Christmas 60 years ago

Sixty years ago, the holiday season in the community stretching from Electric City to Nespelem featured all kinds of parties, programs and events. Here's a sampling of some of them and the folks who were here in our towns back then.

Floyd H. Phillips, Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent at the Colville Indian Agency, Nespelem announced that a $200 per-capita payment will be distributed to approximately 4,000 Colville tribal members, just in time for Christmas. The distribution of $804,000 comes from reservation timber sales and grazing fees.

Santas

Santa, as portrayed by Louis Wilinit for the 15th consecutive year, handed out sacks of candy to the children who showed up to see him in front of the Grand Coulee city hall at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24, 1954. The treats were furnished by the Grand Coulee volunteer fire crew and sacked up in the B Street Fire Hall, said fire chief M.O. Baker. Another Santa was at Loepp's Hardware and Furniture in Grand Coulee on Saturday, Dec. 18 to distribute favors to the kiddies and listen to requests. But Santa's helper for the past three years, Arthur Gevals of Coulee Dam, wasn't riding around in Coulee Dam in a red fire truck or making stops this year because he was confined to the Marine Hospital in Seattle. Mrs. Claus (Mrs. Gevais) said her husband received dozens of letters from Santa fans, mailed to his home or to him at the hospital and also through a special mail box set up in the hardware store.

Santa's stand-in, also known as Luther Ratliff, visited with 50 kids at the Green Hut Coffee Shop in Coulee Dam at the Christmas Party Sunday afternoon for the Coulee Dam Community Hospital staff, doctors and executive board members and the Coulee Dam Volunteer Fire/Ambulance crew and their families. Mrs. W.D. Boydston of Coulee Dam played the piano for the party.

Santa visited the community Christmas Party sponsored by the Elmer City Commerical Club Saturday evening at the town hall with 75 guests attending and treats were handed out to all of the children. Two movies, "The Night Before Christmas," and "The Guiding Light" were shown for entertainment.

Santa's 1954 schedule included several stops at the Colville Indian Agency where he handed out treats to everyone attending the agency's Women's Club at their holiday potluck and party held at the agency's "council hall" Dec. 18. Last Monday evening, Santa put in an appearance at the Nespelem Public School where the grade school students put on a Christmas program, then on Tuesday, the children had parties and gift exchanges in their classrooms, followed in the afternoon with a Christmas program put on by the junior and senior high students in the high school auditorium. The skits were judged and the junior class won the $5.00 first prize.

Parties and

Programs

The eighth grade Girl Scout Troop of Coulee Dam were entertained at a Christmas party by their leaders, Mrs. Joe Kelly and Mrs. Robert Beasley at Mrs. Clyde Keefer, Jr.'s home where they exchanged gifts and sang carols. The Coulee Dam Cub Scouts held a pack meeting at Central School on Dec. 9 with awards given to Hurrell Carter, Bill Keefer, Walter Goman, Roger Daugherty, Michael Ploskey, Dean Skorheim, Ralph Sanders, Ray Wykoff, Bob Hedstrom, Perry Owens, Johnnie Romero, Bill Stevens, Richard Weil, Charles Logue and Charles Seaton. Mrs. Loren Wykoff and Mrs. Victor Ecklund's packs put on skits as entertainment.

The Lions Club will host its Christmas Party at 7 p.m., Dec.18 in the V.F.W. hall at Delano, featuring a $2.00-a-plate dinner, put on by the V.F.W. auxiliary with Dora Rose and Hazel Tailent in charge, and more fun is planned with dancing to the music of an orchestra afterwards. Each member is asked to bring a small gift for a child which will be distributed to needy children for Christmas. The Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary will hold their holiday party two evenings later on Dec. 20 at the V.F.W. hall in Delano.

The Grand Coulee Dam Jay-C-Ettes sponsored a Sunday afternoon party for the elderly patients at the Coulee Dam Community Hospital where 14 seniors enjoyed refreshments and gifts including a Christmas courage and a box of dusting powder for the ladies and candy for the men.

