week's Sentinel. Read
the ads now and shop today while selections arc still complete.
" ■  ,    ■ —Photo Courtesy Lansing btate journal
Debris left by blast that wrecked the home and household furnishings of  WPA  Recreation   Director  Donald
Quinn, who had just moved his family to Mt, Pleasant from- blare, following transfer to that city.
DONALD QUINN
SERIOUSLY HURT
IN EXPLOSION
Gas     Leak   Causes   Blast
Which Wrecks House
in Mt. Pleasant
METHODIST CHURCH
ORGAN DEDICATION
SUNDAY EVENING
Impressive  Dedication  Service
and Organ Recital at 7:30
O'clock
Sunday evening, December 17, the
new organ lecently installed in the
Methodist Church will be formally
dedicated with appropriate exercises.
In connection with the dedication a
recital will be presented by Mrs. Cecil
Visser, organist of the Briggs Street
Evangelical Church of Grand Rapids,
with Mrs. John Empey of Clare vocal
solist. The service will be in two
sections as follows:
First, the dedication  .eivice:
Voluntary, "Joy To the World," Mrs.
John Empey at the console.
Hymn by the congregation
Presentation and dedication of
organ
Hymn by the congregation
Anthem," "Thanks Be To God", by
Stanley Dickson, the Senior Choir.
Brief Address by Rev. W; Maylan
Jones, District Superintendent
Presentation of Offerings.
Second, the recital, Mrs. Cecil Visser at the console.
"The Pastoral Symphony" from
"The Messiah" by Handel.
"Medley of Christmas Carols."
Vocal solo, "O Divine Redeemer"
by Charles Gounod, Mrs. lohn Empey
"Liebestraum" by Liszt
"Largo" by Handel, with varitatlons
"_?ells of Eberdovey" by Stewart
Vocal solo, "I hear Thy Voice" by
Edith Lang, Mrs. Empey
"Hallelujah Chorus" from "The
Messiah" by gfandel
Benediction.
, The, service begins promptly at 7; 30
o'clock, ahd the public is cprdiafty 'invited to attend.
A five-room bungalow was blown to
bits, a gasoline station damaged and
two men seriously injured in a gas
explosion at Mt. Pleasant shortly be-^
fore 7 o'clock Sunday night.
The blast, felt over a wide area in
the city, also damaged two nearby
automobiles and broke windows in
a large number of homes in the vicinity.
The injured are Donald Quinn, 25,
WPA district -recreation advisor, who
had just lented the house- in the
northern section of the city after
being transferred from, Clare, and
Wells Sheldon, 50 gas company repairman.
The explosion may have been
caused, it is believed, by Quinn
snapping off an electric light switch
after returning upstairs from inspecting the gas leak in the "basement. Neither Quinn nor Sheldon,
who was near the front door at the
time of the blast, could remember
turning the light switch, however.
Quinn and Sheldon were dragged
from the wreckage by Arnold Hager-
man, attendant at the nearby gas
station, which was also damaged.
Quinn was taken to McArthur-Strange
hospital and Sheldon to the North-
way hospital, both in a serious condition.
Quinn, who suffered burns about
the face and neck, .a fractured left
ankle, and possible internal injuries,
said the basement was full of gas
when he and his family went into
the house. He sent his wife and child
out to the automobile, parked in the
yard, and called a gas company repairman. Sheldon was burned about
the face and suffered an arm injury
and shock.
Quinn's wife and three-year-old
daughter, Patty, who escaped injury
as they sat in their car near the house,
are suffering -from shock.
Quinn's household goods had been
moved into the house and these were
wrecked and clothing scattered
about the place by tne blast which
was heard by students at Central State
Teachers college a mile away.
Sheldon's car also parked near the
house, was badly damaged by flying
splinters as was the Quinn machine.
QUARTERLY CONFERENCE       ,
AND STEWARDSHIP MEETING
AT BROWN CORNERS CHURCH
The second quarterly conference of
the year will be held at the Brown
Corners United Brethern church Saturday and Sunday, December 16th
and 17th.
A business session will be held Saturday evening at 8:00 o'clock.
