Aaltensche Courant, 30 December 1947
Although it cannot be said that the municipality of Aalten experienced particularly shocking events in 1947, this does not alter the fact that encouraging activity was deployed in various fields. For instance, agenda items relating to housing construction were handled in several council meetings. Additionally, the municipal administration ensured the improvement of various roads, the electric street lighting was taken in hand, and finally, the reinstatement of the piglet market on Monday, 8 September, must not be forgotten.
Events that were of importance to the entire municipality further included the unveiling of the monument for the former people in hiding, the commissioning of the church bells (and the lighting of the clock faces on the timepiece in the Dutch Reformed Church), and the improved connections with other places through the new timetable of the Dutch Railways and the services with the buses of the G.T.M. and the Veldhuis firm. Also, the 12th census was held this year on 31 May, which revealed, among other things, that Aalten counts 6,642 women and 6,943 men, totaling 13,585 inhabitants.
However, the various associations were not idle either. The V.V.V. (Tourist Office) provided several campsites this year, which were even temporarily visited by foreign guests, and it also took charge of organizing the concert by the Arnhem Orchestra Association. The C.C.C. continued providing its cultural evenings, which proved to meet a need. The same can also be said of the periodic organ concerts given by Mr. Sj. Mook on the organ of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Musical life in general experienced a certain revival, in which we recall the initiative of the Aalten Orchestra Association, the concerts at the ‘t Walfort Swimming Pool, and the various vocal and musical performances; in the latter, a tendency became noticeable to replace large plays with singing or music to increase interest in this art form. In the field of art, we should further remember the exhibition of paintings and watercolors produced by Messrs. P. te Lintum and D. Lemcke.
In ecclesiastical life, the construction of the Reformed Church in Bredevoort was an event of importance, with the so-called “first stone” being laid on 22 July. The Christian Reformed Church commemorated the reinstatement of the offices this year, a fact that took place 50 years ago. The commemorative service was held on 26 August, during which former ministers Rev. J.W. Polman and Rev. J. Tolsma, among others, spoke. Earlier, on 12 May, the 12½-year anniversary of Rev. J. van Dijken’s ministry was commemorated in this church, and finally, 1947 was the year of the induction of Rev. Kroneman and Rev. Goede and the departure of Chaplain Van Renswoude. In his place came Father Wartenberg, who in turn was succeeded by Father Bouwman.
Furthermore, a committee from the Dutch Reformed Church campaigned for the “community center,” while the Reformed Youth Council did very good work with the organization of the “drop-in evenings” and the youth leader conferences.
As for the other associations, there was no lack of initiative and activity here either. Various associations were founded, such as the association for Artificial Insemination, a branch of the Christian Union of Government Personnel, and a branch of the Christian Union of Metalworkers. Within the framework of this activity by associations, the Concours-Hippique, organized by the Rural Riding Association, and the Cattle Breeding Day, initiated by the Union of Breeding Associations from this municipality, must also be mentioned.
Numerous were the anniversaries, of individuals, factories, and associations alike, which were so many illustrations of diligent industry and admirable perseverance. Additionally, some businesses were reopened, for example, the furniture factory of the firm Luimes & Wiggers, and the warehouse of the firm Ackerman and Kamphuis, or established, such as Van Katwijk’s Paper and Cardboard Processing Industries N.V., by which the municipality of Aalten gained another industry.
Contrasting with the latter, however, is the departure of the Aalten Knitting Factory, which began operating in Doesburg this year. As a sign of activity, the workshop of the B.L.O. school (Special Primary Education) should not go unmentioned here; however small in scale it may be, it aims to contribute its part to the aftercare of underprivileged children.
Something that has not happened every day is the departure of several families who wished to settle in Canada. However, it appears that many more families will follow this example next year. And finally, we wish to mention here the passing of Dr. E.J. van Schaik, in the night of 17 to 18 June, with whom a very well-known figure from our village passed away.
