EAST FAREWELL
NEWS
Thursday, April
12, 1951 Vol. C304
LOCAL
NEWS
LIGHTNING STORM TURNS TOWN OFF
East
Farewell – The April showers brought an unexpected and unwanted companion with
them last week. A massive lightning storm came in with the showers that are
frequent this time of year. The storm blew in over Monday night and was gone by
Tuesday afternoon. During the about eight hours there were approximately 60
lightning strikes in the area. At 12:03 AM a bolt hit the main transformer
station and set it on fire. The East Farewell Volunteer Fire Company responded
almost immediately and had the fire under control by 12:35 AM. Although they
were able to put the fire out quickly the transmission generators were out of
service. This threw the entire town into darkness. Luckily, since it was the
middle of the night there was not a great demand for electricity. All the
street lights were out and the three traffic lights were off. No one had lights
or electrical service meaning no refrigerators, freezers or radios. The farmers
and bakers were up before the sunrise and had to cope with the lack of
electrical lights. Most were able to resort to lanterns and candles that they
still had handy. The power was restored by late Tuesday evening buy activating
backup generators that were located at a different location and not harmed by
the fire. Once the main transformer station is rebuilt the service will be
switched back. “That was a doozy. Our station just blew up when it was hit.
Thank goodness for the East Farewell Fire Company, they saved the day. It could
have been much worse if they didn’t get there right away and get things under
control. My hat is off to them,” said Hugh Sterner, regional manager for
Mid-State Electric, when asked on Wednesday.
The fierce storm was certainly
spectacular and many people said they were awakened by the lightning and
thunder. This was an unusual event even for the usually tumultuous spring
weather that rolls through the area.
Blacked out Main Street
SPORTS
TRAVELERS GETTING READY FOR NEW SEASON
East Farewell – The Travelers are getting ready to
open another season next week but this season they will play almost all of
their games on the road since they have no official home field since the “Rest
Stop”, the Traveler’s home field, burned down this past winter. This extremely
unfortunate event could not have come at a worse time. The Travelers had just
won their first league championship. The league made some adjustments to the
1951 schedule and while every game has been scheduled to be played in another
town some will be designated as Travelers home games. This will be strange for
the Travelers but they have a loyal following that will probably try to make it
to the games and give support to their team.
Ironically,
the Travelers name came from when they were first formed back in 1940. They did
not have a ballpark to play in then either. East Farewell was still a small
town but the Iron Works had a fairly large workforce and there were lots of
baseball fans and players. The team was formed by Fred Malloy and he was able
to join the Northeastern League, an AAA league that had teams throughout the
tristate area. Malloy’s only problem was there was no ball field in East
Farewell except the High School field. The team spent their first season on the
road and they changed their name from the Steelmen to the Rambling Travelers
then just the Travelers in appreciation of their “homeless” status. They played
road games until the Road Stop Baseball Field was built in 1945. League play
was suspended during the war form 1942 through 1945. The Travelers have been a
contender in the league every year but it wasn’t until 1950 that they were able
to win the championship. Unfortunately, the team and the fans were unable to
celebrate past the initial party. On December 15th the structure
caught fire and being 80% wood, it burned to the ground. The team and the fans
were devastated. So as the 1951 season gets under way it looks like it is back
to the beginning for the Travelers playing on the road. There has been no talk
of changing the name back to the Steelmen.
The
Travelers start the season next week in Bear Creek. The Cubs are coming off a
mediocre season last year and the Travelers are looking to start the season off
with a win. The pregame festivities begin at 1:00 and he game begins at 2:30PM
in Bear Creek Park.
NATIONAL NEWS
TRUMAN FIRES MACARTHUR – HOGAN WINS THE MASTERS – MANTLE TAKES ARMY PHYSICAL
President Truman fires Gen. Douglas MacArthur from all his commands. The President said he had concluded that MacArthur “is unable to give his wholehearted support” to United States and United Nations policies.” The President immediately designates Lt. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway as
MacArthur’s successor as supreme commander, allied powers, commander in chief, United Nations command; commander in chief, Far East; and commanding general, U.S. Army, Far East. President Truman solemnly declares that Gen. MacArthur’s proposed policies in Asia carried the grave risk of a third world war. The President said he had to dismiss the general to make clear the nation’s “real purpose and aim” of peace. ‘Our aim is to avoid the spread of conflict.” he told a nationwide radio audience.
President Truman, insisting he had gotten information from a good source, calls Sen. Tobey (Rep-New Hampshire) about word that he wants to begin impeachment proceedings against him. “I understand you are going to have me impeached,” said the President, according to Tobey. Tobey said he replied that he intended nothing of the sort. “Now let me tell you this, Senator. If you want to have me impeached, you just go right ahead and I’ll help you.’
Ben Hogan wins the Masters for the first time with a 72-hole score of 280.
New York Yankees rookie Mickey Mantle takes his Army pre-induction physical at the Tulsa examining center. Mantle could be drafted, but says he doesn’t mind. “I’ll play baseball for the army or fight for it, whatever they want me to do.” Mantle is now classified 4-F because of a leg bone ailment which he says, pains him only when wrapped tightly or sometimes during a double-header.
Many, many
thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for
contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.
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