19 Dec 1939
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 35 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 19, 1939
Page
1
Fort Dodge area residents will vote on issuing bonds totaling 16000 dollars to finance ten new school buildings. A Work Projects Administration grant will be requested if the bonds pass.
One hundred twenty five seniors will receive diplomas Thursday morning. President Charles Finley will deliver the commencement address. This marks the largest fall graduating class in the college's history.
Charles Etheridge, 70, was seriously injured when a car failed to stop and struck him. He was taken to Ottumwa hospital with facial cuts an arm fracture and shock, condition described as fatally by attendants.
The Sioux City city council approved a $1110 payment to five certified public accountants who completed an audit of municipal records. Mayor David F. Loepp, who questioned the claim last week, supported the vote along with the four commissioners.
Nashua shoppers flooded town during Christmas weekend and cleared bread supplies. One grocer said he could have sold 50 more loaves, leaving housewives to bake biscuits and muffins for dinner.
Rogers, head of the technical journalism department at Kansas State College since 1925, will arrive in Ames to assume duties as head of the department at Iowa State College. He fills the vacancy from Blair Converse’s death last May. R. W. Beckman had acted as interim department head.
Cedar Falls report shows Iowa State Teachers College men outdistancing women in fall quarter honors. Enrollments stand at 684 men and 1,172 women. Of 42 men on the honor roll seven earned straight A grades, while 75 women had five with straight A records.
Merlt Eberly a local coal trucker is in Municipal hospital in serious condition after a freak accident in Clarinda. He was in the rear of his truck standing to shoot rabbits when the truck jolted, throwing him beneath a back wheel and running over his right side. No bones were broken but he sustained serious head injuries.
Des Moines announces F. H. Dickson of Sioux City as deputy state youth administrator for the National Youth Administration in Iowa. Dickson, a former WPA field supervisor, has organized Boy Scout councils in Iowa, Indiana, and Kansas.
Former President Herbert Hoover, head of the Finnish relief drive in the United States, cabled $100 000 to the Finnish prime minister for civilian evacuee relief.
A news brief reports Russian bombing of Finnish cities amid opposition to drastic changes in federal farm policy. The piece notes the broader wartime context and governmental responses while naming no individuals.
Troop F of the 113th Cavalry used the new armory for the first time during a regular drill. Horses filled the riding hall with an equitation class led by Lt. Harry Donaldson and Lt. Walter Conner, while rifle practice and saddling instruction occurred in other areas. Troopers received quarterly pay totaling 1573.28, up due to recent extended drills. Captain Brown praised the facility and the unit prepares for seven days of National Guard training starting January first, with an oyster supper reward for perfect attendance.
Fairfield report says Ballard hall the Parsons college girls dormitory, roof and top floor destroyed by fire today. The building normally houses over 40 girls and was unoccupied except for Mrs. Ross Keiser and her daughter during Christmas break. Firemen used seven hoses. the roof and third floor collapsed before suppression. Loss estimated around 25000 dollars.
Harry Schneider chosen by the church music committee to lead the Methodist choir succeeding Boyd White who resigned. Schneider, a Parsons College graduate, taught public school music and directed bands. He and family recently moved to 714 South Second Avenue from Hubbard.
The legislative committee on retrenchment and reform approved plans for a 4-H building at the Iowa state fair grounds. The federal government would supply $90,000 of the $146,000 total cost for a first floor dining room and auditorium.
A floor plan describes a dormitory with 800 beds on the second floor. The design details indicate a large living area, with multiple wings and corridors connecting the rooms.
Iowa farmers told a Republican congressional committee examining agricultural problems they would oppose any drastic revision of New Deal farm policy. Secretary of Agriculture Mark Thornburg said most farmers view the present program as helpful with a few detrimental aspects improvable. Earl Elijah of Clarence, vice president of the state swine producers association, urged reciprocity with other nations.
Iowa state executive council to hold public hearing after Jan 1 on Cedar River dam by the Iowa hydro electric cooperative. Attorney Glenn D. Kelly says the Moscow dam would flood 11 000 acres in Cedar and Muscatine counties to form a lake two miles wide and eight miles long with no river diversions.
