09/14/2026
Rebersburg PA – 1942 – Post 6 – Diary of Harry Ziegler (1893-1989)…
In 1942, Harry Ziegler will turn 49 years old. He is the son of William Ziegler and Minerva Zimmerman Ziegler. On June 28, 1919, Harry was elected to teach Rebersburg Grammar School in Rebersburg. In 1910, he married Alpha Maude Smull. Children are Clarence “Paul” born in 1911, lived in Port Matilda; Ruth Eleanor (Swartz) born in 1912, lived in Millheim; and Sarah Josephine (Whitehill) born in 1920, lived in Pleasant Gap. In 1922. Harry’s family moved into a house at 155 East Main Street. The same year, Rebersburg received electricity. His parents live at 167 E. Main Street (later the home of Malcolm & Betty Yearick). Alpha, his wife, died November 7, 1938. By 1940, their three children have their own homes. Harry married his second wife, Minnie Shultz, on August 23, 1941.
Harry Clemens Ziegler lived in Rebersburg, Miles Township –
School Teacher for 49 years
Justice of the Peace – 1926-1974
Notary Public – 1969-1985
Fire Warden – 1920-1989
I.O.O.F. Member – 1915-1989
Sunday School Teacher – 47 Years
Insurance Salesman – 1920-1989
HARRY ZIEGLER DIARY – 1942 –
May 6, 1942 - Wednesday. In school in a.m. On Sugar Rationing work in p.m. To final penmanship meeting in evening. Planted pole beans in morning. John Weaver harrowed potato lot for 50¢.
May 7, 1942 - Thursday. In school. in a.m. - final sugar rationing from 1 to 9 p.m.: No. books issued - 687; Total No. Registered - 772; No books were issued to - 85.
May 8, 1942 - Friday. In school. Planted the sweet corn in the lot.
May 9, 1942 - Saturday. Cut wood in a.m. Worked around house in p.m. To Millheim in the evening.
May 10, 1942 - Sunday. In S. S. and a.m. services. Ruth's and we were out to Paul's in p.m. but they were not at home. Stopped at Sara's a short while.
May 11, 1942 - Monday. In school. Fished in evening - no catch, not even a bite.
May 12, 1942 - Tuesday. In school until 2:40 when school closed for the day and teacher's sat from 3 to 9 p.m. to issue Gasoline Ration Cards - 114 were issued. House fire at Paul Bressler's (in Smullton) in morning - house saved, but it was badly damaged. Cause over heated flue.
May 13, 1942 - Wednesday. In school until 2:40 when I sat for gas rationing until 9:00 p.m. Anna and family came home for a few days.
May 14, 1942 - Thursday. In school until 2:40 then on 3rd and last day of gas rationing - total cards issued, 270.
May 15, 1942 - Friday. In school. Had car greased at Aaronsburg. Centre County's first "black-out" from 10:00 to 10:30 p.m. (see NOTE at end of this post.)
May 16, 1942 - Saturday. Fished in p.m. - together we caught 5. To Millheim in evening. Paul here for dinner.
May 17, 1942 - Sunday. To S.S. At M. E. (Miles E.) B**b's for dinner. Paul's here for the evening. (Evelyn Shultz (Mrs. Miles) B**b was Minnie’s aunt.)
May 18, 1942 - Monday. In school. Planted cucumbers in lot in evening.
May 19, 1942 - Tuesday. In school. Bot. 1T. of nut coal from Ray Stover for $8.60. Primary election - Minnie clerked on board for Home Boone.
May 20, 1942 - Wednesday. Heavy showers after dark. In school. Planted late tomatoes. Test "Black-out" from 10:00 - 11:00 p.m. I had charge of Casualty Station at Reish Home - 3 patients were brought in.
May 21, 1942 - Thursday. In school. Fished some after school and took supper at Shultz's.
May 22, 1942 - Friday. Heavy rain - water is very high. In school. To Millheim Show. Bowling Alley there opened in former silk mill (in Millheim) under ownership of J. R. (John R.) Miller and H. F. (Harry F.) Confer.
May 23, 1942 - Saturday. To H. S. Class Day exercises in local I.O.O.F. Hall – historical pageant - very good.
May 24, 1942 - Sunday. To S. S. With Paul's for dinner - stopped at Sara's on way home. Baccalaureate sermon in Evangelical Church by Rev. R. A. Babcock.
May 25, 1942 - Monday. In school. Planted sweet potatoes. To "gas control" meeting in school house in evening.
May 26, 1942 - Tuesday. In school - last day - 38 pupils present. To H. S. Commencement in Reformed Church. Dr. George Dunkelbarger was the speaker and Gregg Township (unfinished).
May 27, 1942 - Wednesday. Painted at Gale's house - father and Gale's father there also. M. E. B**b's here for supper.
May 28, 1942 - Thursday. Finished painting at Gale's home. To First Aid meeting at Gail K. Weaver's in evening.
May 29, 1942 - Friday. Shem Hackenberg helped me cut wood in a.m. Harry Weaver cultivated my potatoes in p.m. To Millheim in p.m.
May 30, 1942 - Saturday. Finished the wood for winter back of mountain. Memorial Services here in evening - E.P. V. Band - Rev. Kohr the speaker - Fire Company had the Festival. H.K. Smull sick in bed all week.
NOTE –
Miles Township High School Graduates
Loris Bierly Korman (of State College)
Evelyn Brungart Shultz
Lois Miller Vonada
Sara Jane Reish Cupp (of Hollidaysburg)
Hulda Walker Brown (a nurse at Jersy Shore)
"Black-out" – I’m sure I don’t remember this “black-out” but I remember later ones and, as a little girl, they really scared me. We would pull our blinds and turn the lights off.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia --
Blackout Poster - American poster from World War II, reminding citizens of blackouts for civil defense.
A blackout during war, or in preparation for an expected war, is the practice of collectively minimizing outdoor light, including upwardly directed (or reflected) light. This was done in the 20th century to prevent crews of enemy aircraft from being able to identify their targets by sight, such as during the London Blitz of 1940. In coastal regions, a shoreside blackout of city lights also helped protect ships from being seen silhouetted against the artificial light by enemy submarines further out at sea.
