By Mike Louviere

Friday, November 9, 1945, was my birthday. I was born in the early morning hours at the Frances Ann Lutcher Hospital.

The war had ended in August, so there was no war news. There were reports of servicemen from Orange being discharged and an article about a change in government in Japan. There were still ships being built in Orange, the government contracts had not been canceled. Orange was still crowded with the “pea pickers” who had come to build ships.

News and events happening Orange were reported in the Orange Leader Friday edition.

Mrs. Lillie Taylor, who lived at Echo had a tree which produced a two-pound lemon. Her tree had been producing fruit for about three years. She stated she thought the tree would produce about 150 lemons and there would be “a lot” over two pounds. The large lemon was placed on display at C.M. Grocery Number 2 located at Seventh and Front Streets.

The body of Marion W. Burkett, age 54, was discovered hanging on a piling about six feet from the bank of the Sabine River at the foot of Third Street. Justice of the Peace J.P. Swain ruled that there was no evidence of foul play. Burkett had left his home at 417 East Morell Street in Riverside at about 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon. His body was discovered Friday morning about 6:45 a.m. He was thought to have about $200 to $300 cash in his pockets. Police recovered $131 in currency, $3 in loose change and several pieces of foreign currency. Sam Saxon of the city police force investigated the death.

In “Courthouse News”, seven persons were held to appear in police court. Four persons were charged with drunkenness, one was being held for Lake Charles authorities, one for vagrancy, and one for a juvenile offense.

Two fires were reported. One was a stove fire at a small tenant dwelling at Third and Park Streets at 3 a.m. Friday morning. The second was a grass fire at Fourteenth and John Streets reported at 10:50 p.m. on Thursday. No damage was reported from either fire.

Orange County Bond Sales for the Victory Loan Drive were disappointing. Orange County was ranked at 221^st out of the 254 counties in Texas. Orange County was only credited with 1.9% of the $1,600,000 sales quota for the Victory E Bond Drive. “The present picture does not look at all good for Orange County with our neighboring county resting at 123^rd place against out 221^st place in the November 5 official tabulations”, reported the Leader.

The Shipbuilding Division of United States Steel Corporation in Orange launched the destroyer U.S.S. McCard at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon. Mrs. Robert H. McCard, widow of the late Gunnery Sergeant Robert H. McCard was the sponsor of the ship. Sgt. McCard was killed in action on June 16, 1944, at Saipan. McCard was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The 30-man Orange High School Tiger football team was headed to Galveston to face the Ball High Tornados. This would be the top game in District 14AA for the week. The Tornados were ranked number 10 in the state by the Associated Press. A win against the Tigers would give them at least a tie for first place in the district. The Tigers were tied with Port Arthur and Goose Creek for second place. A Tiger win would give them a chance for a tie for the title. A loss would put them out of the running.

The Orange Lions club invited Texas Governor Coke Stevenson and Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis to attend the annual Bi-State All-Star Football Game to be held in Orange December 21, 1945.

The Leader reported news about a big lemon, an upcoming football game, a ship being launched, but no news about the new baby…

“And now you know”.