THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

December 20, 1990

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            Christmas Eve, sometime around 1917 or so, Glenn Dent had moved to his new farm one mile west of Blaine Corners, just over the county line.  It was customary that they spend every other Christmas with their parents.  Glenn’s parents were Frank and Ernie Dent, and Elsie’s parents were Cyrenius and Clara Rogers.  In those days, the roads were not plowed and the only travel was by horse and sleigh.

            This was the year the Glenn Dent family was to spend its Christmas at the Cyrenius Rogers’ home in the Town of Dayton.  The road from the Glenn Dent farm went directly east from Blaine, down past Fountain Lake, the Grant Mill, and through the big pines.

            The Frank Dent farm was located on County Trunk D, and ran south nearly to the point where the Glenn Dent family had to pass by.  As a surprise, Frank and his wife, Ernie, walked through the snow that one-half mile carrying Christmas trimmings and presents.  There they cut a Christmas tree and trimmed it and stood it in the middle of the road with the presents under it.  Then, they sat and waited for their son and family to come along so they might have a few moments of Christmas together.

            This is a true story and shows how one family figured out a way they, too, could have a Merry Christmas over 70 years ago.

            Alta, my wife, is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dent and Dr. Robert Dent is a a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Dent.

            Alert Mathew (Dr. A.M.) Christofferson left his practice in Colby in 1920, and came back to his native Waupaca to join his brother Peter John (Dr. P.J.) Christofferson in the medical field.  Together in 1921, they built the Waupaca Hospital, located on the corner of Lake and Washington Streets.  This building is now the South Park Retirement Home.

            Much can be written about the Christofferson brothers in Waupaca; indeed, the following poem is entitled, “Reflections on Christoffersons’ Hospital.”

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Should illness or accident happen your way,

Go straight to Waupaca to Dr. P.J.

If great is your need, your requirements to meet,

He’ll promptly convey you right up to Lake Street.

 

A kindly faced nurse in immaculate white,

Is there to receive you by day or by night.

A good restful bed in a room light and airy,

With linen and blankets so clean and sanitary.

 

With dear Mrs. Bowers, the best nurse in the land,

A “ministering angel” wit heart and with hand,

She soothes all your fears, your doubts will take flight,

At once you’re convinced that you’ll soon be alright.

 

A competent cook and a lady refined,

In good Mrs. Dopp you will find combined,

She prepares our meals with those fine filled trays,

We wish she might do so the rest of our days.

 

The eagle-eyed doctor so genial and fat,

Comes often each day to see just where you’re at,

His medicines are bitter, but many a life,

Has been saved by his skill with scalpel or knife.

 

When patients grow restless and time seems to pall,

The doctor’s good wife cheers us up with a call.

A dish of ice cream or a bouquet of flowers,

She knows what will help while away the long hours.

 

To chase away blues and to drown melancholy,

To speed your recovery by keeping you jolly,

Forget all your troubles both little and big,

Then Miles will come over and dance you a jig.

 

When daylight is fading and time comes to sleep,

Then Mrs. McGinley her vigil will keep.

She’s patient and quiet as many can tell,

And always alert for the sound of the bell.

 

If e’er your appendix or liver act funny,

Or if the x-rays show you have no money,

On either occasion the doctor’s no dance,

He’ll start operations to relieve you at once.

 

Here’s health to the doctor and all of the staff,

But for them I’d not be here to write all of this chaff.

My honest convictions, there’s no better berth,

To be found till St. Peter reclaims you from earth.

 

            The people mentioned were Ulrecka, Mrs. Charles Bowers, mother of Mrs. Allen (Ethel M.) Guyant; Myra Buckholt Dopp, wife of Robert Pryse; Mrs. Clara Collier McGinley and Miles Matson.

 

Wishing You All A Merry Christmas

And A Happy New Year!