Preaching and communion service
Sunday morning at 11:00 and Sunday evening at 8:00, with the Presiding Elder, Rev. L. H. Cook of North
Star, in charge.    ,
Everyone invited and welcome.
There will also be a Stewardship
study at the church Monday evening
at 8:00 o'clock, in charge of the Elder,
Rev. Cook.
Hi School Basket
Ball Team Plays
in Clare Tonite
- The Clare 'High School basket ball
team will meet St. Louis at the high
school gymnasium this . Friday evening, in .the only home game before
Christmas'.
The Clare High Pioneers defeated
Reed City last week and will be out
to continue their winning streak tonight, and keep Casper, the goat, in
the "green" pastures.
The local3 defeated St. Louis in football and in the first'basket ball game
last year, only to lose the final basket
ball game arid the custody of Casper
until this year's football encounter.
The boys from "St. Louis" will try to
repeat this year."   ' -
Let's* ail'.drbp in atone of the local
drug .store,; get a'.'Season ticket,' and
'be there for 'the'] opening1'Whistle- at
7*15, to see the'fun. ■'''**    '   •"'■"
PREPARE TO AID
NEEDYMILIES
Christmas Baskets Will Be
Given to   Needy   of
Community
Thursday evening of last week the
Clare Coordinating Council was formed when representatives of twenty-two
Clare .organizations including the
churches, fraternal organizations and
civic organizations met at the Clare
Public Library and started a working
organization.
The immediate purpose of the newly created organization is the distribution of Christmas baskets to needy
families in Clare and vicinity. It is
hoped that an all year around permanent organization will develop from
this beginning.
A temporary organization was first
effected with Superintendent E. D.
Kennedy being elected Temporary
Chairman. The permanent officers
elected were Willard Bicknell, President, and Eva Lowery, Secretary.
It was decided that each organization should be responsible for one
committee with a chairman for each.
The following organizations were
chosen to be responsible for the following committees:
The Kiwanis club and Chamber of
Commerce will take care of Finances,
including raising of funds, purchasing and soliciting.
The Study Club, American Legion
Auxiliary, Clare Good Literature Club,
Clare Sons of the American Legion
Squadron, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
will be responsible for the packing
of baskets.
The Masonic.Lodge, with Stanley L.
Masten as Chairman, will take charge
of the distribution, of the baskets.
The American Legion Post, Veteran
of Foreign Wars Post and Clare"
Publie Schools will have charge of the
publicity.
The Churches, Odd Fellow Lodge,
Rod and Gun Club and Firemen's Association will be responsible for the
collection of clothing and. toys.
The Eastern Star Chapter will be in
charge of receiving and sorting of tho
clothing at the Clare City Hall.
The next meeting of the Coordinating Council will be held ■ at' the City
Library at seven-thirty o'clock next
Monday night, December 18th, at
which time lepresentativcs of all of
the above organizations *will meet with
the Council officers." At that time a
list of needy families will tit> presented
and further. plans for, the. distribution
-(Continued' on .Page Twelve) .
CLARE CHAMBER
COMMERCE HOLDS
ANNUALjHEETING
Kenneth    Barnes ' Elected
President for the Coming Year
The annual meeting of the Clare
Chamber of Commerce was held at
Barnes Cafe Monday evening, with a
large attendance of the membership.
Following the serving of the delicious 6:45 dinner the meeting was
called to order by President Kenneth
Barnes.
Secretary Dale Kennedy read his
annual report, Which revealed that'a
great deal.had been. *-.ccQmp_ished by
the chamber during the year. In the
absence of Treasurer Fraiicis Jackson,
who was called to Chicago by a death
in the family, Secretary Kennedy read
the annual Treasurer's report, which
disclosed that the organization had
not only paid some bills which had
been carried over from previous
but finished this year with a substantial balance.
Amoflg. the accomplishments of the
year are: an extensive advertising
campaign reaching into the several
State's whose residents vacation here;
attendance of a representative at the
National Builders Show at Cleveland,
where thousands of Clare publicity
folders were distributed during the
several days of the show; maintenance
of highway signs; cooperation with
the Board ol Education in financing
summer band concerts; support of
sports organizations; hundreds of dollars worth improvements at the Tourist Park; the acquiring of adequate
safety lights at the OS-27 and US-10
railroad crossings; and tne securing
of parking ppace in anticipation of
the enforcement of parallel parking
laws here.
