Valley Girl Views: Letters From The Lions, Watsontown Area News March-June 1951

In 1951, during the Korean war, members of the Watsontown Lion club sent letters to local servicemen, with "some of the happenings around town in which your families may have overlooked and which we hope you will find interesting." The letters were like a local hometown newspaper, full of marriages, sports updates, and general news from the area.

I do not know how many letters were written, but I have copies of the letters written in March, April, May, and June of 1951. Rather than transcribe them, I have included a brief recap of each letter with the names mentioned, for search engine purposes.

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March 1951

Rumor of a black panther, The Watsontown Band,

State Police Raid Gambling establishments in Milton, Parking on Main street, Local Sporting Updates, and A grocery truck driven by Joseph Lupo went into the river in Milton.

Marriages: Andrews & Hendricks, Gudykunst & Frontz ; Engagement: Feaster & O'Connor

Soldiers Mentioned: Charles Harvey, PFC Harold Boush, Robert Drick, Paul N. Feaster, Charles McCormick

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April 1951

Tar wagon fire, Navy Rafts being made in the Dewart Creamery building, Sports News, Dennis Hans age 10 killed by freight train, Red Arrow being rebuilt, List of those receiving varsity jackets...

Enlisted Mentioned: Eugene Hartranft, Gerald McClintock, Jerry Wright, Sterling Frantz, Ray Tyson, Jay Wagner, Robert Wertman, Fartt Becker, Edward Benfer, William Wagner, Woodrow Folk, D.A. Watts, Tom Reed, Bob Wright, George Sampsell, Joe Aunkst.

Marriages: Berger & Swartz, Bryson & Donachy, Tanner & Gauger, Budd & Raup. Engagements: Seibert & Muffly, Budman & Marshall

School News: Clarence Buss, Janet Evans, Carl Everett, Harold Reinert.

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May 1951

Lots of Baseball News, The State Highway Dept. Recommended traffic lights at Brimmer & Main, concrete control tower on Pine Creek Dam gave way, Blue & Orange staff given award, Kenneth McKee accident update, fire at Tenner property and at Bickel property in White Deer, Ruth [Elllsworth] Watson killed when clothes caught on fire by electric stove, Jasper & Philco plants returned to work after shut downs, Judd Phillips and Jim Snyder ran off to Altoona but returned home after staying in Tea Springs, Raising money for new band uniforms,

High school commencement to be May 31 at the Watson Theatre, speakers: Lenore Ahalt, James Wolfe and Marion Hafer. Watsontown High School graduates at Bloomsburg recognized: David Newbury, Paul Keener,

Marriages: Helen Koch & Leaman "Dtuch" Nuss, Ruth Willow to Sgt Donald Ale, Mildred Cromley to Pvt Earl Lindauer, Shirley Arnold to Pvt. William Moll. Betty May Sonders, who married Bill Barnwell, was featured as "Bride Of The Month" in a romance magazine.

Engagements: Minerva Buss to Pfc. Jacque Greiff

These letters are typed by Roberta Seriff, secretary to Louis Fromme.

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June 1951

Class of 51 trip to Washington DC & Philadelphia, annual Alumni Banquet at Lycming Hotel, Les Memoires dedicated to Harold Reinert. Lenore Ahalt and Berndadette Hickey won essay contests, Tom Hickey soliciting donations for band uniforms. 2 year old Elmer Lee young killed when bench saw fell on him, Eugene Hartranft killed in motorcycle accident while home on 10 day leave, LeRoy Webb admitted to Williamsport hospital as the 10,000 patient for the year. Telephone company broke ground for new building, and new traffic lights installed. Harold Westly just missed the jackpot on the Truth of Consequence radio show.

Baseball news, Tennis courts. Senators signed: Schnure, Schlage, McIntyre, Foust, Berger, Zettlemoyer, Raup & Cocks.

Weddings: Marvene Lehman & Robert Funk, Maude Jones & Andrew Koch, Phylllis Endinger & Ralph Burrows Ju, Meda Keefer & Robert Moyer

Engagements: Doris Edinger to Dan Shade, Nancy Zeisloft to William Jaffurs

Military Transfers: Robert Wertman, Dartt Becker, Ralph Stahlnecker, Wayne Keiser, Grier Donachy, Gene Hoffman, Myron Hoffman

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