SVM_Dixon Living_ Fall/Winter 2021

Money talks, and members of the Dixon Coin Club enjoy hearing what it has to say

Dixon residents had stars in their eyes when Hollywood stopped by for a visit

What’s it take to s keep the Dixon Junior Duke football program running?

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Publisher/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave. | Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story idea for Dixon Living? Let us know ...

Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Dixon Living may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

32 Team players

Who keeps the Dixon Junior Dukes on the field?

A dedicated group of volunteers who come together to work together for the kids, and for the community.

inside Heads and tales

Money talks, and members of the Dixon Coin Club enjoy the tales it tells about our nation’s past — a time when herds of buffalo nickels roamed the land, America produced bumper crops of wheat pennies, and bit coin was something you’d do to see whether your cold, hard cash was the real deal.

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Baking their own sweet time

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A Big day for Louella

If you love cookies, you’ll be in good Company with a retired Dixon couple who’s making some extra dough whipping up custom treats that look too good to eat. (But that’s OK — go ahead and eat ’em anyway!)

Dixon residents had stars in their when a legendary gossip columnist returned to her hometown, along with a future president and some Hollywood stars in tow.

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Phrases erry Bartlett and Ron Newton are co ined by no strangers to change. They CODY CUTTER embrace it.

Sauk Valley But if you ask them to spare some change, Media that can come with a price. After all, some of those coins can be worth a pretty penny.

Bartlett and Newton lead the Dixon Coin Club, a group of numismatic enthusiasts who get together once a month and swap stories about their collections, grade new finds, and auction off some coins of their realm.

Collecting coins can be like having a history lesson in the palm of your hands. There’s a lot to appreciate in those heads and tails: who our nation chose to honor with profiles on pocket change, the miniature works of art on the coins and the artists who created them — they’re all part of the rich tapestry of tales that coins tell, like peeking into the pockets and purses from times past and seeing what life was like.

“Some people have specific coins that they like to collect,” Bartlett said. “Some come by and may not put anything into the auction, [coins are] just interesting to them, like a social outing.”

CLUB cont’d to page 6

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CLUB cont’d from page 5 The club, founded in 1960, has about 50 members from as far as 50 miles from Dixon, and meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the American Legion. Each collector brings something different to the table — a preference for pennies, a knowledge of nickels, a fondness for 50-cent pieces — or maybe they just like to share their two cents worth on coins. But you can bet your bottom silver dollar that they all have one thing in common: an appreciation of their hobby.

Members take great pride in their collections, and take care to keep them safe and sound.

Bartlett, a retired real estate agent from Sterling, has been the club’s president for more than two decades. He’s also got some of the best eyes among the club when it comes to grading. As with any collectible: Condition counts. The higher the grade — proof 70 being the highest — the more valuable the coin.

CLUB cont’d to page 8

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FACING PAGE: Jerry Bartlett, holding a walking liberty half-dollar, has been the Dixon Coin Club’s president for more than two decades, and when it comes to grading coins, he’s the club’s go-to guy. RIGHT: Club member Ron Newton holds one of his favorite coins: a 1908 double eagle $20 gold piece. Like the walking liberty silver half-dollar, the gold double eagle is considered by collectors to be among the most beautiful American coins ever minted. The face (obverse) features Lady Liberty holding a torch (representing enlightenment) and an olive branch (representing peace), with the U.S. Capitol in background. The coin was designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who was enlisted

by President Theodore Roosevelt to help beautify America’s coins. Roosevelt said in a 1904 letter to the Secretary of the Treasury that “the state of our coinage is artistically of atrocious hideousness.” The coin was eventually minted, but not before some debate between Saint-Gaudens and the mint’s chief engraver. It also attracted Congress’ attention. When first minted in 1907, it didn’t feature the traditional “In God We Trust” motto, as Roosevelt felt that putting God’s name on money that could be used for immoral purposes was inappropriate, but an act of Congress returned the motto in 1908. Stories like this are just a few of the interesting tales behind our coins.

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CLUB cont’d from page 6

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Jerry Bartlett shows off his 1884 Morgan silver dollar, one of his favorites. The coin was produced from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921, and is named after its designer, U.S. Mint assistant engraver George T. Morgan. Unlike many previous coins, Morgan wanted to depict an American woman as Lady Liberty, rather than the usual Greek-style figure. Philadelphia teacher and philosophical writer Anna Williams was brought in to model for the profile. Morgan said she had the most perfect profile he had ever seen.

Grading coins take skill and an eye for details. Bartlett has taken classes for it and is certified by the American Numismatic Association. Making it even more of a challenge: Beauty can be in the eye of the beholder, making grading somewhat subjective.

“There can be five people grading a coin, and they may disagree a little bit on something, but they’ll come up with a consensus,” Bartlett said. “Once the consensus has been reached then it gets slabbed and encapsulated.”

