A war memorial is erected by Laurel citizens in 1943
After a lengthy detour through the history of the old lumber yard and the arrival of natural gas, this week’s column returns to the spring of 1943.
On April 7, 1943, the Laurel Commercial Club announced that work was underway to erect a war memorial on land leased from Charles Ebmeier on Highway 20 just south of the Home Cafe and Service.
The memorial would take the form of a large wooden sign listing the names of all Cedar County men and women in the armed services. Plans called for the sign to be 44 feet long and 16 feet high with a five-foot “V“ in the center illuminated in red, white and blue neon. A gravel driveway from the highway would provide access to the sign. The driveway would have two entrances so cars could enter from one end and exit from the other.
Earl Rimel, Reuben Anderson, and Clarence Ericson were in charge of lining up the names to be painted on the memorial board. They initially came up with 927 names but room was left so more could be added as needed.
The names of men killed in action would be designated with gold stars while the wounded would be marked with silver stars. The board was lighted for the first time on Tuesday, May 4. “It is especially beautiful at night when the neon lights shine out in red, white and blue” said the Advocate of May 5, 1943.
Curiously, that seems to be the last mention of the Memorial Board in the Advocate. This writer does not recall ever seeing it. Does anyone know what became of it?
In another building project, the cornerstone for the new Danish Lutheran Church (Gethsemane) was laid on Sunday, April 11. The location was on the lot where the present United Lutheran parsonage now stands. Services were conducted by District President Steensed of Staplehurst and Pastor Knud Larsen of Laurel. The ceremony included placing a history of the congregation and other church documents in an airtight container in the wall beneath the cornerstone.
The building itself would be moved from McLean after the foundation was completed. The congregation began holding services in the basement around July 1.
The church itself was dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 11. The Gethsemane church was used until the present United Lutheran was completed in 1959.
The old church was later moved to the West Hill where it presently faces an uncertain future.
Another war bond drive began on Monday, April 12, with a goal of raising $13 billion in one month. “How much is $13 billion?” Asked Editor Allison. “We don’t believe there is that much money in the world.” (The dollar of 1943 has now lost 94 percent of its value due to inflation.)
Allison urged the people of Laurel to cough up their share ($22 apiece).
“You will be expected to buy every bond that you possibly can. You will be expected to do without some of the things you think you need and use the money for bonds,” said Allison.
“Some of us can buy $25 bonds while others can buy $100 bonds. There are a few who can buy even bigger ones,” said Allison. Twenty-seven Cedar County residents — including one from Laurel — bought $1000 bonds. For this they received a “Ticket to Tokyo.” Presumably this was some kind of an award and not a draft notice.
The drive got off to a good start but when it ended the county was about $40,000 short of its assigned $306,000 quota. Thanks to some creative juggling of state funds, the county managed to go over the top. Due to a critical shortage of farm labor, the government said it might discharge service men who were over 38 years old and not serving overseas provided they would go to work on farms. One farmer, not from Laurel, said he would rather have grasshoppers than city boys on his place.
On Friday, April 16, a meeting of all county air raid wardens and their assistants was held in the municipal building (light plant) in Laurel. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare for an air raid warning which was expected at any time, said local Commander C.O. Ericson.
Not a moment too soon: On the morning of Wednesday, April 21, a flight of four-engined bombers flew directly over Laurel and Coleridge. “The roar of the engines brought people rushing from stores and homes to witness the greatest demonstration of air power ever seen over this city,” said the Advocate.
Allison counted 34 large bombers flying in perfect formation at low altitude.
Fortunately, these were not enemy planes making a bombing run on Laurel so Ericson did not have to blow the siren. It was just a training flight from the Sioux City airbase.
The Village Board, which had been foreclosing on property for back taxes, was now trying to dispose of the confiscated real estate at fire sale prices. Examples: four vacant residential lots in Block 7 could be purchased for $20 cash; two lots in the First Addition were priced at $10 for both lots. There were many more bargains.
News and gossip from Editor Allison’s column: The Dougherty brothers had a sick horse. They called a veterinarian who left some tonic for the animal. The boys said they gave the horse a dose but forgot to put hay in the manger. When they came back the horse was gone. They looked all over the place and finally found it up in the hay mow. The horse had climbed the steps to get its own hay. Some horse. But we are wondering who drank the tonic: the horse or the Dougherty brothers?
There is an old reprobate around town who has a crush on an old battleaxe who wears some other man’s label. The old reprobate wanted a date so he promised her a mink coat, or a pair of silk socks, or something. A deal with arranged. He delivered the booty and then waited for the fair damsel to show up.
He is still waiting and frothing at the mouth because he has been played for a sucker. And the old battleaxe smiles sweetly as she passes by.