The Eagles Auxiliary celebrated its sixth anniversary by honoring past presidents, Helen Townsend, Aurora Mills, Mrs. Jessie Reese, Leah Spratlin, Ida Bartel, Margaret Bartel and the late Grace Kidd, and other charter members, Cleo Larson, Eloise Neal, Irene Lehto, Bernice Beck, Lila Jurgensen, Tillie Pozar, and Betty Miller. The auxiliary held its Christmas party at the Eagles Hall Dec. 16 with Sue Winegarden and Fay Wilson in charge of the costume party where attendees were asked to dress up as Cowboys or Indians. Refreshments were served and each person brought a gift costing not more than $1.00 for a gift exchange. Cleo Larson won the costume contest, dressed as an Indian.

The Grand Coulee Dam Business and Professional Women's Club recently held it's Christmas Party at the Dover Perry home in Electric City with 40 members and friends at the turkey dinner. The club's president, Mrs. Alan Spratlin, was honored with a surprise birthday party and a gifted a table lamp. The BPW Club netted $120 from its recent fashion show, held at the Grand Coulee High School auditorium as a fundraiser with proceeds going to purchase an infant airlock machine for the Coulee Dam Community Hospital. Mrs. Grace Potter, owner of Grace's Dress Shop of Grand Coulee provided 100 holiday outfits, all modeled by local girls and women who were treated to hair styling from Spokane's G.W. Steckler for the show. Tickets at the door sold for 50 cents each and included refreshments served on the auditorium's balcony.

The Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department held its 15th annual Christmas party at the Grand Coulee City Hall on Christmas Eve where 600 youngsters received bags of candy and nuts from the fire crew. This event is financed by the fire department through proceeds from the Firemen's Ball held at Thanksgiving time.

The Electric City P.T.A. held its annual Christmas potluck party in the school's all-purpose room and the group sang carols after listening to Gwen Croker talk about holiday customs in England. The Grand Coulee Community Church school put on a program and choir concert on Sunday evening in the church, plus a play will be put on by the junior members under direction of Mrs. C.C. Lindbergh with Thane Curry in charge of music. Dancing, games and a musical program will entertain all those attending the annual Coulee Dam Firemen Association's party at the town's community building on Saturday, Fire General chairman John Chlolero is in charge. The eighth grade Coulee Dam girl scouts were entertained at a holiday party by their troupe leaders, Mrs. Joe Kelley, Mrs. Robert Beasley, and Mrs. Clyde Keefer, Jr. The girls sang carols and exchanged gifts.

On Wednesday, Dec. 22, the Roosevelt Theater in Grand Coulee sponsored a free movie, "Bedtime For Bonzo," starring Ronald Reagan and a chimpanzee, a holiday gift from the local Moose and Eagle Clubs. Children and students were admitted free and adults paid 50 cents. The theater is holding a drawing prior to the movie starting at 7:15 p.m. and one lucky kid will win a real Roy Rogers wristwatch.

The Nespelem Altar Society held its Christmas Bazar and Luncheon at the town hall on Dec. 14 after holding an election meeting on Dec. 13 where new officers installed are: Mrs. Ernest Orr, president; Mrs. L. A. Rhodes, vice-president; Sherry Orr, secretary; Nellie Stanger, sgt. at arms; and Shirley Palmer, membership chair. Each club member received a Christmas card and handkerchief and dessert was served by Isabella Arcasa and Christine Yercoshin.

More holiday events in the town of Nespelem included: A Dec. 23 Christmas Party sponsored by the local Chieftan 4-H Club with Jean Betty Arcasa and Mr. and Mrs. Chas Hall in charge, with treats, games, a gift exchange and news about their recent bake sale at Casy's Store and a skating party coming up. The Nespelem Methodist Church presented a Christmas program at the church Dec. 19 with refreshments served by the church ladies. Those attending brought gifts to the party which will be sent to the Methodist Deaconess Home For Children in Everett, Wash.