The Daily News, January 1, 1945 June Tornado Headlines District's News Events in 1944 Whirlwind Among Nation's Worst Disasters of Year; 18 Killed, Many Homes Lost War Continued to Dominate Local Interest as Industries Established New Production Records; Bond Drives Successful; Span Plans Advanced Old year 1944 will go down in history as another period when the war continued to dominate interest of district residents but during which the home front, nevertheless, contributed its traditional variety of headlined events. The June 23 tornado, which killed 18 district residents, devastated several hundred homes and caused damage estimated in the millions, was the No. 1 news story of 1944 in this area. The history-making fury struck here suddenly at 6:30 p.m. and within a few minutes lives had been lost and homes destroyed over a wide area embracing McKeesport, Port Vue, Dravosburg, Greenock, Versailles, Liberty and Versailles and Elizabeth Townships. Other outstanding home front events are listed in this area for 1944. In the November election, this city, as did most other district communities, went Democratic again to help reelect President Roosevelt to his fourth term. The return home from the Pacific battlefronts of Lieutenant Mitchell Paige, of West Mifflin's Camden Hill, gave the district an opportunity to pay tribute to its men of the fighting forces. The home front further made the headlines for consistent and record-shattering performances in industrial production, successful war bond drives and generous response by district residents to blood plasma appeals in Red Cross collection campaigns held here. McKeesport's schools were rated No. 1 in the state in tin can collections, while residents throughout the area participated in waste paper and rag campaigns. Bridge Plans Set Under the heading of civic progress, No. 1 item probably was the development of plans for postwar construction of the four million dollar McKeesport-Dravosburg high-level bridge. Surveys were begun for widening of West Fifth Ave., a project linked with erection of the span. In addition to the June tornado, the weather was the basis of other "big news" stories, including the December cold wave which began Dec. 11 with a blizzard which blanketed the district with 17 inches of snow. On June 18, just five days prior to the tornado, the district was swept by a furious wind, thunder and hail storm during which lightning caused extensive damage. Here is the chronology of district news events in 1944: JANUARY 1. Six injured in New Year's Eve accidents; holiday observed quietly in district. 3. Paul G. McAtee appointed fire chief to succeed James C. McAllister. Guy Rodkey named police chief and other changes made as Democratic majority rules City Council for first time in history. 8. Equitable Gas Co. employes strike here; city , county officials join in conference to push Dravosburg Bridge plans10. Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co. plant closed by strike; ended 48 hours later. 12. A. P. Nelson, 76, supervisor of city water mains, and 17 other plumbing division employes quit in protest to Council's reduction of personnel in their bureau; assets at record high of $43,624,250 reported at four banks here. 18. Fourth War Loan drive opens under chairmanship of J. A. Krut. 25. One killed, three injured in explosion at Versailles plant of Central Railway Signal Co. 27. Total of $27,000 in unused cash "found" by city officials in municipal treasury. 31. Snowless January sets 54-year record, weather bureau says. FEBRUARY 2. City's Civil Service Board -- dr. J. C. Wiley, David Hardy and Shelby Erwin -- ousted by council for "inefficiency"; Erwin later reappointed. 8. Three burned to death in West Mifflin fire. 12. Lawrence W. Strong, veteran high school teacher, killed when hit by bus. 16. Fire destroys agriculture Bldg. at South Park; loss $150,000. 21. Check on women in taverns ordered by police after army requests aid in drive against vice here. 26. Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co. awarded second Gold Star for war production; county tops quota in Fourth War Loan drive. 29. Two-inch snow blankets city. MARCH 1. Tokens go in use here as "change" on food ration points. 5. Eight-inch snow disrupts highway travel in district. 6. Cost-of-living pay increase voted for city teachers by School Board committee. 9. Army assigns military police to aid local authorities in drive on women of "questionable character". 10. Pfc. Nicholas Radinovic fatally injured, two others hurt as auto smashes front of Atlantic Ave. barber shop. 11. Michael Komyanik, 25, Duquesne's "Tony Martin" in boxing ring, captured after holdup of bakery store here. 13. 33 McKeesport Connecting Railroad employes strike. 14. Suit on city improvement bonds filed; B. & O. reroutes trains over P. & L. E. tracks after accident blocks travel over its own lines. 