Denson Communique #16-20
#16: December 11, 1942
Page 1: Council to govern here; gypsum walls to be installed; 500 to 750 men will be needed for wood cutting; the center will make its own soap; 18 years old need to sign up for Selective Service; the center has gotten a bunch of calls for domestic help positions; soft drinks are on sale, but the bottles will have a two cent deposit; mochi will be available on January 1st; the Nisei can now own cameras.
Page 2: Young mess hall workers are being replaced by old people; schedule of events; first fire engine arrives; Block 3 will hold a Hi Neighbor thing for block 2; illness cases to receive aid; war bonds and stamps will be sold; a baby girl is born; a dance will be held; the sawmill will close for a short time; a boys' club selected officers.
An article about trouble at Manzanar.
Page 3: Mail boxes requested; fifth center couple wed; education to sponsor scouts; forum to hear JACL reports; musical show planned; mackinaw coats issued workers; girls' activities meeting scheduled; baby born; chess game results; drinking water from well 1 is satisfactory to drink; two items lost.
Page 4: One resident is making things like ashtrays out of the more than abundant mud at the camp; Protestant and Buddhist activities; A Capella Choir holds first practice; project law office vital to center; five mothers and babies arrive from Fresno.
Pages 5 and 6 are in Japanese.
#17: December 15, 1942
Page 1: Leave action sped up; trustee board chosen to set stores' policies; registration for adult classes; household goods to arrive soon; Selective Service registration will continue; Christmas gifts in the thousands have been received from various Christian organizations and other people; firewood solution expected to satisfy; clothing allowance to be in cash.
Page 2: Students with transcripts; a piece of sand art has been made by Block 28; opening of school has been delayed which has caused a change in birth date admission rules; duties of trust article continues from page 1; sumo tournament; three babies born; leaves article from page 1 continues; three residents leave camp, two for jobs and one to join her soldier husband; facilities rushed for wage payments; schedule of events.
Page 3: Funds made available for cripples; professional licenses; dry goods store to open; variety show will be held; colored light bulbs used at dances have gone missing; visits by doctors impractical; some high school teachers are needed; 6-10 Toppers to make etiquette posters; books received from Los Angeles Community College.
Page 4: Government to buy late model cars; Boddhi service held; Protestant Young People's Fellowship meeting; body building equipment arrives; goh tournament held; nurses' aid course; article on Scouting; Social-ites girls' club selects leader; lost and found; sympathy thank-you; bus to stop at gate; use exact change at post office since it has a shortage of money.
Pages 5 and 6 are in Japanese.
#18: December 16, 1942
Page 1 with neat artwork.
Page 2: Girl reporters try lumberjacking for a day; various articles continued from page 1, and an article on two mules the camp has received.
#19: December 18, 1942
Page 1: Grid game; first sumo tournament; November pay held up due to lack of cash; pay raises clarified; more men sign up as loggers; record survey aids job hunt; post office has a package but isn't sure who it belongs to; committee to distribute gifts here; alterations shop cannot make dresses; individual hobby check being made.
Page 2: WRA minimum standards of employment explained; holly and mistletoe found in woods; activities schedule; center department store will open next week; stored property; chess tournament; wards catalogs available for use; Blue Wave Clippers boys' club installs officers; all residents must have I.D. numbers; the elementary school needs a teacher; 6-40 Hi-Teens girls' club selects officers.
Page 3: Center garage to be moved; blocks to get lanterns; the woodsmen have been bringing back wood and animals (squirrel; raccoon; lizard; owl); liberal education to be discussed; Cub Scout registration begins; Girl Scout troop to start in center; an engagement; 6-10 Toppers to aid in Christmas work; Lotus girls' club elects officers.
Page 4: Courses continue over holidays; WRA offices consolidated; project payroll totals almost 4000 workers; Protestant and Buddhist activities; nurses' aids join hospital staff; post office lists rules; holiday mail increases; X-ray machine due in; books received from Fresno center; two lost objects.
Pages 5 and 6 are in Japanese.
#20: December 22, 1942
Page 1: Carolers to sing on Christmas Eve; toys arrive from 30 states; new Service head appointed; freight rules clarified; outside work may be had now; mess crews get pay.
I thought this was interesting.
Page 2: Out-patient clinic busy; dining halls gaily decorated; service chief article continues from page 1; attorney assists residents; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a picture of the camp; Junior Densonettes girls' club selects officers; blocks 29 and 20 hold pre-holiday social; Christmas Eve dance; Fowler alumni dance; two residents leave for jobs elsewhere; bridge tournament.
Page 3: Two articles on football results; rationing hits center's stores; chess tournament begins; radio shop to repair all makes; doormats to be sold; fruits in stores comes long ways; no problems with mosquitoes until the weather turns warm.
Page 4: A drainage system is being built; Protestant and Buddhist activities; social service lists hours; 2 baby boys are born; Happy Hour club elects officers; one person dies of a heart attack.
Pages 5 and 6 are in Japanese.
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