USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > District No. 15 of Allegheny County Pennsylvania in the Great War : a history of activities at home and abroad from the declaration of war in 1917 to the home-comings in 1919 > Part 11
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"The object of this meeting was the formation of a unique society which it was hoped would increase and sustain the already high morale of the soldiers and sailors and to create a closer bond of fellowship between them and those at home.
"This hope was fully realized by the organization of a society known as the "Mothers of Democracy," chartered in the State of Pennsylvania and endorsed by the United States Senate in the passage of a bill - Sixty-fifth Congress, Second Session, S. 4724, Calendar Day July I, 1918-recommended to them by the Committee of Military Affairs.
"The purpose of the organization, as set forth in the charter, is:
"(Copy of Purpose in State Charter, recorded on the 14th day of November, 1918.)
"To establish in all camps and navy yards in America, France, England, and Italy, at the battlefront and at home, a Mothers' and Sons' Remembrance Night between seven and eight P.M., Friday, the second week in each month, or at any other time;
"To develop among the mothers and relatives, group courage and foster the habit of cheerful letter writing;
"To seek out the lonely mother, young wife, sister, or daughter of the soldier or sailor;
"To throw open our homes and our hearts to them and in the dark days to assist each other;
"To assist our Government with loyalty and courage, always keeping in mind the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man."
The above is an excerpt from a report by Ellen H. (Mrs. Taylor) Allderdice, who was the instigator of the movement and to whom is to be given the credit for the organization which now appears destined to become international in its scope.
These meetings were held regularly in several hundred local communities and were very interesting and no doubt were an inspiration and a help to many of the mothers whose sons were fighting at the front.
Three groups were organized within our own district, one at Tarentum, one at Brackenridge, and one at Natrona, and in each group there was a very large enrollment which testified forcibly to the importance of the work that was being done.
To use the words of one of these mothers, "They were just what we needed and while 'the boys' were in camp they were well attended and much enjoyed. We read selections from the letters received and most of them were full of cheer and helped a lot both at home and in the camps." Some of the boys reported some most interesting meetings in France.
The Tarentum group was organized on March 8, 1918, in the chapel of the Grandview School. Mrs. R. A. Caldwell, who had been at the meeting in Pittsburgh and had been appointed representative for this district, was present. She explained the nature of the organization and told of the helpful and encouraging reports that had been received from other places where mothers' meetings were being held.
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TARENTUM BOOK CLUB
The following officers were elected: Mrs. R. A. Caldwell, President; Mrs. John Reinehr, First Vice President; Mrs. Fred Moser, Second Vice President; and Mrs. W. D. Webber, Secretary.
When the hospital was located at Parkview the women interested themselves in the boys who were brought there. They first established an Ice Cream Fund. This was later changed to a Fresh Egg Fund. They visited the institution frequently and from time to time sent fruit (fresh and canned), jellies, preserves, buckets of candies, cushions, and hundreds of dozens of cookies and doughnuts. The arrival of the loaded truck at the hospital was always an interesting event and the distribution of its cargo brought a smile-and perhaps tears, though not of pain-to the face of many a war-scarred lad.
A group of mothers from Brackenridge met in the First Ward School House on Friday, August 9, 1918, and organized the Brackenridge Branch of the Mothers of Democracy. Twenty of the mothers were present and the first meeting proved most interesting. The election of officers was as follows: Mrs. William A. Smith, President; Mrs. James Mohan, Vice President; Mrs. R. R. Nicholas, Secretary; Mrs. James Ewing, Treasurer; and Mrs. Wm. Hazlett, Chaplain.
One of the mothers, in speaking of these meetings, said, "We met regularly the second Friday of each month. We would hold a short business session and then we would hear what each mother had to say in regard to her son or sons who were in the service. We read portions of the letters we had received. It was grief and love that kept us together and we were always anxious for the next meeting."
During the United War Work Campaign this organization conducted a tag day and raised $746. The Honor Roll in Brackenridge also stands as a monument to the Mothers of Democ- racy, for it is due entirely to their efforts that this splendid memorial has been erected.
