Remember When?

Jan. 15, 1974

The James Dick International Piano Festival Institute was enlarging its repertoire for its month-long 1974 summer term in Round Top. For the first time in its four-year history, the program was to include instruction in voice and string playing, as well as piano tutelage. In announcing the plans at a press conference in Houston, James Dick, founder and director of the institute, indicated the broader scope the institute planned to follow would include instruction in chamber opera. Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester would also offer week-long residencies for voice students, and members of the Cleveland String Quartet were to lead sessions for string instrumentalists. The institute, which was taking applications for the 12 available piano student positions, advertised the opportunity in the New York Times, as well as Klavier, a music teacher’s magazine.

Although 1974 was only half a month old, the new year had already posted what perhaps would be weather records for so early in the calendar year. For example, sunshine through the first 13 full days could be measured only in hours. There had been measurable rainfall on nine of the month’s first 13 days and the mercury had fallen to below the 30-degree mark on three different days and to under 40 on 11 mornings. Most of the rainfall fell in the 24-hour day ending at 7 a.m. Saturday. The greater part of the accumulation, a half an inch, dropped during a freak weather episode just before and during the noon hour Friday. The storm caused freezing rain that soon iced over trees and shrubbery.Along with the thunder and lightning, hail fell in several areas of the county. The thermometer dropped to 29 degrees briefly before warming up in the early afternoon.

Burglars entered Mayer’s Dairy Mart No. 3, directly across from La Grange Lumber Co. on Hwy. 71 E. sometime during the night Sunday or early Monday morning. Entrance was gained by breaking through the drive-in service window on the south side of the building. La Grange Police Chief L.R. Ulbrich and Deputy Sheriff C.A. Prilop said an undetermined amount of money was taken.

Funeral services were held for: Henry W. Hoelscher, 78, of Ellinger; Gustav H. (Gussie) Quade, 61, of Warrenton; Mrs.

Lillie Neutzeknight, 85, a former LGISD teacher; and Werner C. Heise, 64, of La Grange.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Christiansen of Giddings were the parents of a boy born Jan. 10 in Fayette Memorial Hospital, the first baby of 1974.

The La Grange Leopards played on par with the Columbus Cardinals for two quarters at Columbus Friday night before hitting a cold streak in the third period to drop a 61-50 District 13-3A decision to the prior year’s conference champions. Bob Johnson’s Leps and the Redbirds were even at 12-12 at the close of the first eight-minute heat. The score was 28-26, Columbus when the two clubs went to the dressing rooms. However, the Cards outpointed La Grange by 15-8 in the third go-round, holding that advantage to the end. The Leopards’ Johnny Johnson was as hot as a July 4th firecracker coming up with 23 points for the game – 15 of those in the last stanza. Neal Miller was the only other Lep to score in the double digits with 12 points. The La Grange jayvees also dropped their match with the Card reserves, 40-35. The Leopards were in front by 2016 at the mid-point but saw the lead fade in the third period. Mike Matocha set the pace for the purple and gold with 18.

Hunting and trapping furbearing animals were proving to be quite a profitable hobby with furs bringing a better price than they had in a long time. However, most hunters and trappers were not realizing the full potential from their skins, according to Albert O. Buscha of Nechanitz. He said that improper preparation of furs precluded run-of-the-mill hunters and trappers from getting the same price that New York buyers paid for top products.

Edwin G. Jaeger, the majority stockholder in Jaeger’s Inc., in Giddings, announced his retirement after more than 50 years in the farm equipment business in Carmine and later Giddings. He sold his interest to his two sons, Elwood and Alois J. Jaeger. Mr. Jaeger started his employment in Carmine under the late A.J. Winnesderfer. On Dec. 1, 1919, he was employed by his father and uncle, the late Rudolph and Gus Jaeger, in the implement business before becoming a partner in the firm on Jan. 1, 1925. Upon the retirement of Rudolph Jaeger on Jan. 1, 1929, OttoA. Jacob formed a partnership with Mr. Jaeger and the implement firm was named Jacob and Jaeger. In November 1945,theJaegersmovedtoGiddings and in 1948, built a new warehouse there. The partnership was divided in 1959 when Mr. Jacob retired. The business was then known as Jaeger, Inc. Mr. Jaeger was born in 1904 in Winedale, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Jaeger. In 1912, the family moved to Carmine, where he attended school. In 1928, Mr. Jaeger was united in marriage with Miss Frieda Marx of Carmine.

The City of La Grange passed a resolution outlining how the sextons in the city cemeteries would perform maintenance. The work was to begin at a specified corner area of the cemetery and proceed from lot to lot or from grave to grave until all received regular maintenance. At that time, the sextons would start over at the original point and repeat the procedure. They would not be permitted to vary this program by skipping any graves or lots.

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