This Was Doylestown, 1944

Leap Year Ball raises $20,400 in war bonds -

A total of $20,400, represented by 506 war bonds, was raised at the Leap Year Ball held in the Armory on Tuesday night [Feb. 29].

The dance, sponsored by the Doylestown Chamber of Commerce, was one of the most successful that has been held in the borough, at least since the war began. By eleven o'clock over two hundred couples were on the dance floor and among the spectators, with more arriving until about midnight.

As the tickets to the dance were procurable only when purchasing a war bond from any of the local merchants, there was a noticable absence of the teen-age couples which usually make up a large proportion of the patrons of benefit dances. Instead, many of Doylestown's older and more sedate residents were present and taking a lively part in dancing, particularly the "jitterbug" or probable imitations of it.

Two WAVES [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service] and seven officers from the Naval Air Station in Horsham were guests of the dance committee, along with a number of enlisted men from the base. Army uniforms were conspicuous by their absence.

At the beginning of the intermission, Joseph Kenny took over the microphone as master of ceremonies. He asked all of the guests in uniform to step to the front and, as a salute to them as well as a patriotic gesture, Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" was sung by the dancers led by Dorothy Landl and Mary Smythe, soloists with the Bob Longmeier Orchestra, which furnished the dance music.

Frank Reynolds, county chairman of the merchants' bond sales committee, awarded prizes to the 17 purchasers of the largest amount of bonds. He stated that Robert W. Robinson had charge of the all the details that made the dance itself a success, and that the idea for it came from Alfred B. Patton, to whom he also gave credit for selling the greatest number of bonds, with Robinson a close second.

Veteran describes combat in South Pacific -

Looking the picture of health, but still feeling the results of an attack of malaria and a fractured left ankle, the latter received while scrambling from a fox hole while on Guadalcanal, Tech. Sgt. Harrison Landes, Jr. has returned to civilian life. He is spending some time at the home of his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Harrison Landes, of Doylestown.

Landes, who is 24 years old, took part in two major campaigns in the South Pacific, and was in hand-to-hand combat with the Japs, whom he describes as tough fighters and good soldiers. He said they are crafty and resort to all kinds of barbarism.

One of the things they like to do is to take the metal identification tags from dead American soldiers, and then walk over the fox holes occupied by the Americans. As they walk near these fox holes, the Japs jingle them to give the Americans the impression their fellow-soldiers are walking near them. This, Landes said, causes the Americans to raise their heads or to call, thereby giving away their positions. This gives the Japs the opportunity of firing at the Americans.

Landes has in his possession a watch, on the back of which is inscribed the name of an American soldier. Landes took this watch from the body of a slain Jap officer, who, it is believed, took it from an American soldier who had been killed. He also is in possession of some Japanese money.

One of Landes' friends was Cpl. Howard Jordan, formerly a New Hope High School teacher, who was killed while fighting on Guadalcanal. Landes said Cpl. Jordan was a fine solder and he feels his loss keenly.

In addition to fighting on Guadalcanal, where he was injured, Landes fought as a member of an infantry outfit on several other islands in the South Pacific. He has been awarded four ribbons: the Pearl Harbor; the South Pacific, which contains two stars indicating he took part in two major campaigns; the Good Conduct; and the American Service Defense.

Doylestown sailor assigned to Presidential yacht -

The dream of a lifetime has come true for Petty Officer 1st Class William McKinstry, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Charles C. McKinstry of Golf View road, Doylestown.

He's wanted to be assigned to the Presidential yacht of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the idol of his political beliefs. Now he's got the assignment, but he earned it the hard way.

Petty Officer McKinstry, a graduate of Doylestown High School, was on board the ill-fated destroyer U.S.S. Turner when it exploded off Sandy Hook, N.J. on January 3, resulting in the loss of 138 lives, including many of McKinstry's buddies. He was burned about the face, arms and chest.

Those who escaped death were badly burned and taken to hospitals. Those who recovered were naturally given the choice for special assignments or special duty. They had seen enough of war, for a time at least.

Tuesday night, Petty Officer McKinstry telephoned his parents. "Boy, oh boy! I've got it, and that's all I can tell you now." He meant, of course, the orders to report for duty aboard President Roosevelt's private yacht, "The Potomac."

His parents are of the opinion that it might be a dull assignment at times, but Bill answered his mother's comment by saying, "I guess I'll find enough to keep me busy in Washington."

Advertisement -

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL 4Fs - Many men classified as 4F [not meeting physical standards for military service] are anxious to do their share in the war effort. You still have a chance to join an important volunteer military organization. Stop in at the , Monday or Thursday evening, for an interview with the Recruiting Officer, Pennsylvania State Guard.

Connie Mack reminisces about baseball -

The "Diamond of the Diamonds" honored the Kiwanis Club of Doylestown Tuesday night with his presence at an inter-club meeting with the Kiwanis Club of Lambertville-New Hope, at the Doylestown Inn.

