The News-Bulletin was also used as platform from which to defend the rights of others and stand up to bullies. With World War II in full swing in Europe, but still more than a year before the United States entered the fray, the summer of 1940 found no small amount of chatter swirling around Will County concerning spies and other nefarious elements. Joliet citizen Otto Ehtor, editor of a paper called The German-American, got mixed up in the hearsay, and the Semmlers came to their fellow newsman’s rescue. In a long article called “Don’t Believe or Repeat Everything You Hear” that appeared on July 12th, 1940, it was detailed that a “poisoned tongue whispering campaign” had leveled charges of Ehtor’s being involved with anti-American activity, and that he had even been taken into custody by the FBI. The reports were soundly quashed by the News-Bulletin, the Semmlers stating outright that “All the stories about him are idle gossip.” The column went on to explain that Ehtor had “ample proof that he has never been engaged in any subversive propaganda and he is 100 percent for his adopted country. There has not been one word of truth in the yarns broadcasted about him.”
An even wilder tale was also making the rounds in the county seat, where one Paul Schoene found himself under attack based on his ethnicity. The German-born hotel proprietor was also supposed to be under the investigation of government agents who allegedly had found Nazi flags and uniforms in his possession. Speaking on Schoene’s behalf, the News-Bulletin printed that “This yarn was just one big lie from start to finish. Mr. Schoene has been a citizen of this country for many years and has always been a loyal American citizen, one whose integrity has never been questioned.”
The column had the final word by gently reminding Mokenians “that a person’s good name and reputation, which has taken years to build up, can be blasted and ruined overnight. This is a sin none of us should be a party to. Jealousy, hate and loose tongues are the cause of ill-founded yarns…Let us be really and truly Americans in every sense of the word. Do not be a scandal or war monger.”
Showing great foresight, Bill Semmler was a champion of the preservation of the old Denny Cemetery on the southern edge of Mokena. Bill had taken an interest in the historic site, then a forlorn, overgrown heap, as early as the World War I era, when he was still a young beat reporter for the Joliet Herald-News. Interred at the hallowed grounds were the remains of Revolutionary War soldier Charles Denny, whose original 1839 gravestone was weather-beaten and crumbling by the early 20th century. Applying valuable experience gained while securing a government-issue grave marker for local Civil War veteran John Van Horne, buried at Marshall Cemetery in 1909, Semmler helped to get a new headstone for Denny in 1916. The marker arrived in Mokena via the Rock Island railroad in the dead of winter, and was stored inside W.H. Bechstein’s grain elevator until the weather broke. Years later, Margaret would call the marking of Denny’s grave one of her husband’s proudest moments. The Mokena Garden Club set out to clean up the tangled mass of weeds and overgrowth in the old family cemetery in 1939, and the News-Bulletin was their biggest supporter. That Armistice Day, Bill was given the honor of bestowing a new name on the site, which thenceforth was known as Pioneer Memorial Cemetery.
Bill Semmler triumphant in Wolf Road's Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, a name bestowed to the old Denny Cemetery by him in 1939.
In the same vein, the paper was instrumental in causing the observance of Memorial Day to become a yearly occurrence in Mokena, where heretofore it had been an intermittent rite. At the early date of 1921, the Semmlers propelled local residents to action by publishing an impassioned column called “What About Memorial Day?” in which it was alluded that the neighboring communities of Frankfort and New Lenox could be counted on to have a full program, where “in the Mokena cemeteries lie soldiers who fought not only in the Civil War, but also in the Revolutionary War, and must their graves be allowed to be overgrown with weeds instead of flowers and with brush instead of flags just because we are too indifferent, or might we say not patriotic enough, to honor their memory?”
The next year, using flags and flowers procured by the Semmlers, the News-Bulletin sponsored a smart ceremony, wherein the local soldiers’ graves were decorated and various speakers were invited to town. It went over well, and starting in 1928, a regular program was carried out annually, with the Semmlers spearheading it. Later, the Boy Scouts helped ease the burden of their work, and while down the line the Mokena Civic Association took over the day’s activities, Bill Semmler still served in a place of honor as chairman of arrangements.
