AIR RAID SIRENS UNDERGO TESTS: 76 years and 4 days ago, with the calamity of brutal fighting in World War II taking place, The Bradford Era reported an announcement from Mayor Hugh J. Ryan with a headline that read, “City to Test Sirens Tuesday.”

That Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., Bradford would test air raid sirens from two locations — on top of the Hooker-Fulton building in downtown Bradford, where a 7.5 horsepower siren was placed, and atop the East Bradford fire station, upon which was mounted a 2.5 horsepower siren.

A previous siren at Kendall Refining Co. (now American Refining Group) had been put to the test but, with great concern, proved to be unsuccessful.

The siren tests were a precautionary measure in case of air raids on Bradford. Mayor Ryan requested those who could hear the sirens to call the police station and notify the officers in order to collect results for the test. The test proved to be successful as Ryan and Police Chief Edward Edmunds were very pleased with the results.

Edmunds reported that the high velocity of the wind had no effect on the signalling capability of the sirens. He said the sirens could be heard at the airport (now the location of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford), Parkway Heights, High Street extension and out Bolivar Run. The only setback during the tests was that they were delayed when a fuse was blown in the siren on top of the Hooker-Fulton building.

RAF PILOT SEEKS “PEN FRIENDS”: On May 28, 1942; The Bradford Era published a story about an English airman by the name of Norman Holiday, who was enduring training at a facility in Carberry, Manitoba, Canada. He sent a letter to an unidentified Bradford recipient. The thought of Bradford, Pa. was stuck in his head since he was from Bradford, England.

His letter read, “I have only just recently arrived in this country from England (my home town incidentally being the center of the wool industry in that country, Bradford, Yorkshire) and as I find little to do in my off-duty hours, I thought it would be most interesting as well as educational to obtain, if possible, with your kindly assistance, a few “pen friends” with whom I could exchange a few lines with from time to time.

I do not know if yourself, sir, are familiar with aerodrome sites, but as far as my experience goes, they appear to be all situated in the center of country districts where there is little to do.

It would, therefore, give me the greatest pleasure to enter into correspondence with any friends in Bradford, Pa., with whom I hope you will acquaint with my request.

Yours most sincerely,

Normal Holiday”