Denson Communique #6-10
#6: Nov. 10, 1942
Page 1: Co-op set up is explained; legal aid has arrived; any housing problems are to be communicated to the block heads; pre-school conference opens; rain wear is available; deer hunting season is open and residents need to avoid certain areas where the hunters might be; payday has arrived, and this fascinating study of temperatures at the camps:
Page 2: Schedule of events; privately stored freight can be shipped to the camp at personal expense; change-of-address cards; Protestant and Buddhist articles; a former Jerome official has joined the Navy; Co-op information; school conference article continues from page 1; two articles lost; visitors at the center; a doctor has been transferred, and a woman has died of diabetes.
#7: Nov. 13, 1942
Page 1: Council candidates have been named; a baby has been born; article from the education conference; local Nisei have joined the military; WCAA checks have arrived; forum stresses health problems; gypsum walls are being installed; rules for the name-the-newspaper contest.
Page 2: List of people running for the council; two married couples are running against each other; article on Nisei enlistment from page 1 continues; Boys' Clubs leaders; Girls' meeting rescheduled; hospital unable to treat out-patients.
Page 3: Benefit aid clarified; Kansas will use some of the Japanese to pick sugar beets; center infant feeding plan is explained; article on the head of the police force; YMCA votes to aid the assimilation of Japanese evacuees; war bonds will be sold, and a list of electricians to call in case of an emergency.
Page 4: Chefs do the hiring and managing at the mess halls; lost & found items; events schedule; education article from page 1 continues; article on Protestant and Buddhist activities; fire department leaders named; student nurses may get more training; people interested in wood carving are to see a certain resident; thank you article for sympathy; power-driven saw operators are needed.
#8: Nov. 17, 1942
Page 1: Council elections that day; schools will open Monday; eleven men left for the Army; pre-school meet called success; article on contest to name the paper.
Page 2: Clothing issued for people from Santa Anita; individual record census starts; hospital recruits maids and orderlies; a 21-day-old baby died; Thanksgiving day football game planned; some people have not yet picked up their paychecks; four will attend Utah JACL meeting; people under 18 must quit their jobs since they are required to attend school; lost & found; police need more men; two births; judo classes have started; orders for block supplies must be submitted on time.
Documentary photos taken.
An interesting article.
Page 3: Hobby display conference; more power-saw operators needed; Caucasian teachers are eager to serve; optometry service starts; social service staff increased; when Montgomery Ward goods arrive, notices will be sent to the buyers; the Memphis Commercial Appeal has been added to papers that will be available in the camp; various Nisei soldiers have visited; leaders for Troop 68 are listed.
Cartoon for buying war stamps and bonds.
A very interesting article. This relates to various newspaper articles that had criticized the camps, saying that the internees were being pampered.
Page 4: Army thanks civilian agencies who helped in transfer of Japanese out of West Coast area; articles on Protestant and Buddhist activities; center begins lumber production; evening art classes will be held; 300 workers are needed to clear farm land; center agriculturists attended a meeting.
Article about two Rohwer internees being shot by a civilian.
A Nisei soldier was shot at while in a cafe. This is one case that I hadn't read about before and shows the level of hostility some people had against Japanese Americans.
#9: Nov. 18, 1942
Page 1: Four articles on the election, including the results; a bank agent will explain the local banking system.
Page 2: Complete unofficial results; list of officials who took charge of voting in the blocks.
#10: Nov. 18, 1942
Page 1: 73% of the residents voted in the election; the start of school is delayed; some people still need to pick up their WCAA clothing; Montgomery Ward is going to give a rebate to the camp's store; residents have been trespassing on land belonging to other people and need to stop doing so; men who want to get into the intelligence school but failed the test can take a night class to help them pass.
There was a strike of the land-clearing crew over poor lunches.
Page 2: One resident working on a fuse box was hit by a strong electrical surge and hurt; an article on the sewage disposal system; football rally and dance the next day; recreation program planned; list of activities; a new store is opening; Cub Scouts registration the next day, and amateur dramatists will meet.
Page 3: Farm plan is developed; lumber workers are needed; a representative from Social Security is there; students will be allowed to work part time; change-of-addresses need to be filled out; conserve medical supplies; lost & found items; names of new club members must be submitted to the Community Activities Department; six military officers are due to visit; a banking representative will be there; thank-you for sympathy notice; Co-ops to be Adult Forum topic.
Page 4: A clothing alterations department has opened; judo classes and music classes will be held; a Bussei get-together; a boxing arena is ready for use; Post War Reconstruction seminar; Protestants to hear holiday talk; Montgomery Ward catalogs are available; Christmas mailing deadline; one death from pneumonia; facilities for handling births are ready; hog-raising project is planned; use of block halls is up to Community Activities head.
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