Time Travel Back to This Week in 1953

We have many past issues of local newspapers and it is always fun to look back at what was happening.  I always like looking at the ads but also wish the prices were the same today!  I thought it would be fun to share the Princeville Telephone of February 26, 1953.   What was happening 60 years ago?  Here are some of the highlights:

Duncan Community Consolidated School District planned to begin construction of a new school in March. Akron and Princeville Townships held their caucuses and parties made their nominations. 

The Princeville Township Republicans nominated:
T.E. Murphy for supervisor, Harry Best for Town Clerk, William German for Assessor, Fern Moffitt for Collector, Stewart Campbell for Justice of the Peace and Joe Theobald for Constable

The Princeville TownshipDemocrats nominated:
Gilbert Adams for Town Clerk, Guy Sibley for Assessor, Francis Camp for Collector, Fred Jackson for Justice of the Peace and Pearl Mitchell for Constable

The Akron Township Republicans nominated:
Eddie Woertz as Town Clerk, LeRoy Gruner as Assessor, Lucille Camp as Tax Collector, Jess Camp and Charles Frye as Justice of the Peace.

The second page had quite a list of local happenings keeping track of the comings and goings of local residens.  You can get great gas mileage with a Chevrolet purchased at Graves.  Do you remember what was playing at the local movie theater in 1953?  Well, Ronald Reagan was the star in Tropic Zone.  Cattle Town, Hiawatha and Meet Me at the Fair were also advertised.

The next page has some more local news.  Elma Crady and John Knell were married.  Their attendants were her sister and brother and law, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Gibson.  The ushers were Ralph Miller, George Lanier, Clayton Larson and Floyd Mummert.  Carmelitta Chapin of Edelstein was engaged to Lynville Eberle of Princeville.  CILCO (predecessor of Ameren) was advertising a "water hotter". 

The Radnor Grange served over 200 people at the Oyster Supper sponsored by their Home Economics Committee.  The committee consisted of Frances Felton, Irene Maddox and Inez DePue.  The is also news from LaPrairie and Laura.  If you needed to get to Dunlap, you could ride the Greyhound bus for 20 cents!!

I hope you enjoyed your time travel back to 1953.  I realize that you may not be able to read the fine print.  But, the newspaper itself can be viewed at the museum.  If you would like to view the newspaper, just stop in and ask us!

Princeville High School Senior Class Trip - 1953

The other day, while cataloging a donation from the estate of Damon Griswold, I found this photo tucked in the stack of yearbooks.  I thought this was a great photo to share on the blog.  Many of these seniors and their families still live in the Princeville area and will be celebrating their 60th high school reunion this year.  I big thank you to Audrey Whittaker who identified all these students. 

The students of Princeville High School Class of 1953 who went to Palmer House in Chicago for their senior class trip were:

Front Row (left to right):  Mary Lou Kuntz, Doris Martin, Dorothy Miller, Marilyn Stahl, Shirley Rench, Helen Johnston, Mary Springer and Louise Grundler (faculty member)

Second Row:  Roy Goins, Connie Smith, Sharon Burk, Sharon Sniff, Sherman Hawley, Terry Sutherland, Ruth Kraft and Bette Nuss

Third Row:  Orlyn (Richard) Routh, Charles Richoz, Jerry Pullen, Margaret Moody, Charlene Chapin, Jean Fairfield, Phyllis Larson, Harold Herrmann
Fourth Row:  Ray Morrissey, John Leuthold, Arden Smith, Ray Crooks, Alvin (Clifford) Lawrence, Norman Streitmatter, Arden Pullen, Don Slane.
Back Row:  William Cordis (superintendant), Sherm Cornish (Bus Driver), Damon Griswold (faculty)

Princeville Boy Scouts

The first official Boy Scout troop in Princeville was in 1926, sponsored by the PTA.  Scouting has always been strong in Princeville.  Twenty-six men have served as Scoutmasters in the 80+ years that scouting has been in Princeville.  To honor this history, the museum has a display of scouting memorabilia including badges, photos, books and equipment.  Stop in to see our collection.

I wanted to share with you two of the troop photos that we have in our archives.  The first photo was taken in the 1940s.  We do know all of the names in the photo and could use your help.  If you know any of the unnamed boys or the ones we aren't sure about, please email phmarchives@frontier.com.

Back row: (left to right) George McManus, Jr., Frank Kraft, Earl Hietter, ________, ________, Dan Hyde, Dwane Camp, Wayne Miller and Penny Williams.
Front row: (left to right) Jim Montgomery, Mike McManus, Jim Weaver (?), Harold Friedman, Marv Graves (?), Francis Owens, ____________, ____________, __________.

The 1974 First Presbyterian Church directory had this photo of the Boy Scout Troop.

Front Row: (left to right) Robbie Fay, Ronald Goffrier, Jeff German, Eric Blank, Kyle Ness, David German.

Back Row: (left to right) Ted Goffrier, Tom Sheets, Pat Rogers, Gary Burns, Joe Hyde, Doug Swiger, Scout Master Ted Goffrier.