The Natrona Mothers held their organization meeting on March 3, 1918. The first officers were: Mrs. John Henry, President; Mrs. W. M. Clark, Vice President; Mrs. J. Reese, Secretary; and Mrs. Lottie Heid, Treasurer.
This branch enjoyed an unusually large membership of one hundred two and found a great deal of work among its own number, such as visiting and caring for mothers who were sick or in need. Messages of cheer and comfort were sent to boys at Parkview in the nature of good things to eat and comfortable wearing apparel.
The history of the Mothers of Democracy is another brief but telling chapter in the history of the development and expression of that patriotism, devotion and self-sacrifice that illumines even the darkest and saddest pages of the War Story, shedding over its horrid details the warmth of the sustaining and abiding love of the mothers of the nation.
TARENTUM BOOK CLUB
The Tarentum Book Club in its first meeting for the season of 1917-1918, held October 5, 1917, decided that instead of the regular program for the year it would meet every two weeks according to custom but that the time would be given to Red Cross activities. Later it was feared that this arrangement might mean the disorganization of the club and it was therefore decided every second meeting should be held at the home of one of the members. The women of the club turned to knitting, made Red Cross garments at home, conserved food, became members of the Motor Corps, held responsible positions in the sewing rooms, prepared testaments for the comfort kits, and worked faithfully in the Liberty and Victory Loan Drives.
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MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
The subscriptions of this club toward different activities were as follows:
Comfort Kit Fund
$10.00
Soldiers' Testaments 5.00
Y. M. C. A. War Work 20.00
Red Cross
10.00
Five Layettes
50.00
Furlough Centers
26.00
Total
$121.00
ALLEGHENY VALLEY FEDERATION OF ADULT BIBLE CLASSES
In the months immediately following upon our Country's entrance into the war the Allegheny Valley Federation of Adult Bible Classes assumed the obligation of presenting every soldier, sailor and marine from District No. 15 with a copy of the New Testament. In doing this work the Federation cooperated with the Red Cross, supplying a Testament for each comfort kit. The work was carried on by a committee consisting of Mrs. Luther Widdowson, Mrs. A. H. Cunning- ham, and Mrs. J. C. Allen. Later on Mrs. Widdowson moved away and her place was filled by Mrs. James McAlpin. During the war activities the office of president was held by U. D. Swaney and Homer W. Woods; that of vice-president by Mrs. M. H. Copeland and James McAlpin; that of secretary by Mrs. William J. Dickey; and that of treasurer by J. C. Allen. More than five hundred dollars was expended in this work. This money was raised by the payment of class dues and by donations from classes, individuals, and business firms.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The first meeting of the Knights of Columbus was called November 15, 1917, at which the following men were elected to take charge:
David J. Hannan, Chairman J. E. Dean, Secretary A. C. Adler, Treasurer
Teams were appointed for the district from Bouquet to Natrona. During the campaigns which took place between December 10 and 17 nightly meetings were held in St. Joseph's School Hall, Garfield Street, Natrona. Rev. P. A. Brady took a very active part and it was largely through his efforts that the campaign was a financial success.
The District between Natrona and Bouquet raised $6385, and Dr. A. F. Fisher in charge of Springdale district raised $785. Russelton District was in charge of Rev. Father L. Slivinysky. He did a great work among the miners. That district raised $1,765.
There were eighty-three members of the Knights of Columbus in the Fifteenth District. Of these twenty-nine were in the service. Dr. F. L. Conwell was a Junior Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Rev. A. J. Muszynski volunteered and was appointed Chaplain in the United States Army.
In all the campaigns held during the war, the Knights of Columbus took an active part and assisted in every way possible.
