This Week in Marblehead History: 1949

Every week, Marblehead Patch digs through the Marblehead Messenger microfilm archives at to find out what was happening on this week in Marblehead history.

In 1949:

Harbor Patrol Has Busy Last Day: Officer Kenneth Eldridge had a day of it Labor Day to finish up the season for the police boat. The wind blew and the seas piled up Monday, and many small boats discovered they needed help getting back to port. Carl Pierce stared things off with his crew, Carl Monahan, by holding on a bit too long and capsizing his Townie, Cyn-Rit. Eldridge picked up the pair off Gray's float. The next customer was a dis-masted Snipe, which the seagoing police officer towed to Commercial Street wharf. 

Thieves Enter Lafayette Street Home: On Tuesday evening, between the hours of 7 and 9, the home of Carl Gorham, 71 Lafayette St., was entered and jewelry valued at $69 was taken, it was reported by the police department. The thieves entered by a dining room window, and the footprint of a boy was found in a garden beneath the window. Police are also led to believe it was the work of youngsters because many other valuables were untouched.

Players Report Missing Receipts: Mr. Lawrence Washburn, official of the North Shore Players, reports that he is missing a dark brown bank deposit bag containing $1,400 in currency, $865,60 in checks and $12.80 in postal notes. Police says Mr. Washburn reports that he placed the bag in his car early Wednesday morning before leaving the .

Schools Open Wednesday, Sept. 7: Marblehead schools will open in Wednesday, Sept. 7. Hours in the elementary schools will be as follows: Kindergarten, 8:30 to 11 a.m.; Grades 1 and 2, 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.; Grades 3 through 6, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Milk will be available to be purchased at all elementary schools. Whether the pupils in grades 1 and 2 eat their lunches at school or wait until they return to their homes after 12:30 p.m. will be optional with parents.

Fire Destroys Misery Island Dwelling: Fire of unknown origin destroyed the summer residence of Paul J. Gibbons, 75 Summer St., Revere and Carl Daley of Boston on Great Misery Island early Wednesday morning. The fire was spotted by the Marblehead patrol car and the Coast Guard Air Station in Salem, each of whom notified Salem police and fire departments.

Model Yachts Hold Regatta on Labor Day: The Marblehead Model Yacht Club will hold a Labor Day Regatta for all "kids" from six to sixty at . The classes of boats to be raced are as follows: Boats up to 12 inches in length, 12 to 18 inches, 18 to 24 inches, 24 to 30 inches, 30 to 36 inches, 36 and over.

Arts Exhibition at King Hooper Mansion: The exhibition of Tempra Paintings, by Kendall Rogers, of Hawthorne, N.Y., opened with a Member's Tea last Sunday at the King Hooper Mansion, under the sponsorship of the .

Hospital Painting Contract Awarded: The contract for the painting of the Mary A. Alley Hospital has been awarded to Clarence Burlingame, second lowest bidder, it was announced yesterday by Mrs. William Bridgeo, secretary of the trustees of the hospital.

Showing at The Warwick: "The Last Days of Pompeii" starring Maria Montez and John Hall; "She" starring Helen Gahagan and Randolph Scott; "Enchantment" starring Teresa Wright and David Niven; "Angels Alley" featuring the Bowery Boys; "My Dream is Yours" starring Jack Carson and Doris Day.

Do you recognize any of these names, locations or events? Let us know in the comments section below.