Back in the day--a memory of Christmas past by Mike Balluff

Christmas when I was a child was going to Grand parents for the whole family, probably 25 aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, etc. We lived in Northern Illinois where we got a lot of snow. Gramma's house was a farm near Byron, Il, about 20 miles from home for us. We would drive in the ice and snow to a bridge, stop, park, and Grandpa would come get us in a single horse drawn sleigh. It would hold 2 adults besides the driver. It was very cold, and Grandpa would wrap us in a very scratchy coarse wool blanket that I remember to this day. The rest of our journey was up a hill, about a mile to the farm. The hill was the reason for parking at the bottom.

Dinner was eaten there in the dining room, consisting of turkey, duck, goose, capon with many sides. The birds were all stuffed with a dressing that had OYSTERS in it. I wondered at the time what those things were, and was flabbergasted that I actually liked those slimy things. The house had no running water to wash dishes or to flush toilets. They brought in water from the well in a tub which was heated on a big wood stove. The toilet was an out house 50 ft from the back door. Much to our (the kids) dismay we couldn't open any of the many presents under the tree until all the dishes were done and food put away. 

Aahhh, those were the good old days. (Originally posted on Facebook; used with permission)

Class of 1957 has a Christmas tree

The Mt.Morris High School class of 1957 offers its Christmas greetings to the village by placing its tree as an addition to the village square band shell collection of holiday trees.

 

 Submitted by Lynne, who still lights up the world.

Three new trees for the campus

Pictured here are three new trees recently planted on the Mt. Morris square, commonly know as "The campus." Several ash trees have succumbed to the Emerald Ash Borer and sadly will eventually need to be removed. A former Mt. Morris resident and alumni of Mt. Morris high school class of 1957 became aware of the situation and generously donated the funds for tree replacement. I chatted with the  nursery guys and had them check out our memorial tree...I am happy to report it is in good health.  Story and photo submitted by Lynne.

Class meets for Halloween breakfast at The Pines

“The Class of '57 had breakfast together Halloween morning at the White Pines Inn...we had ten attending on a typical late fall rainy day...we were a chatty and happy group able to put aside any issues with health we might be dealing with for the day and just enjoyed being together...we briefly talked of our next reunion-our 60th coming in 18 months....time that will fly by...having it again at the Pines was considered as the past reunion memories linger and were recalled as we sat and talked.” [Lynne]

Diane Bechtold Thompson, 1939-2015

Diane M. Thompson - 76 7/28/1939 - 10/5/2015 Mt. Morris, Illinois Mt. Morris – Diane M. Thompson, age 76, died Monday, Oct. 5, 2015 at Pinecrest Manor in Mt. Morris. She was born July 28, 1939 in Sublette, IL the daughter of Jay and Mary Alice (Price) Bechtold. Diane graduated from Mt. Morris High School in 1957. She attended Secretarial School in Dayton, Ohio and was a Secretary for the Air Force Base. She married Jimmy Utley on July 18, 1958. He preceded her on Aug. 28, 1965. She than married Charles Thompson on July 8, 1966. He preceded her on Oct. 21, 1993. Diane worked for Country Companies Insurance as a Secretary, she also worked in the zoning dept. at the court house, retired from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Dept., and was owner and operator of Al’s Place from 1978 – 1993. Diane was a Lioness of the Dixon Lion’s Club, member of the Dixon Elk’s Club, and Rochelle Moose Lodge. She was predeceased by her parents, her 2 husbands, and an infant daughter Debbie. She is survived by her 3 children; Jill (Timm) Carlson of Mt. Morris, Jim (Jessica) Utley of Dixon, and Susan (Dale) Price of Dixon, Brother David (Jan) Bechtold of Norcross, Georgia, 6 grandchildren; Tyler (Liz) Carlson, Trace Carlson, Erica Utley, Rachel (Zack) Jones, Kevin Utley, and Alex Price, 2 Great Grandsons Carter Jones and Emmett Carlson, and adopted son Chris (Becky) Cox. Funeral service will be 7:00 pm, Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 at the Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 S. 7th Street, Oregon, IL 61061. Visitation will be prior to the service Friday from 5-7 pm at the funeral home. Private burial will be in the Riverview Cemetery in Oregon. A memorial fund is established for the Mt. Morris Ambulance Service or the Pinecrest Manor Good Samaritan Fund.

Class of 1957 has July 4 breakfast at the Mt. Morris fire station

As has become custom, the class of '57 MMHS met for breakfast just as we have done for 57 years on or around the 4th of July... This year we gathered once again at our local fire station. About twelve locals attended plus spouses and siblings with various town folk stopping by to say, "Hello." Good to see everyone and we will indeed do this again next year...The 4th of July was warm, sunny with clear skies . . .something we haven't seen a lot of thus far in our summer...the moon was full and the fireworks were wonderful on such a clear summer’s night...our home town celebration continues with golf tournaments, memorial walks, parade, and yes, even the queen contest...and the fireworks finish--remember what they were like in the '50's?" (Guest blogger, Lynne, with photos by Sylvia and Lynne)

A Mounder 57 fire truck!

Marion and Nancy

Handsome table decorations with a happy Nancy and Moe.

Lynne and Nancy

Must have been a funny story.  Nancy and Moe, Sylvia and Dave.

Ladies Spring luncheon

A few of the ladies of the class of 1957 gathered for lunch on April 4, and for dessert we nibbled what was left of the "photo cake" of the fall reunion.