Giant watermelons and presidential whiskers through history
A reader letter from Hawaii recounts the legend of a 195 pound watermelon and notes a 1935 Arkansas find. The piece shifts to flood-control notes about Denison’s dam, then expands into a playful history of U.S. presidents’ facial hair from Washington to Wilson, ending with a light close about a mustache era and political party trends.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
the Star
Hempstead County
Maui
Hawaiian Islands
U. S
William H. Billings
Maun
Hawaii
O. D. Middlebrooks
Patmos
Here
Hope
Dick Powll
Arkansas
Warner Brothers Studio
Toluca Lake
California
Powell
Star
Seaman Billings
Used Cars Boomed Before Price Ceilings Take Effect
Washington reports used car sales surged as a large part of the market outside price controls. OPA imposes ceilings on 23 makes and about 6,000 models from 1937 to 1942 with regional variations and transfer certificates required to obtain gasoline coupons.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Marlow Washington
OPA
Mississippi River
Idaho
Utah
Arizona
California
Oregon
Nevada
Washington
Texarkana Hero Receives British Valor Ribbon in Normandy
In a Normandy ceremony July 7 Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery pinned British Ribbons of Valor on seven American heroes for their bravery during the invasion. Capt. Sam H. Ball Jr. of Texarkana Texas received the Distinguished Service Order. three other awardees were not present.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Normandy
Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
France
Othrs
Sam H. Ball, Jr
Texarkana
Tex
B-29s Score Second Raid Upon Japan
Washington reports the B 29 Superfortresses of the 20th air force struck the Japanese naval base at Sasebo and industrial Yawata on Kyushu in the second raid on the mainland. Gen H H Arnold announced the communique detailing the strikes and noting a third overall attack on Japan proper since Pearl Harbor. Both targets lie on Kyushu with Sasebo west of Yawata, first attacked June 15.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
U. S 20Th Airforce
Sasebo
Yawata
Kyushu
Norfolk Va
Bremerton
Wash
Arnold
Jis
20Th Air Force
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Bomber Command
Japan
McClellan Returns to Arkansas For Troop Rest Hotels
Senator McClellan travels to Hot Springs Arkansas after War Department assurances that the Majestic Arlington and Park hotels may be required for troop rest facilities. He notes additional local facilities may be used and receives offers from Arkansas communities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
McClellan
D-Ark
Arkansas
War Department
Hot Springs
Ark
Army
Majestic
Arlington and Park
Civilian Conservation Corps
Death toll in Ringling Bros tent fire tops 135
A Ringling Brothers circus tent blaze in Hartford, Connecticut, killed 135 and injured many, making it the worst disaster in American circus history. Investigations launched. executives charged with manslaughter, bail set, hearing scheduled. Survivors said staff fought to prevent panic as a mass exit unfolded. The show eyed a possible return later the same season after removing equipment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ringling Bros
Mark Purdue
Hartford
Con
State Armory
J. A. Waley
George W. Smith
Big Top
Sarasota
Fla
Herbert Duval
Roland Butler
General Press
Nutritious daily meals emphasized with varied foods
Guidance urges including meat or eggs, fish, poultry, greens, yellow and other vegetables, fresh fruit including citrus, and whole grain products each day to ensure balanced nutrition. The note highlights diverse sources of protein, produce, and grains for daily meals.
Americans Cross Vire River in Normandy Push Near St Lo
Allied headquarters report dawn crossing of the Vire river by U.S. infantry in Normandy. Fresh across the marshy lowlands, American forces moved toward St. Lo with heavy artillery support and captured Airel early in the advance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wes Gallagher
Supreme Headquarters
Allied Expeditionary Force
Omar N. Bradley
Normandy
Vire
Aire
St. Lo
L Haye du Puits
la Haye
Airel
St. Jean de Caye
la Surellerie
St. Jean de Daye
Mercy Killer of Baby Gets Death Verdict
Pittsfield Massachusetts July 7 John F Noxon Jr a 47 year old lawyer was sentenced to death in the electric chair for the electrocution of his six month old son Lawrence. Judge Abraham E Pinanski imposed the sentence after Noxon proclaimed his innocence and the court stayed execution awaiting appeal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pittsfield
Mass
John F. Noxon, Jr
Lawrence
Abraham E. Pinanski
Noxon
Judge Pinansk
Reds Press Near Wilno as German Martial Law Quoted
Allied report from London notes Russian forces advancing within ten miles of Wilno while Moscow cites German martial law restricting movement at night. Russian groups push toward the Bug river and barge toward Baranowicze on the Minsk Warsaw line as fighting continues across occupied territories.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
London
Wilno
Moscow
Kowel
Bug River
