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Berkeley, a Look Back: Panel called business license fees ‘mistake’ A wartime Thanksgiving was celebrated in Berkeley with traditional dinners, religious services, and non-stop war industry work 75 years ago, Nov. 26, 1942. Morning “Union” Protestant church services were held at Berkeley’s Trinity Methodist, North Berkeley Community Church, and South Berkeley Community Church.

“President Roosevelt’s Thanksgiving proclamation was read at each service by a high school student and music was furnished by the hostess church. The offerings will be used of the relief work of the American Friends Service Committee,” the Berkeley Daily Gazette reported.

Shipyard railway

In mid-November, construction was well along on the Shipyard Railway, which would carry workers through Oakland, Berkeley, and El Cerrito to the massive shipyards on the Richmond shore. Salvaged materials were being used to construct new tracks and trestles and retired and surplus New York railcars were shipped out to be put back into service. Opening was expected in early December.

Escaped

Four German prisoners of war were on the loose in Alameda County 75 years ago Nov. 24, 1942. The Gazette reported that the soldiers, veterans of Rommel’s Afrika Corps, were being carried by train at the Altamont Pass. They “plunged through a window of the train when the lighting system failed and made a desperate but futile attempt to make a get away into the rolling hills.” They were quickly recaptured, one of them while taking a nap in the car of a Berkeleyean near Livermore.

Campus schedule

UC President Robert Gordon Sproul announced Nove. 25 that the Berkeley campus would officially go on a year long schedule in 1943, with no summer break. There would be three 16-week academic terms, spring, summer, and fall.

Retirees

Berkeley retired four employees on Nov. 17, 1942. They included George Stein of the garbage department, age 69, who had been a city employee since 1911; and John Fassero, 68, a 20-year employee in the garbage department; disability retirements of men aged 68 and 69. In 1942, the life expectancy for American men was 64.7 years. So all of these men were retiring with the actuarial tables against them having many years of leisure.

At the same time, the city also gave a certificate of appreciation to Mrs. Emma Rogers, who had worked at the City Pound since 1905. She was originally assistant to her husband, then succeeded him as poundmaster after his death.

War news

In early November, 1942, the war news and newspaper front page maps of the fighting fronts were mainly focused on North Africa. American, British, and Free French troops had invaded French Morocco and Algeria on Nov. 8 and were fighting their way eastwards toward Italian and German troops in Tunisia and Libya.

On Nov. 27, the French fleet was “blown up and scuttled in Toulon Harbor to prevent it falling into the hands of Adolf Hitler.” The battleship Strasbourg was blown up by its crew first, followed by the intentional scuttling of a reported two other battleships, seven cruisers, 25 destroyers and 27 submarines.

Fashion costs

In the fashion section of the Gazette on Nov. 27 ,1942, a columnist reported on a survey of the clothing needs of 82 “working girls.” “As every woman knows, a formidable percentage of her earnings goes into keeping herself in stockings and shoes.” “20 pairs of stockings a year is average” and women used an average of three pairs of shoes each summer and four each winter, “with evening slippers and play shoes besides.”

42 percent of respondents said they bought their own jewelry, while the rest said they got it wholly or in part as gifts. They also used an average of seven handbags a year, each costing $5.