20. Christy Park Works wins second star for war production; 4-inch snow covers district roads. 28 Army pilot killed as plane explodes in Dravosburg crash. 31. James J. Henderson Jr. transferred to Buffalo, N. Y.., by Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp., resigns from School Board. APRIL 10.Lieut. Gen. William S. Knudsen tours district war plants; draft boards ordered to induct "only fighting men"; scores over 26 get reprieves from induction. 19. Surveys begun for widening of West Fifth Ave. in connection with erection of Dravosburg high level bridge. 21. Assistant Secretary of Navy James Forrestal tours district war plants with Charles E. Wilson, vice chairman of War Production Board. 24. Salvation Army buys new three-story building, plans fund drive. 25. Crowd cheers Sgt. Charles "Commando" Kelly at airport; voting light in dullest election primary in history; less than 20 percent of city's vote total goes to polls.     MAY 1.District communities concerned as U. S. Supreme Court in Mesta Machine Co. case rules municipalities must not tax government-installed machinery in war plants … Trial of Irvin Works, charged with falsifying steel records, gets under way in U. S. District Court, Pittsburgh. 3.Fire destroys building of Coslov Co. scrap concern, Market St. blaze damages Ruben Furniture Co. warehouse. 8.Council votes 100-day dog quarantine here. 9.Albert McMillan, 7, drowned in pool of water at site of razed Hippodrome Theater. 11.Jay L. White, former American Legion commander and veteran of two wars, electrocuted in National Tube Co. accident. 17.Hearing by PUC opens here on complaints against Liberty-Port Vue bus service. 18.McKeesport students top state in tin can collections. 23. Lieutenant Mitchell Paige, West Mifflin marine hero, on way home from Pacific battlefronts. 24. Mrs. Mary Wassel, mother of four, and Miss Anna Rusnak, 20, drowned as skiff upsets in Youghiogheny River. JUNE 6. District residents jam churches as allies announce invasion of Normandy Coast in France. 7. Attorney James F. Malone elected Allegheny County Republican chairman. 10. Three-week blood plasma drive ends with 2887 pints of blood collected. 18. Lightning, hail and thunder-storm rips district. 23. Lieutenant Mitchell Paige greeted on return from battlefronts. 24. Eighteen killed, millions of dollars in damage results as more than 200 homes are destroyed when tornado sweeps McKeesport area. 25. Drive launched for funds to aid tornado victims. JULY 3. Congressional Medal of Honor awarded posthumously to Sergeant Archie Mathies, Finleyville. 12. Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co. closed by strike; operations resumed 36 hours later. 14. Carl A. Boe resigns as manager of Penn Transit Co. here. 21. Washington, D. C. army flyer killed in bomber crash at County Airport. 29. Flames destroy city stables; loss set at $21,500. AUGUST 2. R. C. Painter, philanthropist and banker, dies suddenly. 3. H. K. Porter Co. purchases Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co. plant; Fred Grotts to remain as president ... Sergeant Jack Underwood, McKeesport, given Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry in Italy. 17. Fort Pitt Steel Casting Co. honored for fourth time for war production ... President Roosevelt passed through McKeesport returning to Washington from Pacific war theater. 19. Gasoline shortage aggravated here; many stations closed. SEPTEMBER 1. District residents frightened as minor earthquake tremors are felt. 13. C. E. Palmer elected president of Peoples City Bank ... William Thomson appointed chairman of United War Fund drive. 29. Vice President Henry A. Wallace speaks at Democratic affair here. OCTOBER 11. Maj. Gen. Uzal G. Ent, husband of McKeesport woman, injured in Texas bomber crash. 18. Carl A. Boe files petition with PUC for purchase of Port Vue-Liberty-McKeesport bus franchise owned by Ben V. Rudberg. 23. Trial opens in Common Pleas Court in suits against city by 36 improvement bond owners. 28. Chief Boatswain john W. Montgomery discharged from navy, resumes job as city controller. NOVEMBER 2. 14-year-old Jimmy Clark discharged from army paratroopers as military officials discover his real age. 3. Registration for Nov. 7 election: 15,700 Republicans, 13,015 Democrats ... Flames damage Pittsburgh Cut Rate Drug Store. 5. First snow of winter strikes district. 7. McKeesport goes Democratic again; Congressman Samuel A. Weiss and State Representative William J. Yester re-elected. 10. County announces plans complete for McKeesport-Dravosburg high level bridge; costs set at nearly $4,000,000. 13. Dense fog paralyzes district traffic. 14. 36 injured in Munhall trolley collision blamed on fog. 28. United War Fund campaign reaches $177,734 to top goal. DECEMBER 1. First cold wave of winter hits district. 4. McKeesport Works of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. receives Army-Navy "E" ... Samuel H. Hirshberg elected president, Dr. Will Pfaff vice president of School Board. 