Perhaps Bill Semmler’s most enduring contribution to Mokena was his tireless activism for the improvement of Wolf Road, arguably the village’s most important thoroughfare. Much like those leading away from the heart within the human body, a vital artery is the lifeblood of a community, the vibrancy of a village depends on it, as do the livelihoods of the merchants therein. An impassable road spells stagnation and despair for any neighborhood, and no one was more aware of this than Bill Semmler. Through his resolute, unflagging work, Wolf Road went from a muddy path to a modern passage.
For much of Mokena’s early existence, what would later be known as Wolf Road was barely more than a rural farm lane, known as Marti Road after a family that farmed along it. Well into the 20th century, Bill and Margaret’s daughter Ada remembered how, in anything less than perfect weather, the road “was real muddy, rocky and tough.” Bill Semmler loathed these conditions with a passion, often risking getting morassed in Wolf Road while traveling north to Orland Park to collect news.
Thus began his personal quest to bring the road into modernity. Through his local networking skills, Bill was able to win over important allies in this drive. In his corner were Charles Hirsch, a cattle man and farmer along the road, and J.V. Hall, a neighbor to Hirsch who kept a small restaurant. Other influential friends of Semmler’s who pitched in to help were L.G. Bruder, a Chicago businessman and Mokena resident, and Emil Cappel, a local farmer who also served as Frankfort Township Highway Commissioner. Together these men, with Bill Semmler as their leader, formed the Mokena Development and Hard Road Association in the early 1920s.
By December 1926, not only did the Mokena territory not have any hard roads to speak of, but it also had the dubious distinction of also not being connected to any. The Association held regular evening meetings at the village schoolhouse, and through much perseverance, succeeded in convincing property owners north of town in Cook County that the concreting of Wolf Road would benefit them. Through lobbying on their part, the neighboring county’s Board of Commissioners was persuaded to include the section of the road from 143rdStreet south to the county line on a paving program.
All things considered however; this new hard road still tapered off well north of Mokena. Bill Semmler and his fighters triumphed when a Will County bond was passed for the paving of the rest of the length through town. With the task ready to be completed, what the News-Bulletin later called a “spirited fight” broke out over which route the new road should follow. One local bloc supported the construction of a brand-new artery following a convoluted route from east of New Lenox, through Mokena along Front Street, then continuing further eastward until it linked up with Kean Avenue, or today’s Route 45.
Bill Semmler and by extension the News-Bulletin found this route totally unreasonable, and tirelessly promoted staying with the plan of completing Wolf Road south to the Lincoln Highway. In the words of his daughter Ada, in this period the entire project became a “political football”, with strife abounding between Mokena factions and the Will County Board of Supervisors, which ultimately held up the paving of the gap for several years.
Meanwhile, the first concrete was poured north of town on October 15th, 1930, and when the section was finished a month later, a special ribbon cutting ceremony was held at St. Mary’s Hall. Bill still worked to have the last segment from Hickory Creek south to Lincoln Highway finished, but the dust wouldn’t ultimately settle until the autumn of 1936 due to a property dispute of epic proportions with farmer Clarence M. Cleveland.
During the trying days of World War II, the Semmler family opened their hearts to the community and made sure that every local serviceman and woman had a friend. Partnering up with the Auxiliary to the William Martin Post of the VFW, they saw to it that every Mokena soldier, sailor or marine regularly received a free copy of the News-Bulletin. By Christmas time 1943 this operation had become so big, that area residents were flummoxed as to how the Semmlers were pulling it off. Many curious requests were coming in to the News-Bulletin wondering about the details, so a column that appeared in the December 17th edition gingerly said that an explanation had heretofore been held back as “we do not care for credit, our only aim and satisfaction being to know that our boys in the service of our country are receiving the paper and are enjoying it.” However, to satisfy its readers, the piece did go on to lay out how it was all done. Aside from the News-Bulletin, the Semmlers’ Orland Park Herald and Tinley Park Times were also being posted, and while there had been some reports of hiccups with delivery, generally the papers were finding their recipients.