This work will not only encourage
the continuance of Clare's share of
the State's second industry, tourist
business, but has attained entertainment and conveniences foi* the people
o'f the community, and most important
of all, has removed serious traffic haz-
zards at th:* railroad crossings and
entrances to the Tourist Park.
Acey Parker and Dr. Slattery were
presented with gifts from Director of
Membership Joe Sproat and President
Barnes in appreciation of their splendid work in securing ninety-five memberships for the year.
In the election of officers Kenneth
Barnes. was reelected President,
Stuart fiickuell elected Vice President,
Dale Kennedy reelected Secretary,
and Theo Wallington elected Treasurer. .
' John Doherty, who has been on the
Board of Directors the longest of any
member, was reelected for three
years; aud Joe Sproat, who was elected to fill the vacancy of Harold Fleming when he became Vice President
last year, was elected for a three year
team, *
At the January meeting the 1940
committees will be appointed and
■plans discussed for the preliminary
work of the year.
C. H.Rockwell
Record Hunter
Establishes enviable minting record
during his many years residence in
Clare,
HAS HUNTED DEER
FOR MANY YEARS
Was Among First Settlers
of Clare and Isabella
Counties
Many unusual hunting stories have
come to our attention during the past
several seasons, • but right here in
Clare lives a man whose record is
hard to equal.
Nearly ninety-three years ago a
young chap was born in Crawford
county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1S47,
and later christened Cbfrj.es Henderson Rockwell. "> *
At the age of twe.ve years he shot
his first deer in his native State.
C. H„ as he is know to his friends,
was married July 4, 186G, and one
year later, to the day, fie and his
bride came to Mt. Pleasant* settling in
Vernon township later that year.
He helped'to set stakes for*thelfrg?
settlers in Clare county, assisting
Joseph Boucher, w.io settled ih the
nprtheast corner of section 11, Grant
townsh'p, now the site of the Dover
store, and James Loomis, who settled
in the northeast corner of section 10,
Grant township.
There were no highways and all
travel was made over Indian trails and
logging roads that wound through the
forest, but the timber lands were free
from underbrush,, except in the
swamps and swails, and one could
drive a horse and buggy beneath the
virgin pines at will—unless they became lost.
December 4, 1873, Mr. Rockwell
came to Glare and become engaged as
stationary engineer in one of the sawmills of the locality. lie has remained
here continuously since, except for
about a year when ne went to Midland
to assist as millwright in setting up a
saw mill and remained for a time as
stationary engineer.
C. H. planted many of the fine large
shade trees which now line our streets,
(Continued on Page Twelve)
COUNTY EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION MEETS
AT CLARE SCHOOL
A.
P. Gray of State Association
Principal Speaker Monday Evening
PENNY SUPPER
The date of the Rebekah Penny
Supper has had to be changed to December 15th. Menu for supper will
include, mashed potatoes, . brown
gravy, baked beans,, cabbage salad,
pie, cake, jello, pickles and sandwiches. Card pftrty and dancing will follow*   Fee Of l(fe each fa? cards.
The Clare teachers were host to
about fifty members of the Clare
County Education Association Tuesday evening. Dinner was served by
the high school Home Economics class
under the supervision oi' Miss Joyce
Conklin.
Jay Hansen, president of the county group, presided at the meeting and
introduced A. P. Gray cf the State
Michigan Education Association, who
spoke to the. organization on the
benefits of the new, group Health and
Accident Insurance which is now
available to members of the teaching
profession.
" As part of the program the Clare
High school Trumpetcers—George
Parent, Ruth Robinette,. Martin Kennedy, and Bernard Wyman, played two
numbers. A tuba solo by Henry
Denton and a piano solo by Miss -Le-
Roux were also greatly enjoyed.
The next meeting i_. scheduled for
February and is to be put on by the
rural teachers of the county.
