Willennar Genealogy Center’s collection is full of Throwback Thursday potential, so let’s get our #TBT on!
For today’s Throwback Thursday, we’ll be reading up on the local news in the February 23, 1950, issue of DeKalb County’s Garrett Clipper.
A coal shortage affecting DeKalb County, “along with many other communities throughout the nation,” was reported to be “approaching the critical stage,” according to one article that made the headlines. Although no complaints had been made by any homeowners lacking fuel, two local coal suppliers reported having no coal in stock, and it was believed that two other local suppliers (The DeKalb Co. Farm Bureau and Garrett City Coal) might run out by the time this newspaper issue hit the presses.
Two railroad cars’ worth of coal had been ordered to help heat local schools, but neither of the orders—scheduled to be delivered on January 10 and February 10—ever arrived. On Wednesday, February 22, superintendent of Auburn schools, H. L. McKenney, ordered that Auburn schools be closed indefinitely, as there was only enough coal remaining there to keep the schools’ water pipes from freezing.
“Mrs. Krise Named DeKalb Jury Commmissioner”
In other news, Mrs. Sadie Krise was appointed as the new DeKalb County Jury Commissioner to complete the term of Martin Miser, who died on February 1. According to Judge W. D. Stump, who appointed her, Mrs. Krise was the first DeKalb County woman to fill the position. Judge Stump said that “he believed that since women are summoned for jury duty in the courts, the appointment of a woman as jury commissioner was desirable.”
Dr. Harland V. Hippensteel, Jr. was announced to be opening an office at the Bonnell Souder Hospital in Auburn. Dr. Hippensteel had recently left the Navy, where he had received “special training in pathology and served as division medical officer with destroyers in the Pacific.” His wife, Rosemary, was a registered nurse and a cousin of Dr. Bonnell Souder.
Lastly, Purdue University’s “Dairy Caravan” was announced to be visiting DeKalb County on March 28 to hold a “Dairy Day” program on different aspects of dairy farming, including how to improve farm safety.
A farm-safety display planned for the event urged shielding “all moving parts on farm machinery,” using lights while driving farm equipment on the road at night, and ensuring that there is “clear vision at the farm drive entrance from the county or township road.”
Want to see more local history? Check out our other “throwback news” posts, search our online photo database, or head on over to the Genealogy Center’s official Facebook page.