75 Years Ago

Herald of July 1, 1948

A severe electrical storm with high winds and rain damaged farms in the Piney Creek area. Ground from corn fields near Royer washed onto the roads in such quantity that highway workers were on the job all day Monday scooping the mud off. Two trees were blown down at the home of Cletus Sollenberger, just south of Williamsburg, and a walnut tree in the yard of Perry Deeters, at the foot of Williamsburg ridge, was blown down.

The family of Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Hershberger planned a surprise silver anniversary dinner at Oak Manor, their farm home near Fredericksburg. When the honored guests arrived, the couple turned the surprise of the day by appearing in their wedding clothes.

Grand Ole Opry star Grandpa Jones, the Grand Old Man From the Mountains, was the scheduled headline entertainment at Musselman’s Grove for Sunday, July 4.

Railroad pensions increased by 20% as the result of a bill signed by President Truman. The average annuity rose from $70 to $84 a month and the average pension rose to $71 from $50. The maximum retirement benefit was $144 a month.