20 Dec 1939
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 23 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 20, 1939
Page
1
Fire started from a cigarette while workers decorated Christmas trees with silver paint causing extensive damage at the Michael Seed store in Sioux City. Fire Chief John Yeager reports $300 in building damage and Berkley Michael estimates seed losses near $3,500.
A F L building and trades union men picketed the Iowa City Power and Light Co project at Coralville and the downtown office to protest non union labor on the near five hundred thousand dollar improvement. Contractors say all workers are from Iowa City but not all are union men.
Sac City resident Buck Means paid 50 dollars in justice court for the top half of a Christmas tree promised to his girlfriend and another 50 dollars for the lower half left standing in a cemetery. The first payment covered the tree’s value. the second was a fine for defacing public property.
District Judge Charles F. Wennerstrom defers committal of Lew Dyer to Wapello county jail until January 2 so he can spend Christmas at home. Dyer, held on charges of concealing stolen property taken from box cars by his son and another youth, received a six month sentence after pleading guilty Tuesday.
George R. Marth of the Dubuque weather office is reassigned to Iowa City to head the hydraulic unit for the upper Mississippi Valley region. The transfer, announced by Walter Dick, chief meteorologist, becomes effective January 1.
The Des Moines health department warns Tularemia is spreading beyond rabbits to hunters handling wild game and birds in Iowa. Cases include a hunter exposed to a duck, an oppossum, a squirrel, a groundhog, and a house cat that fed on rabbits. Authorities urge precautions and safer handling of game to prevent infection.
The Y's Men's annual Christmas party drew over seventy attendees with Lee Holland as Santa. A youth program and gift exchange followed a fireplace and decorated tree, under EB Morrison Jr in charge. Nineteen members planned city hall gymnasium decorations for the December 25 Christmas Ball.
Buenos Aires reports Captain Hans Langsdorf shot himself in his hotel room after ensuring his crew's safety and destroying the Graf Spee as ordered by Hitler. He left a farewell letter to the German ambassador and spoke quietly to his men before the tragedy.
Secretary Leigh Soule announces a Christmas vacation program for boys at the Y M C A from December 21 to 30. Daily activities include graded gym times, free throw contests, basketball, swimming, pool, ping pong, treasure hunts, and an industrial hike with prizes for gray cadets and juniors.
Fairfield Iowa December 20 damage from the Ballard hall girls dormitory fire at Parsons college was estimated at 20000 by college trustees. They will rebuild once insurance loss is adjusted. Temporary rooms will house 40 girls. Don C Davis a U I student will spend two weeks vacation in University hospital after a major operation yesterday. C W Davis was in Iowa City yesterday and reports say Mr Davis is recovering well.
The Goodfellows Committee urges Washington residents to donate to keep baskets for a dignified Christmas. A shortfall threatens the program as $150 is needed today and $75 for the next two days, with no public solicitation.
The committee lists thanks for multiple donors including L. C. Whilits laig, Helen Kos, and Mrs. Lowe's Sunday School Class of Crawfordsville. Amounts range from 1.00 to 2.50 dollars, recognizing supporters of the High School Commercial Club and Dept. of Child Study Fortnightly.
Fifty petit jurors for the January term of the Washington county district court and ten grand jurors for 1940 were drawn at the courthouse and announced by clerk R. R. Noonan. The term opens January 15 with Judge Frank Bechly presiding. grand jurors report January 16 and petit jurors January 22 unless notified otherwise. Names include Lee Allen Wellman Katherine Belfel C M Benson Marion Two Walter Bond Hazel Boyd Two Bessie Bush Third Ward Oscar Davis First Ward CO L Dayton Washington Two Blanche DeKoning Third Ward Sload Farrier Brighton Two Nola Faulkner Second Ward Floyd Fisher Iowa Two.
The united brotherhood met at the Presbyterian church in Columbus Junction for its regular December gathering hosted by four churches. A dinner for about 45 men preceded a program of Christmas themed musical numbers and speeches on the holiday's meaning. The group adopted a new constitution and planned officers and committees for the March annual meeting. The January meeting will be at Cotter church.
The Washington Teachers Association voted to cooperate with the Rotary Club to bring programs on international understanding to Washington again this year. George Fields was elected to represent Washington at the county council of the Iowa State Teachers Association. Supt. B A Ralston spoke on school finance as the main feature. Thomas Parson, president, presided as the meeting began at 4 15 p m.
Washington business houses will close next Monday, Christmas day, with retail stores and markets shutting all day. Drug stores will close from noon to four, restaurants maintain usual hours, and the holiday is widely observed with offices and public buildings closed.
John Clell Forinash longtime cafe operator and meat market owner from West Chester died suddenly at his Conesville home at 4:40 AM after a cerebral hemorrhage. Funeral 7:30 PM Thursday at Jones funeral home. body to be sent to Salem Missouri for burial. Survived by father Ray of Marylandville Mo and four children Villa Tuane Lavone Ruth. two brothers Fred and Ray.
Helsinki reported thousands of fresh Soviet troops and several new tanks arrived from Leningrad on the Finnish front. Heavy fighting persisted on the Karelian isthmus as Russians renewed efforts against the Mannerheim line while Finland called up men born in 1899.
Amer Legion post plans forming a rifle team to compete with Troop F and possibly other towns. Fourteen members expressed interest led by Commander Bobe Kurtz, with selection from this group and room for others to join. If organized, matches would be held at the new armory rifle range. The post also voted five dollars to the Goodfellows fund for Christmas baskets.
Of Raymondville Mo and sister Mrs W M Conley of Raymondville Mo the obituary notes Mrs Forinash died in 1920.
Des Moines reports the interim committee on retrenchment and reform urged Governor George A. Wilson to convene a special session of the Iowa legislature to address a state office building and severe overcrowding in state mental institutions. The measure passed seven to two with opposition from Rep Fort Fishbaugh Jr. and Rep C N Hultman who warned against repeating past housing debates.
The USS Tuscaloosa towed German sailors from the scuttled liner Columbus toward New York Harbor, dropping anchor off Fire Island and Ellis Island before transferring them to immigration authorities. Washington reported the luxury liner sank 400 miles off Virginia cape after likely scuttling to avoid capture. no evidence of combat with a British warship.
The faded OCR note mentions a Minneapolis veterans hospital and a five month period but lacks coherent details. No specific events, dates, people, or outcomes are readable to confirm what occurred or its significance.
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