75 Years Ago This Week –
August 4-10, 1938
Aug. 4 headline: Maytag Factory Re-Opens; 900 At Work/CIO Union Votes To Work—After Debate. At a mass meeting held at the junior high school members of Local No. 1116 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America voted to accept the terms of the agreement offered by the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) local executive committee to return to work at the Maytag plant. A Daily News editorial expressed gratitude that "the big Maytag washing machine factory is again resuming operations" after a debilitating three-month strike. . . . Rev. W. H. Betz, pastor of the Methodist Protestant Church (509 S. 5th Ave. E.), was the speaker at union church services held at the Maytag Bowl Aug. 7. His sermon topic was "A Million Dollars and a Boy," and fathers and sons were especially invited to be present. Special music was furnished by the Acorn Quartet. . . . On Aug. 8, the Newton branch of the Jasper County chapter of the American Red Cross began sponsoring a visiting nursing service in Newton. Mrs. Walter (Frances) Fox, who, for 12 years, was the Maytag Company nurse, was employed on a half-time basis.