continued "Points to Ponder by Sheldon Helle"
Send Them Onward With a Smile
Do not worry little mother
If there are tracks upon the floor,
Years go by you'll soon be wishing
You could see those tracks once more.
There won't be much satisfaction
Looking back along the way,
Tho you kept your house all shinIng
If you scolded everyday.
Yes, I know that little garments
Sadly torn and out of place
Make it hard for tired mothers
Hard to wear a smiling face.
But they'll leave the home nest shortly
Some may fly to foreign lands
Then your house will be in order
But you'll sit with folded hands.
Let us then enjoy each moment
Of those happy childhood days
Just forget the dust that gathers
Just enjoy their childish plays.
Yesterday they were but babies
Now they're with us for a while
But tomorrow they'll be going
Send them onward with a smile.
Author Unknown
"Permission Harold Warp,
Warp Bros., Chicago."
This is one of my favorite poems.
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Walter and I started in business together in 1936 near Galesburg, IL. We moved to Savanna, IL. in October, 1940.
During World War II, lumber from our Savanna mill was used for crating war materials. It was shipped all over the Free World.After World War II we sawed lumber for corn cribs and barns. That continued till the early 1950's.Then came the metal building boom! Our market was gone. As the fork trucks became a way of life, we converted to the manufacturing of wood pallets. By the early l97O's we were manufacturing between 300,000 to 400,000 pallets a year.Our brother, Harley E., moved to Hawaii in 1968. We purchased 50 percent of the stock in Helle Hardwood at Oregon, IL. The other 50 percent was owned by another brother, Verle Helle.Then in 1971 we purchased the Monticello, Iowa. pallet factory. This plant is managed by another brother, Gail.
Then in 1972 we acquired a small mill at New Ulm, Minn. We closed it and moved the equipment to Monticello. The three (3) plants are now producing about 1,000,000 pallets per year. The years 1975 and 1976 have had severe financial losses but 1977 seems better. I believe I should tell you a couple of my favorite tall tales of the Spoon River Country:A neighbor of ours down home had a parrot with a long top bill-could not eat right. His friend ran a hardware store. The hardware man told him to file off the bill but to be careful and not file off too much or it would kill the bird. Two weeks later the hardware man met him on the street and asked. "How is the parrot?" His friend replied, "It's dead." The hardware man asked "What happened? Did you file off too much bill?" Our neighbor replied, "No! The bird was dead when I took his head out of the vice."Spoon River soil was so rich we had to quit raising melons. The vines would grow so fast it would wear the melons out dragging them through the fields.But on the clay hills they raised Razor Back hogs. They were so skinny we had to tie knots in their tails to keep them from going through the picket fence.After Hazel and I were married we moved to a small cabin on the Mississippi River down from Galena. This river area was wild country back in 1935.One day Walt hollared, "Sheldon! A big wild cat just went in your house and Hazel is in there alone!" I yelled back, "Let him get out any way he can!"
I could write a book on the capers of my brothers and sisters but I guess I was just a model boy? (a hem!) Now for more of the interesting articles.
Just Keep Paddling
Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream, And paddled to keep afloat,
But one soon tired, and sank to rest With a gurgling sigh in his throat.
The other paddled away all night,
And not a croak did he utter,
And with the coming of morning light,
He rode on an island of butter.
The flies came thick to his island home, And made him a breakfast snappy,
The milkmaid shrieked and upset the pail, And froggy hopped away happy.
A moral that a man finds in this rhyme,
And hastens at once to apply,
Success will come in the most difficult way, If we paddle and never say die!
"Permission Harold Warp,
Warp Bros., Chicago."
1970 Book
Upon Reflection
The man who rows a boat generally doesn't have time to rock it.
"Permission Harold Warp,
Warp Bros., Chicago."
Be sure you are right, then go ahead; Be sure you are wrong before you quit.
"Permission Harold Warp,
Warp Bros., Chicago."
-Martin Vanbee
Your true religion is the life you live, not the creed you profess.
