NEWS: “Allied Airmen Score Stunning 84-3 Aerial Victory over Axis.”
This was the headline of The Era on April 15, 1943.
The U.S. was fighting in World War II, and the nation didn’t have 24-hour news channels to report on what was happening. The Era and Associated Press reporters brought word from the front to the region.
We have microfilm of The Era’s back issues, and it’s a firsthand account of history.
Along with news from the front, The Era reported on the war efforts at home as well. In McKean County, a blackout test took the district by surprise.
“Bradford and McKean county, as well as the rest of Pennsylvania, were caught in a surprise 35-minute practice blackout last night which interrupted a number of defense meetings.”
The story continued, “The first blue signal sounded at 8:55 p.m., with the red following at 9:10, the second blue at 9:20 and the all-clear, sounded by radio, at 9:30.
“The drill brought into immediate action most of the local defense corps and even though it came as a complete surprise, the citizens immediately acquiesced.”
The story went on to report that some refused to comply.
Brown’s Boot Shop on Main Street had lights in the display window that auxiliary policemen were unable to turn off from the outside. A Burnside Avenue residence had a light showing through a rear window. An East Main Street residence also had a light on. A couple, who the paper named, were on the street during the red signal and “refused to take cover when commanded.”
The article didn’t report what the penalty would have been.
Seven other homes throughout the city had lights on, and no one was home, the article stated.
We had to do some research to find out what the blue signal and red signals meant. This information comes from a book called “Midcoast Maine in World War II,” by Margaret Shiels Konitzky.
The blue signal was for civil defense personnel to report to their stations. Homes had to black out immediately. Pedestrians and drivers could continue traveling to their destinations, and street and traffic lights remained on.
At the red signal, pedestrians were to immediately take shelter. All vehicular traffic stopped. Drivers had to extinguish all lights and seek cover.
