The Herald-Press from Saint Joseph, Michigan • 20

EigK! THE HERALD-PRESS, feT. JOSEPH, MICH. Permits Here Near Million Democrat Victory REMODELING OF PEOPLES BANK Topped State News i WK J' mm JiP 'fill Jii IIPmI 1 3te Thanks your tlZ-kindness. Best wishes mi for the New Year. 1955 as DETROIT, Dec.

31 (AP). Michi- gan's November election, a smashing; victory for the Democrats, wjis a landslide choice as the states big gest news story of 1954. The political surprise which swept Republicans out of virtually every high state office drew the No. 1 vote of all but five of the newspaper editors and radio-television newsmen who took part in an Associated Press poll to pick the year's 10 top Michigan stories. The biggest upset of the election was the defeat of Sen.

Homer Ferguson, a high-ranking national Republican figure, by Democrat Patrick V. McNamara, a political unknown outside of Detroit. In addition. Democratic Gov. G.

Mermen Williams won a fourth term with ease and carried his entire "cabinet" slate into office with him. Runners-Up Only two other stories during the year challenged the election for first place One was the start on construction of the long-discussed Straits of Mackinac bridge, which three poll participants picked as No. 1. The other was the sensational triangle slaying of New York playboy Jules Lack by Dr. Kenneth Small at a swank Lake Michigan summer home near Douglas.

That got two first place votes. Both stories ran strong for runner-up honors and the Straits bridge story was given second place by a narrow margin. The top 10 stories are chosen on the basis of 10 votes for first choice. nine for second, eight for third and so forth. The final tabulation showed the election received 217 points.

The Straits bridge got 162, and the Dr. Small case 153. Moody's Death Ranked High Another story of political signifi cancethe untimely death of Blair Moody was placed fourth. Moody er in England, and his father, Wal ter Scowcroft, spent 55 years with the Pullman company in Chicago as a sheet metal foreman. Hector Scowcroft learned the business at the age of 16.

This year the company added a tool and, stock room to its facilities. Scowcroft said 1954 was a satisfactory year, and he expects further progress in 1955. died virtually on the eve of the Aug 3 primary elections, leaving the Democratic senatorial nomination to McNamara uncontested. Up to then Moody, who had been a U. S.

senator by appointment of Gov. Wil liams, was favored to win the nonv ination to oppose Ferguson. Rounding out the first five was the dramatic escape and recapture of 13 long-term convicts from Southern Michigan prison. Their desperate fight, "with two women as hostages, was one of the most spectacular in prison history. Other Top Stories Also in the top 10 were: 6 A significant state supreme court decision making state equali zation the basis for local property taxes.

7 The "solution" of the attempt ed six years ago of labor leader Walter Reuther and the eventual evaporation of leads stemming from the stories of one Donald Ritchie. 8 Mergers involving every auto industry "independent" in a bid to battle stiff competition from the Big Three." 9 The long and bitter contro versy over bingo, climaxed by a statewide vote Nov. 2 against a move to legalize lotteries for chri- tv. 10 Defense Secretary. C.

E. Wilson's famous "bird dog" remark, which touched off a nationwide controversy over the Republican administration's attitude toward unemployment. Other Contenders Other stories which figured considerably in the balloting included: The conviction of six Michigan Communist leaders under the Smith Act. The slaying of Kalamazoo state hospital nurse Marilyn Kraai by a mental patient. Tragic holiday weekend traffic death tolls and efforts to curb them.

The Detroit Lions'- winning of their third straight National Football League divisional championship before their defeat in the league playoff game. General Motors' production of its 50 millionth car. Asia has. a population more than twice that of Europe and nearly four times that of the Western Hemisphere. The attractive, modem recreation lounge for employes of the Peoples, State bank is shown in the above photo.

The lounge is located in the basement, which also houses kitchen facilities, locker rooms and rest rooms. The bank is now in the final stages of completing an extensive interior and exterior remodeling project of its building at State and Ship sts. (Herald-Press photo.) MAJORPROJECT New Cong'l Church And School Additions High On List St. Joseph's building projects, evidenced in many diversified fields, pave the city many fine improvements in 1954, highlighted by the nearly completed major remodeling of the Peoples State bank building. Work on the interior and exterior remodeling of the bank, located at State and Ship has Deen camea on for a number of months.

