The Leigh World publishes a weekly column entitled Looking Back at the World, which is comprised of articles taken from earlier Leigh World files. A special thank you to the Leigh World for allowing me to reprint those articles. The following are selections from that column:
January 30, 1942 - republished November 29, 1995
First places in the local declamatory contest held at the Leigh high School Auditorium went to Robert Herink in the oratorical division, Ruth Motzus in the dramatic, and Alyce Weaver in the humorous.Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Prokop, Sr. were pleasantly surprised when a group of relatives and friends gathered at their home to help them observe their 32nd wedding anniversary. The affair was planned by their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. F. Prokop. The evening was spent at taroks and bingo.
At the Council Oak Store weekend meat specials included fresh side pork, 16 cents lb., ring bologna, 19 cents lb., and fresh beef hears [sic], 17 cents lb. Dependable brooms were also on the sale bill at 52 cents, light bulbs at 2 cents, and two cans of Gerber baby food for 13 cents.
February 14, 1942 and February 16, 1942, have been proclaimed by the Governor as Registration Days for this state of all men in the age group twenty to forty four years who have not heretofore registered. This includes all male residents born between February 17, 1897 and December 31, 1921.
A group of friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Hanel, Sr. for a farewell party honoring James Hanel, Jr., who has enlisted in the air corps. The evening was spent at bunco with Miss Laurinda Herink winning high score and Miss Helen Kmoch low score. A number of songs were sung and played on a guitar by Miss Elaine Tejkl. A lunch was served. Those present were Misses Olga Dolesh, Helen Novak, Libbie and Elsie Stepan, Elaine Tejkl, Mildred Neuhaus, Laurinda Herink, Alva and Irene Brown, Adeline Reininger, Helen and Bessie Kmoch, Mildred Jedlicka and Julia Hanel. Also in attendance were Merle and Howard Brown, Anton Novak, Arnold Neuhaus, Norman Herink, George Urban, James Sedlak, Anton Hekrdle, Jr., Emil Jedlicka, John Dworak, Steve Stoklasa, James Stepan, Harold Sucha, Laddie Kmoch, Louis Luxa, Jerome and Loren Fendrick, Joe Hanel, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Kmoch, and Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Hanel, Sr.
Visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Malena were Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Moran of Creston and Mrs. Norman Rozmarin of Schuyler.
March 20, 1942 - republished January 17, 1996
Dr. E.F. Filipe received a call to report for active service in the dental division of the U.S. Army. He cancelled all local appointments immediately and made plans to close his office and their home. Dr. Filipi has been given the rank of captain and has already received his commission.Announcement of the death of Mrs. Ben Wolken, Sr. was a shock to everyone. In recent months she had enjoyed her usual good health and in company with Mrs. Helena Thaden had paid a birthday visit to Mrs. August Neuhaus. Returning to the home of her son, B.A. Wolken, she went about her customary pursuits and, as she made ready to retire, was taken ill suddenly. She failed to rally although everything possible was done for her relief. She remained in a comatose condition; death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Blum of Clarkson are parents of a daughter, Janet Kay, weighing seven pounds and eleven ounces.
Heie Franzen has decided to quit farming and will sell his personal property at the farm. This sale will include all livestock and farm machinery. Mr. Franzen has reached this decision following the sudden death of his wife.
Boxing will be the sport at Creston High School for the following month. Twelve boys are practicing.
Basketball letters were awarded to these honored Creston players: Junior and Don Conyers, Willard Claussen, Melvin Settje, Harlan Sander, Louis Pieper, Jim Connor and Leonard Becher.
Another huge war project was assured Nebraska--an Ordnance plant to be located near Richland in Platte County, estimated to cost eventually more than $75,000,000. A telegram from the office of Senator Norris in Lincoln announced the authorization of the Richland TNT Plant.
Urban Imholte appeared at the Leigh Commercial Club meeting and asked for assistance in helping the American Legion by sending a Leigh junior high school student to Boy's State. The club voted to assist to the extent of $10.00.
It is our belief that the little robbery pulled off at Leigh is but a forerunner of thefts ahead. When people become desperate they lose all sense of right or wrong and the laws of decency.
