The Daily News, January 1, 1944 |
Here's Chronology of Outstanding News of 1943 |
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1.-- New Year ushered in
quietly; workers stay on job to boost war
production. 1.-- Mrs. Elsie B. Rhodes,
36, of Versailles, dies of burns after clothes are
ignited in blaze at home. 1.-- Rev. Anthony
Tarkowski, pastor of St. Mary's Polish Roman
Catholic Church for 43 years, dies. 1.-- Magnet Bldg. Damaged
by serious blaze which threatens entire block on
Walnut St.; loss set at $23,000 by Fire Chief James
C. McAllister. 1.-- Bus strike ends ...
District miners await result of presidential order
for government seizure of struck mines. 2.-- William E. Kreiling
appointed police chief to succeed James H.
Gray. |
1.-- WPB Chairman Donald
M. Nelson visits district plants ... Mercury at 46
for coldest July 1 on record. 5.-- H. Melvin Jaycox
appointed acting chairman of McKeesport district
ration board, succeeding Watson M. McKee. 1.-- Sidney H. Lovall,
Versailles Township's "hero of Dieppe." revealed as
fraud by FBI ... Cash shortage of $11,235.10
claimed by auditing firm in office of City
Treasurer George W. Gray. 11.-- Orphans Court Judge
H. Walton Mitchell dies. 1.-- District miners join
in nation's fourth coal strike in six months. 1.-- Demand for 17-cent
and hour pay boost filed with steel industries by
CIO's United Steelworkers. |
City of Duquesne News |
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War Sets City's Trend In Past Twelve MonthsWar worked its way into industry and the home front on a full-time basis during 1943, and set the trend for every civic, municipal, religious and organizational function in Duquesne. Duquesne Plant itself swung into the record column month after month until peak production became routine. Most noticeable changes in the home setup were the hiring of women in the plant for actual production work and the boosting of Duquesne's total in the armed forces to more than [??] 2100. The war plant assessment is not definite, but it may be decided next Thursday when Council plans to adopt the budget. An increase in millage is expected. Teachers were given a raise through the state. Duquesne High School had its outstanding grid team and the cagers won the Section Six crown. Kennedy School was closed because of reduction in enrollment and loss of teachers to the war effort. Thousands of dollars were poured into War Bonds through the year and residents more than doubled donations to charities. Nine local men were listed as dead or missing in action. Federal Project OpensGovernment-built homes for war workers were increased to 260 when Cochrandale Housing Project was built in Patterson Hollow. In the election Duquesne seated all but two democrats in offices. The year opened with the Council seeking a garbage dumping site, and renewing its attempts to get a new incinerator. The government turned down the furnace for the duration. Scrap drive total in January was 149 tons. Gasoline rationing held driving to a minimum. Pleasure driving bans stopped heavy traffic. Plans for the city servicemen's honor roll were aired. News was awaited on the police pension fund law, which was to be covered by state legislation, and meanwhile the department elected five policemen to the board of directors. Duquesne Library opened a drive for books for servicemen. The Mothers Club tried to get a day nursery for war plant women's children. The efforts proved futile. The waste fats campaign continued. Airguns were banned when a city boy lost an eye. Second Class Seaman Orville Adams was listed as missing. The School Board approved a sick leave pay for teachers but turned them down on a salary raise request. A new trade school was favored by the board. Ration Board MovedThe ration board was moved to McKeesport Jan. 25. OPA agents picked up Duquesne motorist for pleasure driving. The air raid tower was manned. The trolley stop at Grant Ave. was moved north of the intersection. Council set a budget of $255,638 and a 10-mill tax. Teachers threatened to use politics as a wedge to forse [sic] a raise from the school board in January. In February, officials and businessmen were still "steamed up" over moving of the ration board. Duquesne men, meanwhile, were named to key posts on the new consolidated board. William S. Raible and Michael Ballas were named night captains in the police department. Duquesne came second in the total of blood donors during the McKeesport are drive, and the Lions Club donated 5450 safety pins to McKeesport Hospital to aid its wartime shortage. Teachers were again turned down on their pay request with promise of action in the spring. School directors charged City Council with allegedly low assessments on the war plant and lack of "sufficient" revenue from the housing projects. Council invited the board to share its "headaches" at the sessions for 1944. Plant Breaks RecordsDuquesne Works open hearth broke its own record for production three times in a row over three months. Later the mill was cited for outstanding work among Carnegie-Illinois plants in the war effort. Councilman Frank Kopriver Jr. was called, then turned down by the Army. Officials discussed elimination of the lake on Polish Hill, formed by a slag dump. The problem is still unsolved. Skaters enjoyed the Vets Field ice rink. Council purchased acreage near Kennywood Park. A total of 17,776 persons were listed for Ration Book No. 2. Police opened a war on dogs. The Red Cross drive broke a record for collections in the city. In March, Duquesne High lost to Scott's cagers in the WPIAL tourney at Pitt. A war on cats was asked by some residents while the dog drive continued. Victory gardens were started to relieve the food situation. A drive to get a five-cent fare from South Duquesne to Kenmor Manor fell through. The WPA was ended here and a shower of pamphlets dumped at City Hall brought criticism for alleged Government waste by officials. The war plant became a "guinea pig" of the Government when notice was sent Council the DPC had appealed its tax on machinery at the mill. The suit and an appeal on land valuation are pending in court. Robberies increased in March. |
