The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, December 26, 1968, Image 15
The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C. Dec. 26th,. 1968—PAGE 15—SEC. A
York Banker Put “Merry” In
Christmas For Orphan Children
YORK.—A banker, a former
school principal, and his wife,
put the “merry” in Merry
Christmas for the 40 children
who live at the Episcopal
Church Home for Children.
The banker is Joseph E. Hart
Jr. who continues a unique
Christmas Tree Club begun by
his father 50 years ago. The
former school principal is H. S.
(Sandy) Howie Jr., Superin-
Alay the spirit of Christinas he ever present
in your home, bearing the gifts of peace
and contentment, happiness and good cheer,
D. P. (JABBO) FOLK
Your Personal Life Underwriter, Representing
The Equitable Life Assurance Society
of the United States
1508 Main Street Newberry, S. C.
tendent of Church Home. He
and his wife, Betty Jane, go
Christmas shopping every year
about this time. They carry 45
Santo Clau letters, five writ
ten by their own youngsters,
40 by the children who live
with them in the sprawling
complex of buildings at Church
Home in York and the cottage
in Charleston.
“We receive many bulk-lots
of gifts from individuals and
various industrial firms” Howie
says, “and many churches send
gifts to a particular child they
are interested in. But every
child gets to pick one really
substantial gift he especially
wants. The money to pay for
these gifts comes from the
Christmas Tree Club run by
Mr. Hart.”
When Joseph E. Hart Sr. be-
ban the Christmas Tree Club
a half century ago, he sent let
ters to selected individuals ask
ing for contributions. To keep
the operation simplg, he asked
each contributor to return his
letter with a note on the bot
tom indicating the amount
pledged. The following year
he simply pulled the same let
ters out of his files and sent
them back to the donors. Some
of these original letters, now
almost covered with notes, still
shuttle back and forth between
the Junior Joseph E. Hart and
the people who contribute an
nually to the Christmas Tree
Club.
, “We have our Christmas par
ty early,” Howie says. “The
children are gone from Church
Home during the actual Christ
mas holidays. They go to visit
parents, relatives, and friends.
Our party is really an Advent
celebration, but it’s the only
Christmas many of the children
will have.”
Howie and his wife, Betty
Jane, start their Santa Claus
buying in York. Sometimes to
find a particular item, they have
to go to Rock Hill of Charlotte.
Occasionally they have to order
by mail. But they do their lev
el best to see that each child re
ceives at least one specially re
quested item.
The church home recently an
nounced plans to convert one of
the cottages on the York campus
to a residential treatment cen
ter for emotionally disurbed
children. But even though the
institution moves in a new di
rection, Banker Hart's letters
will continue to shuttle back and
forth raising funds for the
Christmas Tree Club, and Sup
erintendent Howie and his wift
will continue to search out one
special present on each list of
each child at the Church Home.
Invitational
Basketball
Tourney here
On December 27 and 28, Mac-
Lean Gymnasium will be the
site of the first Newberry Col
lege High School Invitational
Basketball Tournament.
The four invited high schools
include Chapin, Newberry, Sa
luda, and Whitmire. The first
game between Chapin and Whit
mire will start at 7.00 p.m., to
be followed by the Saluda vs.
Newberry game. Saturday night
the losers will play in the con
solation game beginning at 7:00
p.m., and the winners in the
championship game at 8:30 p.m.
Prices for the game are $1.25
for adults and 75c for students.
All of the coaches have tickets
on sale at their respective
schools. Tickets may also be
purchased prior to the game.
Three beautiful trophies will
be awarded to the first, second,
and third place winners. Indi
vidual trophies will be awarded
to the five men making All-
Tournament Team.
Fight tuberculosis,
emphysema;
air pollution.
Greetings to our many fine
patrons from the folks at
LAIRD RADIATOR SERVICE
Distributor
Harrison Radiators and Cores
Harrington Street
Newberry, S. C. Telephone 276-2893
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Hw’y 76 Newberry Phone 276-1877