Greenbelt cooperator., April 24, 1942, Page PAGE TWO, Image 2

About Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954

Image provided by: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

                
PAGE TWO
GREENBELT
COOPERATOR
GREENBELT, MARYLAND
Telephone- GREENBELT 3131
Th (.nnhfli C nyartliw PcUiduif Ahmulmi, lac.
Editor Francis Fount ht
Associate Editor Donald H. Cooper
Assistant Editor Sally Meredith
Assistant Editor ..Jack Schaeffer
Business Manager William S. Stewart
Volume 6. Number 36 April 24, 1942
Berwyn Crossing
The treacherous Berwyn railway crossing has been
recognized as a death trap by most of us ever since we
started using it. The approaches afford only limited vision
of the tracks because of the poorly placed station and sev
efal old buildings as well as box cars usually left on the
hidings. The main hazard, however, is the double-train
surprise which has given countless newcomers hair-raising
experiences. By this time most of you have noticed that
trains pass each other near the Berwyn crossing with alarm
ing frequency. With one’s eyes fastened on the last car
<Jf the approaching train there always seems to be a ten
dency to start across the tracks without realizing that the
warning bell is still ringing and that a limited is bearing
down on the crossing from the opposite direction. This
writer still remembers with a little chill how close was
destruction one morning three years ago when a Greenbelt
bus nearly fell into this same trap, the warning cries of
the passengers flustering the new driver and causing him
to stall the engine while crossing.
In delayed recognition of the danger at Berwyn the
Branchville overpass is being constructed to accommodate
the heavy traffic between Edmonston Road and the Balti
more Pike in this area.
Hunting for a scapegoat now will not bring back the
two boys who lost their lives in last week’s accident, but
In line with the usual policy of taking preventative steps
after a tragedy instead of before, perhaps we can now
persuade the Government and the railway officials to put
ip protective cross bars at the Berwyn crossing. It seems
to us that cross bars, remaining down until passing trains
fcad both cleared the intersection, might prevent future
accidents here.
Minute Men of Maryland
For those Greenbelt men between 18 and 64 who are
not already in military sendee or knee-deep in Civilian De
fnse activities we present the Minute Men of Maryland.
Two weeks ago, when we wrote our editorial “A
People’s Army” we knew nothing of the reserve militia
just being organized. A letter from Mr. Harvey, published
in last week’s Cooperator, and several interviews with in
terested officers and civilians brought our full attention
to the Minute Men.
Now we grant that our chances of seeing enemy troops
parading down the Baltimore Pike are fortunately very,
very slim. But in this war we have had many unpleasant
surprises—so many that we are resolved to never again be
caught napping. We have realized that anything is possible
and are adopting the Boy Scout slogan “Be Prepared.”
China and Russia are successfully fighting invasion with
local civilian defense groups who carry on their regular
daily work and home life, taking the opportunity of every
spare hour to harass the enemy’s communication lines,
snipe at invading troops, and organize attacks from the
rear. England’s home guard is fast becoming a model that
may be a deterring factor in any invasion plans which the
Nazi general staff have in mind. Here we can follow the
useful examples just in case.
This is total war. A year ago we talked about it in
Greenbelt—now we are fighting it and have to win. You
and I are going to leave no stick unturned to obtain victory
at the earliest possible moment. Our service in the Minute
Men of Maryland adds a safety factor to the protection
of our nation, and relieves the pressure on Maryland’s 3000
State Guard.
Service to Mankind
Your editor saw a movie last night in the local theatre.
A movie so simple in theme and yet so true to life that its
production in Hollywood seems almost a miracle. We urge
you. no matter what your faith or religion to see this story.
