Denson Comminque #1-5

#1: Oct. 23, 1942

For those who went along with the evacuees-are-living-in-luxury argument, this article from the Project Director would be interesting, because it shows that the people were moving into a place that was not at all ready for them, with loads of essentials either not there or (maybe) on the way.

Now that they are there, they are only allowed to go to certain parts of the center.

Page 1: These two articles, plus an article on employment records needing to be turned in, paychecks are there for Santa Anita workers, how to vote by absentee ballot, and the clinic hours are listed.

Page 2: There's an article on the canteen, and one that notes the post office is open. How infants will be fed is explained, and an article that notes that these bulletins will be used until the proper equipment is obtained so that an actual camp newsletter can be issued.

The map shows where residents can and cannot go.

The article on where residents are allowed to go continues.

#2: Oct. 27, 1942

Page 1: A dance will be held, and a local girl got married. A mail order service has been set up in the canteen. There are two grammar schools and a high school, and a contest is being held to name them. Procedures for cashing checks are explained, and temporary block managers are named. Two children were born, and there's an article about how they will be ample space after everything comes in and gets settled.

Page 2: There's an article on scouting and one on diarrhea. A hundred men are needed to help clear land, and there will be a songfest and a school conference. The Boys' leaders will meet, residents are told the procedure to get social security, and Protestant and Buddhist services will begin.

#3: Oct. 30, 1942

Page 1: A bank is cashing checks, and there will be a Halloween dance. Other articles include the school conference, a work system that will classify jobs, meal tickets will be used to control the number of diners in any one mess, a recreation plan that includes wrestling, boxing, softball, and six-man football, how to send a telegram, and more block managers are named. There will also be a local jive band, and there will be a contest to name the camp's newspaper.

Page 2: The first actual rain had happened which caused a problem in that when people went outside their homes their shoes ended up covered in mud. An article on the delivery of news, sick leave rules are clarified, and there will be a theater group. A wallet has been lost. Protestant and Buddhist services are noted. The Scouts have formed a troop. Those who are ill can report to certain clinics. The article on jobs from page 1 continues.

#4: Nov. 3, 1942

The masthead of the paper as it was then.

Page 1: Stoves will be installed that week. There's an article on the names of the papers at other camps. There's an article on other stores that will eventually be set up in the camp. 250 men are needed by the agriculture section to pull stumps and do other related work. The population of the camp has reached 7678 people. More Santa Anita paychecks have arrived. There will be a night school for adults. Absentee ballots need to be sent in. An 18-year-old girl has left the center to attend Radcliffe College in Massachusetts.

Page 2: There are more new block managers. The Drama group has met, and there's an article on what happened at the educational conference. A man named Brooks Hays spoke at a Protestant service. There's an article on the Buddhist service, a sing-along, and girls' clubs. A watch has been lost, and the milk supply for the center is low. The Arkansas Gazette will be delivered door-to-door. There's articles on visitors to the center, the Scouts, a study group, the person students need to write to get to go to a non-center school, and a continuation of the article from page 1 about workers being needed.

#5: Nov. 6, 1942

Page 1: Mail order goods have arrived, and the first center payday will be soon. An information has been established. There will be a light music hour, and the Project Director can meet with residents at certain times. There has been a meeting about pre-school, and the paper contest for naming is continuing. Nisei are being allowed to enlist in the Army.

Page 2: The employment office has been moved. A problem with diarrhea has been caused by the plumbing. There's a What's On column about things that will be happening at the center. Someone died of heart problems. There are articles on Protestant and Buddhist services and events. A man's leather jacket has been found. Troop 68 has met. A community sing project is under way. There will be a meeting about Co-ops. The article on the pre-school conference from the first page continues.



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