This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 30 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Bath Independent
Location
Bath, Maine, United States of America
Date
Aug 15, 1940
Page
1
Three weeks from Monday the State election looms with party workers conducting voter checks to ascertain party affiliation and ensure polling turnout. Absentee voters require attention as meetings keep leaders engaged, but the average voter must still be reached to secure a large September 9 margin.
Maine motorists pay taxes that hide in the price of fuel and auto costs. The federal gasoline tax rose by a half cent on July 1, projected to add 12 million to the treasury and, with lubricants and auto taxes, about 14 million more annually. Most drivers accept defense spending, but resistance to higher state gasoline taxes persists.
Visitors to Popham Beach praise the new hard surfaced link to Small Point but complain two miles of incomplete highway. The piece urges state or federal aid to finish surfacing before next summer and notes Republican leaders predicting a statewide win between 40 000 and 80 000 while hoping not to overstate.
Bath Tron Works Corp accelerates its construction program at the local plant to peak production and adds an auxiliary plant at Hardings. Officials deny plans for another shipyard at South Portland while talk swells of eleven new destroyer contracts pleasing Bath residents as work for years looms. Maine Central station buildings receive a fresh coat of paint, improving their appearance after years of neglect.
South End residents opposed to moving Engine 1 from Marshall Street to Central Fire Station press a remonstrance petition of 150 signers. They seek a hearing and potentially a return of the engine to the lower city amid aldermen refusal and questions of legality. James S. Knight calls a Hose Co. No. 1 meeting for Monday to discuss actions under the City Charter and possible legal remedies.
Central church choir members gathered Sunday at the Summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Perley R. Ater in Arrowsic. After a picnic lunch the choir adjourned to Arrowsic church for an afternoon service led by Rev. W. Glenn Evans of Long Beach California. A large congregation enjoyed flowers and a full musical program preceding a supper back at the Aters.
Mrs. Arthur Sewall hosted a luncheon at the Stonehouse on Tuesday. Guests donated gifts that were auctioned to benefit Memorial Hospital, raising nearly $115. Attendees included Mrs. Worthington Stuart of Greenwich and Mrs. Robert Shaw of Pelham Manor among others.
Mrs Walter B. Gould of Bangor is spending several days with her brother Fred H. Phillips of Reading Pennsylvania at the Phillips cottage in Southport. She also visits Mr and Mrs James T. Bonney on Union Street Court.
Oscar A. Gilliam of West Point, Maine, landed a 714-pound tuna off Damariscove Island, likely the Maine coast season record. He also took three horse mackerels around 400 pounds each for a near 2,000-pound day, sold to a Boston wholesaler for five cents a pound.
Mr and Mrs Hugo Sandelin of Brunswick hosted the West Bath Red Cross for an all day picnic. Guests enjoyed lunch coffee and ice cream. Next Red Cross meeting is Aug 21 a grove picnic by Rock Hill Inn with lunches to be carried by members.
The Hibiscus appeared off Dingley’s Island near New Meadows, drawing cottagers from Birch Point Meadowbrook Basin and Cundy’s Harbor. The vessel moored for the night and patrolled with a searchlight while curious locals circled in power boats. A Birch Point group towing to Sebasco tried signaling back with lights, unsure of the sea code. The first sighting sparked warship rumors until her identity was clarified.
Donald R. Belanger and Richardson Hill, both injured, were passengers in a 36 Ford roadster that left the highway and rolled six miles this side of Freeport. The steering wheel allegedly broke as they were returning from a Durham dance. they received first aid at a Freeport hospital.
The County Commissioners Association of Maine will be entertained at its annual field day on August 24 by Somerset County Commissioners. The business meeting begins at 10:30 am at Somerset County Courthouse in Skowhegan, followed by luncheon and a theater event in the afternoon.
Mrs. Edgar W. Oliver who serves as deputy city clerk is taking a week of vacation. The city office will operate with alternative arrangements during her absence.
Battery D 240th Coast Artillery reports three new enlistments at Thursday's drill to replace married men resigning for a year encampment. Officers expect about 15 more enlistments in two weeks as married men resign if desired amid possible conscription.
Grace Episcopal church hosts a sermon series led by Rev. Frederic Witmer on Why the Church Has Failed and What to Do About It. Topics include following at a distance, belief in vision, and the Christian contribution to today's world.
