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Reagans attended 1920-1937 |
In November of 1926 the Reagan family moved again, this time to 226 Lincolnway. Ronald was graduated from North Dixon High School in the class of 1928. While both boys were in college, June of 1930 saw the Reagan family move again, this time to 209 North Galena Avenue. They remained at that address until November 1934, with both boys being in Iowa, they again moved to the south side of the river, 107 South Monroe Avenue. After Ronald had established himself as a movie actor in Hollywood, he purchased a home there for his parents. Jack and Nelle departed Dixon for Hollywood on September 12, 1937.Stepping back in time, Ronald entered Eureka College in September 1928. Neil was persuaded to follow in Dutch's footsteps, entering Eureka one year later. |
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After graduation from Eureka College and serving the summer of 1932 again as lifeguard at Lowell Park, Ronald then sought employment, finally being hired on a trial basis by radio station WOC, Davenport, Iowa in October 1932. He commuted between Dixon and Davenport for the remainder of 1932, moving to Iowa in early 1933. In short order he was transferred to radio station WHO, Des Moines, Iowa, a sister station of WOC.Sometime between his June 1926 graduation from Dixon high school and April 1st, 1927, Neil left the Christian Church and joined St. Patrick's Catholic church, the church of his father. Neil was a member of the Company A, 129th Infantry, Illinois National Guard and went with the company to Camp Grant, Rockford for two weeks in August each year in the years 1928, 1929 and 1934. In April 1934 Neil was a write-in candidate as County Clerk of Lee County, being defeated for that office. Neil was also quite active in local talent productions of the Knights of Columbus, as well as other performances. In September 1934, Neil was hired by radio station WOC, davenport, Iowa, as an announcer, again following the lead of his younger brother. |
Sports Announcer ca.1933 |
In the Fall of 1933 Jack and Neil were appointed as CWA (Civil Works Administration) workers, Jack as Chief Certifying Agent and Food Distributor for Lee County, Neil as CWA statistician. When the CWA was replaced by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) at the end of March 1934, Jack's title was changed to Superintendent of Work Relief, Neil's to ERC (Emergency Relief Committee) Statistician. These alphabet soup programs were all a part of President Roosevelt's "New Deal," otherwise known as the NRA (National Recovery Act), the huge program intended to lift the country out of the Great Depression.The South Side School is now the Dixon Historic Center, scheduled to be yet another Reagan display site. The site of the North Side School has been replaced with the present day Heritage Square, a retirement facility. In December 1929, almost a year and a half after Ronald's 1928 graduation, the present Dixon High School was dedicated and opened, thus eliminating the need for separate north and south high school facilities.When the Reagans arrived in Dixon the Christian Church was holding all their services at the Dixon YMCA, which at the time was located on the northwest corner of Galena Avenue and Third Street. The church had sold its first house of worship, which was located on West First street (where Kitzmans is now located), to the Loyal Order of Moose in September 1917. For nearly four years the congregation held all their meetings variously at the First Baptist Church, the old Dixon Armory (over the former Kline's department store on East First street), and the Dixon YMCA (then located on the northwest corner of Third Street and Galena Avenue). |
Ronald "Dutch" Reagan ca.1937 |
On June 16, 1921, First Christian Church took possession of the present church structure from the former erectors and owners, the Universalist Society of Dixon and the Universalist Association of Chicago. On June 19, worship services of the Christian Church were held in the basement of the present edifice, this being the first occurrence of Christian Church services at the new location. The building had been severely damaged by fire in November 1917, and a year's work was required to repair the damage. During this year's time all services and meetings were conducted in the basement of the church.In March 1921 Nelle was appointed teacher of the True Blue Sunday school class, a position she continued to hold until her and Jack's departure for Hollywood, California in September 1937. Ronald began teaching a Sunday school class in July 1926, a task he fulfilled through the month of September 1928. Despite the fact that he entered school during the middle of September, he apparently returned to Dixon from Eureka College for a couple of Sundays in September to fulfill his duties.Perhaps influenced by their regular exposure to the YMCA setting as a result of attending church services there during their first seven months in Dixon, both Reagan boys soon became very visible in various YMCA activities. Ronald joined the YMCA Marching Band as a Drum Major early on, while Neil was a member of a YMCA group of high schoolers who served at small rural churches, conducting worship services, and otherwise lending a hand to these small congregations. |
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Aside from his mother's strong influence, what was it that started Ronald down the life path that he selected?In May 1922, Nelle had left a copy of Harold Bell Wright's book, "That Printer Of Udell's," lying at their home. Ronald picked up this book and read it. Shortly after this he went to his mother and told her he wanted to declare his faith and be baptized. On June 21, 1922, the Rev. David Franklin Seyster, long time pastor of the Pine Creek Christian Church, baptized Neil and Ronald as part of a group of twenty-five individuals at First Christian Church.Despite the fact that the term "Christian Endeavor" is never used in the above named book, that is exactly what the book is centered upon. Christian Endeavor was first organized in Maine, in 1881, by Congregationalist minister Rev. Francis E. Clark. Many denominations adapted the embodied idea to their own particular theologies and applied their own unique names to the result. The Disciples of Christ, however, took up Christian Endeavor intact and entire, and were among the first, if not, indeed, the first to do so.And so, the fundamental underpinnings of Christian Endeavor appealed to our young Ronald Reagan. He obviously was impressed by the work ethic, which is interwoven throughout this adjunct to church and Sunday school activities. Apparently he was so inspired by these thoughts and beliefs that he then carried them throughout his life in the community, his studies at Eureka College, his radio and movie careers, Governor of California, GE spokesperson, and ultimately, President of the United States.In 1984, and while in office as President of the United States of America, Ronald wrote a letter to the daughter-in-law of the author of the above named book. In this letter to Mrs. Jean B. Wright, the President told the story of how that book had been a profound determinate in the resultant course of his life. A copy of this letter is on display at First Christian Church, the Dixon Public Library, and elsewhere in Dixon. |