Still to be comDleted is the bank's expected to be ready in early March. Although bank officials declined to give, an estimate of the project's cost, it is expected that completed work will approach $200,000. includ ing extensive alterations, plumbingj lighting, air conditioning ana new banking and office equipment. Offices Taken Over In the expansion, the bank took over the spaces of two of tnree 01 fices on Ship st. Finding new loca tions were the St.

Joseph Loan com pany and the Michigan state license bureau, while the Western Union office was moved to new quarters next to the alley. The expansion provided a director's room, an office for secretaries, a safe deposit department, the president's office, and a large room for the bookkeeping staff. The court between the bank and Ther Herald-Press building was con verted Into a ireoroof vault in which records and supplies are stored. Located in the basement is a very modern recreation lounge for em ployes. The room la approximately 17 by 80 feet.

Also in the basement are kitchen facilities, locker rooms and rest rooms. It was stated that 250 safety deposit boxes have been added for bank patrons. J- The bank has been air-conditioned and new windows are of one-inch thick thermopane. Remodel Lobby Major remodeling is now underway in the lobby. The old metal grill work has been' eliminated and modern counters installed.

The location of the offices of Cashier Julius Retaking and President John Stubblefield, at the left of the main entrance, have been brought down to the level of the lobby floor. This space will be used for offices, along with a private of- five for Cashier Retaking. President Stubblefield now has his private office. Bank officials state that a pro- Scowcroft Reports Favorable Year And Sees Further Gains 71 Fine Food TO SELL, RENT, BUY Mixed Drinks OR EXCHANGE DIAL YU 3-2531 ASK FOR AN AD TAKER gram to commemorate the completion of the project will be' held in mid-March. Near $2,000,000 Mark Building activity in St.

Joseph took a decided jump in 1954 over the past three years, nearing $2,000,000 mark, according to Building Inspec tor Harold Marston. This year 296 permits were issued 44 more than in 1953 having a total value of $1,902,115. This com pares to $1,011,985 in 1953, $1,332,257 in 1952 and $1,250,000 in 1951. Thus, the estimated value of permits rose almost $900,000 this year over 1953. Although building work showed a marked rise, new home construction in the city continued to slip downward.

Of the 296 permits granted, 31 went for new home construction. The total value of the new dwellings is estimated at $421,500, or an average of approximately $13,600 per home. Records show that 36 new homes were constructed in 1953, compared to 77 in 1952 and 83 in 1951. Major Projects In addition to the $421,500 for new dwellings, 1954 permits included two new elementary school additions, a new church, a large factory addition, two large storage tanks and 42 new private garages. The remainder were for additions and repairs 0 Pr eoMur ana main'" Corner to our Twenty years old, the H.

Scowcroft 1215 Milton Benton Harbor, can boast of being the old est and largest sheet metal firm in the twin cities. 4-The company manufactures sheet metal parts for production firms and utilizes more than 26,000 square ieei oi noor space in the fabrics tion, finishing and assembling of metal products, includinir boiler jackets and parts for farm machinery and other vehicle manufacturers; The company originated in St Joseph in 1934 and has had steady growth. Ten years ago the company moved to Milton where it'is now Its business includes production, of many parts for other St. Joseph and Benton Harbor industries. The sheet metal business is in the Scowcroft family tradition.

Hector Scowcroft is president and general manager. His grandfather, Walter Scowcroft, was a sheet metal work in Mi A to both commercial and residential structures. Largest single permit was issued to the First Congregational church for the construction of a new edifice at 2000 Niles ave. The church, which has its present edifice at Main and Market drew a permit for It is anderstood the church, now under construction, will cost approximately $500,000 when. completed.

The two elementary school ad ditions include the $246,000 eight classroom project at the Lincoln school and the $256,000 nine-classroom at the Jefferson school. Open house for the. Lincoln addition was held Nov. 16 and the open house for Jefferson is scheduled Jan. 11.

The Auto Specialties Manufacturing company drew a permit for a $200,000 addition to its Edgewater facilities. The Theisen-Clemens company was granted a permit for construc tion of two large tanks on its tank farm. Estimated cost was set at $40, 000. The west isn't always where it's supposed to be. Los Angeles, for example, lies east of Reno, by one half degree of longitude.

Likewise, Virginia extends many miles farther west than any part of West Virginia. cor an YEAR A breetmqs f'pyl lor the New Year Si- I I HAP 1 1 A WAITER OWCA AND ASSOCIATES no 1 fi 1 J7 nrn)n7 ELK'S BUILDING, ST. JOSEPH.