"Permission Harold Warp
Warp Bros., Chicago."
A man may be happy without a fortune, But he can never be happy without a friend.
"Permission Harold Warp,
Warp Bros., Chicago."
1966 Book
Your Today
Is anybody happier
Because you passed this way?
Does anybody remember,
That you spoke to him today?
The day is almost over,
And its toiling time is through.
Is there anyone to utter now,
A kindly word to you?
Did you waste the day or lose it,
Was it well or poorly spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness,
Or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber,
Did you think that God would say,
You have earned one more tomorrow,
By the work you did today.
"Permission Harold Warp,
Warp Bros., Chicago."
-Author Unknown
1 would like to take some space to look back to the time about 1840 when my Grandparents were born. We had just recently entered the age of steam power. By 1900, steam power was nearly perfected. Gasoline power was just beginning and electric power had come a long way.
Then by 1913, the year I was born, automobiles would go where the people wanted to go. The great automobile age was well on the way. Until this time, the automobik' was limited by mechanical failures and poor roads.Our cities had limited electricity, a few people had flush toilets and running water, hot and cold. But the rural people on our farms lived in our homes exactly as we had for hundreds of years. By the twenties the radio had been invented. We had prosperity in our country previously unheard of.We still had diptheria, scarlet fever, and other dreadful diseases which generally took the lives of one or more children in a family.By the time that Hazel and I were married in 1935, rural electricity was just starting to be installed in America. We had come a long way; planes were flying all over the world. The automobile had become completely dependable for long distance trips on paved roads to any part of our great country. But most of us on the farm and in small cities still used primative heating methods for our homes and still carried water from the well. Our homes were generally cold in the mornings and we still had those COLD out-houses.As we look at the things we have today it is truly hard to comprehend the advances our people have made in our way of life.From steam power in 1830 to gasoline, electric and diesel, to jet planes, the man on the moon, and the rockets. These all are wonderful. But, I believe the changes in our homes in my life time with the automatic heat, running water, carpets instead of wood floors, electric lights, radio and television, and our great appliances surpass all other changes in making life easier.1977 started out COLD COLD COLD
One of the first things that happened was that our very good friend, Jay Still died of injuries received in September 1976. He was an employee of Helle Hardwoods, Inc., at Oregon, IL. We are very sad over the loss of Jay.
February was still cold as was March. . . April was better. Our company was showing a modest profit, after two years of losses.
The month of May, we decided to close the logging operations at Monticello, Ia., and contract the logging to independent loggers. This put about 10 people out of work. This was a very difficult decision to make. We were sorry to have to do this.
June and July were normal for our business. August, September &
October, it rained about 70 days in that three months. The Monticello
Plant was out of logs much of the time... We did not have that trouble
at Savanna and Oregon. We did not make any money these 3 months.
By November, it looked like the rains had stopped. We felt better.
On Nov. 8th., our employee, Robert Knave, blew a front tire on a logging truck. East of Rock Falls, IL. He was killed instantly. Bob was liked by all of his fellow workers, including myself.
Losing 2 personal friends as well as employees in one year has left quite a scar, and a lot of our spirit was gone...
Our Insurance was a retroactive Policy. The Company went back six years, and assessed the Helle Hardwoods, Inc. $155,000.00, which we did not have.
After many long sleepless nights plus talks with all of the Bankers involved, we decided to close the Oregon Plant...
The Federal and State attitude toward Industry was a deciding factor on our decision to close this Plant..
Financial problems plus an old plant that needed many repairs was also a reason for closing. We put it up for Public Auction sale, Dec. 20,
'77.
From Dec. 1974, to January 1978, our total employment has gone from 130 to about 60. 1977 has been a tragic and sad year. We are loping that 1978 will be a better year for all concerned.
On January 17, '77, Walter and Alice gained their 2nd. Greatgrandchild, (Janices' 2nd. grandchild). On Feb. 15th., '77, Hazel and I gained our 10th Grandchild.
BY: Sheldon Helle
"THE YEAR OF 1977"