In the very beginning of the effort, Adeline and Ada Semmler handled all of the addressing of the papers’ wrappers themselves, with some help pitched in by Margaret. As the project grew, this part of the work was taken over by local volunteers. On every Thursday evening, the papers would be packed into the addressed wrappers by more town volunteers, among whom were some patriotic Mokena children who gave their time to the effort. Ever thankful for their time, Margaret rewarded the kids with hot chocolate at the News-Bulletinoffice. The postage for all of the papers, no trifling amount, was taken care of by the village’s Auxiliary to the VFW.
At the conflict’s height, about 700 complimentary copies of Semmler Press’ papers were being sent to all corners of the globe, wherever fighting men and women from Mokena and the neighboring communities were located, be they well behind the lines or at the front. During the course of the war, touching thank you letters flooded Mokena for the Semmlers, many of which came enclosed with photos of the service people who wrote them.
On June 12th, 1943, Pvt. Sherwin Liess penned a note that partially read “Dear Mr. Semmler, This is the first I have written to you, although I should have done so long ago. I am now in North Africa and have received two News-Bulletins since I have been here. Altho (sic) they meant a great deal to me in the States, they mean so much more now.” On December 28th of the same year, Navy man and village trustee John Marti wrote from Mare Island, California. A few lines read “Dear Bill, it sure is swell when Tuesday comes around, for that is the day the Bulletin arrives. I always look forward to reading all the news from home town folks. You are sure doing a grand job for us fellows in the service, as it sure means a lot to us to hear what’s going on in the old home town.”
By the time the autumn of 1944 rolled around, the News-Bulletin was reporting on service men and women so much, that it was beginning to push out other local news. On September 21st, Bill personally authored a column assuring readers that other news was still wanted, deeming “if the news rates first page, it will be put there anyway”, but kindly asked the neighborhood sports teams to simply summarize their games, as the scores were taking up too much space. It was signed “Yours for Victory and until our boys eat hamburgers in Tokio, (sic) Wm Semmler, Editor.”
As the years and decades marched on, the paper grew exponentially, and by 1943, it could proudly boast a circulation of around 3,000 in eastern Will County. Meanwhile, the Tinley Park Times was doing so well, that it was necessary to open a separate office there in 1941. The publications of the Semmler Press had become such a time-honored institution that at the end of 1944, they were bestowed with the Certificate of Merit from the Illinois Press Association.
Bill Semmler lost a hard battle with cancer on June 8th, 1946, at the age of 59. Thence ended a chapter not only for the Semmler family, but also for Mokena. Upon the news of his passing being made public, tributes poured into town. Illinois Senator Richard Barr called Bill a “true American”, while Will County Clerk Joseph Hartley rued “I don’t know a man I thought more of than Bill Semmler.” Everett Cooper, mayor of Mokena, the scene of so many of Bill’s labors of love, said that “In Bill’s passing, the community has lost one of its most loyal citizens and a very true friend.” Obituaries for him appeared in papers as far off as Alton and Decatur, while on June 14th, the News-Bulletin itself dedicated most of its large front page to their editor in black-bordered reportage under the title 30, which in journalistic parlance, signifies an end. At the time of his passing, Bill Semmler was a member of the Illinois Press Association, the Cook County Publishers’ Association, the Lions Club of Frankfort, and was also the chairman of the Mokena Civic Association’s publicity committee. That year, he was also included in Who’s Who in Chicago and Illinois.
William Semmler, circa 1945. He will be remembered by history of as one of Mokena's greatest residents.