Cold air moves in as a Northwest wind brings snow and flurries to Washington. Temperatures fall from 5 to 36 degrees with light drizzle turning to snow. highways become slippery and visibility drops. Snow is heaviest in the north central region near Midora. Mason City and Humboldt report inches on the ground while far south sees melting as temperatures stay near seasonal.
William Brandon of Davenport addressed Wellman Rotarians at the YMCA Christmas party praising Rotary Anns and global service. The Wellman Rotary club organized last week with eighteen members and invited guests from the new Wellman club including Eardley Bell and A C Keipers.
Waterloo reports J Thomas Willett of Chicago and his wife injured when Willett's car collided with a vehicle driven by F H Payne on a bridge. Payne arrested for driving while intoxicated and a medical test was taken. Willett claimed a 1,250,000 mile driving record without an accident.
A morning crash a mile east of West Chester on the timber road at the Walter Bauer farm involved a truck driven by Merle Thrapp and a car driven by William Van Sickle both of West Chester. The truck attempted to turn into the Bauer driveway and was struck by the Van Sickle vehicle. No injuries reported.
New York dispatch reports 23 year old boxer Ernie Haas arrested in Toronto and admitting he killed Dr Walter Richard Engelbert first secretary of the German consulate in New York, per police statement.
Mrs. Caroline Kipling, 74, widow of Rudyard Kipling, died at her Sussex country home. Born Caroline Balestier of Vermont, she married Kipling in 1892 during his U S tour. Kipling died January 18, 1936.
The administrator of Alva Olie Strickland's estate in Manchester Iowa was authorized by Judge Ralph Hasner to accept a $2,500 settlement in the damage suit against Black and White Transportation Company of Chicago Illinois. Strickland, 57, died in a bus crash near Manchester last August.
The State theater announces its annual free morning film for young children this Saturday at 10. Shir ley Temple stars in Dimples with short subjects shown. All young community children are invited to attend as part of a Christmas tradition.
London reports the third German submarine offensive against Great Britain began today in cooperation with aerial bombing and raiding by coastal ships. The torpedoing of the 4,352 ton City of Cobh left 32 missing, while the Norwegian vessel Glittesjell caused five deaths, marking the opening blows of the new campaign.
Miss Strickland's sister La vonne remains in a local hospital after the crash. Norman Rasmus sen of Obert Nebraska was killed in the same incident.
Pupils at St James school perform a Wednesday afternoon Christmas program at 2 o clock featuring songs such as Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and A Letter from Santa Claus. Students in grades 1 through 8 present readings, choruses, and a playlet titled The Forgotten Recipe with multiple group performances and explanations of Christmas customs.
Soviet planes bombed the Gulf of Finland coast as Finnish anti-aircraft artillery repelled the raid. At Abo workers districts and near the hospital caught fire while bombs missed military targets. Helsinki reported several bombs exploding near open fields with large craters. A black crow was the only casualty.
Paris December 19 reports Finland advised Britain and France that strong hope exists to stave off the Red Army all winter if urgently needed supplies arrive in time and if the expected heavy snows come.
Abe Chitter den, head of the Chittenden Eastman firm in Burlington, dies after an operation followed by pneumonia. He was over fifty and active in the business founded by his father. Ralph Scott, a Washington furniture dealer, received the news. Funeral services are set for Wednesday afternoon.
Washington experts warn the fall drought is the worst in 60 years, shrinking the 1940 wheat crop by millions of bushels daily. No official government forecast yet. private estimates place the crop at 150 to 600 million bushels below the 1929 level of 556,710,009. Each day of drought widens the loss.
Presidents of young people’s societies from Washington churches met at the Y M C A to plan Happy Hour gatherings. They voted to begin January 7 with Sunday evening services follow up. Each church group will host a meeting and a short reading contest will conclude the series. Officers elected: Esther Ing es president, Glen Miller vice president, Charles Murdock secretary, Dick Knupp assistant secretary.
Bethlehem commandery Knight Templar re elected all current officers for 1940. T L Brookhart remains commander Cloyce Gault generalissimo Russell Goodin captain general Roger Sherman senior warden Wisse Lane junior warden George Me Daniel treasurer A W Yard recorder to be installed in January.
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.