Newton, of Rock Falls, is the club’s vice president, and also has a say in the grading process of each coin that comes through after Bartlett studies them.

“He’ll pass off to the next person and then to the next person on whether they agree or disagree,” Newton said. “Most of the time he’s right on. If I have a question, I always go to Jerry.”

Each meeting starts with the grading of members’ coins that will be used for the following month’s auction. The auctioned coins can either already be “slabbed” by a professional grading company, or “raw” in an unprotected form. Those that are looked at are put on a list that Bartlett and Newton put together for the next meeting that is mailed to club members. After a discussion of club business, the auction of around 40 coins that were prepared the month before begins.

CLUB cont’d to page 9

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COINS cont’d from page 8

mint condition.

The 1909 Lincoln penny was the first to feature the famous Coins put up for auction range from recent silver coins, president’s profile, and it was released on what would have dollar coins and pennies made before the “wheat era” (when been his 100th birthday. There are two versions of the penny: Lincoln pennies’ reverse side feature two stalks of wheat, from one minted in Philadelphia and one in San Francisco, but it’s 1909-58). Not often does a coin go without a bid of some sort. the 1909 S-VDB that’s the holy grail of Lincoln pennies for col“Most serious collectors are looking for coins that don’t lectors. The initial run had the initials of the penny’s have a lot of wear,” Bartlett said. “They’re either designer, Victor D. Brenner, on the back of the rare or semi-key (sometimes rare) coins, of the coin, but mint engraver Charles instead of the run-of-the-mill coins E. Barber objected to the use of Club info that are silver but not highly colthree initials on the coin and The Dixon Coin Club meets on the first Tuesday lectible. the dies were remade with of each month at American Legion Post 12, 1120 W. First St. “If you find a proof 70, the initials were removed Coin grading begins at 5:30 p.m. with the business meeting at 7 p.m., you’re going to be very — but not before some followed by the coin auctions. Call club president Jerry Bartlett at 815-535-8427 for fortunate.” coins with the “VDB” more information.

For generations, were released to the Learn more about collecting coins coin collecting has public. Those coins The American Numismatic Association: www.money.org/ been a hobby can be worth U.S. Mint: www.usmint.gov/learn/collecting-basics that has been upwards of $2,000 Fun facts about coins: /www.usmint.gov/learn/kids/coins/fun-facts enjoyed by in uncirculated young and Did you know ... ? condition. old alike.

According to the numismatic website, coinweek.com ...

Various dolBartlett WHILE COIN COLLECTING IS CONSIDERED A CONTEMPORARY HOBBY, it lar coins have didn’t start roots trace back thousands of years to the ancient kings and queens. Coin come and gone, A collecting collecting has been dubbed “the hobby of kings,” but that has more to do with 1965 probut the Moruntil adultmotional coin it being a hobby of the ancient royals than the amount of money it costs to gan dollar is hood, inspired from the Dixon collect them. While some coins can be pricey, many aren’t, making it an perhaps most Coin by a high school Club’s annual affordable hobby for all. sought after Coinfriend who had A-Rama coin THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR COIN COLLECTORS was held among collecbeen in the hobby in August 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. The event attracted an estimated 40,000 tors. It, too, has show since childhood. coin collectors, and was sponsored by the American Numismatic Association. particular years that About 30 years ago, THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION, FOUNDED IN 1891, has the world’s largest are more scarce than he heard about the circulating library of numismatic material. others. The 1893 verDixon Coin Club and SAINT ELIGIUS IS THE PATRON SAINT FOR NUMISMATISTS. He was born sion from San Francisco, joined. around 588 and lived in France. He was a metal worker and died Bartlett said, is the tops “If we would have known around 659. He is also the Patron Saint of goldamong the Morgans. back in our younger days what smiths and other metalworkers.

“If you get one even in so-so the value of silver coins was going condition, it’s probably going to be to be, we probably would have not spent about $3,000-$4,000,” Bartlett said. “If you them like we did,” Bartlett said. Until 1964, got one that’s close to mint state, you’re looking many U.S. coins were made of 90% silver. at probably $80,000 to $100,000 for one coin.”

Newton’s family ran a Standard Oil gas station in Sterling, Non-members are welcome at the meetings if they come and what made it into the cash register on any given day could with a member, and can even bid on auctioned coins during be either cash or treasure. His grandfather got him interested their initial visit; after that, they will need to become a memin coins as a teenager. ber to bid in subsequent auctions.

“I started out with pennies, and would go through the rolls Whatever the reason people collect, there are plenty of coin from the bank and look for pennies,” Newton said. “I used to fans throughout the area who can gather and talk change once find all kinds of old pennies, 1911s, and those from the teens a month. and 20s. It shows how old we are.”

