By The Greater Astoria Historical Society
In October 1941, with the war in the United States a little more than a month away, war clouds gathered as the Japanese “peace cabinet” stepped down and the United States ordered all ships in the Far East to make for friendly ports. Ships were leaving Japan with American nationals on board while Japanese nationals were preparing to leave America. The Japanese press whipped up hysteria over the Allied oil embargo.
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Charles Lindbergh in a speech before the pacifist America First rally, declared, “American democracy is lost. We are governed by a man who is drawing more and more dictatorial powers into his hands.”
Lindbergh feared that next year’s elections would be suspended. Lindbergh complained that newspapers gave propaganda from Moscow while facts and arguments against the war made the back pages, if at all.
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Meanwhile, across Queens simulated war drills were taking place.
Seaborne troops backed by dive-bomber captured Fort Tilden at the tip of the Rockaway peninsula. Outnumbered 2-1, the defenders were annihilated.
In control of the fort, the military game then simulated the attackers using the fort’s guns to lob thousands of 16-inch steel shells on Manhattan. Called to dislodge the attackers, National Guard units from Flushing, Hempstead and Jamaica rush to the Rockaways.
It takes them an hour to repair the (theoretical) damage to the bridges. Units that arrive on the scene without gas masks complain that it was unfair to be tear gased in the simulated assault. Senior officers undoubtedly discovered they had a lot of training to do.
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Perhaps the boys could have let off steam if they bowled at the new Queens Bowling Center in the Long Island City Commercial League for the Kelvinator, Haulage, Pullman or Green Point teams.
The Court Square Brewster Union has teams named Cowling #2, Welders #6, Doghouse #1, Fitting and Chauffeurs.
The Norwood Division has Sheet Metal #1 and Fuselage #1.
The Queens Master Bakers Association, bowling at the National Academy, was represented by the Technicakes, Breddos, Cheese and Hajo Whirlers teams.
At Terminal Recreation in Flushing, the Electric League’s teams were named Meter, Inventory, Overhead, Sales and Production.
John “Moldy” Mathes showed the way in the Drafting Room League as the Erasers crushed the Pencil Pushers, Straight Edgers and Screwballs.
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With a sly twinkle in the eye, the Star-Journal reported on Borough Hall’s taste in artwork. Promptly at 4 p.m., “Fat Boy” is given to Queens by Newbold Morris, president of the City Council. Officially called “Civic Virtue” but popularly called Fat Boy, the monument depicts a muscled man towering majestically overhead.
Unfortunately, MacMonnies, the sculptor, carved it with the hero trampling a woman underfoot. A marble foot crushes her neck. Banished from City Hall Park, the city placed it in front of Queens Borough Hall with official blessing but without general public approval.
It is given with Manhattan’s compliments. The statue is dedicated at the long-awaited ceremony. Does anyone care? What arrangements have been made for handling the crowds? Borough President Harvey does not state the plans in the announcement.
About 120 people, mostly borough hall employees, were on hand for the dedication.
For more information, call 718-278-0700 or visit astorialic.org.