DELIVERY NOTICE: In order to comply with the request of the government to conserve tires, we are asking all those who wish to have groceries delivered that they call before 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day so that all deliveries can be made simultaneously.--LEIGH GROCERS.
March 27, 1942 - republished January 24, 1996
A class of twelve young people, three girls and nine boys, will be confirmed by Rev. Walter Motzkus at St. John's Church. Members of the class are Marjorie Mackenstadt, Gladys Paper, Jeanette Hobel, Robert Held, Nordin Busse, Travis Stevens, Donald Jenny, Jack Jenny, Donald Nebola, Henry Hefti, Allen Schroeder, and Lawrence Gernstein.Uncle Sam needs every gun, shell, tank, ship and plane that American War Industry can produce to win this war. It is of the utmost importance that every pound of scrap metal on the farms start moving now toward America's steel mills and foundries to make more war materials. Canvass your farm from the attic to the farthest fence corner. Gather every bit of old metal and bring it in to the Leigh pile--do it now before you forget!
Superintendent Alexis Johnson was at Schuyler conferring with the heads of other organizations with regard to high school boys who are available for work on the farms.
Dale Bachman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bachman of near Creston, received first and second degree burns from a tractor. Dr. Eby was called to attend him.
Allen Sander, 19 years of age and youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sander of Creston, has accepted an appointment from the federal government to study meterology as a government employee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a third year Midland student.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Stovall will move soon into the residence vacated by Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Barrett. Mr. Stovall will remain in Creston as Superintendent of schools next year.
Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Hobza of Howells moved to the farm recently vacated by Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Iverson.
Miss Maymie Vasek is leaving the first of the month for Columbus to accept a position as bookkeeper in the Central Naitonal Bank. She has been an efficient clerk at Smrz & Moeller for the past two years. Mrs. Dora Schluter will fill the position left by Miss Vasek.
May 1, 1942 - republished February 28, 1996
By the terms of a deal closed last week, J.L. Byrum has sold his barber shop fixtures and business to Alva Dykes. Mr. Byrum has operated a barber shop at Leigh for 43 years.The Leigh Board of Education has given their permission to close the public schools for two days to allow the teachers to spend full time on the sugar rationing registration for consumers.
The wedding of Miss Marcella Janda of Clarkson and Anton J. Prokop of Leigh was solemnized in the SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church at Clarkson. The bride wore a powder blue redingote with three quarter length sleeves and high neckline, a crepe off-the-face hat and beige sandals. Her shoulder corsage was of pink carnations and white sweet peas. She carried a white prayer book and a crystal rosary, a gift of the bridegroom.
Dancing and pie eating are legitmate war efforts. Here's proof: Nebraska City's youngsters used scrap metal as admission to a recent high school dance. Enough was secured to make, when mixed with iron ore, a 2,000 pound serial bomb and a 37 mm anti-aircraft gun.
Twins, a boy and a girl, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Otto Loseke, residing northeast of Creston. Owing to the condition of the girl baby, Dr. H.D. Kuper took the infant to the Lutheran Hospital of Columbus for treatment.
A windstorm of considerable proportions visited this part of the state and did some damage. Nearly every hay and straw stack had the top blown off. Many smaller buildings and additions to buildings were damaged.
BIG REUNION DANCE: Lakeside Ballroom, Clarkson; honoring thirty 1941 couples, with Popular and Old Time Music by Swing Band. Dancing is free, parking is 20 cents.
Further rationing orders are in the making. By the Fourth of July, folks will be talking about more things they want but can't get because of the war. The tire problem is far from satisfactory, but so will be that of many other commodities. Women's styles as well as men's clothing will be among the products on which government rules will be applied. Then will come a long list, including building and construction items not yet included. Women's shoes will be made more plain and men's pants must be without cuffs. New equipment for making "permanent waves" is becoming more scarce and will become scarcer. Even soaps may be made of different ingredients, with less glycerine and less vegetable oils from abroad. The war may last a long time and nobody yet knows how many of the things of use in ordinary daily life we may have to get along without.