Keepin' the boys busy

Monday, March 31, 2003

Adolph Hitler celebrated his 54th birthday quietly on April 20, 1943, but one McCook businessman had other ideas about the direction Hitler's life should take.

Dave Skoumal, owner of Reliable Typewriter Co., at 105 West C Street (east part of the Law Office) ran an ad the next day, "NOTICE-My office will be closed on the day of HITLER'S FUNERAL. But remember until the Funeral Day, I am in position to service your typewriters and adding machines. You likely cannot get new ones until fully a year after the funeral ..." For age comparison, Gen. Douglas McArthur turned the mandatory retirement age of 64 on Jan. 26, 1944. McCook was providing "entertainment" for both the townspeople and the troops. Mildred Burke was awarded the championship belt women's wrestling in 1939 and she was in town to take on Gladys "Kill 'em" Gillen -- the challenger. It was all part of a fundraiser for the Elks charities fund. The Gazette article said that women could be "meanies" just as much as men in the ring, inciting their fans to "tear up their seats" to lend them some assistance.

Well, about a week later in the Gazette was a notice that Elviry Snodgrass got wind of this "championship" and claimed ("with her volume turned up to LOUD") that she should be in the championship bout with 130 pound Burke ... so Gladys "Kill 'em" Gillen was out. Elviry was "136 pounds of feminine fury from Smokymount, Tennessee." Elviry, who wrestled "country style", had more rank in the female wrestling circles so was allowed to replace Gillen. The event was to take place at Memorial Auditorium with tickets costing $1.10 for a ringside seat. Men in Army or Navy uniforms would be admitted for 25 cents.

From April 13-18, at 306 Main Street ... right where My Favorite Things is today (with their beautiful quilt window display) was a display reminiscent of a circus sideshow. It was called "Strange People Alive" and included 612 pound Delores from Mexico, Congo, the Big Mouth Savage, Pig-Man and a man-killing reptile along with 11 other acts. It was open from noon until 11 p.m. for all six days.

Another place that opened in McCook on May 1, 1943, to the McCook Air Base soldiers was the basement of the Methodist Church. It was sponsored by the Christian, Baptist, Church of God, Assembly of God, First Congregational and Memorial Methodist churches through the organization of McCook United Churches organization. Other local churches eventually joined in the effort but hadn't been able to complete arrangements to do so. Games, pianos, reading material and stationery for writing letters were furnished from 2 p.m. through 9 p.m. daily.

Wright's Furniture Store on B Street had two roll-top desks in good condition for sale. The price? A mere $27.50 each. It drives me nuts to read the want ads sometimes when they include prices!

Southwest Nebraska had prisoners-of-war too. Those in the news in April of 1943, were Corporal Bernard Sanford, whose mother, Mrs. Bessie Williams lived in McCook was one of the 477 listed as the latest Americans held prisoner by the Japanese forces. Tech. Sgt. George Miller, whose father, Clifford Miller lived in Cambridge, was listed as being held at Stalag VII by the Germans.

A group of U.S. sailors passing through McCook on April 24, 1943, put on an impromptu parade as their train was being serviced. "Pleased at the opportunity to get off the train and stretch their legs in the warm sunshine, the blue-clad troops swung into marching formation with considerable enthusiasm." Spectators lining the street applauded the band and the sailors. Once again, the officers said that McCook was the first canteen on their entire trip so far that supplied them with anything besides reading material.

As of April 26th, Red Willow County was only $70,000 from meeting its war bond quota sales with $330,000 sold. I continue to be impressed with these figures. If we thought we were doing good (which we were!) ... Lancaster County had outdone itself reporting sales of $12,753,912 in April so far. This would average $125 for each resident in Lancaster County and was 230 percent of their April quota. As Red Willow County bond chairman Wade Stevens said, "That's the best way we have of telling our men in the armed forces that we are not letting them down." DeForest, Your Grocer was investing one whole day's sales to war bonds. His ad said, "They GIVE their lives -- We LEND our money!"

I thought Ducks Unlimited was a relatively new thing, but find that B.F. Butler brought a film titled "Ducks Unlimited" to the banquet room of the Keystone for a screening on April 27, 1943. The film was open to all sportsmen and duck hunters.

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