In July, 115 men registered for the Selective Service Board. Shortly after, the City Council voted for a bond election of $60,000 for an airport. On July 15, J.M. Ara’s Wholesale Company began selling fruits and vegetables. By July 25, the bond issue for the airport passed 241 to 17. On August 1, the ground-breaking ceremony for a new high school took place, which included a gym with 450 seats, an auditorium with 800 seats, music rooms, physics and chemistry labs with lecture halls, and several classrooms. On August 5, an estimated 7,147 students were expected to enroll in Gonzales County schools.
The Texas Company moved to a new location on August 6, and on August 19, the city installed 200 new street lights. The Gonzales Garden Club held its first meeting on August 21 with the goal of beautifying the city. On September 1, the actual enrollment for the first day of school in Gonzales was 1,300. The Warm Springs Foundation opened on September 14, and the new airport southwest of the city on the Cost highway was nearing completion. On September 23, a hurricane with 100 mph winds struck Matagorda and Palacios.
On September 24, Dr. Bryan Denman opened his dental office in the Boothe Building, above J.C. Penney Store, and Dr. Fred Siegel opened his optometry office in Bright Jewelry Store. On October 2, a total of 419 hand-knitted sweaters had been shipped from Gonzales County to the Red Cross for relief work. On October 9, automobile owners were notified that they must have a certificate of title to purchase 1942 license plates. On October 11, W.F. Robertson retired after being a partner with Seydler since 1925, and the business became “Seydler Funeral Home”.
On November 26, the Lion’s Club hosted a Ladies Night program, where a delicious turkey dinner was served. On December 3, T.J. Knight’s Department Store offered men’s cowboy boots for $6.98 and $7.98 and Tudzin’s Dry Goods Store sold ladies’ hats in pastel shades with snap brims for $1.00. On December 8, banner headlines read “U.S. DECLARES WAR ON JAPS”. A few days later, on December 12, headlines read “U.S. Declares War on Germany and Italy,” with accompanying news of President Roosevelt’s speech to Congress requesting a declaration of war. Finally, B. Glynn Storey took over Bright’s Jewelry House.
Between 1942 and 1944, approximately 3,000 men from the county go to war and enlist during WW2.
