Noise Features V-J Celebration
August 21, 1945
Noises and more noises was the first and chief means of celebrating the end of four years tension and war on Tuesday in Susanville. Whistles, sirens, horns and just plain yells all blasted loose when the first flash came at 4 p.m. For an hour the whistles at the lumber mills were tied down, literally deafening the east end of town.
In the business district the fire horn boomed out periodically; cars roamed up and down the street honking joyously. Impromptu parades were staged; a batch of 20 high school girls staged a snake dance up the middle of Main St. Streets were packed solid. Reed Barron parked his car at the Main and Lassen street intersection and had it tipped on its side.
Stores closed almost as soon as the flash came. By 10 p.m. Tuesday night the crowds began to thin out. But in private homes in town and in the valley the joyous celebration went on. Giving a thanks for victory and peace was not forgotten.
Tuesday night a special service was held at the Baptist church. Wednesday morning there were special masses at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Wednesday night a previously planned service was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran church with special prayers and songs. This coming Sunday morning all the churches are planning to have some type of thankgsgiving service. There will be a special mass at 10:30 at Sacred Heart church.
