Base bus, Norris speech and Demo School

A third attempt to provide bus service between McCook and the McCook Army Air Base started May 23, 1943.

Two previous attempts had been unsuccessful because the operators had failed to have adequate equipment. A new bus was being brought in from Omaha for this third try. The pickup area was right north of the YMCA ... between the old Y and the Courthouse.

A modern military hospital was almost complete at the McCook Army Air base on June 1, 1943. It was actually a series of housing units, connected by enclosed runways and grouped around administrative, surgical and other main departments. There were two operating rooms, a fully equipped X-ray room, pharmacy, a dental clinic, reception rooms and administrative offices, a large mess hall with its own refrigerated storage space and a recreation room for "walking patients." The whole complex had hardwood floors. Also in the hospital area were the quarters for the doctors and nurses on staff.

The McCook City Council delegated the task of the actual operation for the soon-to-be-opened Servicemen's club to the McCook Junior Chamber of Commerce. The first federal grant of funds for a downtown recreation center had been made for a period of six months but the center was to be operated for the duration of the war and additional grants would be made. Work had begun on the remodeling of the Morris building in the 100 block on Main street.

In the meantime, the Catholics held special dances for the boys at the base and Millicient Slaby had a special invitation to the service men to make use of the McCook Public Library. Their summer hours were 10:30 to noon and 1:30 to 5:30 then 7 to 8 in the evening. The library would be closed on Sundays.

The McCook outdoor municipal swimming pool opened on Sunday June 6, 1943, at 1:30 p.m. The summer hours were weekdays from 10 to noon and then from 1:30 until 10 p.m. There were no concessions at the McCook pool in the summer of '43 because of the shortage of sweets and fountain drinks. Manager Phil Johnston said they felt privileged to be open at all, since many pools could not find help.

Since Memorial Day fell on Sunday, May 30 in 1943, McCook businesses and banks were closed all day on Monday, May 31. Memorial Day activities were supposed to have started at City (Norris) park and a parade was then to have marched to Memorial Auditorium for the program. There were showers though so the parade was scrapped. At the Auditorium, the McCook High School band played, Velma Sutton Kisevalter sang a solo, the Gettysburg address was read and then a special squad of veterans and soldiers went to local cemeteries to pay homage to the soldier deal interred at each.

Former U.S. Sen. George W. Norris was the featured speaker at the auditorium. "If we ever gain a peace of lasting quality our sacrifices in this war will not have been in vain, but a peace that is not enduring is not worth the sacrifices we are making. Disarmament of our enemies is necessary after this war to insure an enduring peace ..." Norris said.

At the close of the program, Ray C. Murphy led the audience in singing two verses of "Onward Christian Soldiers" with dedication of the number to the former senator and Mrs. Norris, who had indicated that the hymn was a favorite of theirs. Murphy also led group singing of "America."

Several local girls were in the news with their war-related training. Bernadine Hubert was a student at the Naval hospital's nursing school. Her parents, the S.R. Huberts, lived at 908 East 4th street and Bernadine had attended McCook Jr. College and worked as a telephone operator before joining the Waves. Doris Cooper had worked at the local Assistance office before she joined the Waves. She was in officer candidate training at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. In talking about her class, Miss Cooper said, "Our Company is mostly young girls, but you'd be surprised at the older women in some of the companies and the way they can take it ..."

McCook Junior College was holding its first summer session ever. A "demonstration school" was being held at the old high school where Central Elementary sets now. McCook elementary grade school children who wanted to attend a summer session from 8:30 to 11:45 each morning from June 2 through July 2 would have a chance to do that. Grace Janike was employed as teacher of the model school. Jessie Cleveland, elementary supervisor of the McCook Public schools and Asa A. Wolfe, county superintendent of Red Willow County, handled the teacher-training program. More than 30 children were enrolled in the special school.