Eighty years ago, Ridgeway residents were mentioned several times in the July 29, 1942, edition of the Bethany Republican-Clipper. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Provin welcomed a baby boy on at the Wood Hospital that week. They named him Ronald Earl. Mrs. W. S. Lester also celebrated that week when her 8 ½ lb. White Wyandotte hen sold for $1. 44 ($26.18 in today’s money.) Dean Scott was bitten on the palm of his by a hog. He was treated at home by Dr. C. M. Propst.
Then, as now, the county was preparing for the primary elections. Ridgeway resident Judge Frank Rinehart was running for re-election as judge against Harry L. Miller of Eagleville. The paper was full of political advertisements, many apologizing for not being able to campaign in person as people were being asked to conserve fuel and rubber due to World War II. The reality of the war hit home in other ways: ads in the paper told people to order their winter coal early as rationing was a probability and that a cord of wood was the equivalent of a ton of coal but be sure to save the good trees. There was a long list of young men’s names and draft numbers as well as stories of draftees being classified for the draft and leaving home for training camps.
Under Service News, John Andricks and Vern Prather came home from Camp Blanding to enjoy a 15-day furlough. They both planned to spend the time with their parents. Major Noel T. Adams was also home on furlough for fifteen days. He had been stationed at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis as a chaplain for two years but came home and helped his wife move her things to Bethany where she would live for the duration of the war. He then left for Camp Young in California.
