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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 22, 1944
Page
4
In this page four feature, the Brigadier notes community life with town sights, hospital notices, and local personalities. Mrs. Utterback mourns a husband, Founders Day honors P. E. O. with Ruth Michels playing marimba, and neighbors recall longtime residents and civic work. Restless weather, sales, and small-town anecdotes fill the Washington daily rhythm.
In a light rivalry, Alvin Hasty and Mrs. Ezra Wittmer dispute which town has more widows. Wittmer asserts Wayland has 51 widows in a 654 population town. Other notes include postponed meetings, a nurse’s new position, a new band president, a World War and Mexican border veterans reunion, a death in Idaho, a local history write up, a recent marriage in Springfield, a frigid sixteen below night, and a sick child report.
Mrs William Irving Sugg and her small son visit relatives in town. former Helen Winter. Elsie Bratten hosted a piano recital with about twenty pupils and hot chocolate afterward. Neuhart dairy sale reported good prices. Rationing board notes tires scarce. Leon Beatty Post seeks 200 members by Jan 25 with Capt Fred Blick speaking at Rotary and Y’s Mens clubs. Funeral attendees for Mrs Julia Cavender include several regional families. Capt John Cromwell reported missing in action in the south Pacific. Local crews trim trees for better street lighting. R L Richards injured in highway 92 crash. Processed foods rationing may ease this year, says Ed Kallous. War service notes from James Dawson family. Valley Ladies Aid held all-day meeting.
Local notes show births, visits, and marriages including Jo Ann Whitted born January 4 to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Whitted in Rock Island. Soldiers, enlistments, furloughs, and war bond drives frame community life amid political and social events through January.
Deaths of the Week notes the passing of Polly Agsh, daughter of Alpheus Dicken and niece of Washington’s first school teacher. She died Sunday, was over ninety, alert, keen, and beloved by all.
A Washington County youth from Crawfordsville died in action aboard a bomber on January 5. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Fred Mitchell of Crawfordsville. This marks the first war casualty in the town south of Washington.
Mrs. Elizabeth Goode aged 91 widow of John Goode died at her daughter Elsie King’s home in North English. They ran the Goode hotel for years. one son Walter is deceased. six daughters and two sons survive. Also noted: Crawfordsville woman aged 55 died Monday night with husband and one daughter surviving, plus a sister and six brothers. Brother of Mrs. Glenn Mace aged 53 died of pneumonia near Chicago. John Evans Wyman, farmer age 62, died.
A playful excerpt notes that opera crowds favor couples over lone attendees, contrasts opinions on housekeeping versus porch upkeep, jokes about clergy titles and living arrangements, and ponders hotel meals and manners. The tone is light, witty and observational with social quirks and fashion quirks.
The obituary notes a resident of Town City who died at University Hospital. Survived by his wife a son two brothers and a sister. Further details not provided in the readable text.
Frank A. Shelangoski aged 65 died southwest of town after a four month illness. He is survived by two sons four daughters three brothers and two sisters six half brothers and four half sisters.
The city of Washington sold water works bonds totaling 80 000 dollars and sewer bonds of 60 000 dollars to a Des Moines company. Interest is four and three quarters percent. The report notes the cold weather with a 12 below zero reading on January 11. Relatives planned a surprise party for Winfield Smouse on January 17 for his seventh birthday. Boyd Berdor purchased the building south of the square across from Bradley jewelry store, previously occupied by the Bradley jewelry shop, with an apartment above.
At the carrier's annual party Norwood Jones received the gold watch prize for outstanding service.
Bertha Hay entertained twelve friends Saturday night with a chil dren themed party at her home. Guests dressed as children and planned to speak or sing pieces while refreshments were served. Ralph Kellar sold his grocery store to J. Y. Anderson and C. W. Southwell. A marriage license was issued to Mrs. Bessie Eichelberger Fritz and John D Fore in Sawtelle California. The Fox Theatre opened January 10 with over 1000 attendees.
January 19 1904 brought a heavy ice storm that left Central Park trees shattered and many limbs snapped. Power failed across districts with no electric lights, the worst since 1858. An interurban line between Washington and Iowa City was discussed by an expert estimating twenty thousand dollars per mile. Mrs J H Stewart hosted a Sabbath school class gathering assisted by Margaret Duff.
Local ads offer turkey six cents per pound chicken four cents per pound ducks five cents per pound geese four cents per pound and roosters ten cents each. A humorous rumor questions moving the State University from Iowa City to Des Moines and to Honolulu for tax relief. A past debate on income tax cites 1894 proposals taxing incomes over four thousand dollars with a harsh remark from Alex Miller.
The widely acclaimed World War II orientation feature The Battle of Russia released by the Office of War Information screens Sunday at the Fox Theatre. Lt. Col. Anatole Litvak directs under Lt. Col. Frank Capra. the film portrays Russia’s defense against the Nazi advance and the Allied war effort. General Douglas MacArthur lauds the film’s depiction of resilience and strategic impact.
The film portrays ordinary Russians as the decisive force in war. It follows the Leningrad defense where citizens vow to fight to the death rather than surrender. Amid constant bombardment they rely on a guerrilla, uniformless front, improvised weapons, and surprise to resist the fascists.
A heart warming Technicolor drama opens at the State Theatre telling how Lassie the collie travels from Yorkshire to Scotland and back to save her boy Sam Carraclough. The cast features Donald Crisp Roddy McDowall Elsa Lancaster Nigel Bruce Dame May Whitty Ben Webster Edmund Gwenn Elizabeth Taylor and J Patrick O'Malley in a tale of loyalty and courage.
Ainsworth January 21 Orient Lodge A F and A M 365 installed officers for 1944 with Wm Zager as installing officer and Geo Lord as installing marshal. Lee Baird was chosen W M Howard Stewart S W Lee Hunt J W E R Butterworth S D Orie O Connor J D Lee Norris S S Max White J S sec Orville Thoma treasurer J A Marsh reported the results and the club’s plans.
The average salary for a Government Girl in Washington is under 1800 dollars annually, reflecting low pay for civil service positions. The article highlights wage levels and potential gaps in government compensation.
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