1940's
1942 - Spring
WILLIAM POTTER
1946 - August
RAY ZITTLEMAN
1941 - March
The Grange Hall is dedicated. A Grange in Cloverdale was originally formed in 1915. The second Grange was formed May 8, 1931 with 40 charter members. They met in various places, then in July 1933 they purchased the old town hall on the northwest corner of First and Commercial Streets with a private loan. After much fund-raising they erected the Grange Hall which for years has been used for both public and private events. [Location: 201 Commercial St.]
1945 - May
Victory in Europe is not celebrated in Cloverdale. They know there is still a ways to go before the end. Victory over Japan in August 1945 was a different matter. When the news of Japan’s surrender was heard, an impromptu celebration took place in the streets with the fire siren blaring, church bells ringing, horns honking, and fireworks popping. Church services were held that evening. The following day was quiet as businesses remained closed.
Four young men from Cloverdale gave their lives in the service of their country: Dennis Quinliven (age 18), Navy, went down on a destroyer in the South Pacific October 15, 1942; Thomas Ray (Ray) Zittleman (age 20), Army Air Forces, was shot down April 11, 1944 over the Baltic Sea off the coast of Germany; William (Billy) Potter (age 23), Army Air Forces, was killed in action June 10, 1944 over Romania; Richard Wells (age 26), Army, was killed in action January 9, 1945 in France.
1948 - November
The Ray Zittleman Post No. 9268 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is chartered. The Post was named in honor of Thomas Ray Zittleman, known as Ray, a 1941 graduate of Cloverdale High School who enlisted in the army in December 1942. Staff Sergeant Zittleman was in the 303rd Bomber Group, Heavy, 358th Bomber Squadron, Army Air Forces. The left waist gunner on a B-17 flying fortress, he was shot down during a mission on April 11, 1944 (age 20) in the Baltic sea off the coast of Germany. His body was recovered and later buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery. Ray’s military decorations included the Air Medal (three clusters), Unit Citation Medal and the Purple Heart (posthumously). The V. F. W. Auxiliary was formed in February 1949.
The High School Gym, which had been planned at the same time as the new High School, finally obtains funding through a local bond issue and is built on the south end of the High School. The combined gym-auditorium contained bleachers, showers, dressing rooms, and a stage which is used as the band room. Prior to the new gym, the students were using a small house on the high school property to change and shower, and using the auditorium in the grammar school across the street for indoor P. E. The band practiced in the living room of the house.
Coastal Plywood and Timber Company comes to town with big plans. For the next two years, the company developed a mill and plywood plant on 80 acres southeast of the railroad depot that included a railroad spur into the property, multiple buildings, and a millpond. The principals were from Washington state and brought an influx of people with them. This spurred housing needs and the Haehl, Triplett, and Tarman subdivisions were developed. After several years, Coastal encountered financial difficulties and eventually sold to a similar company. But Coastal Plywood was one of the first in the lumber industry in the surrounding area and a stimulus to the growth of Cloverdale.