Funny reminiscences from Washington county life in past years
Ralph Shannon chronicled humorous events from Washington and nearby countryside, recalling runaways, fires, rival fire companies, odd accidents, and local characters. The piece weaves memories of Model T era prices, barber shop mishaps, mistaken wedding ads, and small town wit through decades of life in a rural county.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Ralph Shannon
The
Journal
N. E
Memory Lane in a Small Town Dinner and Rail Tales
The narrator recalls a local Ad Club dinner with Ralph Shannon delivering a humorous speech about nitroglycerin and an accidental pistol mishap. They recollect farm life hardships, a man named Sheep Taylor promoting sheep farming, and daily railway scenes with engineer McGugin and conductor Dowell, plus townsfolk’s quips about tenants and crops.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ad Club
Ralph Shannon
Taylor
Washington Area
Spectacular defense beats notrump contract in bridge match
In a team match West defender overruled to thwart South in three notrump after a club lead. At one table East won ace and returned ten of spades, declarer drove to a three notrump. at the other, West rose with the ace on a diamond and then played queen of clubs, eliminating South’s entry and forcing South down two. West’s passive misdirection and club sacrifice paid off.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
South
West
East
Declarer
Res Syndicate, Inc
Postal reform faces GOP unions against Nixon plan
Congress and unions oppose the postal reform backed by President Nixon and Postmaster General Blount. The plan would convert the Post Office Department into a government corporation run by professionals with a nine member board, bonding for capital, and arbitration on disputes. Public wants reliable, affordable mail. legislators doubt the corporate approach, with sentiment heavily against it. Texas note closes the piece.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington, D. C
Nixon
Winton M. Blount
Post Office Department
Blount
Congress
Lyndon Johnson
Postal Service
Authority
Ules
Capitol Hill
Nixon & Co
Also Mentioned on This Page
Draymen
Hook and Ladder Company
H & L Company
West Main Street
West Third Street
Chicago
Duffy
Ed Bandy
Donald O. Ross
Phoenix, Arizona
Ed Bowman
Montgomery Ward
Jugenheimer
Keyes
Mr. Keyes
J. C. Boice
Boice
Washington County
Dutch Creek Township
Dutch Creek
Alex Miller
Democrat
Gus Ross
Marion Ave
U. P. Church
Silas
Harry
Grandfather
Ralph
Grace Hill
East Second St
Madison Street
Libe
R. R
R. I
R. A
Lyle McGugin
Oskaloosa
Knoxville
Des Moines
George Dowell
Messrs. McGugin
Dowell
Mason City
By Marge Luckey
Templar
Texas Instruments
Richardson
Texas
Mark
J. A
J. F. Moldenhauer
Camp Charlton
Ark
J. L. Benish
Charley Weaver
Mt. Ida
Arkansas
B. Jay Becker
North
North East South Pass
King
Unions
TVA
U. S. Postal Service
Tennessee Valley
Postal Service Act
Big Texas
Osincup’s
Prescription Service Center
Evening Journal
Washington, Iowa
J. W. Helscher
CLA
P.O. Box
Iowa
Ohio National Life Ins. Co
Cincinnati
United Funds
United Funds Group of Mutual Funds
Waddell Reed
Charles W. Bartholow, Jr
Rural Rt
Crawfordsville
Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n
North Marion
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!