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January 1917
The Workhouse at Wellingborough was urged to boil potatoes in their skins for economy.
The Co-op held an annual tea for older members and invited wounded soldiers from Higham VAD Hospital.
Sgt Richard Head was awarded a bar to his Military Medal and also received £20.
R.Denton was fined 17s.6d for keeping more dogs than he was licensed for.
Telephone charges for the Fire Station were increased to £6.5s.0d.
Slaughter House licences were renewed for E.Hollis, E.Warren and J.Knight.
Advert: Our tea absolutely suits the Rushden water. Ellingham, grocer, High Street.
A 14 year old girl was sent to Reformatory until she was 19, for falsely obtaining two quilts value 12 shillings.
February 1917
Seed potatoes could be bought by allotment holders for 13s.3d per cwt for King Edwards.
A fire at Millers Ironmongers, High Street, caused great damage despite the efforts of Miss Cooper and ‘young’ Bugby.
F.Norman was fined 7s.6d for not having a red light on the rear of his cart.
Heavy snow disrupted the motorbus service. Frost of 25 degrees was reported – the worst in Rushden for 22 years.
A Lovefeast was held at the Independent Wesleyans.
Seven boys were charged with stealing goods after the fire at Millers Ironmongers and were fined variously £1, 15 shillings and 10 shillings.
Mrs Banks opened The ITO Café in the High Street.
March 1917
A female porter commenced work at the Midland Railway Station, Rushden.
The Electric Supply Co. reported having 151 customers in Rushden and the revenue had risen to £3,059.17s, giving a dividend of 5%.
A.Hester and F.Wilkins caught a 38 lb pike at Bletsoe and gave it to the Higham VAD Hospital.
Whittington and Tomlin presented the “handsomest yet” Roll of Honour erected in Queen Street.
Civilian boots were wrapped in canvas instead of wooden packing cases.
April 1917
Food problems were severe. There was only six weeks’ supply in the country. Food hoarding was blamed.
The Rushden Echo gave pens and pencils to children bringing waste paper to be re-pulped.
The Council Rates for the year were fixed at 4s.10d in the pound.
Men of Medical Category C1 were required to join the Rushden Company of the 2nd Battalion Northants.
It was reported that the Co‑op was to receive 70% less sugar than 1916 but as yet none had arrived.
May 1917
J.Fred Lovell, formerly of John Caves & Sons, had a picture accepted by the Royal Academy.
Compulsory rationing was threatened as food was very short.
The playing of ‘Tip Cat’ in the streets was causing a great nuisance and the police were asked to deal with it.
Horace Allebone received a card of Honour for driving a tank on the Hindenburg Line.
Alfred Street school children saluted the flag for May Day and were urged to take the “Food Pledge”.
June 1917
Letters for London now had to be posted before 6.45pm.
W.Ginns attended to the church clock after the resignation of Mr Fisher.
Boy Scouts had a drive to Bedford instead of attending annual camp.
W.B.Sanders offered 10 shillings prize money to gardeners with plots near his factory in Hayway.
Application forms could be obtained from the Post Office for ‘preserving sugar’ and taken to any grocer.
A War Shrine was erected in Wymington to the 86 Parishioners serving their country. A record number in proportion to any village in Bedfordshire.
Mr Swindall said the Water Rate was the only thing that had not increased in price during the war.
Rushden & Higham Ferrers Electric Light Co. increased prices by 8.5%.
Eggs and butter were strewn over the High Street when at cart overturned. The owner, Mr Strangward, was injured when his mare tried to get up. |
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July 1917
St.Peter’s Church used the silver chalice that was donated by the Girl Guides for the first time.
Members of the Rushden Women’s Adult School visited the park and gardens at Colworth.
The 5.22 miles of road in Rushden were in excellent order said the County Surveyor.
Three members of Rushden Midland Railway left for service with the Royal Naval Division.
August 1917
Three consecutive days of rain were the heaviest since June 1903.
A Rushden resident reported that he had heard heavy gun fire during the night coming from Flanders as the wind was in the East. Next evening came the start of the offensive.
A magnificent spectacle of the Aurora Borealis was seen. The sky was brilliantly illuminated in the direction of Wellingborough and quite a bow of light shafts was seen.
Three potatoes, variety ‘Ninetyfold’ and weighing 3lb 13oz, were dug from Mr W.Childs’ allotment.
September 1917
Kilner jars were obtained by the Food Control Committee to preserve fruit.
It was reported that twenty‑four patients had been treated at the Rushden Cottage Hospital during the year ended June 30th.
The Sanitary Inspector reported that a convenience in a builder’s yard in the High Street was causing a nuisance.
The Rushden Echo published its 1,000th weekly issue.
A fete was held in Rushden Hall with nearly 1,000 fancy costumes in aid of the Red Cross.
October 1917
A Rushdenite living in Queensland called his horse Rushden Echo because it was smart and went well.
Play Centres for children after school and on Saturday mornings were approved.
School children picked 1,200 lbs of blackberries to make jam for the Army and Navy.
November 1917
The contribution boxes of the Rolls of Honour in Queen Street, Cromwell Road and Portland Road were rifled by a despicable thief.
It was officially suggested that purchases weighing under 7lb should be carried home by the buyer and not the supplying tradesman.
The Free Library reported that they had issued 29,013 books in the year to August 31st.
December 1917
The greatest moving picture drama ever created “The Birth of a Nation” was shown at the Royal Theatre.
Two scholars aged 11 and 9 were ordered to received two strokes of the birch for stealing 8 shillings from the home of Evelyn Rawlins of Albion Place.
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