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This newspaper page contains 36 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Dec 07, 1939
Page
5
A school inspector stirs children with a playful lesson about the blacksmith and his trade. The pupils answer with a chorus about strong arms and labor, illustrating a simple, lively moment from London Tit-Bits Magazine.
A humorous note describes Oscar solving a test question by asking how far the earth is from the gun and concluding the sun is not close enough to interfere with duties as office P. S. He got the job, illustrating a witty take on a mundane exam.
A tourist changing a tire in a remote area laments the high price of necessities, remarking that living far from civilization makes essentials costly and not worth the price for many. A local observer agrees with a wry smile, noting the hardship of obtaining basic comforts in such isolated parts.
A brief children’s moment shows a girl asking about marriage and an adult confirming future outcomes. The exchange ends with the girl noting she is in a tricky situation about being married or remaining single.
In a brief newspaper snippet, a character named George is asked if he would vote yes, prompting a witty reply about it being charitable to provide a ticket and lend a dress suit. The exchange hints at social circles and humorous manners of the era.
A humor piece describes a farmer failing to sleep and joking about counting ten thousand sheep and sending them to market in cars. He ends by realizing it is time to wake up for milking.
A patient pleads to be released while a nurse calms him as the doctor’s temper flares. The exchange depicts a tense clinical scene with the patient seeking escape and the staff urging rest and quiet.
A stranger questions a native about a building, asking what the windows are for. The native explains it is the asylum for the blind, prompting further skepticism from the visitor about the structure’s purpose.
In Capper's Weekly a courtroom exchange shows a lawyer insisting the prisoner is the cycle thief while the plaintiff contradicts, claiming he never owned a cycle after a lengthy dispute. The dialogue highlights a disputed identification in a legal context.
A light exchange contrasts vacation desires with one party preferring travel worldwide and the other seeking an alternative destination. Personal plans reveal differing expectations about holiday arrangements and companionship during time off.
A light seasonal utterance expresses a desire for a warm fur from a friendly creature. The quaint line imagines a foxlike coat as a comforting gift in cold weather.
A fragment from the Minneapolis Journal notes an elevator accident with a five story drop and a remark that not all is seen. The snippet conveys a terse, possibly skeptical tone about the event and timing.
A fragment quotes a character wishing for life in Greenland while reflecting on a long night ahead. The exchange notes the idea of having nothing to do until tomorrow and hints at a philosophical mood.
Local basketball fans will see two games this evening at the high school gym. King Lumber faces the Firemen at 8 o'clock, then Pontiacs meet Falcon Oil at 9. Pontiac leads the league, Firemen and Pontiacs seek early control, with plans for a second half and possible playoff.
Funeral service for Milo Weston 43 rural mail carrier was held yesterday afternoon at the Janzen Funeral Home with Rev. Alfred T. Chandler officiating. Interment was in Green Lawn cemetery Bakersfield. Weston resided in Shafter since February coming from Cathlamet Washington to take post duties. He was an ex service man and Elks member survived by his widow Eurith Fern Weston and four sisters. Shafter post office closed for an hour in respect.
Thirty-eight new adult books were yesterday received at the Shafter library led by Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. Also received were 17 children's titles. The adult list features titles by Aldington Ferguson Grey Heyer Marjorie Raine Sikorsky and Sunset's Garden Book among others. The children's list includes Eyes of the Woods Westward Ho The Snow Queen and On To Oregon.
Potatoes are a growing staple in California with acreage increasing since 1933 and yields per acre well above the national average. The UC agricultural extension circular No. 16 by D. R. Porter and John B. Schneider outlines all aspects of potato production and is available free from the College of Agriculture, UC Berkeley, or local farm advisors.
Delano high school defeated Shafter in three basketball contests at the local gymnasium. The A team won 34 to 20, the B team 34 to 16, and the C team 16 to 13. Delano rallied in the final period to overturn a 15-13 halftime deficit, while Shafter freshmen and new players struggled against Delano’s faster breaks.
Members of the Congregational Ladies' Aid announce a rummage sale to be held at the church parlor on Saturday December 16. Proceeds will support church activities and community programs.
