Looking back at May 1939 in the Gazette archives

By: HEATHER BOGARD
Lifestyles Editor

This week, we take a look back at May 1939.
•Jules Ashlock was the editor of The Weekly Gazette.
•Sacred Heart planned an evening of comedy and entertainment to raise funds for the purchase of bass instruments for the school’s new band conducted by E. Fredrick Savoie.
•Eight candidates from Ville Platte were among the over 60 candidates initiated as first, second or third degree Knights of Columbus in Opelousas. They were Burke Landreneau, Henry Stromer, Rodney Duos, Harold Bordelon, Gilbert Vidrine, Herbert Guillory, Marcellus Thompson and Shirley Buller.
•The towns of Mamou and Pine Prairie each received grants for improvements from the WPA (Works Progress Administration). Mamou received $10,460 for the town’s new drainage program; and Pine Prairie received $520 for the town’s cemetery beautification project.
•Inez Dupre, a student at Ville Platte High School, received second place in the district essay competition. The contest was to write a 1,500 word essay on “What Louisiana offers the farmer.” The winning essay was submitted for publication in the Gazette by her teacher Hazel Richard.
•Parish winners in the 4-H Achievement Day contest prepared to enjoy a one-day trip to Baton Rouge.
•Ville Platte awaited the arrival of a $9,000, modern 750 gallon fire engine.
•Movies showing at the Bailey Theater included “Suez” starring Tyrone Power and Loretta Young and “Shine on Harvest Moon” starring Roy Rogers.
•The five most popular songs of 1939 included “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland, “God Bless America” by Kate Smith, “When the Saints Go Marching In” by Louis Armstrong, “Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn Miller and his orchestra and “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday.