Augusts Past, 75 years Ago, 1942

From The LaGrange Daily News

 Front Page News – Blackout here last night reported “Best Yet”; All services worked well

LaGrange and Troup County last night underwent the third imaginary enemy air raid and this morning the city and county still stood safely with an outstanding blackout performance to their credit.

Reports from LaGrange and Troup County civilian defense workers indicated this morning that last night’s blackout was by far the best one ever held since the outbreak of the war, with all services working in harmony to make the event a huge success.

West Point led in time of blacking out, becoming completely dark within ten minutes. Hogansville likewise blacked out in short order, although officials had received no report on time when the News checked result this morning. LaGrange blacked out in 20 minutes, clipping four minutes off their previous record of 24 minutes.

Troup County Exceeds War Bonds, Stamps July Quota

Citizens of Troup County purchased a total of $215,845.75 in War Bonds and War Savings Stamps during the month of July, exceeding the quota of $161,800 assigned the county by $54,054, Lewis Price and J.J. Milam, co-chairman for Troup County, announced today.

The amount of War Bonds sold during the months of May, June and July is well over the quota for three months and is in excess of the quota of $159,300 assigned Troup County for the month of August.

Children can help with drive 

The young people of LaGrange can play a big role in the salvage campaign to be held in this city nest Saturday, August 15, sponsored by the LaGrange Kiwanis Club in cooperation with the Troup County Salvage Committee, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Toy guns, toy soldiers, toy ships and other toys which are no longer useful or desired by the children can join the battle of the United Nations against the Axis as children of LaGrange turn over once-cherished possessions to the community’s scrap salvage committee.

Any scrap object collected will help speed the production of tanks and other weapons for the United States and her Allies.

Local USO Center serving 150 visiting men Per Week

That the local USO Center is serving an average of 150 visiting men in the armed forces each weekend was revealed at the meeting of the LaGrange Citizens USO committee help Fridayafternoon at the center in the old Dunson hospital building.

It was reported that the number of visitors to the center is increasing each weekend. The committee discussed plans for extending  services to the visiting soldiers, most of whom come to LaGrange from Fort Benning.

Plans were made to provide heat to the center during the winter months and to provide blankets for the cots which are placed at the American Legion Home to accommodate the visitors.

Red Cross knitting classes are formed at Calumet, S’ West LaGrange and Dixie 

Red Cross knitting classes have formed at Calumet, Southwest LaGrange and Dixie with Mrs. J.C Van Houten, knitting chairman of the Troup County chapter of the American Red Cross as instructor.

Dozens of ladies in these communities will be meeting weekly to knit for the war effort.

Harriett’s Letter

One of our LaGrange girls, Virginia Guinn will leave September 1, with the Emory unit to serve as an anestheticist. Virginia completed nurse’s training at Emory University hospital in Cleaveland, Ohio.

She is in Atlanta this weekend to attend a tea given for the Emory Unit at the Woman’s Club.

Oliver Hunnicutt arrives Tuesday to take charge of LHS football

Good news for football fans came from LaGrange High School today with the announcement that new football coach Oliver Hunnicutt, formerly of Gainsville, will arrive in town next Tuesday morning.

Coach Hunnicutt, who succeeds Coach Amos Teasley, who has gone into the service, has advised that he will hold his first football workout of the new training season next Tuesday evening. Just a few hours after he arrives, in other words.

If that isn’t getting down to business, then we’d like to know what is.