A Christmas Carol - thoughts on Christmas Past

Scrooge? Not me.

There's no need for the ghost of Bob Marley to pay a visit - or any other apparitions for that matter.

The Spirit of Giving is alive and well on Forest Hill Road in Riley Township, thank you very much.

It is the time of year for personal reflection, though, and no literary device serves that purpose better than the Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol." The ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come will float above these pages beginning today and continuing through Dec. 23 - just in time for the most joyous holiday.

"God bless us, every one!"

1951

Although Rhonda Lee Kloeckner did not see the lights of Christmas in 1951 (Epiphany was the entry date at Clinton Memorial Hospital), there was plenty of activity in and around the county as recorded in the Dec. 20 issue of the Clinton County Republican News.

* Nearly 2,000 people braved heavy snow and zero temperatures to visit the Federal-Mogul Corporation Open House held at the newly-enlarged and modernized plant that tripled the size of the manufacturer.

* Things were a bit different in both news layout - and numbers - as noted in a front page story with a bold headline. It seems a whopping total of three drunk drivers were nabbed in the county during the preceding week. Fines ranged from $79.90 to $135.80.

* Anderson's New Shopping Basket IGA advertised an abundance of Christmas fixins' - an 8-pound sack of oranges, 43 cents; whole or half hams, 59 cents/lb.; and 25-pound bag of flour, $1.79. Believe it or not the ad included "all popular brands of cigarettes, $1.85" - for an entire carton, that is.

* There was a very familiar last name on the sports page - "Doug Knight paced St. Johns with 19 points scored in less than three quarters as coach Dwane Wyrick's cagers won their fourth straight game, 68-36, versus Belding."

1958

Fast forward to 1958. Rhonda is very much in tune with the Spirit of Christmas by this time - or at least into the spirit of Santa Claus. I'd have to check the family photo album to be sure, but I think this was the year the Jolly Old Elf delivered a doll house while we were at St. Peter Lutheran Church on Christmas Eve.

This may also have been the last year that the belief in Saint Nick was maintained. My 'much older' brother and sister decided it was time for me to grow up. That still hasn’t happened - and, thankfully, my belief in the Magic of Santa is intact as well.

Making the front page in the Dec. 25 issue of the News that year:

* Farmers Elevator Cooperative in Middleton has a lighted star atop its 110-foot silo that can be seen for miles around. Harold Todd is the manager.

* A mysterious blast felt and heard at noon the previous Thursday was apparently a sonic boom from a jet aircraft. Dozens of people reported hearing the boom.

* Jurors were dismissed after deadlocking 6-6 in the trail of Vincent Hengesbach. He was accused of murdering his step-mother earlier in the year. He was released by Circuit Judge Paul Cash on a writ filed by his attorney, Probate Judge Timothy Green, with approval of Prosecuting Attorney Frederick Lewis.

*It didn’t make the front page, but an advertisement for the Clinton Theatre in downtown St. Johns let everyone know that the feature film, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was playing for four days only, starring Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives.

Obviously, I didn't make the show when I was six, but it became one of my all-time favorite movies - and gave me one of my all-time favorite words, Big Daddy's "mendacity."

1964

Another six-year leap brings us to 1964 - the beginning of the end of innocence for an entire generation. It actually started the year before - Nov. 22, 1963. Moments of darkness were few and far between up until that time - at least in the protected confines of Riley Township.

Nothing was quite the same after that day. Civil Rights. Mississippi. Vietnam. Kent State. Martin. Bobby. These were the words that filled our minds in 1964 and in the years to come.

Locally, the News carried stories of conflict and companionship in the Dec. 24 issue.

* Amazingly, the issue of fire service contracts between St. Johns and Bingham Township topped the front page. Some things really don't change. Bingham did not sign a contract; St. Johns was providing service despite the lapse. The dispute centered on a rate increase to $800 per year standby and $100 per run; estimated total cost for the coming year was $3,000.

* On the 'Society' page, M/M Joseph J. Fox were set to celebrate their Golden Anniversary Jan. 10; and M/M Michael Hatta were celebrating their Silver Anniversary Dec. 27.

* In the same section, Mrs. Lloyd Hopp presided over meeting of the Friendly Neighbors Extension Study Group at the home of Mrs. Maynard Martens. All 11 members were present.

* And there was good news in Sports: Fowler cagers defeated #1 ranked Webberville in a 54-51 upset. First-year coach Chuck Trierweiler credited the Eagle defensive play with the win. Ditto for 'some things never change.'

1969

The Christmas of my senior year at the 'new' St. Johns High School was filled with too many happy events to list in this short space - and most would not be for public view anyway.

Even as the good times rolled on, the war in Vietnam cast a permanent shadow. By Christmas 1969, nine Clinton County residents had already given their lives in Southeast Asia and six more would follow in the years to come - including a very special friend from Riley, Brent Robin Law. His tour of duty began two weeks later, Jan. 7 - he died just over six months later, July 21, 1970.

As it did in every issue at that time, the Dec. 24 edition provided information on service personnel in a weekly column:

* Seaman Charles Batdorf, DeWitt; Ship Serviceman 3rd Class David Ferrigan and Fire Control Technician 3rd Class Scott Slocum, both of Laingsburg; and Navy Ensign Lee Ormsby of St. Johns, all serving aboard the USS Ranger stationed off the coast of Vietnam.

* PFC Kenneth Harris of St. Johns, stationed in Cu Chi, Vietnam.

* S/Sgt. Rodney Purvis of St. Johns received the Army Commendation Medal and "V" Device for heroism against hostile forces in Vietnam

* CE3 Michael Ziegler of St. Johns received the Navy Achievement Medal with "V" Device for professional achievement in armed conflict in Vietnam.

* Life did go on as usual back at SJHS. A photo shows St. Johns High School Student Council President Mark Barber and representatives Rich Stoddard, Karon Lundy and Cathy Cronkhite boxing up clothing and toys collected by students for needy families.

*And, the Redwing hoop club was red hot. A huge sports headline reads: "Wheee!!! SJ 102, GL 73" The team hit the century mark for the first time in a championship season that ended at the Regional finals after winning a District title. In the blow-out of Grand Ledge, Dean Eisler scored 25 points, Bob Rehmann 20, and Dave Gaffney 11.

What happened in the ensuing 32 years? I wish I knew. There were lots more good times - and some not so pleasant.

Probably most important, two sons were born, raised, and happily married - with one beautiful granddaughter bringing joy to Christmas during the past three years, and another equally beautiful grandchild due in April that guarantees excitement for Christmas 2002.

That's getting ahead of the story, though.