A story of a man who gave his life to the service of his
fellow men without thought of self or personal gain. A
man whose example should give us all understanding and
GREENBELT COOPERATOR
Calendar of Events
Friday, April 24
hand Practice 6 :.'>o p. ra. Auditorium
Feeder Band Practice 6:30 Hobby Room
Stringed Orchestra 7 :i>o Room 123
Fire Auxiliary' 7:30 , Fire House
First Aid Class 8:00 Room 225
Community Church Choir 8:00 3-D Ridge
Hebrew Congregation 9:00 Music Room
Saturday, April 25
Fire Auxiliary 2:00 p. m. Fire House
Confessions * 7:30 27-A Ridge
Sunday, April 26
Catholic Sunday School 8:30 a. m. Theater
Catholic Mass 9:00 Theater
Community Church Sunday
School 9:30 Elementary School
Community Church Service 11:00 Auditorium
'L. D. S. Sunday School 11:00 Home Ec. Room
Hebrew Congregation Sunday v- t
School 11:00 Elementary School
Fire Auxiliary 2:00 p. m. Fire House
*L. D. S. Priesthood 6:30 Home Ee. Room
*L. D. S. Service 7:00 Home Ec. Room
Community Church Young
People’s Group 7:00 Elementary School
Community Church High School
Group 8:00 18-C Parkway
Monday, April 27
Girl Scout Troop 26 7:00 p. m. Room 223
Sewing Class 7:30 Home Ee. Room
Typing and Shorthand 7:30 High School
Home Mechanics 7:30 High School
First Aid 8:00 Room 225
Parent-Teachers Association 8:00 Auditorium
Council 8:00 Council Room
Tuesday, April 28
First Aid Class 7:30 p. m. 8-H Ridge
Pottery Class 7:30 21 Parkway
basement
Catholic Choir 8:00 Music Room
*L. D. S. Ladies Relief Society 8:30 Home Ec. Room
Wednesday, April 29
Brownies 3:30 p. m. Music Room
Pottery Class 7:30 21 Parkway
basement
Girl Scout Troop 15 7:30 2-G Eastway
Girl Scout Troop 18 7:30 Room 223
First Aid 7:30 Room 225
Fire Auxiliary 8:00 Fire House
Midweek Meeting 8 :00 Music Room
Thuriday, April 30
*L. D. S. Primary Group 4:00 p. m. Music Room
Boy Scout Troop 202 7:00 Hobby Room
Girl Scout Troop 17 7:30 Room 123
Pottery Class 7:30 21 Parkway
basement
*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
There were only nine Latter Day Saint families fortunate enough
to be living in Greenbelt when the town was first opened. Because of
inadequate transportation facilities and the time and distance involved
getting in and out to the Washington Chapel, these families met each
week in the various homes where a comlunation lesson and Social
evening was enjoyed.
In July, 1938, a chapter of The National Woman’s Relief Society
was organized. This is an auxiliary of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints and, incidentally, the oldest existing woman’s or
ganization in the United States. Very shortly after, a branch of the
Church was formed, dependent upon the Washington Chapel, and under
the direction of Elder Donald H. Wagstaflf.
Due to the increase in the numbers of L. D. S. families in this part
of the country, the Washington branch of the Church was converted
into a “stake” in 1940, of which Greenbelt is an independent branch.
Its membership of almost 100 souls is drawn from Berwyn, Beltsville
and College Park, as well as Gretnbelt, and is under the able leadership
of Dr. Louis Madsen.
Sunday School and Sacrament Meetings are held each Sunday in
the Home Economics Room, in the Elementary School Building at
11:00 A. M. and 7:30 P. M. respectively. The Woman’s Relief Society,
with its varied and interesting program, holds meetings each Tuesday
at 8:00 P. M. in the same place, and the Primary or Children’s Group
is conducted each Thursday at 4 :00 P. M., in the Music Room.
Post Office Curfew
Closing the Greenbelt Post Office at 8 p. m. instead of
10 p. m. to save electricity is ridiculous and most incon
venient to local residents. We know Postmaster Bryant has
no alternative but to comply wjth instructions given him in
this matter, but we earnestly implore him to petition the
proper authorities for a reversal of this order.
If the small amount of electric current burned two
hours six evenings a week in the post office lobby here is
needed to win the war then it k time we seriously restricted
home and street lighting. Cutting off just one street light
would save an equivalent amount of electricity w'ith much
less inconvenience to Grenebelters.