Warsaw
Luniniec
Pripyat
Wilnop
East Prussia
Yustas Paletskis
Supreme Soviet of Lithuania
Paletskis
Kaunas
Mariampole
Vilnius
Minsk
Leningrad
Minsk-Warsaw
White Russia
Red
Baranowicze
State Board to receive bids for school bus chassis
The State Board of Education will receive bids July 31 for purchase of school-bus chassis. Arkansas has been allotted a quota of 137 for 194. Crawford Greene, director of school administration, announced the figure. Also listed are herbs suitable for home gardens including basil chive mint and parsley.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Little Rock
State Board of Education
Arkansas
Crawford Greene
De Gaulle Vows 1944 Goal to Crush German Forces
In Washington De Gaulle told the French delegation that 1944 must see the last German in France killed captured or chased from soil. He urged France to unite rebuild itself by its own efforts and build a strong democratic regime while forging closer ties between metropolitan France and colonies. He praised Allied solidarity and noted empire as a sign of greatness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Charles de Gaulle
France
de Gaulle
Yank Forces Closing In for Kill on Saipan
U S forces tighten grip on Saipan as Japanese troops hold a last stand on the island. About 7 000 Japanese civilians are interned. 10 000 to 15 000 civilians reportedly seek surrender through a life saving offer. Advances near Noemfoor and Namber airfield are described with heavy blows to Japanese naval and air units.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S. Pacific Fleet
Pearl Harbor
United States
Saipan
Rembert James
Pacific
U. S
James
Western Pacific
Philippines
Tokyo
Japan
Noemfoor
Dutch New Guinea
U. S. Fifth Fleet
Marianas
Douglas MacArthur
Manim
Namber
Volcano
Bonin
Adm
Chester W. Nimitz
Chichi Jima
Bonins
Haha Jima
Nimitz Amplfication
French Mayor Rosstand Glad to Have Lived Through Occupation
Henri Rostand the Flamenville mayor, 60, lives in a castle used by German troops during four years of occupation. He lost a son in the war and another child was forced to work in Germany. Rostand says he preferred staying on his land and awaits news of his son as American troops move toward Cap de La Hague.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hal Boyle
Normandy
Henri Rosiand
Cap de la Hague
Rostand
Edmond Rostand
Cyrand de Beyerac
Flamenville
la Manche
Germany
United States
Trains Plunge Into Gorge Kill 14 Soldiers in Tennessee
A Louisville and Nashville troop train derailed into a 60 foot gorge of the Clear River near Jellico Tennessee killing at least 14 soldiers and injuring many more. Rescue work continued as authorities and locals retrieved victims from the wreckage and stream below.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jellico
Tenn
Clear River
Here
E. P. Muncy
Knoxville
General Hospital
Jellico, Tenn
Louisville and Nashville
Express
C. L. Alley
Lake City
Lafollette
Corbin
Williamsburg
Jellico Hospital
J. W. Tummins
EtoWan
Willard Yarbrough
Knoxville Journal
Yarbourgh
Cumberland Mountain
Million From Sales Tax Is Diverted
Little Rock plans a June sales tax turnback of 1,121,600 with 227,244 to be distributed soon from June collections. Treasurer Earl Page says the 900,000 annual appropriation was exhausted by Arpii and May settlements. Also to be distributed are 278,321 in gasoline turnback and 31,505.30 in oil inspection fees to counties including Fort Smith and Hot Springs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Little Rock
Earl Page
Fort Smith
Hot Springs
Pine Bluff
el Dorado
Texarkana
Jonesboro
Catden
Fayetteville
Hope
Magnolia
Basye Named President at Hope Rotary Luncheon
Guy E. Basye took the gavel as new president at a Hope Rotary luncheon in Hotel Barlow succeeding James H. Jones. He pledged a successful year and announced the committee setup while Secretary Thomas Brewster reported attendance at 93.86 percent for the past year, up from 90.55 and 87.38 percent in prior years. The article notes an upcoming annual outing of English printers and apprentices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Guy E. Basye
Hope Rotary Club
Barlow
James H. Jones
Basye
Thomas Brewster
Hope Club
Also Mentioned on This Page
Alex. H. Washburn
Denison
Texas
Red River
Red River Valley
Tennessee Valley
Coolidge
Hoover
Roosevelt
Missouri River
James Thrasher
White House
Thomas F. Dewey
Dewey
Abraham Lincoln
Buchanan
Lincoln
Woodrow Wilsor
Pennsylvania Avenue
Andrew Johnson
William MhKinley
Grover Cleveland
Grant
Hayes
Garfield
Harrison
Cleveland
Theodore Roosevelt
Taft
Chester A. Arthur
General Burnside
Franz Josef
Austria
Rutherford B. Hayes
Samuel J. Tilden
House of Representatives
Charles Evans Hayes
Wilson
Texarkanan
Montgomery
Emall
U.S. Infantry
Hurdle River
Europe
Carentan
Cherbourgh
la Haye du Puits
Orne
Caen
Kamchatka
China Sea
Formosa
Sea of Japan
Celebes Sea
Celebes
Siberia
Marianas IS
Palau
Sakhalin
Dapan
APIA
Pacific Ocean
Hachijo
Sofugan
Ngulu
Iwo Jima
Ulithi
New Guinea
Iracas
Rota
Guam
Caroline IS
Admiralty
Volcano Islands
City of
Fdr
Yank
Boyle
Tennessee
Rotary
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!