In December 1942, Ridgeway was preparing for its second Christmas of World War II. The Bethany Republican-Clipper was full of war news with instructions on how to properly handle black-outs, manage ration books, requests for farmers to donate scrap metal, information about a “victory tax” that would be withheld from paychecks to support the war effort, and reminders to write your name on gas ration books so they couldn’t be used by someone else. There were many articles about local men leaving for boot camp, coming home on furlough to see family and girlfriends, or saddest of all, not coming home at all.
Despite the war, Ridgeway still tried to keep things as normal as possible for the ones at home. The “Ridgeway News” column still wrote about all the visiting back and forth between families. By mid-December, the Ridgeway area had already had three snowfalls. Mr. and Mrs. John Samuel Rankin celebrated 70 years of marriage and Mrs. Rankin’s 89th birthday with a turkey dinner at their home with four of their five children. The Christian Church announced they would perform “The Beautiful Story” pageant on Dec. 20; the first through sixth graders held a Christmas program at the school; and the Methodist church had a Christmas Eve program. The Harrison County Times reported on December 17 that there would be additional trees on the square that year, but without lights due to the blackout restrictions and energy conservation efforts.