5. Two killed as bakery truck is wrecked near West Elizabeth. 7. Dist. Atty. Russell H. Adams scores judges for leniency in racket cases. 11. 17-inch snow, third heaviest in history, blankets district. 13. Three deaths blamed on snowstorm. 15. Dr. L. H. Blose resigns as salvage committee chairman for McKeesport Civilian Defense Council; Francis J. Clay appointed to succeed him ... Purchase by Carl A. Boe of McKeesport-Port Vue-Liberty bus franchise approved by PUC ... Tornado Relief Fund checks mailed to 318 district families. 18. Records broken as district's Sixth War Loan drive total mounts to $11,585,000. 23. Court decision separates Eden Park as borough from Versailles Township. 24. Duquesne suffers worst disaster in its history when fire destroys six buildings and leaves 125 homeless. Duquesne News Christmas Eve Fire Tops Events for Year The big North First St. fire on Christmas Eve which caused damage of from $225,000 to $325,000, gutted six three-story buildings and left at least 125 persons homeless, topped events of the year for Duquesne. The city's 20.000 residents, whose sons and daughters in the armed forces total more than 2400, pushed the war out of their minds for a day and pondered the worst fire disaster in the city's history. Dukes Win Title Civilian Defense volunteers, combined fire forces, totaling more than 30, police, doctors and nurses rushed in from neighboring communities to aid in the disaster on Sunday, Dec. 24. Last week, organizations, with city aid, sought to rehabilitate the destitute and to prevent possible disaster in the future. Another outstanding 1944 event was the winning of the state basketball crown by Duquesne High, first in its history. The team toppled all opposition to win the section, WPIAL, regional, and state trophies. Last year marked one of the stormiest in School Board annals, with directors bickering the entire 12 months over policies, personnel and legalities. Council wrestled with problems brought on by the war, with the newly-built labor camp on North duquesne Ave. in the limelight. Production Boosted The camp, built to house imported labor for work in the duquesne plant of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp., was the center of city battles with the government. Duquesne plant continued to push production for the war effort, using more and more women to replace men. Officials sought to multiply the tax on the war plant, and succeeded in getting it boosted by several hundred thousand dollars. The Defense Plant Corp. meanwhile refused to pay a tax on government-installed machinery unless the courts ruled it taxable, and the $28,000 check has not yet been paid. The casualty list for Duquesne men and women in the war shoed more than 40 killed, with several missing or wounded. Annex Move Fails The Carnegie Free Library faced closing, but the threat which came from an alleged lack of funds by the Carnegie-sponsored library board, finally disappeared. A futile attempt was made to take over Duquesne Annex, part of the new borough of West Mifflin. In the national election, President Roosevelt carried the city two to one. The Police Pension Fund was given a new setup by Council; the Shuffle Shop, new youth canteen, was started; a Boosters Club was formed, and a Kiwanis Club was organized. Several mortgages were burned by churches and organizations. Council fostered a Third Class City League, includinf McKeesport and Clairton. Here is a month-by-month account of Duquesne happenings: January The year opened with Frank Kopriver Jr., Republican incumbent, and newly-elected Democrt John W. Bires taking Council seats. John Selznick and J. Joseph Riles became members of the School Board. A paper drive was held. The Rev. Stephen Loya took over the pulpit at St. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church. Police warred on numbers writers, and a drive on parking was staged. The School Board sought, but never got expansion of sports plants. Former Marine Vernon Smith returned to his police post here. The Fourth War Loan Drive opened, and the city set a new record. Council boosted taxes three mills as the Mayor sought an increase in pay for himself and city councilmen. City employes were raised a total of $15,000. Feats of Marine Major John P. Brody of Duquesne were reported in dispatches. The major later came home on furlough. February William S. Kowallis was hired as faculty manager, then fired in the spring before he started work. Kowallis quit coaching, then re-applied and was turned down by the board. Police Captain Michael R. Ballas was demoted to sergeant, later retired; a Lincoln Ave. home was gutted by fire, the third knife wielder in two days was fined in police court. Clarence L. Smith took the board seat vacated by Michael Petrisko, who is in the Army, and the Boosters Club organized with Eddie Klein as its chairman.     