“I’ve always been big on history,” Bartlett said. “I can look Each collector has that “white whale” of a coin that they at a coin, for example, the Indian head penny, and think ‘Wow, want to stumble upon. Pennies from the 1910s that were this was minted way back during the Civil War” – and some of minted in San Francisco can fetch up to more than $100 in the coins are older than that.”

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If you love cookies, you’ll be in good Company with a retired Dixon couple who’s making some extra dough whipping up custom treats that look too good to eat

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a Marty Boyd gets ready batch of cookies n home, to ship at her Dixo and Tim sb where she and hu Day Cookie run The Bake My e nverted the spac Company. They co s es sin cking after bu for storage and pa ick qu w st shocked at ho took off. “I was ju m ty uch d ... It’s been pret people responde ul beyond belief,” nonstop. I’m gratef she said.

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fter punching a clock for years, Marty and Tim Boyd have acquired a taste for retirement.

And oh, how sweet it is.

The couple has taken their years in the food service industry and put them to good use in their latest endeavor, as the cookie creators behind The Bake My Day Cookie Company.

The husband-and-wife Pumpkin team have been spendspice has been ing their retirement in the ore’ kitchen, designing and baking all the rage on st and sweet treats in their home shelves recently, okie Co ay D y M ke Ba west of Dixon.

The ped on the The cookies that come out Company has jum with pumpkin of the Boyds’ oven are a blank canvas waiting to be transformed into edible works of art, bandwagon, too, d cookies. which takes a steady hand and precision with pastry bags of frosting. spice latte flavore L/APASALEX T. PASCHA But don’t let the cookies’ looks fools you: These not-too-crunchy, not-too-soft goodies may DIA.COM CHAL@SHAWME look too good to eat, but they’re definitely meant to be munched.

COOKIES cont’d to page 13

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COOKIES cont’d from page 12 For nearly a year, the Boyds have whipped up between 15 and 20 dozen sugar cookies a week. They’ve kept busy baking for birthday parties, weddings, baby showers and social occasions; and then there are the holidays, which are a gift that keeps on giving them more business.

Customers can order and send in a design through The Bake My Day Cookie Company’s Facebook page. It’s their preferred method, Marty said, since photos and design ideas can be attached and sent that way.

Wait a minute, Others just have an idea and let the Boyds do the name of the Bake the rest. business isn’t The ny, pa m “A lot of people let me carte blanche a lot,” My Day Pizza Co you if n Marty said. “It’s kind of up to my interpretabut you’d be forgive r seeing these tion, and I think I’ve done well so far.” thought it was afte like a gooey One good thing about controlling their cookies, which look the crust around business, and doing it during retirement, is slice, right down to the pace: When it gets to be too much, they can the edges.

Y COOKIE simply ease up on taking orders.

THE BAKE MY DA BOOK CE FA Y AN COMP “Being a retirement gig, it’s nice for me to have PAGE control,” Marty said. “Tim and I have been in the food business long enough to know that a certified kitchen is something that would need to be off-site.”

Marty retired last year after nearly two decades as the food service director for the Oregon School District. It was during a December day when she decided to get creative with her Christmas cookies. When Tim saw the finished product, he knew his wife had something special.

COOKIES cont’d to pages 14-15

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When it comes to crafting a cookie’s helps, looks, technology r that to ec like the Pico proj t ec designs Marty uses to proj she can then onto cookies that sting, but it still trace over with fro nd and an eye for takes a steady ha okies that design to create co e buds are a treat for tast and the eyes.

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COOKIES cont’d from page 13 Just one picture on Marty’s Facebook page, and things heated up, especially in the oven.

“At Christmas time, I was baking some cookies and put them on Facebook to show people what I made,” Marty said. “Somebody said, ‘You should sell those,’ and Tim said, ‘Just throw some on there and see what happens.’

“This,” Marty said as she held a tray of fresh cookies, “is what happened.”

With their combination of colors, patterns and pleasing penmanship, Marty’s designs were a hit with friends and family — and the cookies tasted great, too. Before long, the Boyds put together a business, got a cottage license from the county health department, ordered more supplies, and converted a room in their house into a packing area.

“I was surprised,” Marty said. “I was just shocked at how quick people responded. It just took off from there, and it’s been pretty much nonstop. I’m grateful beyond belief.”

Baking has long been a love of Marty’s. Before working for the Oregon schools, she once ran the bakery department at the former M&M grocery store in Mount Morris.

While cookies are still decorated by hand, technology has opened up new possibilities, and made life a little easier for food decorators, including Marty, who keeps up with the newest trends.

Marty uses a Pico projector attached to an iPad to project imag-

es and text onto the cookies, over which she applies the frosting.

She also gets plenty of design ideas through the internet and puts her own creative spin on things through the Camera Lucida app.

“I can get all of the writing the same all of the time,” Marty said. “It’s been really, really nice. A lot of times, with weddings, a lot of people want a certain design or a certain logo, and you can project that down and get it on a cookie to get it exactly how they want it.”

