01 Jan 1940
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 26 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 01, 1940
Page
1
Iowa Rapids crime brief reports police urging merchants to adjust closing times after a second daylight robbery by gunmen M. L. Miller of Wilder Grain Co. who surrendered $2158 to a bandit. A robber also stopped Mike Risk gro cer after hours, fleeing with $34.
Clinton reports ten people injured in three weekend auto crashes. May Mulhorn, 63, of Moline Illinois sustained broken ribs neck injuries and punctured back. Joseph Staub, 67, also of Moline, suffered back head and neck injuries. Joseph Slocum of McCaveal and others sustained various injuries.
Burlington fire destroyed Trinity Lutheran Church Sunday morning after an overheated furnace pipe ignited a wooden partition. Janitor found the blaze but embers damaged the frame building too quickly for full suppression. Loss estimated at 20000 dollars. a new organ worth 2990 dollars also burned.
Washington's Knights of Pythian lodge announces a public installation of new officers at the next meeting on Monday evening. Officers to be installed include George Baker as chancellor commander Randolph Kelney as vice chancellor Harold Kerprelate Guy Troxell master at arms H C Hotle master of work Owen Gresian keeper of records Arthur Griffith master of finance K Vler master of exchequer Ark Knauss inner guard and Harry Pullerton outer guard.
One man died and 30 to 40 were injured when the Panama Limited passenger train of the Illinois Central rear collided with the Louisianne northbound at Arcola station. Thomas V. Talmadge was killed in his berth. architect Fy anston Jil was among the injured. The diner car collapsed toward the tender, stranding Whathar of Chicago, a diner chef. Ambulances rushed victims to hospitals in Champaign Mattoon and Tuscola.
Over the New Year weekend violence killed at least 200 people nationwide. Traffic crashes led to 116 deaths since Saturday night, with Pennsylvania reporting 22 deaths the highest by state. Illinois 19, California and Michigan 15 each. Fourteen states saw new violence deaths. 18 states had no traffic fatalities. Two deaths occurred in Toyota traffic accidents.
The Uruguayan government ordered the German supply ship Tacoma to be interned after it failed to obey the order to leave port. The Tacoma was docked at Montevideo, tied to the Graf Spee pocket battleship, and kept under guard as authorities acted under neutrality rules.
Eight year old Glenn Rogers testified how a New Year night turned deadly in the Kiamichi mountains. He said two men shot his father Elmer Rogers his mother and four year old Dean before setting the home ablaze while he fled with his infant brother Billy.
Licenses to drive automobiles were granted to 14 persons who passed exams under a state highway patrolman at the court house. Ten failed. Recipients include Bob Borgstadt Nichols Joseph L Miller Kalona Gilbert Barr Crawfordsville Lloyd J Fredmund Washington Lewis Nebel Samuel Gaston Richard C Sodergren Wayland Everette Coon Ainsworth Lawrence Moore Ainsworth Cloyce M Johnson Brighton Charles C Capper Los Angeles Carl Lucky Riverside and Bertha Flading Wellsman. Ninety chauffeurs renewed licenses for the new year.
Laverne Leysen, 27, was hospitalized in fair condition after being overcome by carbon monoxide while attempting to repair his car in a closed garage. Mercy Hospital reports his condition as stable and improving.
Uruguayan gunboats with an armed marine party sailed from the inner harbor toward Tacoma to supervise the internment of a German auxiliary vessel in the anchorage area.
The Washington board of education announces a special election set for Thursday Jan 11 at city hall from noon to seven to authorize selling four school properties displaced by the 1939 construction of two new grade schools. Proceeds would support district needs as described in property legal descriptions.
Washington fire department answered three calls over the weekend none were serious. The worst was at John Havel 217 North Fourth Avenue where a wall fire near a register was quickly controlled with light damage. Glen Holden 719 East Main Street had an oil stove blaze moved outdoors to prevent damage. Hal Reister 422 East Main Street reported a car fire with very slight damage.
The year ended with heavy public building in Washington led by two new grade school buildings costing about 250000 for buildings sites and equipment. The North Second Avenue underpass cost nearly 200000 for construction and sites. Troop F 118th Cavalry Armory added about 58000. Elm Grove cemetery road cost 12000. Public funds aided these projects.
Washington residents welcomed 1940 with peaceful observances. New Year’s Eve crowds filled the State theatre and the Fox for late shows, while churches held services. Police reported no arrests for drunkenness or serious incidents and no major traffic accidents occurred despite slick streets.
The Public Works Administration covered 45 percent of the cost for school buildings and the cemetery road. Federal funds financed the underpass though no funds were allotted for the armory. Alongside public construction, Washington saw many houses built or remodeled and other extensive building operations last year.
Assessors in Washington County held their annual meeting at the court house, receiving supplies and instructions for the 1940 tax listings. Listings will cover personal property only, with real estate not listed. work must be completed for survey by April. George F. Wallace of Highland township named chairman, C. M. Livezey of Wellman named secretary. 21 of 24 members attended, Moorhead, Bourgeous and Dold absent.
Troop F starts a week of drills under the defense program but rain and cold weather forced postponement of outdoor scouting and patrolling. Captain O J Brown plans afternoon field problems and a noon meal at the armory for 51 troopers and 3 officers.
Cadet Matt Redlinger leaves yesterday morning for West Point New York to resume studies at the United States Military Academy after spending the holidays with his parents Mr and Mrs M J Redlinger at home.
Weather summary for Washington describes a cold end of year with temperatures from three below zero to eight above by morning and light snow. A steady NW wind and clear skies followed with rising temperatures as the day progressed. The article notes last week's snow cover and small additional flurries Sunday.
Des Moines reports clear skies to start January 1 as temperatures stay about 12 degrees below normal. Council Bluffs hits 16 above while Mason City ends at 4 below. Snow measured about half an inch in Mason City. Forecast calls for continued cold with subzero lows and occasional 15 below readings in the north and ten below in the south. Highway patrol notes general road conditions with some icy spots in the southeast.
Washington county's treasurer reported 2026 automobile licenses sold for the new year by Saturday night 1929, exceeding 1930 forecast. Alva Miller of Kalona is named as the owner who secured one license as the year closed.
London reports confirm Britain will aid Finland substantially against the Soviet invasion. In Helsinki violent fighting on the Karelian Isthmus nears a major Russian push while Finns claim a 163rd Russian division destroyed and a record air offensive by both sides. Soviet bombers hit Vaasa and Hyvinkaa hospitals, with hundreds wounded as the center of the front remains contested.
London reports two German aircraft attempted to bomb British ships near the Shetland Islands but were driven off. The joint communique says one bomber was shot down over the North Sea and another off the island after batteries and fighters engaged the invaders. Casualties on the British side are noted.
George Qui and Jean Varney were injured when a car driven by Quinn skidded on an icy curve in the south city limits. Both suffered cuts and bruises. Officers say Quinn had a permit or state highway patrolman on Highway 63 south of the city prior to the accident and were clocked at 70 mph. He slowed in the city but was arrested and charged with reckless driving.
The article lists license plate numbers assigned sequentially to county residents in 1929. C Palmer of Washington holds a low number before Marion George adjusts his plate to 1940, Raymond Anderson receives 2000, and Otle Ferguson and Otto Scheibel keep 1977 and 2006 from the prior year as the final plates issued.
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.