Thank you for this post. Absolutely fascinating. You wondered about The Rev. Mr. Kern. A quick google search turned up this dedication book of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, with a picture of the pastor, The Rev. Fred W. Kern, M.A. Same person or his twin, I believe. The Dr. appellation may not have been an earned doctorate but may have been an honourary degree from his alma mater. https://www.felcaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/FELC-Dedication-Memento-booklet-1939.pdf
A more complete pastoral record, including his education, can be found in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Southwest Archives. His service in "Director of religious affairs office of the US Office of Civil Defense in Battle Creek, Michigan" is included, but undated.
As I have written in a long-ago comment on Alex's "Restricted Data" blog, Father Paul Bussard, editor of <i>Catholic Digest</i>, wrote about a combination church and fallout shelter designed by a Minneapolis architectural firm. When the “The Shelter Church” appeared in the March 1962 issue, I was eight years old.
Architects Shifflet, Hutchison & Dickey proposed a dual-use design for a building that could serve as a parish church, bingo hall, etc. during peacetime, but which could become a fallout shelter for many families if (God forbid) the need arose. This fascinated me. I pored over his diagrams. I believe this was the first time I learned that a concrete labyrinth could discourage neutrons, something I would eventually get paid to think about.
I saw other accounts of fallout shelters in magazines of the time, but Father Bussard’s description of ingenuity in the face of World War III was most memorable.
In the course of time, I obtained a PDF of this article. It runs from pages 51 through 56. E-mail me if you wish a copy: h i g g i n s 2 k AT g m a i l DOT c o m.
Nothing beats death at driving us to God. Recent years' threats by world leaders to prosecute their enemies with a nuclear war, euphemistically referred to as "Armageddon", is a compelling reason to get on the move to make peace with one's maker. But God, judgment day and the afterlife seem to have been abandoned as archaic ideas that offend more people than they comfort. I asked a clerk at a local furniture store on Saturday (today being Easter Monday), why she was wearing rabbit ears. She said its a sign of spring and celebration. I said, but isn't it for Easter ( the death of Jesus). She said: "we don't talk about religion here". My reply was but "paganism" is as much a religion as Christianity. She didn't get it of course.
Thank you for this post. re: Castle BRAVO at 70: The Worst Nuclear Test in U.S. History - I am not sure if you discussed it in another post. but it is worth a followup. There is substantial information at the "National Security Archive [which seems a legitimate source: "non-profit organization established in 1985 and based at George Washington University. It operates as a research institution, clearinghouse for declassified U.S. documents, and a prolific user of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to promote governmental transparency." https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/nuclear-vault/2024-02-29/castle-bravo-70-worst-nuclear-test-us-history
Thank you for this post. Absolutely fascinating. You wondered about The Rev. Mr. Kern. A quick google search turned up this dedication book of First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, with a picture of the pastor, The Rev. Fred W. Kern, M.A. Same person or his twin, I believe. The Dr. appellation may not have been an earned doctorate but may have been an honourary degree from his alma mater. https://www.felcaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/FELC-Dedication-Memento-booklet-1939.pdf
A more complete pastoral record, including his education, can be found in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Southwest Archives. His service in "Director of religious affairs office of the US Office of Civil Defense in Battle Creek, Michigan" is included, but undated.
https://swtsynod.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Kern%2C%20Fred%20William
As I have written in a long-ago comment on Alex's "Restricted Data" blog, Father Paul Bussard, editor of <i>Catholic Digest</i>, wrote about a combination church and fallout shelter designed by a Minneapolis architectural firm. When the “The Shelter Church” appeared in the March 1962 issue, I was eight years old.
Architects Shifflet, Hutchison & Dickey proposed a dual-use design for a building that could serve as a parish church, bingo hall, etc. during peacetime, but which could become a fallout shelter for many families if (God forbid) the need arose. This fascinated me. I pored over his diagrams. I believe this was the first time I learned that a concrete labyrinth could discourage neutrons, something I would eventually get paid to think about.
I saw other accounts of fallout shelters in magazines of the time, but Father Bussard’s description of ingenuity in the face of World War III was most memorable.
In the course of time, I obtained a PDF of this article. It runs from pages 51 through 56. E-mail me if you wish a copy: h i g g i n s 2 k AT g m a i l DOT c o m.
Nothing beats death at driving us to God. Recent years' threats by world leaders to prosecute their enemies with a nuclear war, euphemistically referred to as "Armageddon", is a compelling reason to get on the move to make peace with one's maker. But God, judgment day and the afterlife seem to have been abandoned as archaic ideas that offend more people than they comfort. I asked a clerk at a local furniture store on Saturday (today being Easter Monday), why she was wearing rabbit ears. She said its a sign of spring and celebration. I said, but isn't it for Easter ( the death of Jesus). She said: "we don't talk about religion here". My reply was but "paganism" is as much a religion as Christianity. She didn't get it of course.
Modern Day parallels
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/pentagon-planned-good-friday-service-for-protestants-only-excluding-catholics-report/3891682#
Thank you for this post. re: Castle BRAVO at 70: The Worst Nuclear Test in U.S. History - I am not sure if you discussed it in another post. but it is worth a followup. There is substantial information at the "National Security Archive [which seems a legitimate source: "non-profit organization established in 1985 and based at George Washington University. It operates as a research institution, clearinghouse for declassified U.S. documents, and a prolific user of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to promote governmental transparency." https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/nuclear-vault/2024-02-29/castle-bravo-70-worst-nuclear-test-us-history