Want a cookie to have a photo or logo on it? The Boyds can make that happen, too. They have a printer with edible ink and sugar wafer paper that can print photos and other artwork to be placed on cookies.

“I figured, if I was going to do it, I’m going to buy all of the right equipment, and it’s changed immensely since I first did it back in the day,” Marty said. “The art, the availability of things — back when I did it, you could only buy the equipment from restaurant suppliers.”

The Boyds have more than 150 different cookie cutters, from the basic shapes to specialized ones, like a beer can, which came in handy when Marty had a customer who wanted cookies to look like Busch Light beer cans.

Other intricate designs Marty has drawn up include a baby with a pacifier, cookies that looked like a lobster and coin boil for a Rock Falls bar that was hosting a lobster and coin boil.

COOKIES cont’d to pages 16-18

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COOKIES cont’d from page 15 As the cookie orders keep on coming, so too do the compliments.

“I’ve had many people that have been very, very happy, and that makes me happy,” Marty said. “I’m not here to make much money out of it because I try to keep it reasonable for people. People want nice stuff, and fun stuff, and cute stuff that they can use for gifts and special occasions. For me, that’s what it’s about.

“It makes me feel so awesome when I can hand someone a box of cookies and they are just elated. To me, that’s the whole thing. I love to cook for people.”

Now that the cookies are a big hit, Tim, who’s been helping bake and pack the cookies, said he’s going to take a stab at designing some batches come Christmas.

“We’ll get there and we’ll be able to progress a little further,” Marty said. “We’ll see how many years of retirement I’ll want to take this. We’ve been progressing along, and hopefully we’ll continue in that and see where it goes.”

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STORY BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE

A 21ST CENTURY SAUK VALLEY MEDIA PRODUCTION WRITTEN

BY CODY CUTTER SPECIAL EFFECTS BY RUST Y SCHRADER

ometimes, those short diversions along life’s paths can lead to the biggest stepping stones.

Louella Parsons lived in Dixon for only a handful of her 91 years, but those years helped write a story that sounds like it came straight out of a Hollywood movie studio.

“Small-town girl hits the big-time in Tinseltown! See what happens when a Dixon Duchess becomes The Queen of Hollywood Gossip. With millions of followers, she traded information for power in a town where ‘idol’ gossip could make or break a career!”

It was in Dixon where Parsons graduated high school. It was in Dixon where she got her first newspaper job, while still in high school, penning the first of what would become a career’s worth of columns that would eventually take her to Hollywood where she would become one of the most powerful people in print. It was also in Dixon where she met and married a man who would become a footnote in her story, but who would give Parsons her last name, and her only child. All of that in only 6 years.

Looking west down First Street in downtown Dixon during the early 1900s, this is the view Louella Parsons (right) would have seen during her time in the city.

PARSONS cont’d to page 23

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PARSONS cont’d from page 22 Parsons’ time in other cities, both before and after, was longer, but only Dixon would remember her well enough to have a celebration in her honor, not long after her 60th birthday. At the height of her journalism career, on Sept. 15, 1941, Parsons returned to her hometown — with a bevy of Hollywood heavyweights in tow — for a 2-day celebration of her career arranged by city officials.

Dixon’s other hometown star, Ronald Reagan, was among the big names to join her. A rising star, Reagan was also in town to promote his latest film, “International Squadron,” which had its world premiere at the Dixon Theater. It was his final job, though — as President of the United States — that would make him a household name around the world and help put Dixon on the map.

PARSONS cont’d on page 24

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PARSONS cont’d from page 23 Louella, however, didn’t manage to retain the same fame in her one-time hometown: no street named in her honor, no statues in the city, no childhood home turned museum. But for a time, it was Mrs. Parsons, not the future Mr. President, who wielded the power. She was never elected to office, but her fans made her “The First Lady of Hollywood,” thanks to a popular syndicated gossip column that spanned from silent movies to talkies.

But even before her time as the maven of movie columns, Parson was making a name for herself. She broke barriers, not only the gender barrier in journalism, but she broke down barriers between the public and the people who entertained them, pulling back the stage curtains and revealing the stories behind the people beneath the make-up.

A rising star

Much of the first 18 years of Louella’s life were spent about 30 miles up the Illinois Central rail line in Freeport. She was born Louella Rose Oettinger on Aug. 6, 1881, to Joshua and Helen (Stine) Oettinger. Joshua ran a chain of stores in the region, while Helen raised Louella and her younger brother, Eddie. According to a 2005 biography of Parsons, “The First Lady of Hollywood,” the Oettinger Family also lived in Sterling for 4 years until a freak train accident killed Joshua. The family moved back to Freeport, where Helen remarried John Edwards in 1891.

