This Was Hatboro-Horsham, 1945

From the Public Spirit, Week of May 3-9, 1945

Hatboro quietly marks V-E Day -

Editor's note - Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies on Monday, May 7, 1945, but President Harry Truman did not make an official announcement until the following day, designated as V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. While Americans were grateful, rejoicing was low-key because the war against Japan continued. The country would not erupt in wild celebrations until V-J (Victory over Japan) Day on Aug. 15

News of the end of the European war, and the official proclamation of victory, was received quietly and with little evidence of desire for celebration in Hatboro.

Following President Truman's announcement at nine o'clock Tuesday morning, the pre-arranged signal for V-E Day, six short blasts of the fire and civilian defense sirens, was sounded.

Most of the retail stores closed at various times during the afternoon. Local industries treated the news in varying ways, some shutting down entirely, others declaring a partial holiday, and still others remaining open and working full blast. All taprooms immediately closed for the day.

In Hatboro, large congregations gathered Tuesday night in both the Methodist and Baptist churches for V-E Day services. The Girl Scouts were at the latter. Members of Frank G. Girard Post, American Legion, were at the Methodist church, where the pastor, Rev. Martin Brinton, used the Service for Worship prepared and issued by the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America.

Practically all churches in this section have arranged Mothers' Day services for this coming Sunday in keeping with the President's request that it be observed as Day of Prayer in commemoration of the victory in Europe.

No Foolin', We're Still In a War [original headline of editorial] -

If anyone has any thoughts of immediate Japanese surrender now that Germany has collapsed, or that we can wipe up the Pacific in a matter of a few months if they insist on national suicide, we would refer him to a report on "The War: Phase Two" submitted to President Truman by War Mobilization Director Fred M. Vinson.

A few pointed reminders we would quote here: Japan has an army of four million men and so far we have not come up against this main strength; she has also several million fit for service and not yet called up. Japan has been producing planes faster than we have been able to destroy them. Japan is capable of maintaining a large production in almost every category of war equipment and has stockpiled key materials enough for at least a year of full-scale war.

She may be expected to fight to the bitter end, as witness our experience on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Even blockading the mainland would not starve out the Japanese.

Which brings us to the Mighty Seventh War Bond drive now on. Its goal is $14,000,000,000, and we know now that it will be oversubscribed just as its forerunners have. But will the individual do his bit? He is being called up for a greater share of the total sales than ever.

The tremendous amount of money raised by this nation to fight this war has amazed the world, and we are not yet through. We have proven our fighting men and our fighting dollars are an unbeatable combination, and we cannot falter now. Our soldiers and sailors have turned their faces from the east to the west, but still have a long, long trail awinding until they come home.

Our War Bond dollars must march with them.

Horsham woman's brothers, both Marines, hospitalized -

Mrs. Norman Ruth, of Horsham, has received word that her brother, Corporal John J. Sullivan, Jr., U.S.M.C., who was wounded in both legs on Iwo Jima, has been transferred to a Naval hospital on the West Coast.

Corporal Sullivan has served 26 months in the South Pacific, having fought on Guam and Bougainville.

Mrs. Ruth's younger brother, Pfc. William T. Sullivan, U.S.M.C., is also in a Naval hospital in Corona, California, with rheumatic fever. Pfc. Sullivan served 16 months in the South Pacific.

While in the Pacific, the brothers met on one of the islands after being separated for two years.

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Hatboro collects clothing for war-torn Europe -

Twenty thousand pounds of worn but serviceable clothing and bedding, enough to fill a railroad freight car, and sufficient to outfit a community of eight hundred men, women and children in some war-ravaged country of Europe, was collected at Hatboro High School last week.

Sponsored by the Hatboro Rotary Club and under the chairmanship of Chester H. Barnes, Supervising Principal of schools, the week-long drive was preceded with considerable publicity. On Monday, folks of the community started bringing in the goods they had culled from closets and attics.

Some of the coats and dresses may not have been 1945 fashions and some of the men's suits might have showed some wear, but they will furnish warmth and comfort to destitute people now liberated from the tyrant's yoke.

By Friday, one end of the school gymnasium was piled high with donations, some of which came from quite a distance outside the town. A corps of about sixty women under the chairmanship of Mrs. William Fenton Price started the big task of sorting and packing. They were aided greatly by a large number of school students who acted as messengers.

In less than a day, the ten tons of clothing and bedding were placed in cartons supplied by the Roberts & Mander Stove Company, labeled and ready for shipment to the United National Clothing Collection depot in Philadelphia, from whence they will go overseas.

Servicemen's Club holds dance at Naval Air Station -

The Willow Grove Servicemen's Club held an informal dance on Wednesday at the Recreation Hall of the .

It was indeed a successful affair, and the music provided by the newly organized Willow Grove Naval Air Station Orchestra was really "in the groove."

Refreshments served during intermission by the senior hostesses of the Servicemen's Club were delicious and plentiful.

One of the features of the dance was an amateur show which proved very amusing. The prize was awarded by applause from the audience to William F. Murphy for his superb crooning. Some of the other participants were James T. Kelly, J..J. Brown and Harold Bell, all stationed at the Naval Air Station.

It is to be noted that the activities and faciliities for entertaining servicemen will continue after V-E Day without any foreseeable change in schedule.

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Hatboro and Horsham Happenings -

A Minuteman flag is flying at the Loller School, Hatboro, which means that ninety percent of the pupils enrolled have purchased war savings stamps.

Patricia Ann Duckworth, a junior at Moravian College for Women in Bethlehem, has been elected president of the Phi Mu Epsilon social sorority for next year. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester G. Duckworth of Easton road, Horsham.

The Hatboro P.T. A. will meet next Tuesday evening. There will be the annual election of officers in addition to the planned gymnasium program "Victory Parade of 1945."

The Mission Society of Wesley Chapel held its meeting at the Horsham home of Mrs. Philip Creighton on Tuesday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Evans of Crooked Billet road, Hatboro, announce the birth of a daughter, Carolyn Thornton Evans.

Clare Hagerty and another WAVE [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service] spent the weekend with her parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Clarence Hagerty of Horsham.

William Biefuss, a shoemaker, of Byberry avenue, Hatboro, has been in the Willis Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, for eye treatment.

Mrs. Marshall Crouthamel, of Horsham, is confined to her home with a bad cold.

Seaman First Class Herbert Bishop has been promoted to Aviation Machinists Mate. Stationed at Norfolk, Va., he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Bishop of Penn street, Hatboro.

Mrs. Fred Hauseman of Oakdale avenue, Horsham, who has been seriously ill in the Abington Hospital, is getting along nicely. Her daughter, Miss Utter of Scranton, a trained nurse, is taking care of her.

Staff Sgt. Harry Spangenberg returned to Washington after spending a furlough with friends in Hatboro and in Germantown. He was formerly employed in Gray's drug store, Hatboro.

Fred Schaffer is at his home on Township Line road, Horsham, on a 30-day furlough from the Merchant Marine.