October 30, 1990 |
The Rev. Harvey Garland Waggoner was pastor at First Christian Church when the Reagan family arrived in Dixon in 1920. Harvey was called to the Dixon pastorate in October 1919. Rev. Waggoner passed away on May 30, 1922, barely three weeks before the Reagan boys' baptisms. Harvey suffered from aplastic anemia, a chronic blood condition. The pastor's son, John Garland II, commonly known simply as "Garland," was graduated from South Dixon High School three days after his father's demise.Garland had been a football star at Dixon High School, was an active worker at First Christian Church, and also was involved at the Dixon YMCA. In September 1922, Garland entered Eureka College, where he again became prominent as an athlete. Since Garland had been a leader in church schoolwork, and also because of his prominence in football, he was a strong role model for, and an idol of Ronald Reagan. These things may also have helped bias Ronald toward entering Eureka College.Ronald's own Sunday school teacher at the Christian Church was Lloyd W. "Brownie" Emmert. Brownie appears in the August 1950 photograph taken on the corner of Hennepin Avenue and Second Street; he is the short gentleman standing immediately to Nelle's left.In November 1922, at age eleven, Ronald wrote a letter to Gladys Shippert, a young lady upon whom he had a boyhood crush, a girl who had also been a member at the Christian Church and was now a high school senior in Wisconsin. A copy of that same letter and an accompanying article appeared in the November 20, 1980, Ashton Gazette. This letter, and its contents, became the basis of a recent painting done by local artist Fran Swarbrick. The painting is a depiction of an event spoken of by Ronald in the 1922 letter, the refurbishing by himself and his classmates of their Sunday school classroom, which also was the furnace room at the church. The daughter of Brownie Emmert, Mrs. William P. (Marion Emmert) Foster, commissioned this work of art in the memory of her parents and her recently deceased brother, Lloyd W. Emmert Jr. The painting is the focal point of the Reagan Room, all other displays being coordinated so as to be in harmony with it.Nelle and Ronald returned to Dixon in September 1941, for "Louella Parsons Day." Louella was a former Dixon girl and was at the time a prominent movie columnist. Ronald's film, "International Squadron," was to be premiered at the Dixon Theater during this time. Other stars accompanying Ronald and Louella included: Bob Hope, Jerry Colona, George Montgomery, Ann Rutherford, Bebe Daniels and her husband, Ben Lyon, and Joe E. Brown. Ronald's wife at the time, Jane Wyman, was unable to attend due to an operation which she had just undergone. |
40th President of the United States |
The next return of Nelle and Ronald occurred August 20 - 24, 1950. This event was termed, "Injun Summer Days." During this time Ronald dedicated the Memorial Pool and the Reynolds Field softball diamond. Ronald, his mother and the other Hollywood visitors stayed as guests at Hazelwood, the estate of Myrtle Wallgreen, widow of Charles R. Walgreen. Nelle remained in Dixon for some three weeks after this event to visit with old friends.Two people who also were members of the Christian Church during the Reagan years are the late Miss Golda Cunningham, and the late Dr. Lamar O. Wells.Golda, who actually was seven years older than Ronald, was prominent in Sunday school work, as well as in other departments of the church. She also sang in the church choir with, and was a good friend of Nelle Reagan. The fellowship hall at First Christian Church has been dedicated in her honor.Dr. Wells was, among other things, a member of the Sunday school class taught by Ronald Reagan (July 1926 - September 1928). Shortly before his recent death Lamar purchased and donated the display case that now holds a prominent place in the Reagan Room display. The church register book, opened to the page containing the Reagan membership data, stands on permanent display in this case. To the right of this display case hangs the painting spoken of above.In July 2000, an event termed a "Media Blitz" was conducted in the Golda Cunningham Fellowship Hall of First Christian Church. Members of the media from around the country had been invited to this event, which was designed to provide background information preparatory to the opening and dedication of the Reagan Trail, which was scheduled to occur August 25. At this event a large portraiture of Ronald Reagan, made from some 14,000 Jelly Belly jellybeans was unveiled. Shortly after the event this item was removed to what will be its permanent residence, the Dixon Historic Center. The Jelly Belly jellybean company was a major sponsor of the Reagan Trail events.Four days after the Media Blitz Phyllis Waggoner Cole visited First Christian Church for worship services. Phyllis is a daughter of the late Rev. H.G. Waggoner, and thus a sister of the late Rev. Garland Waggoner. In our visit after services it was determined that Phyllis had been among those who were baptized on June 21, 1922, and thus was baptized in the same group and on the same Wednesday evening as Ronald and Neil Reagan.On the day of the dedication of the Reagan Trail, August 25, 2000, featured speaker and celebrity was the now late Maureen Reagan, daughter of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. For fifteen minutes and before the dedicatory services, Maureen and her adopted daughter, Rita Revel, visited for the first time what had been the church of Ronald, Neil and Nelle Reagan during their time in Dixon.First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Dixon is humbly and respectfully proud to have played some small part in the nurturing and Christian training of a youth who was later to hold the highest office in the United States, and arguably, the most important governmental position in the world! |
