Our Yesterdays

Mr. and Mrs. James Hadley will purchase the Sasseen Plumbing and Heating business effective Jan. 1, 1975. The new owners will move the business to the former Hadley’s Chevrolet building. “The only changes will be the location and the name,” Hadley said this week.

Dale Sasseen will assist the new owner for at leas tone year and “Doc” Anderson will remain as a full-time employee. Mr. and Mrs. Sasseen will continue to own and operate their hardware and gift business.

Hadley, a 1969 graduate of Pekin Community High School, has been employed the past two years at the Thermogas Co. in Richland. A brother, Michael Hadley, is the owner of Mike’s Mobil Service in Richland.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hadley, Jim is married to the former Silvia Reynolds, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Reynolds of Ollie. They are the parents of one daughter Michelle. Mrs. Hadley will assume the position of bookkeeper for the business.

The transfer of ownership will complete 22 years of service to the Richland area for Sasseen’s Plumbing and Heating. Coming to Richland from Blakesburg in 1952, Sasseen’s purchased the business from Mr. and Mrs. Harold Greeson. Other business interests in Richland include Rosedale and Aubern Apartments.

Active in various community and service clubs, Sasseen will serve as the new president of the Richland Commercial Club for 1975. Mr. and Mrs. Sasseen have one son, Keith, who is Superintendent of schools at Keota. He is married to the former Phillis Gound, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Gould of Richland. They have two daughters, Michelle and D’Ann.

Larry G. Allison, age 38, cashier at the Farmers State Bank in Packwood, died suddenly Wednesday morning, Dec. 11, at his home three miles south of Richland. He was born Jan. 5, 1936, at Fairfield to Merl and Edna Harrison Allison. On June 2, 1955, he married Jean Davidson. Surviving are his wife; three sons, Jerry, Terry, and Steven, all at home; and his parents of Libertyville.

Letters to Santa, 1974

I love you. How are your reindeers? How do you make the toys? Is it cold out there? I’d like an Evil Knievel and a baby brother. Do you ride a sled? I hope you come to my house. Love, Curtis Reighard

I want Evel Knievel, GI Joe underwater equipment and the tower. I’d like a John Deere combine, Johnny West stuff, and Fighting Eagle and 2 new horses. That’s it. Your friend, Doug Greeson

I want an electric train, a new sizzler car, a pocket knife, a pair of dictionaries, a GI Joe Jeep, a space book, a model of the star ship and the ship that’s on Star Trek. I want a Chinese checker game, GI Joe Tower top and that’s all I want. I’ll be seeing you, Todd Egbert

I want a James West doll and his horse, a Snoopy radio, pencil sharpener, John Deere tractor, a John Deere wagon and a toy semi. I need new pencils, crayons and some new shoes. Love, Scott Watson

I want a racecar set, cowboy boots, toy sewing machine, a little Leroy, a toy sweeper, a football uniform, Baby Alive, baseball uniform, a back pack, an iron and new tennis shoes. Your friend, Nancy Maeder

I don’t really know what I want but I’d like some games, a Barbie doll, Barbie Beach Bus, some real baby clothes for my doll. I want a cash register, McDonald’s set, some new clothes for me and some for my Barbie, a piggy bank and that’s all. Your friend, Angela Eidahl

I want an electric train, make sure it’s a twin diesel, with manual switches, a single gate. I want piggy back cars with sewer pipe and some piggy back tractors, Baby Ruth boxcar, hopper car, piggy back with trailers and a caboose. That’s all, David Young

I want a set of guns, clothes, harness boots, some tennis shoes, coloring book, play doh, a puzzle, pixie cards, a poster, bank, a bike, and gloves. I want a new pair of boots. That must be all. David Long

I want a helicopter that goes up and around to pick up the robbers. Please give me a gun, some cowboy boots, and an airplane that goes up and comes back toward you. I also want a basketball game, a little pool table, and that’s all. Your friend, Daniel Maeder

Please, Santa Claus, I would like a Barbie Tower House, a Sunshine Family, play jewelry and dishes, and a long dress. Your little friend, Delisa Blakely

Please, Santa, I want a Barbie Beauty Center, Mickey Mouse roller skates, a magic knitting machine, and that’s all. Your friend, Jill Hoy

I want a disc, a motorcycle, soccer boppers, an airplane, a plow, and a new car (grass green). Your friend, Mike Adrian

I want some games, a pickup, a tractor, a disc, a plow, and Evel Knievel. Your friend, Jamie Snyder

I want a Debbie Daredevil doll, Kathie Quick Curl and Baby Alive. For my dad I want a necktie, for Tony and Evel Knievel, for Mom some Chantilly perfume and for Diana a new purse and billfold and powder and new footies. Love, Karla Bond

Have you been busy making toys for the boys and girls? How is Mrs. Santa Claus? Well, I hope she is fine. I was Mrs. Santa Claus in a Christmas play once. I guess I don’t really want anything for Christmas. Well, maybe I want a jewelry box. The thing I want the most is for everybody to have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Your friend, Amy Adam