We do not have home delivery here. We are urged by
Mr. Bryant to use the post office as much as possible in
order to build up a big enough cash income to secure home
delivery service. If we can’t gel into the post office when we
come home at night and on Sundays then there is little
point in renting a box. General delivery will suffice, and
we can take our serious postal needs to our offices in
Washington.
It is time some postal authority realized that in Green
belt many of us are working odd shifts and late hours. We
don’t drive to the post office, we walk. And in some cases
it is impossible to walk to the post office before 8 p. m. to
collect our hills and circulars.
peace in these times of strife and turmoil. A story whose
brutal frankness and at times, whimsical humor, give us
an unvarnished picture of our churches, yours and mine
and leaves us with the sober reminder of our own unfaith
fulness to the one bulwark against all our enemies. The
movie "One Foot in Heaven” is not to be missed.
April 24, 1942
Community Church
“When Life Begins” will be the
theme of the sermon the Reverend
Wil me r Pierce Johnston will
preach Sunday morning at 11 a. m.
in the Community Building.
At 5 p. m. the second separate
session of the Junior Church will
be held. Mr. Johnston’s sermon
for this occasion will be “The
Rooster That Waked Up a Mem
ory.” In addition to this sermon
the Junior Choir wil lsing two
numbers under the direction of
Mrs. Donald Herwich. Joanne Slye
will play a violin solo “Holy, Holy,
Holy.”
At the business meeting of the
Junior Church which will precede
the worship, service officers for
the Junior Church will be elected.
A report from the treasurer and
a report from the directors of the
Church will also be presented.
A number of new names will be
added to the roll and all those who
have missed as many as four Sun
days in succession will be dropped.
At 9:30 the Church School will
meet. At the teachers and officers
meeting held Sunday evening in
the Church study at 8-B Parkway
the school was found to be in good
condition and making steady pro
gress. The ever present need of
more teachers was discussed. All
those who are interested in teach
ing will report to Eimer Reno or
L. W. Worley at the Community
Building Sunday morning.
Wednesday evening at 8 p. m.
The regular mid-week meeting for
those who are not able to attend
the Sunday morning service and
for those who desire two service*
a week will be held.
Tonight at 8 p. m. The regular
choir rehearsal will be held at the
home of Mrs. Anne Miller, 17-A
Ridge Road.
Saturday morning at 10 a. m.
The regular rehearsal, of the Jun
ior Choir will be held under the
leadership of Mrs. Donald Her
wich in the music room.
Saturday, May 2, is the date the
committee has set for the pastor’s
garden party. This is to be one of
the events of the Community
Church this spring. All are invit
ed to come and bring shovel, hoe
or saw. The women are planning
a covered dish supper. / Jk
Hebrew Congregalm
Hebrew Congregation services!
will be held tonight at 9 p. m. in]
the music room of the Elementary
School.
Anyone desiring information
about the Sunday school may con
tact President Ber-.ard Trattler,
phone Greenbelt 3362.
[To the Editor — |
Post Office Hours
To the Editor:
Boxholders at the Greenbelt
Post Office have now been advised
that in order to conserve electric
ity for National Defense the Post
Office will be closed at 8 o’clock
in the evening.
I believe we are all agreed that
any sacrifice which will actually
aid National Defense and the War
Effort is not too great. If the
electricity thus saved will benefit
materially the war effort, the mon
ey we would spend to rent po3t
office boxes would probably do a
great deal more if used to pur
chase Defense Stamps and Bonds.
Under these curtailed hours a post
office box has little or no value so
let’s go all the way and save it all
for War.
—R. F. Stuart
Blood Donors
To the Editor:
There may be some people in
Greenbelt who have not yet visited
the Red Cross Blood Donor Center
at 23rd and C Streets N. W. It
seems to me that a half-pint of
blood every two months to save the
lives of men who are fighting foi
our safety is little enough we can
do.
The whole procedure for taking
blood is efficient and easy, leaving
no bad effects at all. Just phone
Republic 7400 and make an ap
pointment. The whole thing takes
only 20 minutes and coffee and
cookies are served at the close of
the visit.
Please do not use my name in
printing this. Thousands of us are
helping in this little way with
our blood, but of course we don’t
want to go around bragging about
it.
—A Local Donor