Sewickley Herald

              The Sewickley Valley's Home Weekly Newspaper
VOL. .51 NO. 42
SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1954
Price Ten Cents
'ublic Requested To Pull Shades During Test Air Raid Alert
Surprise Test To Come at Unannounced Time Next Week
A new pull-the-blinds feature will be incorporated in tbe statewide civil defense test scheduled for the. week of October 24, Dr. ¿Richard Gerstell, State Director-of Civil Defense, announced' this ‘week in Harrisburg. Under the new regulations, all Pennsylvanians in their homes and offices will be expected to pull down the window blinds, or draw the curtains/when they hear the “Red” siren signal to be blown at some unannounced time during the last week of the month.
f“Be it day or be it night, everyone must pull their blinds”, the State Direc-ptor stated. He explained that the purpose of the new pull-your-blinds regula-|tion is two-fold. First, during both day I’ and night raids, pulling the blinds will | provide at least some degree of protec-j tion from flying glass. Secondly, pulling ithe blinds for after'dark raids will help ; shut off the “sky glow” which enemy [ bombers otherwise could use as flying | guides to be followed in reaching their assigned target areas. If these objectives are reached, electronic bomb sights i will pinpoint the bull's eyes.
Dr. Gerstell further .explained that the new illumination control program is modification of the -blackouts .used in World War H. Final details of new plans covering wartime control of street and other outdoor lighting have not yet been announced by federal authorities,
but the State Director emphasized the fact that "total blackouts are not anticipated”.
The state-wide test, scheduled for the week of October 24, will take place between midnight Sunday,. October 24, and midnight Wednesday, October 27. Not even county or local civil defense officials will know exactly when the test is coming, since it is designed primarily to test the ability of local forcés to mobilize on an emergency basis. Mobilization will begin immediately following a special: signalisent to civil defense forces over the bell-and-Iights instantaneous air raid warning system.
The first notice the public at large will have of the coming test will be when they hear the sirens sound the “Red” warning, which means that attack
( Continued on Page 28) "
SEVEN-STATE AIR RAID TEST!
Time: Between midnight, Sunday, October 24 and midnight, Wednesday, October 27
Signal: The “Red” will be sounded on the local fire sirens, a series of short blasts, up to three minutes, to simulate the regulation warbling signal which the new air raid siren will produce, when installed.
_ The “White” will be a long blast, followed by an interval,‘another long blast, another interval and a final blast.
Public: Must take cover in nearest house or building. Traffic must stop. Blinds or curtains are to be drawn whether the alert comes by night or day, but there will be no prosecutions for violations this time. All that is expected is cooperation by the public.
Art Exhibit To Feature Sewickley Academy Open House
• • Photo by McCandless
Floyd E. Nesbitt, Jr., Art Instructor at Sewickley Academy, is shown: banging pictures while the artist, Gertrude Webb Scandrett, looks on. The art exhibit will be a feature of the Annual Corporators’ Meeting and Open House to be held from November first to fifth.	(Story on Page 25)
Community Chest Volunteers Start Solicitation On Monday
De Grace Studio
CHECKING results of the 1954 Community Chest Campaign, which began Monday, are these local volunteer workers, The concentrated one-day drive proclaimed “Red Feather Ladies Day” started off with a bang as workers pitched in to solicit funds toward the Chest goal—$5,679,882. Seated (L to r.) are: Mrs, Alexander Hays HI, District chairman; Mrs, John B. Dumont, Jr,, team captain; and William S. McChesney, chairman of special gifts. Contributions for the Red Feather drive will continue until November 18,
Mellon Buys Patton Building
BANK PLANS NEW QUARTERS AT PRESENT LOCATION
The Patton Building on Broad Street has been: purchased by Mellon National Bank and Trust Company, according to an announcement made today by Frank A. Nash, assistant vice president of the bank and manager of its Sewickley Office.
The building will be occupied temporarily by the bank, while new quarters ire bein'g erected for its Sewickley Office at its present location at the comer of Beaver and Broad Streets.
“By pucliasing this building,” Mr. Nash said, “we have made it possible to continue our services without inter-iiiption and with almost no change in location, while the construction is going on. After careful study, we decided that this was the best way to prevent any inconvenience to our customers during the period of construction.”
The first step in the program, Mr. Nash said, will be the construction of a new vault in the lot between the bank’s present building and the Patton Building. When this is completed, the bank will be ready to, move into its temporary quarters. I
The Patton Building was formerly occupied by Rich’s clothing store.
Carrier Delivery
U. S, POST OFFICE FINALLY GRANTS CITY DELIVERIES
Congressman, Robert J, Corbett an-houncèd this week that the U. S. Post Office Department has finally agreed to establish city delivery service at Leets-dale. The Departtnent’s go-ahead signal climaxes many years of effort òri thq part of the Congressman and residents (Continued on Page 28)
Low-Lying Houses In Valjey Flooded By Rainfall From Hurricane Hazel
Glenfield Volunteer Firemen Aid Residents In
Removing Appliances To. Upper Foors
The record rainfall which lashed the, Valley Friday resulted in a flood which reached more than thirty feet on Saturday afternoon. Wind which accompanied the rain Friday toppled a tree on Charette Place, Sewickley and knocked down branches in several parts of town. Water covered the Ohio River Boulevard in Emsworth and Lt. Jones detoured all trucks and buses across,ihe Sewickley Bridge for two hours until relieved by State Police.. Passenger cars were allowed to proceed as they could negotiate a detour set up by Emsworth police. Cellars were flooded in the low-lying portions of Glenfield, Haysville, Ledtsdale and Fair Oaks. Hr Glenfield, the volnteer firemen warned all residents and then worked Friday night and all day Saturday removing washers, dryers, freezers and other appliances from the cellars before they were flooded.
Water backed up Kilbtick Creek in Glenfield beyond Bridge street on Center flooding basements. Cellars were also flooded on East Beaver and Dawson Streets in Glenfield, South Avenue, Railroad and Center Streets in Haysville and Osborne. The water reached the first floor in several houses, but through the efforts of firemen and other volunteers, damage was held to a minimum. In one house in Glenfield, it was necessary to break in, as the family was away. Gas was shut off in Glenfield and some of the houses were still without gas by Tuesday.	»-
Between 10 p.m, and 11 p.m. on Friday, Louis J, Ebrier, president of the Glenfield volunteer fire department, phoned all the residents in the flood area and told them to prepare for 30-foot stage by Saturday afternoon. Firemen Worked Friday night and all
I day Saturday, aiding residents to move valuable appliances, furniture and gas
burners from the basements. On Sunday, the firemen helped the residents to dean up and move their appliances back. Duq to the timely alert and aid by the firemen, damage in Glenfield was held to a minimum. The firemen wish to express their thanks to the Women’s Civic Glnb of,Glenfield for keeping the Fire Hall open day and night to serve hot soup and coffee to the firemen. Church services in Glenfield were cancelled Sunday, due to lack of gas to heat the churches:" ' ■ v
In Haysville, residents of the easterz end of South Avenue were marooned
( Continued on Page 28)
Flood Victims
Still in. need of assistance, please call Sewickley ;(lliaptert American Rod Cross, Sewickley 225 or the Pittsburgh Chapter, Grant 1-4923.