This Was Doylestown, 1943

War bond caravan visits Doylestown -

Editor's note - During World War II, the U.S. Treasury Department conducted eight war bond drives to raise money for the war effort, and set voluntary sales quotas for each community. Americans bought bonds totaling $186 billion (in 1940s dollars). People either could pay cash (for example, $18.75 for a $25 bond) or buy 25-cent defense savings stamps until they had enough to trade in for a bond. The Third War Loan, in the fall of 1943, had the theme of "Back the Attack."

The Third War Loan Ordnance Caravan, consisting of 10 pieces of major fighting equipment valued at more than $500,000, rolled into Doylestown on Tuesday morning from Easton, making its last stop-over on a 10-day tour of Eastern and Central Pennsylvania in the interest of war bond sales.

The Doylestown schools adjourned for the morning so that all the students could view the caravan. Likewise, the county criminal court took a recess earlier than usual.

The big vehicles, ranging from an amphibian jeep to a 32-ton tank, virtually filled two blocks of East Court street between Monument Square and Broad street. Persons wearing bond tags were allowed to autograph the equipment.

With the caravan were four war heroes, representing the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, who have seen service on major battle fronts. They told their own experiences and stressed the need for buying war bonds.

The equipment displayed here, with its cost of more than one-half million dollars, was a visual demonstration of the high cost of the war, and the vital need to "Back the Attack."

Among the vehicles was a Sherman tank, known as the medium M4, 32 tons in weight and a highly mobile tank armed with one of the powerful 75-mm guns; an amphibian jeep; the M3-A1, a fast and powerful scout car; the Mack desert truck; the half-track M3-75, an armored vehicle carrying a 75 mm; and the 155-mm gun motor carriage, known as the M-12, which can go anywhere a tank can. The three largest pieces are worth more than $90,000 each.

After leaving Doylestown at 12:30 p.m., the caravan proceeded to Norristown and then to an embarkation point in Philadelphia, to be shipped overseas.

Borough Council invests $20,000 in war bonds -

Doylestown Borough Council on Monday night decided to "Back the Attack" by investing $20,000 in two percent United States Treasury Bonds due in 1953.

The sale will be credited to Doylestown's quota of $1,057,000 in the Third War Loan drive now entering the home stretch.

When Council president George F. Smith announced that Council had all bills paid and balance of $33,727.29 in the treasury, and that the borough is now operating on approximately $4,500 a month, Council members were of the opinion that an investment should be made that would help along the war effort.

Treasurer Thomas Diver explained that the treasury has approximately $22,000 at the present time, that is not needed for any particular expenditure, and he suggested the purchase of two percent Treasury Bonds. It was finally decided to purchase one $10,000 bond and ten $1,000 bonds. If the money is needed before the due date, it can be secured.

The fine financial condition of the borough has been brought about by the curtailment of purchases by certain departments where supplies and material have not been available because of war restrictions, such as street material.

The monthly report of Treasurer Diver showed expenditures amounting to $5,025.53 and receipts of $49,878.91, leaving a balance of $44,853.38. Outstanding debt amounts to $88,000.

Army-Navy test to be given at high school -

High school graduates between ages 17 and 22 are eligible for competition in a V-12 Army-Navy testing program which will be given at Doylestown High School on November 9, Supervising Principal [Superintendent] J. Leonard Halderman announced Tuesday.

Boys who are not yet in the service may take this examination, and if selected they may be sent to college by either the Army or the Navy for education in connection with the service. The Navy test is for boys between the ages of 17 and 20, and the Army test for those between 17 and 22.

Mr. Halderman said the sale of war bonds and stamps is being carried on as usual, and the purchases this month are above normal as compared to former years. Many bonds are being bought by students through the school.

The magazine campaign is under way to raise funds to purchase an amplifying system to be used at school social functions. The club activities program will begin next week, Mr. Halderman said.

The first football game of the season will be played here on Friday with Sell-Perk High School, starting about 3 or 3:15 p.m.

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Sergeant writes parents about training flights -

Staff Sergeant Edward O. Crouthamel, who is in the service at Dyersburg, Tenn., wrote his parents in Doylestown a letter which gives a description of training flights he and other young men in his crew made from Gulfport, Miss. last week.

