What's New

Thank you so much to these All Fund Drive supporters:

Bev Wilhelm, Chuck Bjork, Ron/Lois Johnson, Clark Hemje,

Anonymous, Warren/Carole Lashley, Jerry Sebek, Janet

Simmons, Darin/Michele Ziemann, Dean/Donna Speth,

Leona Lewis, Dallas/Cheryl Royal, Doug/Dawn Prelle,

Todd/Corinne Zahn, Betty VanAmburg, Dean/Sonya Achen,

Dan's Tire, Robert/Barb Brandt, Countryside Bank,

Mark/Janis Enenbach, Larry Larson, Lois Watermeier,

Cheryl/Robert Doeden, Jack Stilwell, Phil/Glenda

Willnerd, Peggy Leefers, L Z Farms, Susan/Alan

Saathoff, and Ron/Mary Ann Wenninghoff. Your support

for our programs is truly appreciated!

Did you know that since Lincoln's presidency, Thanksgiving

was always celebrated the last Thursday in November?

In 1939 the last Thursday would have been the 30th.

Retail lobbyists campaigned for a change to move it back

a week until the 23rd, fearing a shortened shopping season

would wreak havoc on business coffers. The public didn't

like it because it disrupted vacation plans, football

schedules, and calendar production. Since it wasn't a

federal law, the states could chose which day they wanted.

So, in 1939 and 1940, there was a "Republican's Thanksgiving"

and a "Roosevelt's Thanksgiving" also known as

"Franksgiving". In 1941 Congress passed a law that

officially set the date as the fourth Thursday in November.

(This information was obtained from the General Society

of Mayflower Descendants.)

The Pilgrim Society continues to hold annual Forefather's

Day celebrations in conjunction with its Annual Meeting

on the subsequently corrected landing date of 21 Dec.,

but without a ball since at least 1920. Last year the

speaker was the Commonwealth of Massachusett's

governor, Deval Patrick. The previous year the governor

signed an Executive Order creating a State Commission

to plan the celebration in 2020, which will be the 400th

anniversary of the arrival of the Pilgrims.

Saturday, 11-22, members of the Otoe County

Genealogical Society met at the Resource Room of the

Unadilla Community Center. The work day centered around

the cataloguing and filing of the Otoe County District

Court records.

Kay Busekist separating and filing court records

Thanks to Betty Buchanan, Louise Vedder,

Loreen Haupt, Mary Hanke, Linda Parde, Betty

Stuckenholz, and Kay Busekist for their good work. A

short business meeting was held, with the finalizing

of upcoming programs and workshops. The workers then

enjoyed a pot luck meal. The officers for 2015

will remain the same.

Leland Carmichael receiving award from Mary Hanke

Four of the OCGS members are also members of the

Mary Katherine Goddard DAR chapter of Omaha. Their

current project is recognizing and honoring Vietnam

Veteran's, this being the 50th anniversary of that war.

It was our pleasure to honor Leland Carmichael, U S

Navy, on Saturday, 11-22. There will be another ceremony

at the Syracuse Library in February 2015. Please let us

know if we have missed anyone.

The busy elves of the Sundowner's Club remind us that

Christmas is coming soon. If your children (or you!) would

like to write a letter to Santa, you can mail it in Santa's

mailbox in front of the Unadilla Post Office by

December 16. Be sure to include you return address

so Santa can answer your letter.

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

11-26   Jordan Long

11-27   Jody Clark, Cherie Davis

11-28   Karen Schwartman

11-30   Lena Rae Nolting

12-1   Jodie West Valish

12-2   Jeremy Royal

NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO

Friday, 11-27-1914, The Otoe Union:

"Bassett Bros. have taken the agency for the Maxwell

car." New Christian Church minister, Rev. G.S. Reel,

moved into the parsonage. "Chancellor Avery and wife

of Lincoln, were calling with J. Nash and wife." The family

of H.S. Stoner held a reunion on Thanksgiving Day.

NEWS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS