31 Dec 1945
Page 1
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 20 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Somerset Daily American
Location
Somerset, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Dec 31, 1945
Page
1
Secretary Byrnes reports Washington on the Moscow meeting of foreign secretaries with Britain and Russia. He says all war participants should help shape peace and notes plans to keep General MacArthur in charge of Japan. He mentions Korea, China, and possible trusteeship changes alongside broad regional hopes.
In Pinesville Kentucky the death toll from last Wednesday’s coal mine explosion rose to nine as a miner died in hospital and at least nineteen or more workers remain unaccounted for. Rescue crews faced fire fumes and unstable tunnels delaying reentry.
Norristown December 30 26 year old John J Scandone a service station operator was burned when an oil heater set his clothes ablaze He leaped through a window crawled over a seven foot fence and ran 100 feet to a creek then plunged in He died of burns shortly after the escape attempt and being unconscious after leaving the creek.
Churches across Somerset prepare watch night services as the old year ends and the new year begins. Calvary Methodist and Trinity Lutheran schedule 11 p.m. services with communion. Casebeer Lutheran follows at 11:30 p.m. Rev. Huntsman Rev. Wagner and Rev. Guss lead the programs with hymn singing, sermons, and youth participation.
Pennsylvanians bid farewell to 1944 and welcome 1945 as the atomic age and end of major wars shape celebrations. Watch Night services fill churches while central city districts see record crowds. Philadelphia hotels and nightclubs report near capacity and reservations sold out. Mummers parade plans include 21 string bands and $10,000 in prize money.
In Seoul Koreans clashed with police and mass walkouts hit the capital as the big three proposed a five year trusteeship for Korea. Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge sought to clarify the Moscow communique after protests began.
A civilian pilot, James Edward Williams Jr., 23, of Spring City, Chester County, was killed when his private plane crashed into a hill near Cross Roads in Juniata County. The wreckage burned after the impact and the body was thrown clear. State police identified the deceased from the ship’s log.
Joseph Ober, 22, recently discharged from the marines, died from a broken neck and other injuries after a car he was riding in crashed into a five foot stone wall at the foot of Canada Hill near Doylestown.
District Attorney Paul E. C. Fike resigns his post effective when Judge Norman T. Boose agrees, with Boose delaying action until January 7. Fike, who served as acting DA from March 1944 and then permanently, cites Lansberry’s return as justification for stepping down and resumes private practice in Somerset.
A trolley crash near Lester, Pennsylvania, sparked a fire that killed a family of three from Essington and two other people. Philip Aston his wife Alice and son Philip Jr. were identified from a charred ration book. Peggy Ray and Abraham Benowitz also died in the blaze. Several others remained critically or seriously injured.
The U S bureau of mines reports accident frequency climbed in the first half of the year at the 425 ton daily Reitz Coal Co mine No 3 in Central City Somerset County Pa. Federal Inspector David Kreischer cites mishaps from handling mine cars and materials as the leading cause affecting 86 miners.
Public sale Thursday January 3 1946 at 1 PM located 144 miles west of Somerset at Harry M Shockeys farm. Items include a wooden wheel wagon with 16 inch rubber tire two horse long rake Hillside plow 25 to 30 tons baled hay timothy and mixed Holstein cow and calf five Shorthorn cows four Holstein calves six months or younger TB and Bangs tested 3 or 4 tons of wheat straw Auctioneer John Schrock.
Allied authorities released Hitler's political testament detailing expulsions of Goering and Himmler and appointments of Doenitz and Gauleiters. The document notes plans for Linz looted art and Hitler's intended death with Eva Braun, dated April 29 1945, witnessed by Goebbels and others. British and American intelligence recovered the documents and prepared follow up actions.
General MacArthur rebutted a Far Eastern commission claim that he objected to the Moscow Japan control plan before approval. He said he would try to make the plan work and noted he was not consulted during the Moscow conference, while criticizing veto power for participant nations and reaffirming his intent to see the policy through.
Government and Communist sides trade accusations over a proposed unconditional cease fire and disarmament plan tied to Japanese troop repatriation. Chiang Kai-shek’s government weighs the Communist proposal while unity talks push into January.
In Warsaw on December 29 1944 12 American locomotive engines arrived as direct aid for Poland to ease railway transport. M E Hays UNRRA official reported the locomotives from US Army surplus in Belgium were handed over to Poland at Katowice.
New York City issued 74 068 marriage licenses in 1945 an average of 203 daily This total exceeded 1944 by 5326 and highlights a strong year for marriages in the city with statistics released today
Secretary Byrnes described the 11 nation Far Eastern Commission and four power Tokio council as the new control machinery for Japan while keeping U S top policy making power. He said the United States would issue interim directives to MacArthur on urgent matters and that only three subjects were to be handled temporarily.
Daily weather summary for Somerset by David Grove reports a 24 hour period ending 5 30 p m with a maximum near 45 degrees and a minimum near zero with data consistency notes from the U S Weather Service observers.
Maryland forecast shows cloudy conditions with rain in the east turning to snow flurries and colder air in the west Monday with colder Monday night. Tuesday remains mostly cloudy and somewhat colder. Eastern Pennsylvania expects rain in the southeast turning to snow and colder conditions, with snow flurries in the mountains. Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia face snow flurries, wind, and a colder Monday and Monday night, with Tuesday mostly cloudy and cold and a few snow flurries.
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.