Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book
Nichols - Our Town - 1984
Clubs and Groups
Apropos Club * Nichols Gun Club * Scouts * Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner
APROPOS CLUB
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 85
By Ann WieskampThe Apropos Junior Federated Club of Nichols was organized and federated in 1973.
Apropos means suited to time, place and location. The club colors are pink and red. The club flower is the carnation. The purpose of Apropos is to serve as a service organization for young women for the community.
The following is our junior pledge: “I pledge my loyalty to the Junior Clubwomen by doing better than ever before what work I have to do, by being prompt, honest, courteous, by living each day, trying to accomplish something, not merely to exist.” This gives an idea of the goal of the organization.
Meetings are held in the home of a member at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Another member serves as co-hostess and helps with the serving of refreshments after the meeting. The club has by-laws and standing rules.
Some of the on-going projects of Apropos are community bingo, preschool story hour, Christmas food baskets, American Field Service, bicycle safety program, children’s games for Nichols Day, Easter egg hunt, float for Nichols Day parade, John Phillip Sousa Band award, National Education Week, pre-school vision screening, senior citizens’ Thanksgiving dinner (co-sponsor), sponsor Cub and Brownie Scouts at camp, tot-finder programs, UNICEF (co-sponsor) and the Christmas decoration bazaar and bake sale.
Charter members are Linda Albrecht, Kathy Chown, Carol Kaalberg, Marianne Phelps and Ann Wieskamp. The remaining current members are Pat Christofferson, Teri Dotson, Lisa Elder, Jan Fuhrmeister, Sandy Green, Sue Grosjean, Yvonne Holcomb, Lori Leggins, Rose Newton, Debbie Rockwell, Vonda Ruess, Darlene Sandven and Chris Wilson.
Present officers are Linda Albrecht, president; Jan Fuhrmeister, vice president; Sue Grosjean, secretary; Pat Christofferson, treasurer, and Teri Dotson, historian and publicity.
Apropos would like to take this opportunity to thank the community and individuals for support through the years.Photos of Apropos Activites on pages 85-86:
~ In 1983, the Apropos Jr. Federated marked its tenth year of service to the community of Nichols. On Nichols Day their parade entry was entitled ‘A Decade of Service.’ The judging committee awarded the Club – Best parade entry.
~ Easter Egg Hunt winners, 1980, front row, Casey Hazen; second row, left to right, Helen Cassidy, Kyle Kaalberg, Isaah Mooney, Neal Heneghan, Robbie Hillyer and Brian Littrel; back row, left to right, Kristi Wedel, Chari Connell, Tim Roth, Dean Dauber and Joe Fuhrmeister.
~ Story hour is held each Wednesday at the New Nichols Town Hall for children 3-5 years old.
~ Todd Hartman accepts a book for the second grade from members Marianne Phelps, Marilyn Wedel and Carol Kaalberg. The club also donates $100 to the Teachers Fund during Education Week.
~ Bicycle Safety Program sponsored by club in cooperation with the Principal at Nichols Elementary. A sheriff or other official is also involved. Pictured are front row left to right: Tami Skiffington, Wendy Hartman, Casey Hudson, Brian Fuhrmeister, Jennifer Phillips; Center, Jody Hester, Chari Connell; Back row: Bonnie Akers, Jeff Gerstbrein, Rob Hillyer, Michelle Albrecht.
~ Teacher Appreciation Day - Shirley Crawford, Karla Grady, Alice Johnson, Jan Vetter, Linda Palmer.Alberta Bekker, Jean Forbes, Marie Kaalberg, Belita Kruse, Nancy Ekwall.
NICHOLS GUN CLUB
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 84
By Lee RudmanEarly records of a gun club at Nichols are sparse. There was a club that was active in 1919, but the few records available do not state for how long it was in existence nor who the members were.
Another Nichols Gun Club was organized in 1947 with 45 members. Officers elected at that time were John Foley, president; Frank Kaalberg, vice president, and Lee Rudman, secretary and treasurer.
The group leased a piece of ground near the old Lacey School house, which is now the Pike Grange hall. James and Lester Hillyer donated their labor and built the trap house, for which they were granted free membership. They held shoots there every other Sunday.
This club became very active, with a membership of more than 100. In the fall, they had poultry shoots and drew very large crowds.
Later the Club moved their grounds across the Wapsie and into the timber. They built a new trap house there and have had much success with their shoots in that location.
