Laffey’s Kamikaze Battle Shows Navy Craft and Courage
The Bath built destroyer USS Laffey with her crew endured a relentless April Kamikaze assault off Okinawa. Seven enemy planes crashed into the ship as 31 sailors died or were wounded, yet Laffey kept firing until rescue and repairs at sea. Heroes like Jimmy Burgess and Calvin Cloer exemplified the crew’s indomitable spirit, with the ship returning to Seattle for public display and urging more shipyard work to repair battle damage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Laffey
Okinawa
the Laffey
Jimmy Burgess
Yeoman
Atlanta
Georgia
Doc
The
Young Burgess
Calvin Cloer
Santa Barbara
California
Cloer
Mikado
Navy
Pacific
Seattle
Playgrounds host first week of summer program activities
The city playgrounds report strong attendance in week one of the summer program with varied activities across Central Grammar, Goddard, Mitchell and Dike grounds. Softball, crafts, and games featured high youth participation while donations of art supplies are requested to support ongoing activities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edward J. McMann
Goddard
Mitchell
Anna Mank
Marion Smith
Central
Linwood Carr
Tillie McKay
Barbara Danforth
Mae Nelson
Mary Pierce
New 2200-ton destroyer Power to launch Saturday at Bath
The USS Power, a 2200-ton destroyer named for Worcester native First Lieut. John Vincent Power, will be launched at Bath Iron Works Saturday at 6 pm. Power, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for the Namur Island action on Feb 1, 1944, died after bravely defending a demolition charge and continuing the assault despite wounds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Worcester Marine
Kwajalein
Uss Power
Bath Iron Works Corporation
John Vincent Power
U. S. Marine Corps Reserve
George F. Power
Bellingham Road
Worcester
Mass
Power
Namur Island
Kwajalein Atoll
Marshall Islands
Fourth Marine Division
Marshall Island
United States Naval Service
Holy Cross College
Quantico
Camp Pendleton
Cal
Boston Boat Wharf Becomes Parking Lot for Iron Works Buses
The Bath Iron Works Corp has leased part of the old Eastern Steamship property on Commercial street from Kennebec Wharf and Coal Co to create a fenced night lit parking area for its buses and trucks. The lot aims to ease Front street congestion by removing parking from the garage curb as salvage loads and grading progress. A bulldozer is leveling the site after gravel loads were delivered from Woolwich by Harry Crocker Loam and Gravel Co.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bath Iron Works Corp
Old Eastern Steamship
Commercial Street
Kennebec Wharf & Coal Co
Front Street
Ironworks
Summer Street
Linden
Woolwich
Harry Crocker Loam and Gravel Co
Shaw Family Plans Pelham Manor Visit This Summer
Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Shaw and son Robert Jr of Pelham Manor New York will arrive late Thursday. Mr. Shaw will return to New York the night of July 4, while Mrs. Shaw and son stay at 19 Dummer Street for the summer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert P. Shaw
Robert, Jr
Pelham Manor
N. Y
Shaw
New York
Abele Destroyer Sunk Off Okinawa Details Released
The Navy reported the Bath built destroyer U S S Abele was sunk off Okinawa on April 12 after a Japanese suicide plane and a baka bomb caused two catastrophic blasts. Eighty one dead and 32 wounded, many trapped. life rafts also bombed. The Zeke fighter struck amid fierce AA fire, the baka bomb hit near the forward stack. Commissioned 1944, Abele served as screening ship and joined Okinawa bombardments before loss.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Navy Department
U.S.S
Abele
Pacific
Okinawa
Comdr
A. E. Parker
Baltimore
Brunswick Faces Critical Housing Shortage for Servicemen
Brunswick like many towns must cope with a housing crunch as USO reports a surge in requests since June 14. Over 200 men seek family housing with kitchenettes, many just returning from overseas, some separated two years. The USO prioritizes families but can house only a few, urging any available camps, private accommodations, or rooms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
USO
Brunswick
USC
Federal Street
Tel
Court Grants 39 Divorces in Sagadahoc Term Ends
The June term of Sagadahoc County Superior Court adjourned with 39 divorces and one annulment granted by Justice Edward F. Merrill. Six naturalizations were approved, naming Mary Abramovitch Finegold of Bath and five Bath residents born in Canada among others.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sagadahoc
Edward F. Merrill
Mary Abramovitch Finegold
Lark Street
Russia
Bath
William E. Tremaine
Getchell Street
Marie H. Rheaume
Marie
Washington Street
Marie Irene L. Rheaume
Stanley Genecau
Lemont Street
Marie M. E. Dupuis Depres
Federal Street
Justice Merrill
Howard J. McAloon