William H. Ketchum and his twin Wilbur J. Ketchum attended Maine’s third annual twin party at Lakewood. Born May 1, 1906 in Bridgwater, they are sons of Lee A. Ketchum and residents of North Bath and Gardiner. They visited their nearby parents during the day.
Sixteen Rotary Anns were hosted by Mrs. Edward W Bridgham at her Popham cottage. The group accepted the resignation of treasurer Mrs. O Neil N. Houde and appointed Mrs. Charles T Small Jr to fill the post. The next meeting is August 22 at Mrs Dominique J Tardif’s Foster's Point summer home.
Members of Battery D 240th Coast Artillery held a clambake at the old fort in Popham, with more than 50 attendees including wives and friends. Mess Sergeant Calvin Kimball led preparations, joined by Jo seph A. Butler and others while Lieuts Madden and Ross were away. Activities included swimming, baseball, and fort Baldwin tour before the feast of clams, lobsters, frankfurts, pickles and coffee.
The Bath council discussed selling land behind 80 Court Street for 50 dollars, reviewing a proposed sale to Hazel Young and deferring details for the former Lester Cracker property. They ordered sale descriptions for future purchases, approved accounts, reviewed the treasurer’s report, and considered new street plans from Water Street to Blasland Lane with a proposed Thompson Circle name.
Free Will Workers of Corliss Street church held an all day picnic at Mrs. Frank A. Purington’s home 82 Middle Street. Luncheon was served in the grove with coffee and tea while sewing and walking occupied the afternoon. Attendees included Mrs Warren H. McIntire Mrs James W Gillespie Miss Abby McCabe Mrs Bert Preble Mrs Harold S. Walker Mrs Eugene M Watson Mrs William P Hatch and Mrs John H Hunt.
Mrs Rodney Jones of Astoria New York visits Miss Natalie Mac Neil at the home of her parents Mr and Mrs James R MacNeil on Pine street.
Daniel Sortwell Jr of Wiscasset pleaded guilty to passing a stop sign at School and Middle streets. Henry Simpson of Richmond, Va pleaded guilty to leaving the scene after a car struck Mrs. Owen J. Richardson’s parked vehicle on Front street. Simpson was fined 30 dollars and 14.91 in costs or 30 days in jail.
The ceremony took place Sunday at five at the bride’s parents home in Cambridge. Charles L. Tuttle of Kennebunk, a Bowdoin graduate and Boston University Medical School senior, wed Miss Katherine Wunsch formerly of Bath and now of Cambridge. Wunsch is a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Miss Bessie E Dickinson raises seafaring roots at a Republican City committee gathering. Austin Smithwick recalls his uncle Captain Frank Smithwick of Damariscotta who commanded ships Josephus and Southampton and frequented port where Dickinson’s father once commanded the Richmond built Yorktown.
A daughter weighing seven pounds was born Saturday at York hospital to Mr and Mrs Kenneth A Soule formerly of Woolwich. Charlene Mary Soule is the newborn. The family includes Mr Soule an electric welder at Portsmouth Navy Yard and his parents Mrs and Mrs Lor ing Soule of Woolwich. Faith the granddaughter joined relatives for the weekend in York.
Committees named for a Red Cross Bath chapter benefit card party and tea on Tuesday Aug 27 at Elmhurst. Tickets and auction tables available by calling Mrs Fred D Hill or Miss Miriam W Kimball. Proceeds go to aid victims in dire need.
Congresswoman Margaret Chase Smith of Skowhegan and other prominent women attended a Friday luncheon at Small Point Beach hosted by Mrs. Sumner Sewall. Guests included Mrs. Ralph Brewster of Dexter, Gail Laughlin of Portland, and several state and local Republican figures. A buffet luncheon preceded an informal meeting with campaign planning and enthusiasm among attendees.
W F Allen chairman of membership relations Farm Credit Administration Washington will give an illustrated talk Credit Unions in Action Through the United States Friday Aug 18 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall Phippsburg Representatives of four credit unions in Portland and Augusta invited to inform residents about the nature and benefits of local credit unions.
Master Billy Jackson son of Mr and Mrs Mark Jackson of Hinckley street visits his aunt and uncle Mr and Mrs Roland Breton in Kit tery for a family visit.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.