The distinguished guest was America's No. 1 baseball leader, Connie Mack, owner of the Philadelphia Athletics. The 82-year-old, gray-haired gentleman never looked better. And his address on the national pastime was nothing short of miraculous as a demonstration of the great baseball king's ability to remember details that happened as far back as 60 years ago when he started to play ball.

With Mr. Mack was the one and only Ira Thomas, well-known scout for the Athletics, whose ability as an orator was again enjoyed by those who have heard him before and by those who met him for the first time.

Exactly 120 service club members and guests filled a large portion of the banquet hall. Before the dinner, Mr. Mack shook the hands of at least a hundred or more people, autographed baseballs, programs and scores of miscellaneous items. Some of the baseballs that were autographed by Mr. Mack, Mr. Thomas and others attending the dinner will be shipped to Doylestown boys now serving in Italy.

Mr. Mack recalled the rules and regulations of the old days in baseball and told many amusing incidents and thrilling moments in American League and World Series competition. [The Athletics won the World Series in 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929 and 1930, and lost in 1902, 1905, 1914 and 1931.]

Mr. Mack recited the names of over 150 players, their positions and highlights of certain innings in certain games dating back 50 years.

"I consider the New York Yankees the greatest ball club in the world today," Mr. Mack said. "And I consider Joe McCarthy, their manager, the greatest manager of all time," he added.

When it was his turn to speak, Mr. Thomas said, "Well, in my estimation, and I'm quite certain the estimation of many Doylestown friends, and those throughout the country, Mr. Mack is America's greatest baseball manager of all time."

Doylestown faces coal shortage -

The "$64 Question" [from a popular radio quiz show] in Doylestown is "What's harder to get than a ton of coal?"

If you don't believe it, visit the several coal yards in this community and take stock. Some dealers have coal and some don't, and those that do have it, find great difficulty in making deliveries.

Never before in the history of Doylestown has there been such a coal shortage, and those who know the coal situation say that it's not going to get any better this season.

One local dealer, who has been purchasing coal from a certain mine for years, told a "Daily Intelligencer" reporter that the production of that mine has been cut down from 45,000 tons a day to 25,000 tons. This same dealer is at least one week behind in deliveries, principally because of a shortage of manpower.

All dealers are rationing out deliveries in half-ton orders, and in some instances only 500 pounds are being delivered, depending on the amount of coal on hand in the yard. The coal dealer's orders to the mines or distributors read something like this: "Ship us any size, any kind, any time, but do it as quickly as possible."

Another local dealer remarked: "As a whole, the people are co-operating in this coal situation. The war's on and the coal shortage is not going to change for the next several months at least. Those people who did not get enough coal months ago to carry them through the season must realize that it pays to plan ahead, when coal is available."

Advertisement -

HAVE YOUR LAWN MOWER overhauled and sharpened on this ideal scientific machine designed especially for this job... Avoid the last minute rush. Have your mower sharpened, adjusted and repaired now...HOWARD E. FRETZ, 172 Lafayette St., Doylestown...Phone 4558.

Doylestown Town Notes -

Chief Yeoman William Lawrence Handy, U.S. Naval Reserve; his wife and daughter spent the past weekend with Chief Handy's parents, Bucks County Prison Warden Earl D. Handy and Mrs. Handy.

Frank P. Kolbe, local merchant who is visiting California, has sent a friend here a picture postcard showing "unusual" California weather. It shows one of the Main streets covered with several inches of snow.

Pvt. Horace (Hoddy) Godshall spent a short leave with his wife over the weekend before leaving for Indiantown Gap [Lebanon County]. Pvt. Godshall has been on maneuvers in the California desert for several months and is now headed for overseas action.

Oscar Kramer, of South Clinton street, has retired on a pension from the Western Electric Company, Philadelphia, after thirty years of service with that concern.

2nd Lieut. William B. Northington, Jr., son of Mrs. Ethel W. Northington of South Clinton street, received his silver wings recently at the Army Air Forces school at San Marcos, Texas.

Miss Margaret Bridgeman, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John J. Bridgeman, of West Court street, is slowly recovering at the Abington Hospital from an attack of cerebro-spinal meningitis, and expects to be able to return home in about ten days.

Pvt. Edwin A. Webster, Jr., who is in the Army Specialized Training Unit at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., has been spending a furlough at the home of his parents on South Clinton street.

Four hundred blood donors have signed up with the Red Cross at Kerschner's Drug Store.

Lt. Arthur M. Eastburn spent the weekend at his home on East State street. He is stationed at Aberdeen, Md.

William A. Christman of Pebble Hill road, Doylestown township, was admitted as a medical patient in the Emergency Hospital on Sunday.

Perry Bisbing is home for a short furlough prior to going to officer training camp. He is spending it with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Newell Bisbing, of Church street.

A telegram received Sunday by the wife of Pfc. Clinton Becker stated that he is now stationed at Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Wash., following his release from a hospital in California since his return from action with the Marines in the Southwest Pacific.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of Feb. 27-March 4, 1944