In a holly adorned town hall Ted Rawlings captivates 300 audience members as the leading actor. Sally Howard returns from New York to praise him and urges a bold wedding announcement before the crowd.
The first Santa Claus was St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, renowned in the Fourth century for secret gift giving to the poor. He reportedly tossed purses of gold into cottage windows and disappeared, initiating a mysterious midnight gift bearing tradition.
A roundup of festive dishes from Europe including England plum pudding, Germany Pfeffermesse, Denmark Vier knack, Norway Fatgman's Bak kels, Hungary Horseshoe cake, Holland Speculaas, and Sweden Lutfisk.
The fragmented notice mentions a shoeful term and reindeer in a melt context with unclear operators. The readable bits hint at a quirky local item involving clothing or costume pieces and a white object or individual, but exact action or location is not discernible.
Earl Unruh a Cristobal postal worker and brother of Rotarian Ira Unruh presented motion pictures from the Canal Zone to the Shafter Rotary Club at a noon luncheon at Cafe Neuman. Dr L H McGrane said Rotary road signs would be placed at town entrances and was named to oversee the project. Visiting Rotarians Emmett Wilson Fisk Harlow George H Barnett A C Dimon and Emmett Hays of Bakersfield attended.
Watsonville Chamber of Commerce outlines a goodwill exchange trading surplus apples for surplus potatoes. Secretary Arn Sargent aims to send 20 boxes of fruit to Shafter for a Christmas party, following a prior Fourth of July barbecue donation.
Three men were injured last Thursday when cars driven by Oscar Tucker and F C Brown collided at a Taft highway intersection two miles south of town. Oscar Tucker 28 of Smith Corner suffered a fractured cheek bone broken ribs and multiple bruises. They were taken to Bakersfield in the Janzen ambulance for treatment. Andrew Bruner 30 and Chester Tucker 22 were also injured.
Twenty one hogs weighing about 200 pounds each sold Monday from Shafter Future Farmers to Kern Valley Packing in Bakersfield at six cents per pound. Shafter boys marketing pigs were James Bobst Louis Starric and Charles Harris. Some head were also taken from the school farm.
The Shafter Boy Scout committee meets at 8 p m at the American Legion hall to discuss fundraising plans and organizing new troops in the district.
Herbert L Comfort remains in serious condition after a head on collision on 99 highway near Bakersfield. Cars driven by W C Shonnet and Julian DeVere were involved. Shonnet suffered head injuries and was hospitalized while DeVere was uninjured. Comfort's condition worsened with pneumonia but is thought to be improving.
Abe Karber, longtime Safeway meat department head at the local store, is transferring Saturday to manage the Bakersfield Safeway meat department at 19th and F streets. Glen Colbert of McFarland will replace him here and plans to move to Shafter with his family.
Contacts made this week in Washington push plans to hire a full time man to work with potato seed and develop a clean seed for Kern county and state growers. A mass meeting of growers is planned to discuss forming a seed association and a growers seed organization after meetings held since summer in Shafter.
Local officers report sixty half sacks of fall potatoes stolen from the Adolf Kirschenmann place yesterday. The theft is believed to have occurred about six o clock in the evening.
John Nale reported on a recent Denver reclamation meeting to the Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District board. He described expected continued congressional support for reclamation and flood control projects, and the board approved travel expenses of 43.50 for Nale. Directors also approved 480 for well gauging for a year and noted periodic checks on two wells per district section.
The Detroit River is described as the world's greatest maritime highway, handling annual freight tonnage several times that of New York harbor. The article emphasizes its dominance in global shipping and the river's pivotal role in commerce.
The old building housing first and second grades moved to an emergency room at Shafter School on Lerdo highway freeing space for seventh and eighth graders. Mrs Gladys Brier of Wasco leads the group temporarily. Four upper-grade rooms are now relieved with a fifth room due next week. Total enrollment reached 1407 this week amid potato harvest.
World consumption of wood pulp used in rayon and staple fiber leaps from 50,090 tons in 1925 to 950,000 tons in 1937, marking a 1,990 percent rise. The rise reflects expanding demand for fiber materials in textiles and related industries.
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