FIVE OVERCOME
BY GAS FUMESi
MONDAY NIGHT
Erter Family Asphyxiated'
While They Slept at
Temple Home
V '    ■      -
Dale Erter, 28 years old, his wife-,
Ona, 30 two sons*    Donnie,    7,    and '■
Robert 9, ami a nephew, Dale Howard,
narrowly   escaped  death    when'   all"
were  asphyxiated  by  gas   fumes  at
their* home in the Pure Oil settlement
just east of Temple, some time Mon- ■
day night.
When Dale failed to report - for
work at the Pure Oil Company motor
transport division, where he is -head
mechanic, Koy Ashcraft, another employee, went to the home at about
1:30 o'clock Tuesday morning, to-'
learn why Dale had not reported for
duty.
Upon finding Biter's car in the yard
and not being able to arouse any of
the family* Ashcraft and a neighbor investigated and found the entire family unconscious. Erteiy his wife, -and
the nephew, were all in their beds,
but the children, who had been sleeping on an adjoining sleeping porch-
where the fumes were not as strong,
and had apparently become sick and
attempted to arouse their parents,
were found where they had fallen on
the floor of the house.
Artificial respiration and administration of oxygen by Ashcraft, W. A.
Harrison and H. T. Rickert, all Pure
Oil employees, resusticated the victims.
Dr. C. B. Wood was called and attended the patients, with the assistance of County Nurses -liss Martha.
Knecht and Miss Isabella Ryer, who"
were at the settlement making a.
routine call. As the victims could/
not be moved because of their con-
difion, special duty nurses were called.
The children regained conscious--
ness soon after found, out the adults-
remained unconscious until late that
afternoon and evening.
The fact that all Pure Oil employees-
at the company camp had recently
taken a first-aid course-under the direction of the United States Bureau ot
Mines, ^undoubtedly; prevented _, trag--
>e.dy, iSS-jtfei- had "taken the first-aid_ .
test.      ■■"'*''"
The fum2_ are believed to have*
come from a gas heater iy the home*.
The patients were all recovering
satisfactorily Thursday afternoon and
expected to leave their beds today.
Just arrived — Window shelves,
hanging pots, ivy trainees, plant
stands and what-not shelves. Every
purchase- gift wrapped. Gift ahd
FloWer Shop.--Adv.
DIST. WELFARE
MEETING AT CITY
HALLSATUBDAY
Thirty-five Mich. Counties
Represented at All Day
Meeting
More than one hundred representier-
tives from thirty-five counties attended a district welfare meeting in the
Clare City Hall auditorium Saturday-
December 9. Counties from Gratiot
on the south, to Cheboygan on the:
north, and from the thumb district oa
the east, to Lake Michigan on the
west, were represented.
The purpose of the meeting was to.
discuss the State welfare act, ways-
and means of hospitalization of welfare patients, determining resident
and non resident, cases in counties,
responsibility of out-State cases, etc.
The meeting was called to order by
the chairman, Clare County Welfare
Director Ben Mercer, cf Clare, at
■10:00 o'clock, and' continued in. session until S:30 in the afternoon.
Among • rhe speakers were: Attorney Black, of Port Huron, representing the Attorney Generals office; Mrs-
Royce, of Mecosta county, representing the State Tax Commission; and.
M. L. VanGeisen, of Flint, representing the State Welfare Commission.
This was the first of a series ot
five meetings to be held thro.ughout
the State, others being scheduled for
Detroit, Lansing, and two in the Upper Peninsula.
HONORED AT DINNER
v
Mrs. B.'A. White" <i?f This city was*
honored at a birthday and Thanksgiving dinner at the" home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Bruce Sweat,- in Day-
tona \Beach yesterday. Guests includ--
ed Mrs. White, Mrs. Ii. L. Lewis, Mrv
and Mr**. S. Bogardus of Clare, Mich*,.
Mr* Sweat, and Barbara Jane Sweat.—
New Smyrna Daily News.
SUBSCRIBERS AND PATRONS)
Call at the Sentinel office and" get -
your 1940 calendars. If you (Send tb* • ■
children, please send a ni*te. lfttf   <
■fbhOA&mi