Edwards was a salesman, but when that job sputtered in 1898, the family moved to Dixon to be closer to his family. This moved happened at a crucial time in Louella’s life: She was just starting her junior year at Freeport High School, where she excelled in writing. The move delayed her 4-year high school track by a year, and she enrolled at Dixon High School for the 1899-1900 school year as a junior.

PARSONS cont’d to page 25

Dixon High School, as it looked when Louella Parsons graduated from it in 1901. It was on the northwest corner of Hennepin Avenue and Fifth Street. It burned down in 1907 and was rebuilt in 1908. Today, the building is home to the Northwest Territory Historic Center.

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PARSONS cont’d from page 24 Louella’s family lived in an apartment on West Second Street close to the Northern Illinois Normal School. By the time Louella graduated high school, the family had moved to a large house along West First Street between the Illinois Central Railroad arch and downtown. Both homes were only a few blocks from the high school, a white brick building on the northwest corner of Hennepin Avenue and West Fifth Street. This school was nicknamed the South Side High School, as opposed to a second high school district on the north side of the Rock River (the two would merge in 1929).

Louella didn’t let the move distract her from her passion for writing. She continued to excel, which attracted the attention of the Dixon Star, publishers of both a daily and a weekly newspaper. She was asked to write occasional pieces about local drama shows during her senior year.

Those early articles were a first for Dixon: a woman — and a high schooler at that — penning pieces for one of the city’s newspapers, though most people didn’t know it. Stories back then, unlike today, didn’t carry bylines, so many people didn’t know Parson was the wordsmith responsible for pounding out the pieces.

Though exciting as it may have been at the time to be poking through the glass ceiling with a pen, it was another writing job — writing speeches for her high school graduation in 1901 — that would hold particular importance to Parsons.

Graduations were big occasions, but Louella’s class — all 12 of them: 8 girls and 4 boys — was extra special. They were dubbed “the first of the century,” and topics at the graduation ceremony involved Illinois history. Louella’s was on “Great Men in the State.”

One of the town’s other papers, the Telegraph, reviewed Louella’s speech: “We can also take pride in our great men in nearly every walk of life, as Miss Luella [sic] Oettinger clearly stated in her oration. Eugene Field was a poet whom the nation honored and when he died the world wept over his sweet songs. As a musician, Emil Liebing has won merited acknowledgement from all sides. Phillip D. Armour was without a peer among the successful businessmen and philanthropiate of the world. As a moulder of public thought through the medium of the newspaper, the late Joseph Medill will ever be remembered as a leader.

In art, Lorado Taft needs no expounder of his skill as a painter or sculptor, and the grace and charm of his lectures before students and the public made his fame national. All these and many more Illinois has placed upon her roll of honor, and Miss Oettinger told of the greatness in a most pleasing style.”

After high school came college, and Louella enrolled in the nearby Dixon College, in the city’s west end in the fall of 1901.

But college didn’t last long and she dropped out after a year.

For some people, it might have been a letdown to leave higher learning behind, but for Louella, it proved to be game changer.

PHOTOS on pages 26 & 27 | PARSONS cont’d on page 28

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Community members were invited to a tea party and Columbia Network broadcast at the Loveland Building.

Crowds gathered to welcome Louella Parsons and her Hollywood friends who came to Dixon for Louella Parsons Day. At right, the parade can be seen starting at the train depot as Parsons waves to the crowd.

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Local luminaries joined Hollywood celebrities at the Walgreen family’s Hazelwood estate for Louella Parsons Day. From left: George Montgomery, Ronald Reagan, Ann Rutherford, Louella Parsons, Mabel Shaw (owner of the Dixon Telegraph), Myrtle Walgreen (wife of Walgreen’s founder Charles Walgreen), Joe E. Brown, and Ben Lyon and his wife, Bebe Daniels.

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PARSONS cont’d from page 25 Now looking for work, Louella turned to the Star once more, and her writing skill and previous connections with the newspaper were good enough to secure her a part-time position, this time writing about more than just the arts. It was during her second time behind the typewriter when she broke another barrier: She was the first woman to have stories on the local paper’s front page. Her rising star in town also helped shape her career as one of the most powerful women in Hollywood.

Given that many women in town were “in the know” about news and happenings through their husbands, they talked with each other in social circles, and Louella was in on their discussions. This led to the creation of a gossip column for the Star, where she wrote about lighter moments in local news — but still no byline.

Eventually, Louella would ask for a promotion at the Star, to a full-time position, but she didn’t get it. So began her next job search, which led to a teaching position at Stony Point School.

Stony Point School had been around for only a couple of years when Louella took the job in the summer of 1903. Dixon’s southeast side was growing, especially the area where Raynor Garage Doors is today. The one-room school, a half-mile east of today’s state Route 2 on Stony Point Road, put Louella in charge of more than 20 pre-teen students. Teachers in those days had to live by strict rules to be a positive example to children of that time, and they had to play many roles at the school besides

teacher, such as maintaining the building.