He writes: "We flew to Gulfport on Monday and out over the Gulf of Mexico for gunnery practice. That was a seven-hour flight and a part of it was at high altitude.

"After landing, we were served a meal and shown our barracks, but had our guns to clean which we did in the moonlight on the runway. Getting to bed after midnight, we really were ready to sleep.

"The next morning we started out over the gulf again on a navigation mission. We flew over water seven hours, and I was beginning to think we were going right on 'across the ocean blue' because we didn't see land for so long.

"After refueling our plane at the Gulfport field, we left for Dyersburg at 8 o'clock in the evening and landed by midnight. The flight was entirely new to us, but very interesting in spite of long hours in the air."

Doylestown township school fair draws about 250 -

Sponsored by the Doylestown Township Parent-Teacher Association, the annual fair of the Doylestown township consolidated school [now ] was held on Thursday evening, with approximately 250 persons in attendance.

Children and adults brought a large number of foodstuffs, which were judged by Herman Flessner, of the National Farm School; Miss Mary Jacoby, the new home economics representative of the county; and Miss Ada Thut, who is in charge of the home economics department of Richboro High School.

Prize winners were awarded ribbons in the following categories: vegetables and fruits, including green peppers, large yellow tomatoes, sweet potatoes, lima beans, apples and pumpkins; canned goods, including catsup, tomato juice, pickles, crabapple jelly, peach jam and plums; baked goods, including doughnuts, buns, cookies, pies, chocolate cake and marble cake; and floral arrangements.

During the evening a short business session was held by the parent-teacher association with the president, Merton Houk, in charge. The following officers were elected: President, Merton Houk; vice president, Paul W. Kutz [school principal]; secretary, Mrs. Thomas J. Stringer; and treasurer, Mrs. Joseph Kirk.

At the conclusion of the fair, an auction was held with Curtis Cope serving as auctioneer. Proceeds of the sale, which was for the benefit of the parent-teacher association fund, amounted to approximately $85.

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News of Our Men and Women in Uniform -

Mildred Estella Worthington Freeman, a member of the WAVES [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service] was graduated recently from the Aerographer's School, Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N.J. She is on a short leave visiting her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Harry J. Worthington, of Main street. She will be assigned to a Navy shore station to replace a man who will go to sea.

Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Childs, of Doylestown township, have received word from their son, Pfc. George W. Childs, an engineer in the Army Air Force, that he has arrived safely in England. Before sailing, while at Mitchell Field, New York, he received a good conduct medal from the company commander.

Pfc. Harold Rogers left Monday for Camp Young, Calif. after visiting Mrs. Rogers, of East State street, for a week.

H. Edward Schanbacker, formerly of Doylestown, who was inducted into the Seabees about six weeks ago, has been advanced to the rank of seaman 2nd class. He recently was transferred from Camp Peary, Va. to Camp Endicott, Davisville, R.I.

Mrs. Harry Rush, of East Oakland avenue, has received word that her husband, Harry A. Rush, Spec. 2nd Class, has arrived safely in North Africa. Petty Officer Rush is with the mail service. Before his retirement a year ago, he was employed at the Doylestown post office.

Cpl. Robert Vanartsdalen, who is stationed at a camp in Shreveport, La., is spending a fifteen-day furlough at the home of his mother, Mrs. Sara Vanartsdalen, of West Court street.

Mr. and Mrs. H. Roy Buckner, of Cottage street, accompanied their son, Pvt. Harry Buckner, on Friday to Philadelphia, where he left for Camp George G. Meade, Md. Pvt. Buckner enlisted in the Army during the latter part of August.

Seaman Clifford Frater, of the Merchant Marine, is returning to New York today after a three-week furlough spent with his family on West State street.

Yeoman Erna Linsenmaier, daughter of Mrs. Emilie Linsenmaier, spent the weekend at her home in Doylestown. She was accompanied by three fellow WAVES, all of whom are stationed together in Washington, D.C.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Worthington have received word from Seaman Chester Walton that he is located at a Naval training station in California.

Mrs. Martin McVan, of East Ashland street, has received the news of the death of her brother, Gunner 1st Class William James Coolen. The notice said that he died in action in Australia Sept. 8.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Sept. 19-25, 1943