Peasley: O’Hara a community treasure
Few people in a crowd were more in evidence than Dixie O’Hara – knowledgeable, opinionated, enthusiastic and ready to contribute to conversation extensively.
On my first working day in Woodstock on Oct. 5, 1947, I had my photo taken with O’Hara and Guy Curtright because I was editor of the Woodstock Journal, my new employer, and I was hustling to put together an article for the upcoming Blue Streaks football game.
A few years later, O’Hara told me a hitherto unrevealed vignette. He was hired to be varsity football coach. Curtright was hired to be varsity basketball coach. But when the two men reported for their first few days of work, their conversation revealed that Curtright preferred coaching football, O’Hara much preferred coaching basketball. Presto! The two men told Principal Harry Abraham they were going to switch, and that was fine with school officials.
O’Hara’s first year as basketball coach was a rousing success in 1947-48. Looking back, a team of Bill Ohlrich, Vern Helm, Hugo Nelson, Bob Hunter and Gene Shook was a dominant basketball quintet and provided a great deal of entertainment for fans and coach O’Hara.
They won the McHenry County basketball tournament that year and did well in the regional though losing in a powerfully laden tournament featuring Dundee and Elgin.
I will remember O’Hara as an organizer, ranging from politics, Little League, golf tournaments and signing Lions Club members. His Woodstock Lions service was significant. Soon after he moved to Sun City a few years ago the local Lions Club needed a rudder, and O’Hara became president.
O’Hara was 91 when he died Oct. 2. O’Hara and his son Dave, in late September, enjoyed an outing to a Huskies football game where O’Hara’s enthusiasm was in evidence.
His variety of talents and energy formed a lasting impact on the community.
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Mel and Bobette Von Bergen’s 40 acres of pumpkins have converted the farmstead east of Hebron into a colorful display of orange. The Von Bergens have tailored the area to welcome families with the children’s maze, hay wagon ride around fields, a pumpkin ride and a spacious vegetable market.
“In a good year, we’ll produce almost 20 tons of pumpkins per acre. We’re doing that this year despite persistent rains and difficult growing weather,” Mel Von Bergen said.
Customers have three pumpkin choices: jack-o’-lantern size, decorative pumpkins and pumpkins grown for pies.
During the school year, children tour the greenhouse and fields helping them learn where food comes from.
The visit includes a talking tour of their farm of vegetables, field corn and soybeans.
• Don Peasley has been editor, columnist and historian in McHenry County since October 1947. He began his association with Shaw Publications in 1950. He is a frequent contributor of articles and photographs. He can be reached at 815-338-1533.
