There are times in life when there is a sense of togetherness that we find comforting. When the gathering is centered with a patriotic theme the effort is enhanced with a sense of patriotism to complement the common effort. Such was the case during World War II across the United States. Here in Concord the local effort by civilians was not only present, it was embraced by one and all.
My father was just a boy of 11 years old during the year 1942. His three older brothers were away serving in the armed forces, two in the Pacific theater and one in the European theater. Dad was very proud of his three brothers and kept busy corresponding with them when possible. They would provide him with war details that captivated him and he longed for the day that he would also be able to serve his country. As was the case here in Concord, patriotism was alive and well and exercised on many different levels. Every person in Concord featured a small victory garden in their side yards as well as any other vacant lots that might be available. There were patriotic movies at the Concord Theater and War Bonds to purchase. One of the most exciting activities my father engaged in was the many scrap drives that were popular ways to support the troops overseas. There were scrap drives for just about everything that was needed to support the troops; metal, rubber, paper and other items.
The United States government supported this national effort encouraging the young boys and girls enrolled in local schools to participate to a high degree. I recall my father’s interest during a 1942 paper drive where the United States War Production Board formed the Paper Troopers program to involve the younger children. Obviously, the term Paper Trooper was intended to sound just like paratrooper to further the level of excitement and bolster additional participation for the young school aged children.
The metal drives always proved most popular and successful with highly visible scrap collection sites such as the field in front of Concord High School. The metal flowed quite freely into the school yard with a wide variety of items. There were old toys, car parts, bumpers, pots and pans and many office fixtures. Some relics of prior wars were also brought to the scrap pile to support this patriotic effort, many Civil War cannons that dotted the country were thrown on top of the scrap pile to help. Some very nice Victorian era wrought iron fences surrounding homes in Concord were lost to the scrap pile too. As a local historian it is unfortunate to see the loss of history, but the enthusiasm and effort fueled by vast patriotism is understandable.
During the summer of 1942 a nationwide rubber drive was held with some very good results. The citizens of Concord gathered at the scrap pile and donated their old tires, raincoats, winter boots and floor mats. Any and all rubber-based items were sent to the scrap pile to help with the war effort that summer. It was said that close to a half million pounds of scrap rubber was collected during a two-week period in June of 1942.
The paper drive featured in Concord during the summer of 1942 proved to be very successful. So successful that the donated paper products overwhelmed the collection sites and the donors were asked to cease. Paper was once again noted as being short within a two-year period. Historians view the patriotic scrap drives held during World War II in different light. Some feel the war effort was aided greatly while others still fret over the history that was lost to the many scrap piles across the country. Some feel it was warranted and certainly very necessary to help the troops while others felt it was an effort that did not offer a high level of assistance. Most people agree the effort did bring the communities together in a very patriotic way, easing the unpleasantness experienced by the families waiting at home while their soldiers were overseas.
My father spoke about those years in a most nostalgic way. Money was scarce in Concord during World War II, especially to a young boy at the age of eleven. Dad dreamed about things that he wanted but knew it was not possible until he was older and working. It was on a summer day in 1942 a letter arrived at his home on North State Street. The letter was from his older brother serving in the Pacific theater. Between the folded sheets of paper, he found three $10 bills. Dad’s brother, Joseph H. Spain, knew his little brother wanted a new Schwinn bicycle very much. The note that accompanied the money stated the money should be used to purchase a new bicycle for his little brother.
Dad traveled down to Main Street in Concord early one Saturday morning in 1942 and purchased his new bicycle. A gift from his older brother that he always cherished and spoke about until his last days. This war time story that has survived the generations is still held closely within my heart. It was a time of compassion, togetherness and patriotism where kindness prevailed.
Vintage Views is a local history column that explores Concord and surrounding towns. It runs weekly in the Sunday Your Life section. The author is a historian and not a member of Monitor’s staff.