Louella taught a variety of subjects for 2 school years, which gave her an opportunity to pass along lessons in writing. It was during this time that Parsons met real estate agent John Dement Parsons, grandson of county pioneer John Dement.

The two would eventually marry, which put an end to her career in front of the blackboard — no female teachers were allowed to be married at the time.

Their wedding took place at the Parsons Home at 536 E. Everett St., a house that still stands on the corner of Everett and Boyd streets and Jefferson Avenue. Property management was the Parsons’ family business, and when John’s father bought a place in Burlington, Iowa, he put John in charge of it. Moving there brought an end to Louella’s days in Dixon.

According to the Parsons biography, not long after Louella became pregnant with Harriet in 1906, John became unfaithful to her and was absent for almost the entirety of the young child’s life. Alone again, and with a child to take care of, Parsons returned to what she knew best: writing.

Louella and Harriet moved to Chicago and she wrote for the Chicago Record-Herald after a stint at the Essanay movie studios in Chicago. As motion pictures became more popular during the Roaring ’20s, Parsons went on the move, first to New York City and then to Los Angeles, where her entertainment column in the Los Angeles Examiner appeared in more than 700 newspapers throughout the world.

PHOTOS on pages 29 & 30 | PARSONS cont’d to page 31

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Ruby Mongan Gorman’s autograph book is on display at the Visitor's Center at the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. At left: Buttons were made to welcome a hometown Hollywood star back to Dixon for Louella Parsons Day. The button, and other photos from the day, can be seen at the Telegraph Museum, 113 S. Peoria Ave. in Dixon.

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Reagan's mother, Nelle, thanks the crowd at the Dixon Theater for coming to see her son in his new film.

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PARSONS cont’d from page 28

Parsons arrived in Dixon after a 2-day train ride with her third husband, Dr. Harry Martin, daughter Harriett, and Reagan and his then-wife Jane Wyman.

Dixon Theater manager L. G. Rorer helped arrange for the premiere of the Reagan film. Parsons and her Hollywood guests also participated in a fundraiser for KSB Hospital, where a children’s ward would eventually be name in Parsons’ honor.

The celebration came toward the end of a turbulent year for Parsons as a columnist. Earlier that year, one of Hollywood’s most critically acclaimed films, “Citizen Kane” — written, directed, produced and starring one-time Grand Detour resident Orson Welles — attracted the attention of many moviegoers. The film served as a criticism of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who was Parsons’ boss at the time, and Parsons waged a losing battle to bring the curtain down on the film before it could premiere. Her career would continue until 1965, though by that time her influence had waned. Despite not holding court as a gossip queen, Parsons left a lasting legacy that paved the way for the likes of tabloid tell-alls, today’s TMZ, and others. She died on Dec. 9, 1972, at 91, and is buried in Culver City, California.

Parsons has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — one for motion pictures at 6418 Hollywood Blvd. and one for radio at 6300 Hollywood Blvd. — but had it not been for those early stepping stones in Dixon, where she discovered her love of writing and the power of print, who knows where life’s path would have taken her. The star may not have been born in Dixon, but it’s where she began to shine.

As a growing number of readers became more interested in the lifestyles of entertainment’s rich and famous, Parsons continued to ply the skills she first perfected with her gossip column in Dixon, scooping up information about celebrities, which, by the late 1930s, would include a rising young star and future president from the town Parsons grew up in.

Louella’s day in Dixon

By 1941, Reagan had more than two dozen films under his belt, including a role alongside Bette Davis, and his iconic turn as “The Gipper” in 1940’s “Knute Rockne, All American.” His latest film, “International Squadron,” was ready for take-off and Dixon officials came up with a plan to bring some Hollywood glamour to their city.

Dixon Mayor William V. Slothhower and Chamber of Commerce President Walter Knack arranged for an event that would bring both Reagan and Parsons to town, Louella Parsons Day. The celebration spilled over into 2 days, brought about 50,000 people to Dixon and several movie stars — Bob Hope, George Montgomery, Ann Rutherford, Joe E. Brown, Jerry Colonna, and Ben Lyon and wife Bebe Daniels. It was Parsons’ first visit to town in nearly 25 years.

An Aug. 22, 1941, story in the Telegraph described Parsons as “the county’s greatest critic and writer of the moving picture world,” in a profession which also included the likes of Ed Sullivan, Walter Winchell and Hedda Hopper, who wrote a column that rivaled Parsons’ popularity.

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PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

C dy o yC ry b

t’s fall. It’s Saturday afternoon. What were you doing when you were in middle school?

If you were at a Dixon Junior Dukes football game, you’re not alone.

For many, sports and entertainment were a big part of growing up, and football games were the place to be — high school games under the Friday night lights, or the youth tackle games under the Saturday sunlight.