March Frank H. Ackley succeeded John C. Meighen on the draft board in March. Carroll F. Brown, head of industrial relations at Duquesne Plant, took a job in New York. The Serbian Progressive Club burned its mortgage. The city opened a war on dogs running at large. Duquesne beat Sharon for the regional basketball crown. April Duquesne won its first high school state basketball crown on April 1, when the Dukes defeated Hazleton at Philadelphia. L. Earl Dambach succeeded Emil Meier on the draft board. Certain teachers got pay increases. Michael Komyanik, charged with car thefts, got two to four years. The board set a 13-mill tax rate, and the community feted the state champion basketball team. Andrew J. Brown, Scout commissioner, received the Silver Beaver, highest Scouting award. May The Dukes won the Section 5 baseball title. Kopriver headed the GOP, Bires the Democrats. The School Board, after 24 ballots, asked the court to name a director to succeed Frank D. Martin, retired. Dr. Albert Proskey got the post. Patrick McCormick got a police pension, was hired as a county detective. June Fire Chief Lawrence Trainor was elected commander of the county American Legion, and on June 7 County Court sat for the first time in City Hall. VFW got its liquor license permit. John Donelli returned as high school grid coach. Miss Gertrude Kremser won a state VFW essay contest. Marine Mitchell Paige was honored here and Howard Spahr headed the CIO. Duquesne was missed by the first tornado in local history, but city units aided the distressed in stricken areas. July War dead were Sergeant Joseph N. Kubacky, Lieutenant Robert J. Brennen, and Sergeant Paul M. Cugeber. Fifth War Loan drive sales set a record, and Harold G. Wilkinson went to Baldwin Township as head grid coach. Police held their pension fund bouts. Private Edward D. Myers and Private First Class John Kozey were listed killed. August Four were injured in a trolley-bus crash. Corporal John D. Schink was killed. Duquesne won the junior Legion baseball section title, then lost to Curtisville in the playoffs. Alderman William Bedont died. J. Joseph Riles became Burns Heights project manager, and a Third Ward alderman's post is still vacant. Arvid Swirbul became assistant grid coach; annual community picnic was held at Kennywood. Miss Willa Mae Fleming resigned as senior high secretary. September Council sought $2,000,000 in federal postwar funds. Private Michael N. Traycheff was killed. Schools opened Sept. 5 and the grid season Sept. 8. The Dukes beat McKeesport and Clairton, got a trophy from the businessmen, last fall. The Rev. John Matey became pastor of St. Nicholas Church. The Rev. R. A. Graybill headed Duquesne protestant Ministerial Assn. for the year. Vice President Henry A. Wallace made a quick stop in Duquesne. October Hollar was ousted as board president on "misconduct" charges. Riles was elected in December after 17 ballots, with Hollar, despite his ouster, becoming vice president, and Attorney Seymour Weiss solicitor. The board nearly dissolved over the marathon ballot. The city signed the union pact, religious training started for local schools, the Shuffle Shop opened and the United Fund drive started Oct. 20. The Rev. Harry L. Crawford was honored for service at the First Presbyterian Church. St. Hedwig's Church burned its mortgage, and the CDA was cited for bond sales. November It was reported Lieutenant William G. Kertis and Sergeant Willard Nelson were killed. Roosevelt carried the City two to one. Private First Class Harry Maguire was killed, the Baptist Church burned its mortgage, the Sixth War Loan drive set a new record of over four million dollars. Listed killed were Sergeant Albert J. Deak, Staff Sergeant Gerald Huwait, Lieutenant Daniel I. Coltin, and Private First Class Edward C. Billy. John Selznick headed the schools' Athletic Council. Methodists burned their mortgage, and one of the worst storms in history blanketed the town with snow last month.   Power Cut Off At Building Here Electric power was shut off from a North First St. building Saturday, Fire Chief Lawrence Trainor reported today, pending repair of its wiring system to conform with city demands. Trainor reported he cut off the power after notice had been served the owners at 73 North First St., to repair their wiring system. The notice was one of several served North First St. building owners and other property holders in the city following the Christmas Eve fire which destroyed from $225,000 to $325,000 in property on the street. It was announced today that temporary service has been extended owners for a store and apartments pending repairs to the regular wiring system. Two Court Cases Magistrate William H. Keenan today fined Joe Cigola, of 7028 Monticello St., Pittsburgh, $25 and costs on a charge of disorderly conduct, at First St. and Grant Ave, Peter Bach, no address listed, forfeited $5 on a drunkenness charge.