Albertine E. McAloon
Brewer
Myrlay L. Woodsum
Montie N
Arthur R. Douglass
Catherine M. Douglass
Elizabeth Lounsbury
Harold Lounsbury
Topsham
Hazel M. Miner
Richard W. Miner
Phippsburg
James E. Clancy
Marion E. Clancy
Edward J. Stacey
Florence C. Stacey
Robert F. Waterman
West Bath
Frances S. Waterman
Daniel M. Fraser
Vera C. Fraser
Bernard W. Ward
Kittery
Margaret R. Ward
Florence A. Pelletier
Westbrook
Guy J. Pelletier
Eveleth A. Regan
Woolwich
James C. Regan
Marblehead
Mass
Gertrude M. Oliver
Maurice E. Oliver
Arrowsie
Geraldine B Giles
Roscoe F Giles
Hampden
Gloria C. Chapman
Niven C Chapman
Petersburg
Edith L. Fortier
Philip J Fortier
Portland
Blanche H. Smith
Carroll F. Smith
Brunswick
Ellery M Doyle Named Bail Commissioner for Sagadahoe
Justice Edward N. Merrill of Skowhegan presided at the June term of Sagadahoe Superior Court and appointed Ellery M Doyle as a bail commissioner for Sagadahoe county.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ellery M Doyle
Sagadahoe County
Edward N. Merrill
Skowhegan
Sagadahoe Superior Court
Rumors Of Sale Swirl Around Samoset Hotel
Rumors in Rockland indicate the Samoset hotel on Rockland Breakwater has been sold, with verification expected soon. The Samoset Co. led by Adriel A. Bird and William A. Doe reportedly owns the property, while manager H. P. Colson may continue in charge.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rockland
Rockland Breakwater
Boston
New England
The
Samoset Co
Adriel A. Bird
William A. Doe
H. P. Colson
Cast Selected For Tom Thumb Wedding Party
Arrangements for the Tom Thumb wedding during the Street Fair and Bazaar are complete. Bride Barbara Ireland and Groom Robert Arsenault head a party including Best Man Richard Arsenault Maid of Honor Elaine Atkinson and six bridesmaids. The event features color coordinated gowns, a green satin flower girl, and a grey ring bearer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barbara Ireland
Robert Arsenault
Richard Arsenault
Elaine Atkinson
Margaret Cahill
Betty Comeau
Cynthia Dauphin
Doris Alexander
Fay Pye
Harriet MacDougal
Wayne Fuller
John Butler
Roger Pinkham
Kennebec Greenhouse
Bernard Knight
Charlotte
Kora Temple Plans Summer Ceremonial in Lewiston
Kora Temple A A O N S will hold its Summer Ceremonial on Friday at Kora Temple Lewiston. The gala event moves from Poland Spring to the temple to comply with government guidance. A 4:30 pm business meeting a lobster dinner 4:30 to 7 pm and a 7:15 pm ceremonial session with candidate initiations are planned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kora Temple
A. A
Treasure talk on Cape Cod sparks pirate hunt for gold
Cape Cod divers eye shipwrecks sought for Mary Ann and Whidah treasure. Malden brothers George dive near Chatham Shoals on the Mary Ann, while plans to retrieve the Portland hull and its rumored diamonds unfold. Historic claims tie Belamy’s Whidah to vast bullion, with locals speculating on the wreck’s location and a famed coin believed found by Thoreau.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cape Cod
Edwin F. Eldredge
Chatham Selectman
Samuel Bellamy
Mary Ann
al George
Malden
Mass
Cape
Bill
Chatham
Chatham Shoals
John Howard
Boston
James S. Smith
North Chatham
Portland
Edward Rowe Snow
Winthrop
Bellamys
Nauset
Outer Cape
Hull
Henry Thoreau
Snow
County Chapter Votes $1000 to Help Children
The Sagadahoc County chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis increased the Campships grant from $500 to $1,000 to send local children to a Pine Tree Society camp at North Pond Belgrade Lakes. Treasurer Ralph G. Stetson reported year receipts of $2,234.72 with no expenditures and a balance of $8,443.59. The chapter plans $4,000 in War Bonds and appointed a committee to select the series. Executive committee members were named for the coming year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sagadahoc County
National Foundation For Infantile Paralysis
Sedgwick
North Pond
Belgrade Lakes
Pine Tree Society For
Burton L. Preston
Fairfield
Pine Tree Society
Preston
Purchase
James A. Gillies, Jr
James IL. Nostall
Arthur Sewall
Bowen Torrey
Leverett Welch
James W. Temple
Ralph G. Stetson
Alden Anderson
Alex Burden
Police upgrade with new 1942 Nash club coupe
The police department has secured a new 1942 Nash club coupe to replace the worn Chevrolet prowl car used for two years. The motorized fleet now includes two Nash prowl cars and a Ford combination ambulance and patrol wagon, with the new car to receive the two-way radio previously in the Chevrolet.
Also Mentioned on This Page
U.S.S. Laffey
Virginia Bowker
Jane Jones
Betty Wakefield
Catherine Girouz
Ole Bunny
Tarzan
Bath Iron Works
Boston Boat Wharf
Iron Works
Loring R. Additon
New England Awning Co
Kora
Don Guy
OPA
Aes Auto CO
Cummings
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!