Whether playing in the game and butting pads with the opposition, or cheering on the players from the stands or sidelines, the excitement of watching teams tussle and tackle their way to a touchdown is tough to beat.

FOOTBALL cont’d to page 34

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If Dixon Junior Dukes players need a role model for teamwork, they need look no further than the team of volunteers who make the program possible, like junior tackle seventh-grade coaches Jason Wiseman (left) and Scott Ragan (above). A couple dozen people help on the field and off, from coaching to cleaning up to cooking.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

FOOTBALL cont’d from page 33 Youth football is a big part of the Midwest’s DNA, and it starts early in Dixon, where the team spirit is alive and well with the Junior Dukes — and their supporters and fans have a dedicated team of volunteers to thanks for making it a success. These people don’t get paid for what they do: It’s all on their own time, and they love every minute of it.

That includes Junior Dukes president Mike Lovett, who does a little bit of everything with the program.

Why does he do it? Simple. “It’s all about the kids,” Lovett said, “and having a quality program for them.”

Lovett has been involved with the Junior Dukes for more than 15 years, and has been president for the past eight. Sometimes there are home games that involve putting in 12-hour days, between setting up the field, arranging concessions, cooking meat on the grill, taking out the trash, and managing a staff of about 25 volunteers.

FOOTBALL cont’d to page 35

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Dixon junior tackle quarterback Jagger Kemp fires a pass Oct. 2 against Sterling.

Board members also are volunteers, and coaches are, too. In fact, some coaches go from calling plays on the sidelines to handing fans their food from the concession stand.

“It takes a lot of money,” Lovett said. “It’s expensive to play football with the cost of equipment and the cost of insurance, but it’s all for the kids. The quality of what we can provide for them, the equipment, the facilities – that’s the biggest thing, it’s for the kids.”

Most everyone who volunteers will say the exact same thing.

“It’s for the kids,” eighth-grade coach Kyle Lawrence said. “I’ve liked watching them grow through the years. The kids are really the only reason why we do it.”

“We’ve started with some since they were 6 years old, and I’ve liked watching them grow up,” eighth-grade coach Jared Knigge added.

“We all have full-time jobs, and it can be a long year, but why we do it is for these guys right here.”

Sometimes volunteers’ spouses or significant others will chip in to help.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

FOOTBALL cont’d to page 36

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FOOTBALL cont’d from page 35

Dixon tackle Jackson Koehler keeps his eye on the ball Oct. 2 in a game against Sterling.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@

“It’s nothing for someone to be coaching a game and coming over to work the grill for a while, or help pick up garbage, or all kinds of stuff,” Lovett said.

The program fields teams for players in grades five through eight, and they play an 8-week regular season from August to October; home games are at The Meadows. The Junior Dukes are members of the Big 14 Conference, consisting of similarly sized cities throughout northern Illinois. The top four teams after the regular season in each grade level play in a postseason week: The teams that finish best and secondbest play to determine a conference champion, and the third- and fourth-best play for a third-place honor.

Football is a fun sport for those who play, and its one where anyone’s contribution can make a difference, said seventh-grader Jack Ragan.

“I love the teammates, the coaches, and just how fun it is to play football,” Jack said. “If you come out, it’ll help improve our team.”

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FOOTBALL cont’d to page 37

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FOOTBALL cont’d from page 36 Camden Lovett, Mike’s son, enjoys being a part of a team with friends with similar interests.

“What I love about Dixon football is my teammates and how we are like a family, we’ve built up a lot of trust over that amount of time and it doesn’t fade away,” he said.

Sometimes, football can be a release, too, for players who’ve got some pent-up energy or frustration; they can work things out on the field — as long as it isn’t egregious enough to warrant a penalty.

“We’re all good sportsmen and we’re all learning new stuff all of the time,” seventhgrader Averick Wiseman said. “[Joining our team will] improve our team, and you can take your anger out.”

“If you want to come out, you can come out and have some fun,” Camden added.

No Junior Dukes team has lost more games than they won this year, setting the stage for even more success in the years to come. Players will look to continue their successes after their time with the Junior Dukes is through. Dixon High School’s football team runs a playset that the seventh- and eighth-grade teams have adopted into their system, and even the younger teams have some high school plays in their book along with the basic football fundamentals.

The Dixon junior tackle defense wrap up a Sterling running back during play on Oct. 2.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@ SHAWMEDIA.COM

PHOTOS on page 38 | FOOTBALL cont’d to page 39

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ER KAZMYN BARB 5TH GRADE

“I like and enjoy getting hit, hitting people, getting the football and scoring touchdowns.

I like having a team that supports me.”

DOOLAN LONG 6TH GRADE get in "It's really fun when you're running. When you is team whole your when fun really it's the end zone, and there to enjoy it with you. When you're scoring everyone runs up to you, it's really good."

