Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 22, 1950.
Prisoners To Get Treat
Cheer To Be Spread At Public Institutions
Christmas cheer will be spread at Porter Memorial hospital, the Porter County home and will even invade the county jail, a check with these institutions revealed today.
Patients at the hospital, who incidentally are crowding hallways due to an adult total of 75 at present, will be remembered with room decorations, tray favors and covers and turkey dinners for those on full diets, R. Edwin Hawkins, administrator, said, today.
Aluminum foil miniature Christmas trees of varied hues will be placed on bedside tables Sunday by the patient-cart committee of the Hospital Guild. Mrs. Wilbur Cooper and Mrs. Shannon Brown are co-chairmen of this committee, which makes regular room visits with a mobile cart filled with items for patient use. The guild will also treat patients with home-made cookies and Christmas story pamphlets. Mrs. Ross Corson and Mrs. Gerald Beach have been busy this week preparing the cookies.
For children at the hospital the Wheeler auxiliary of the hospital Guild, headed by Mrs. Edward Brickner, will make favors. Furnishing holiday favors for the children;s ward is a regular project for this auxiliary. Mrs. Carlton Patton will be in charge of the Christmas plans this weekend.
Brownie troop members have made individual tray favors consisting of tiny trees dipped in mica to add an effect of sparkling snow.
Girl Scouts of the junior high age group have also employed their artistic skill to bring cheer to 61 residents at the county home. Fifteen table centerpieces of miniature logs and Christmas candles which are being used at the home this holiday season are the work of Troop 10. Turkey and chicken dinners will be served at the county home, which has been decorated in holiday spirit. Members of the Catholic Woman’s club have supplied and decorated a tree for women of the home. The club also gave fruit and hard candy to add to their cheer. Mrs. Lawrence Mayer served as committee chairman.
Carolers have also added to the season’s pleasure for home residents this week, and various gifts and baskets have been given by Valparaiso organizations and individuals, as well as “sunshine baskets” of fruit and candy furnished by the Salvation Army.
Turkey dinner from “soup to nuts” will also be enjoyed by six inmates at the county jail. Candy will be distributed during the day.