Activities for Summer Opened by Nichols Club
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 84Nichols – Sunday marked the first day’s activities for the summer season by the Nichols Gun club, now entering its sixth year of operation since re-activation in the spring of 1946. More than 20 members participated in a practice school held at the club’s modern trap range, located on land leased from Ben Nichols, a member, two miles east of Nichols.
Lines under photo with story: 23 May 1951 – “Pull!” is the cry which echoes from the firing line to the pits as the Nichols Gun club, like so many in this area, begins its activities for the year. This line of five gunners are firing on the 16 yard trap range located two miles east of Nichols.Clubs and Scouts Photos:
~ Pike Farm Bureau Women 1954.– page 78.
Front row, left to right, Cindy Porter, Larry Ramer, John Kirkpatrick; second row, Mrs. Harvey Barnhart, Letha Porter, Mary Jane Kirkpatrick, Ann Kirkpatrick; third row, Felicitas Braun, Mrs. McLaughlin, Norma Grimm, June Hintermeister, Helen Ramer, Alice McCullough.
~ Winning Nichols Boys Little League Team, 1961– page 78
Back row, left to right, Mike Carter, Gary Newcomb, Terry Newcomb, Tom Kaalberg, Roger Swanson, Ronald Baxter (coach), Pat Carter, Duane Clevenger; front row, left to right, Tom Baxter, Allen Westfall, Kerry Baxter, Laurence Johnston, Leonard Peterson, John Kirkpatrick, John Porter, Don Mills, Gary Westfall, Doug Mlls, Dennis Abbott, Doug Chown.
~ Cub Scouts 1968 – page 78.
Left to right, Don Hudson, Roy Meyers, Kenny Maas, Curtis Powers (front), Tom Maas (back), David Mills, Bret Carter.
~ 1955 Cub Scouts fishing – page 78.
Left to right, Jimmy Hillyer, Bob Oostendorp, Jim Bekker, Tom Hazen, Richard Hillyer.
~ Boy Scouts ready to go to camp 1967– page 78.
First row, left to right, John Porter, Roger Murphy, Doug Mills; second row, Kevin Chown, Joe Geertz.
~ Nichols Girl Scouts in 1972 – page 79.
Leaders Mrs. Frank Holcomb, left, and Mrs. Gerald Bender, girls left to right, Patricia Beik, Shelly Jasper, Annette Hazen, Jennean Carlisle, Lynn Porter, Andrea Wagner, Brenda Allen, Amanda Costas and Charlena Lynch.
~ Nichols Brownie Troop #2145 Girl Scouts – page 79.
11 March 1979. Becky Pasdach, Wendy Hartman, Dawn Hazen, Kelly Pasdach, Michelle Albrecht, Jane Holcomb, Kristi Wedel. Leaders (not pictured) Phyllis Hazen and Myrtie Hartman.
SENIOR CITIZEN THANKSGIVING DINNER
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 91The tradition of the Senior Citizens Thanksgiving Dinner was begun in 1973 when two ladies of the Methodist Church, Letha Porter and Dorothy Jean Kirchner, decided it would be nice to have a Thanksgiving gathering for some of the elderly citizens who might not otherwise have one. They bought and prepared the turkey and solicited salads and rolls from members of the church. A few of the elderly brought some food for the “potluck” type of dinner.
The next year Dorothy Jean donated the chickens from her farm to fix for the event and again salads, rolls, etc., were asked from people. These two ladies also bought the potatoes, vegetables, etc., to go with the meal.
The third year the turnout as well as the expenses were too great so they asked the Methodist Church Board for some held with expenses. Word traveled what these two ladies had started so by the fourth year everyone was involved. The three churches, the Apropos Club, and the Community Club divided the costs of the meal and favors.
There are representatives from each group who form a committee for working out the details involved and keeping track of expenses. This committee begins meeting in late September or early October. They purchase the turkey, potatoes, and vegetables and favors for the tables. Salads, rolls, butter and desserts are donated by individuals. The members of the groups serve the guests cafeteria style, helping them get settled at the table, serving coffee, etc. They also deliver take out meals to people who are unable to come to the Church Hall.
After the dinner ecumenical Thanksgiving services are held, the churches alternating as hosts, with a choir of the combined churches. It becomes a day of Thanksgiving.
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Page created January 20, 2011 by Lynn McCleary