Old No. 5 makes last fire call
Old No. 5 has made its last run after 28 years and 14 days service to the City of Rome.
Rome Fire Department Chief W.T. McKinney announced Saturday that No. 5, the oldest fire engine in service, has officially “retired” and stripped of all ornaments that connect it with fire fighting.
Over the years, No. 5, has been a faithful worker in the department and has had a part in some of Rome’s biggest fires.
The vehicle was purchased on December 15, 1934, when the new fire station was opened at Shorter Avenue and Division Street in West Rome. It was a 1954 Mack truck with a 750-gallon-per-minute pump.
Its last run was made December 29 at 12:26 a.m. to a fire on Barker Road.
Chief McKinney announced that parts were not available for repairs. “Old No. 5 has just seen its day,” he stated in a remorseful tone.
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 1963
Lindale Independents trim Inland Five
The Industrial Basketball League action last night at Rome’s Memorial Gym, the Lindale Independents trimmed Inland Container 67-26.
The Lindaleans went out at intermission leading 25-13.
Three Lindale players hit for double figures. Kenneth Shiflett tossed in 19 points; Wallace Shiflett, 17 and Jimmy Holcomb, 13. Also aiding the winning cause were Archie Vaughn, 8; Clayton Byars, 6; Sack Melton, 2 and Grady Brannon, 2.
The Lindaleans now have won four out of five starts in loop competition.
Monday, Jan. 7, 1963
Harlem Magicians plan Rome games
Fans who have watched the fabulous Harlem Magicians in previous seasons know they shouldn’t leave their seats until the horn sounds ending the final quarter.
The Magicians, under the hand of owner Marques Haynes, considered by many observers to be the finest dribbler and ball handler in the history of professional basketball, will play the New York Olympians at Rome’s Memorial Gym on Monday, Jan. 28, at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.
And they pack 40 minutes of consummate court skill into a comedy and crowd-pleasing routine that makes the last minute of their performance as entertaining as the opening moments of their games.
The admonition to stay around until the final bell is worth heeding because Sam (Boom) Wheeler, might elect to bounce the ball through the hoop at the buzzer; or Josh Grider, famed set-shot star, might hit one of his “homeruns” from the middle of the court.
The club Haynes has assembled this year will be his best in the nine seasons the Magicians have been in operation.
There’s no shot the squad can’t make. The ball-handling and play formations, both on the offense and defense looks simple in the hands of standouts like Haynes, Grider, Wheeler, Jim Dew, Paul Martin and Eugene Johnson.
The Magicians are working on a current record of 1,900 wins against eight losses as of October 15.
The Harlem Magicians are sponsored for this event in Rome by the East Rome Gladiator Club.
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 1963
Shorter to host ‘royalty’
Shorter College students will host royalty Friday — royalty with a definite purpose.
Princess Catherine Caradja will speak at Shorter on Friday at 1 p.m. about the background circumstances of the fall to Russia of the 10 middle European Countries during World War II.
Princess Caradja is a native of Rumania. She was born in 1893 to Prince Rada Kretulesco and Princess Irene Cantacuzene, and spent her early years in England. After a year in France, she returned to Rumania in 1908, and in 1914, she married Prince Caradja.
From this point, the life and world of the Princess are items of wonder in the almost fairy tale quality of a woman who tirelessly devoted herself to the service of others. The Princess said, “The only real way I can be of service to the people of my country is to tell those in the free world about the conditions existing behind the Iron Curtain and to encourage others to protect and defend their precious freedom.”
Soon after Princess Caradja returned to Rumania, the First World War broke out and over half of her country fell to the Germans. She fled with her two children, one a year old, the other only a 10-day-old infant, to safety. Almost immediately, she began a 30-bed hospital for victims of typhus, and ran it for 18 months with her own money. In the fall of 1918, however, she caught the fever, and in December, after the armistice, she returned to Bucharest.
In Bucharest she found her grandmother, old and tired, running a foundation for orphans and foundlings, which was begun by the Princess’ mother. Princess Caradja took over the foundation, and in 10 years, built up the foundation in the town and added foster-home section in 12 villages on her country estate.
In 1921, a third daughter was born to the Princess and her husband. In 1933 her 17-year-old died after a short illness. Her eldest daughter married in 1937, and in 1940, she and her husband were killed in an earthquake. The youngest daughter married in 1942 and escaped with her family to the West in 1948.
Throughout the German occupations and Allied bombing of the oil refineries near her estate, Princess Caradja continued to run the foundation. She helped survivors of a plane crash on her land, and later, over 100 other flyers, received her help in their POW camps.
By 1944, there were over 3,000 children in the foundation, and the Princess continued to work for them through the Russian invasion and the succeeding Red government. In 1949, the foundation was taken over “piece-meal” by various state organizations, and the Princess was turned from her land with, literally, only the clothes on her back.
After several attempts, Princess Caradja escaped from Red oppression with the help of her daughter. She was forced into hiding, but came out to give more than 160 talks in
France about life in her country.
Princess Caradja went to London for the summer months, and, in 1953, she was guest speaker for the American Women’s Club in Paris. She then spent four months organizing child relief in the earthquake zone in Algiers, sent by English lady, Mrs. Doughty-White, with whom she had worked in Rumania. She also gave several talks in Algiers and Morocco stressing the persecution in Rumania of all religions, even Moslems.
Princess Caradja has been in the United States three years and has spoken in 46 states. She happily said that she has had reunions with 73 of “my boys,” the ex-POWs.
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