April saw childless married men drafted. The city lined up for a War Bond drive. William Golobich, believed killed in action, was found to be a prisoner. A cleanup drive was held. Civilian defense centers rated excellent in an inspection. Good Friday and Easter were marked with prayers for peace. Council hired the dog catcher again, after an eight-months' absence, then re-fired him for not doing his job. May saw the erection of the honor roll. Teen-age youth were ordered off the street by a curfew. John C. Meighen was elected School Board treasurer for the coming fiscal year. Duquesne Post Office became a "First Class" unit of the Federal Government. Bus transportation was cut heavily to aid saving in gasoline and tires. More than 2000 saw the new honor roll at South Second St. unveiled on May 30. Fire Chief Lawrence Trainor became senior vice commander of the County American Legion. Police Chief William P. Maloy died, and Tim R. Long was named to take his place, with William S. Raible becoming night captain. The school board revived baseball and track. Playgrounds OpenPlaygrounds opened in June. Andrew Moffat St., probably Duquesne's oldest resident, reached his ninety-third birthday, and died in December. Ernest Fries was re-elected president of Local 1256, United Steel Workers. The city had an exciting July 4, when a fire, causing $800 damage, broke out in the Goltz Bldg., North First St., causing the roof to collapse .. Eleven men were injured when the roof of a 35-ton furnace at the war plant collapsed, causing a blast which threw molten metal over the plant. A new fire truck was sought by Council, but war priorities have held up purchase. Janitors, teachers and other employes received salary boosts during the summer. Councilman M. H. Kowallis bolted the Democratic party to run for treasurer and won GOP nomination. Duquesne became part of the new Thirtieth Congressional District. Razing of the E. R. Crawford Mansion, at South Duquesne Ave. and Center St. highlighted July and August. Milan Obradovich was hired then fired by Council as vacation fireman. Paul J. Janusek, machinist's mate, was reported killed in action. The 74-year-old chapel at St. Joseph's cemetery was torn down. Republicans gained in registrations. Children were allowed to enter school a month younger than before by board action. The board approved football camp. Lieut. Michael J. Scarry returned from Africa and spoke to Duquesne Lions Club. Sergeant Theodore C. Heaps, veteran of 25 bombing missions was home on furlough. School coaches received a pay raise. Volunteer MissingPrivate Emil R. Kovac, first volunteer from the city, was reported missing. Thomas E. Hughes, chief maintenance engineer at Duquesne Works, died, and was replaced for school director on the GOP ballot by Carroll F. Brown, superintendent of industrial relations. Another war loan drive opened and a record was set in September. Lt. John Donelli, grid coach at Duquesne High before the war, returned home on the inactive reserve list. He became co-coach of the gridders with Harold G. Wilkinson. The city again broke its war bond sales record, hitting far over one million dollars. Corp. George Leitkam was reported killed in action. A cigaret campaign was staged. Police bought two new white patrol cars. Private Albert Bunda was reported missing in Italy. A total of 17,439 registered for War Ration Book No. 4 at Duquesne schools in October. Private George Gonos was listed as a prisoner in Japan. In the November election Democrats place John W. Bires in Council. John Selznick and J. Joseph Riles on the School Board and John C. Meighen as treasurer starting his twenty-seventh year. Councilman Frank Kopriver Jr. was the only major GOP candidate elected. Schools became tincan drive centers. Duquesne defeated Clairton's championship-bound Bears in the season's most startling upset, 14-9. Police solved a series of car thefts. The Businessmen's Assn. failed in its appeal to the PUC for a new bridge across Kennywood ravine, then dropped the case. Plans were set for a post war memorial in the city. A city workers' pension plan was recommended to Council. Council held up taxing the new war plant until an open budget session was staged, involving Council, the School Board, and the public. A tentative $2,557,399 assessment was set. An athletic manager's post was created by the School Board, but no candidates have been named. A major mobilization of civilian defense units was held in the city. Two houses were given as Christmas presents by Mrs. E. R. Crawford to faithful employes. The city ended the year with private and organization celebrations last night as they ushered in the New Year. |