H GAGE HELFRIC 8TH GRADE

“I like to hit hard, run hard, have fun and play hard.

I like being a good teammate, having a great experience as a team and having fun.”

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“I like scoring touchdowns, calling some plays and being a leader of my team.”

“I like getting the ball and having my team support all of us.”

LAND CHANDLER WINTER6TH GRADE g or “I like to see my teammates happy by them scorins.” me throwing footballs to them with long passe

CE BRADY LAWREN 8TH GRADE “I like having fun playing for my team, and I like

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ON XAVION IVERS 5TH GRADE

to hit.”

RDS PRESTON RICHA 6TH GRADE “I like that it’s a team sport and I like playing, tackling and everybody getting hyped.”

E LANDON KNIGG 8TH GRADE “I like to hit and have fun, and playing and being part of a team.”

FOOTBALL cont’d from page 37 The high school program has seen plenty of success recently, and its players appreciate their youth coaches helping pave the way to high school action.

“What I really love is when I go to a high school game,” Mike Lovett said, “and all of those kids that I coached years ago say: ‘Hey Coach!’

‘How you doin’ Coach?’ It’s hard to describe.”

Friday night home games at the high school’s A.C. Bowers Field are a bonding experience for the kids, hanging out with their friends and watching the older players shine on the Dixon junior tackle’s gridiron; some of them are brothers or cousins of Junior Dukes players.

Tukker Tarner celAnd the admiration goes both ways: When some of the high-schoolers ebrates a tackle Oct. take off their helmets and pads late Friday night, they’re thinking about 2 in a game against how they can help out at Junior Dukes home games.

Sterling.

Several high school students help operate the scoreboard or serve as ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASpart of the chain gang, helping players, referees and coaches know what CHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM down it is and how many yards to go to have a better chance of moving It’s not just down the field.

“It’s great when I get the high school boys that come here and ask ‘the high what they can do to help coach or help out,” Lovett said. “They’ll come school,’ or and help me dump the coolers and stuff like that. The high school ‘the junior coaches stress it. It’s not just ‘the high school,’ or ‘the junior high,’ we’re all one team, we’re all one family, and that’s what we try to high.’ We’re continue to do.” all one team, The younger players hear all about the high-schoolers Find “Dixon Junior Dukes” on through the media, posters around town, or by simply noticwe’re all one Facebook and send a message for ing how well they do on the field. While some may have idols family, and more information on how to volunin professional sports, they look up to local players, too. teer for next season. that’s what “It’s great to see the younger guys want to come back and help volunteer and help out,” Lovett said. “Believe it or not, we try to consomeone like Matthew Coffey is a huge benefit to the team tinue to do.” when I coached my oldest boy because the kids saw him in high school and watched him play. When he came back to help them DixonJuniorDukespresident coach, the kids responded to him so much more than they responded to all of us dads, because that was Matthew Coffey and he was a star in high school and they were used to seeing him on Friday nights. That was a huge benefit.”

Even the place where the Junior Dukes play says something about the community spirit that makes the program possible. It’s not uncommon for fields and stadiums to be named after pivotal people in the sport — like A.C. Bower field, which was named for a DHS administrator and coach — and The Junior Dukes field is the same. But unlike other places, it’s not named for one person, it’s named in honor of all the people who give the Junior Dukes a hometown advantage: Volunteer Field.

The program is always looking for help with home games or leadership on its board. Volunteers must pass a background check, and be ready to help out wherever they’re needed, Lovett said.

“It’s someone that’s going to devote some time being here helping the program in any aspect, whether it’s setting up for game day or coaching or all kinds of aspects of it,” Lovett said. “It’s a lot to ask, it’s a lot of time to put in, but you get to meet a lot of great people and make friends with a lot of them.”

Want to help?

MIKE LOVETT

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“It’s a pleasant atmosphere and we have excellent care from the Nurses and CNA’s.

Helpful responses to all of our needs.”

“I Like living here. The Staff take care of all our needs.”

HERITAGE Marion Davis with Elaine Bassett

Joe Venier with Philip Garnhart

620 North Ottawa Avenue 815-288-2251 www.heritagesquaredixon.com

SQUARE “ “Still #1 from ‘74 to 1, from employee to ‘21, dent, entrusted 4 family de resident, members’ care to the me uare, and it’s still my #1 ua Square, choice to live.”

“It feels like hhome. o Housekeeping Housekeepi in everything keeps everyt thi clean.” neat and clea ean Glenna Switzer with Maribel Lorenzen Glen

Dorothy Bellows with Bonnie O’Connell ell

STRONG “The food is good and there are plenty of options.

The dessert is the best part.”

“Love spending time doing puzzles and playing cards with these lovely ladies.”

Leo Peterson with Cynthia Pickering and Ana Garias 40

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Arthur Tofte with Laurie Pelka and Jean Gornik 2 0 2 1