It was the final wish of Bill that Margaret take the helm as editor in chief of the News-Bulletin, which she faithfully did, maintaining “a good newspaper, worthy of fine American principles.” Running the publication was a herculean effort, so a managing editor, Oliver Gedeist, was hired by the Semmler family in early 1947. He was introduced to Mokena and the surrounding territory in a column of the paper, where Margaret reassured her neighbors of his journalistic bona fides, and kindly urged readers to co-operate with him. Showing the homey spirit of Mokena at the time, she invited subscribers to personally call her with questions and also wondered if there might be a house in town for Gedeist to rent.
Soon after, Oliver Gedeist announced himself in a section of the paper, and well aware of his status as a new comer in the small town, warned Mokenians that he was bad with names. Gedeist was also acutely cognizant that he was following in Bill’s footsteps, writing that “In coming into this new responsibility, it is my purpose to carry the responsibility in such a way that the memory of William Semmler will be integrated in and be a basis for every business transaction conducted. The Semmler standard shall never be lowered.” And that he did, for week after week, the paper was the same quality as it always was.
Meanwhile, the News-Bulletin marched forward into the future. In 1947, an addition was added to the east side of the historic office to house two new linotype machines and a Miehle press. Business continued to boom, and another extension to the old place, this time on its northern side, was finished in the spring of 1953 to house a Duplex press. The new press weighed in at a colossal 13 tons, and took a pair of workers a month to install. Their labor was worth it in the end, for the new equipment carried an output of 3,500 8-page papers an hour.
As editor in chief, Margaret Semmler won well-deserved laurels for her work. After publishing a special souvenir edition of the News-Bulletin for the Mokena Homecoming in the summer of 1949, the Illinois Press Association bestowed upon her the Mate E. Palmer award for that year, while the next year she received the prestigious first prize from the National Convention of Press Women at Reno, Nevada. After decades of selfless service to Mokena, Margaret semi-retired in the spring of 1955, whereupon Glenn F. Logan of Joliet took over as managing editor. At this time, the News-Bulletin counted a circulation of about 3,500, and maintained a staff of ten.
Margaret Semmler receives an accolade in 1959. She dedicated her life's work to Mokena, and is remembered with reverence to this day.
Margaret Semmler ultimately sold the paper in 1958 to Kenneth Johnson, a Lemont-based publisher who put out that community’s Lemonter as well as the Lockport Herald. In addition to these publications, Johnson would also later found newspapers in Downers Grove and Naperville. In 1960, he set up the Frankfort Leader, and that year added Mokena to the News-Bulletin’s title. After continuing to print the News-Bulletin for most of the rest of the decade, Johnson sold his holdings to Field Enterprises, who in June 1969 merged the News-Bulletin and the other local papers into the Southwest Graphic. After having been in print for 50 years, no small feat for a publication with such humble beginnings, the last issue of the News-Bulletin came off the press on June 4th, 1969. Its front page contained stories touting the new Graphic and bemoaning high tax rates, and thus, when the reader finished the last page, it was the end of an era.
While staying in the hands of the Semmler family, the paper’s old office on Mokena’s Front Street would go on to house a cork company, and met an untimely end in the fall of 1977, when it was forever erased from the village’s landscape. Margaret Semmler spent her later years in a Joliet retirement community, always keeping her trusty typewriter at hand and surrounded by scrapbooks of her and her late husband’s achievements. She has gone down as one of the most influential ladies in Mokena’s history, and to this day, she hasn’t been equaled. She passed away on March 4th, 1988, having reached 98 years, the doyenne of the village.
The Mokena of the modern age, in all of its progress and improvement, is the legacy of the Semmler family and the News-Bulletin. The village owes their memory the highest attention and devotion. As we honor our history, the work of the Semmlers has become a Rosetta stone to the village’s past, without whose long efforts over the decades, this chronicle would be dark and uncharted. Through the News-Bulletin and their passion for Mokena, the Semmler family’s achievements have brought them immortality.
