On the Iris, Muriel, and Wilma's scrapbook

Time to clean out the mailbox - email, snail mail and special deliveries.

Quite an assortment of letters and interesting information has accumulated in recent weeks in response to various news articles and columns that have appeared on these pages. It's time to share it with our readers.

A column from several weeks ago that contained a tidbit of information on the old Iris Theatre prompted an email message from a former St. Johns resident with a 'reel' history locally.

Thomas Beecher who now lives in Virginia recalled working at the old Clinton Theatre that his father, R.W. ( Bill) Beechler, and grandfather, R.G. (Roy) Beechler, opened in 1935. His great-uncle, C.R. Beechler, had operated the Iris Theatre that preceded the Clinton.

"The Clinton thrived early on and began its decline in the early '60s," Thomas wrote in his email. "Dad kept it open as long as it was a break-even situation. In 1968 it no longer held that level of business. It was, to say the least, a sad day for all of us."

Thomas also remembered working at the Maple City Drive-in located near Charlotte that C.R. Beechler opened in the late 1950s, and is the proud owner of memorabilia from the old Iris Theatre.

"I do have two projectors from the old Iris Theater. A bit on the worn side, but pretty much all there," he wrote.

Birthday wishes for 'Nurse Fuzzy Wuzzy' in another recent column produced a thank-you telephone call from the high-spirited lady - and an avalanche of cards from well-wishers. The mail carrier on South Oakland Street was busy in the days preceding Feb. 18, delivering greetings to Muriel Gilson.

"I've gotten over 150 cards and letters," Muriel said of her 85th celebration that also included a tribute at the St. Johns varsity boys basketball game and other fun events.

"I just hope I can live up to all the nice things you wrote about me."

You'll have no problem doing that, Muriel.

* * * * * * * * * *

The most significant message came hand-delivered by St. Johns resident, Jim Quick. The Korean War veteran dropped off a scrapbook of newspaper clippings from World War II and Korea that had been complied by Clinton County native, Wilma Jastram.

Long-time area residents will remember Wilma as one of the friendly ladies who worked for many years at the old D&C Store in downtown St. Johns. (What I wouldn’t give to have that wonderful business back on Clinton Avenue - the great candy-counter with its assortment of chocolates and fresh-roasted peanuts - but that's a whole different column for another time.)

Wilma's scrapbook is a real treasure. Each week for the entire year of 1945, she clipped and saved articles from this paper's predecessor, the Clinton County Republican-News, on local men and women who were serving in the war effort.

"I just cut the stories out - even though I didn’t know most of the people - it seemed like a good thing to save," Wilma says of the scrapbook with hundreds of 'faces' of WW II veterans.

The book also contains newspaper clippings recounting the end of the war and return home of the brave men and women - and, of special interest to Jim, a similar collection of clippings from 1951-53 of persons serving in Korea.

"My wife, Dorothy, worked with Wilma at the Dime Store," Jim said. "When she first showed me that scrapbook, I asked if I could make copies. Then, at her 80th birthday party, she gave it to me."

That was a very pleasant surprise, indeed.

"It's better that Jim should have it than me keeping it boxed away," Wilma said.

Thanks for sharing it with us, too.