Another new year brought a host of new problems

Another new year arrived on Friday, January 1, 1943. New Years Eve had been more subdued than usual. The only advertised New Year’s Eve dance in the county was held at the Legion Pavilion in Hartington.

“Gasoline rationing kept most folks at home and the bright lights of Laurel didn’t get the usual amount of play,” said Editor Allison. “A few boys got a little too much tanglefoot (liquor) and had a hard time getting around but they were the exception. The new year is now underway and all efforts are directed toward winning the war.”

Due to the need to save copper for use in shell casings and other military equipment, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau issued an order halting the minting of copper pennies beginning Jan. 1, 1943.

For the remainder of the year pennies would be made out of zinc coated steel.

The Office of Price Administration announced plans for the rationing of more consumer goods. The purpose was to stabilize prices, to stem inflation, and to ensure that every person received an equitable share of what was available. “No person with loyalty to the country and respect for the men on the front should think of buying more than he absolutely needs,” said the Advocate. Those who attempted to cheat by hoarding food could face fines of up to $10,000.

All passenger cars and trucks had to have a tire inspection before Jan. 31. The Cedar County War Price and Rationing Board published a list of approved tire inspection stations. Approved Laurel stations included Charles Ebmeier, Carl Willms, Isadore Sudbeck, Roy “Buck” Christensen, and George Berglund.

The same board also announced that “hot tractor fuel” should be rationed the same as gasoline. In those days most tractors ran on kerosene tractor fuel, but the engines could not be started on it.

Thus tractors had a small gasoline tank that was used to start the engine. When warmed up, the farmer switched over to the larger tractor fuel tank. Apparently some farmers had been mixing kerosene and gasoline to make a stronger fuel.

The Office of Price Administration announced a plan to have consumers pay in advance for new cars, furnaces, refrigerators, pianos, and other goods to be delivered after the war. For example a person who wanted a new car would pay in advance but instead of driving off in a new car, they would receive a certificate allowing them to take possession of the car after the war. According to the OPA, the plan would drain $6 billion annually in excess purchasing power to help stem inflation and also help businesses survive the war.

The Advocate reported that Elmer Nunemaker was serving in the same company as his father did during World War I. Both men were sent to Fort Leavenworth, KS, and placed in Company E. But the Advocate got the story partially wrong. Elmer’s father Bob Nunemaker actually served in the Spanish-American War not World War I.

Mr. and Mrs. William H. O’Gara of Lincoln, NE, announced the engagement of their daughter Doris Jean to Pvt. Walter A. Meyers of Palmyra, MO. Miss O’Gara was married in May and widowed in September.

Mr. Meyers, a top turret gunner on a B-24 Flying Fortress, was killed in action when his plane went down somewhere over France. Miss O’Gara had been assistant postmaster in Laurel for several years before moving to Lincoln in July 1941. She was a granddaughter of Roger T. O’Gara, the founder of Claramont.

Linda Hank of Concord purchased the beauty shop formerly owned by Miss Clara Abbenhous. The name was changed to Lin’s Beauty Shop. In 1948 she married longtime banker Bernard D. Pehrson.

At a meeting of rural school board members held in the City Auditorium, Lawrence Rossiter of Hartington explained a plan proposed by the State War Savings staff. Farmers would be asked to invest 15 percent of their annual income in war bonds. The purpose was to help finance the war, reduce inflation, and provide a reserve for the years following the war. It was emphasized that the plan would be entirely voluntary with no compulsion as had occurred during World War I. Letters from Laurel boys in the service thanking the community for Christmas packages were published. Letter writers included Aviation Cadet Ben Ebmeier, 2nd Lt. Dean Sutherland, Alvin L. Voss, Staff Sgt. Douglas J. Harrington, Verle Olmstead, Ralph Stroman, Cpl. Clifford Andrews, Cpl. Wallace E. Magnuson, Lt. (jg.) J.F. Embick, Pfc. Keith Doose, Chaplain Albert Sandberg, Herman Schrieber, and Pvt. Carl Johnson. All of the boys were still in training camps in the U.S.

The Cedar County News published a list of all county men in the service as of Jan. 1, 1943. There were 765 names on the list and 17 more were added the following week. That may be the reason there were so many farm sales during the war. Many farmers lost their sons to the service and could not operate their farms without help.

The Advocate of Jan. 13, 1942, advertised four farm sales. There would be more in weeks to come.

The Advocate published a letter from Miss Katherine Fanley, a former resident of Dixon. It read in part: “ It makes a person feel quite proud and patriotic to be a part of the shipbuilding industry. I’ve been running a drill press and have been told I am learning rapidly. The shop is enormous. There are 40,000 workers and 6,000 are women. Yours truly, Katherine Fanley.”

Because so many young men were in the service, young women were doing jobs formerly done by men.

The weather turned unseasonably cold even for January. On Saturday, Jan. 16, a severe storm hit Laurel. By Sunday morning the thermometer stood at 20 below and remained there for several days. The result was frozen water pipes, cars that would not start, and balky furnaces. Love affairs also froze up and there was a lull in side road romances. ”The war brings problems even to illicit courtships,” said Editor Allison. War is hell, or so they say.