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15
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21
22
23
26
27
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30
1. William Bartholic
6. Walter Benjamin Bechman 11. Charles Clifford Biehl 16. William Arthur Black 21. George M. Bouch
2. Edward D. Bash
7. John T. Beck
12. Frank X. McCulloch
17. Earl Leroy Blackson
22. George Turney Bowman
3. Edward D. Bayne
8. Joseph Bedner, Jr.
13. William Berger
18. John M. Blythe
23. Paul L. Bowser
4. Edward J. Bayne
9. Charles V. Benish
14. Theodore Biehl
19. Frank Bocko
24. Robert L. Bowser
25. Robert Harper Boyd
30. John Brunner
5. Dr. Thomas Purcell Beattie 10. Rocco Nicola Berardi
15. Milton M. Black
20. Brice F. Bonner
26. James Earl Bradley
27. Frank Gary Brooks 28. John Jackson Brough 29. Eugene M. Brown
PLATE XIII
8
9
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25
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THE NEWSPAPERS
WORK OF NEWSPAPERS
The newspapers of District No. 15 took an important part in the war work of the community. Not only did they carry late and full accounts of the events of nation and world during those great days of the war and preceding the war, but of local events as well.
The three newspapers of the community, all daily papers, were the Valley Daily News, Charles P. Howe, Managing Editor, F. C. Stewart, News Editor; The Evening Telegram, H. B. Hambly, Managing Editor, George D. Stuart, News Editor (until his enlistment, when his brother Ray Stuart succeeded him); The Natrona Daily Press, Charles P. Howe, Managing Editor, George P. Schmitt, Editor.
The Telegram published national and world news through the International News Service and the News and Press through the United Press Service, each with these telegraphic services frequently bringing important news to the community more than twelve hours earlier than the big city newspapers. Often the local people knew of great events of the World War during the evening, while the people of Pittsburgh learned of the same events only when the morning papers were circulated the next day.
This was due to the fact that the big evening papers in Pittsburgh were put on press earlier than the local evening papers.
In time of war when people were living not merely upon the events of each day but verily upon those of each moment, this was a real service upon the part of the local newspapers.
Upon the local war stage the newspapers of the district played an even more important rôle. The first great event dealing locally with the war was first registration day for the selection service, June 5, 1917. If ever there was an arrangement that tested the merits of publicity it was provided in this registration day, the very success of the selective service itself being in the balance.
With the peculiar local situation of a vast immigrant population due to the mills and mines, the local registration day task was doubly difficult, for the necessity was not one of seeking out the registrants but of apprising them and of educating them to the fact that patriotically they must voluntarily appear at various and numerous places and register.
That the newspapers did this work ably and well among both citizens and foreigners the records of District No. 15 Selection Service Board amply testify.
The local war record is throughout a record of patriotism without surpass. Much of this can be traced to the practice and example of patriotism upon the part of the local newspapers. The large number of local enlistments is testimony.
The Red Cross work in the district was far greater than the average for communities of equal size and circumstance. Read elsewhere in this volume of the record of Red Cross goods pro- duced; of the large local Red Cross war membership; of the number of people who engaged in Red Cross work; of the huge local contribution of more than a hundred thousand dollars to the Red Cross War Fund (five times the quota). Much of this success may also be traced to the columns upon columns of space, the attention of the reporters to activities of the Red Cross and the almost daily chronicling of Red Cross news and facts in the local newspapers.
Popularity of the Five Liberty Loans or lack of popularity was throughout the nation almost invariably a matter of the manner in which the loans were treated upon the part of newspapers. The local district subscribed in all approximately ten millions of dollars to the five loans,-again far in excess of the quotas and more than the total deposits in all local banks.
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MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Local Steel Mills purchased bonds in sums of millions of dollars, and there was hardly a home that did not display Liberty Loan Purchase Banners, not for a single issue, but in all five issues.
The Government asked the newspapers to give publicity through the news columns and to go out in addition and induce industries and business houses to insert advertisements at their own expense.
The Valley Daily News cherishes a letter from the chairman of the Federal District at Cleve- land, Ohio, stating that this newspaper carried more such advertising than even the great dailies in Pittsburg-a tribute not only to the newspaper, but to the patriotism and generosity of local industries and business. This newspaper, feeling an equal responsibility with the advertisers in the display of patriotism, sold all Liberty Loan advertisements under agreement that for every page and every inch of Liberty Loan advertising space purchased the newspaper would insert a like and equal amount over the advertiser's signature without charge. Thus the newspaper, besides giving generously of its news and editorial space, bore a full half of the burden of expense for this patriotic advertising for Nation and Government. That the arrangement met with favor is evidenced by the acknowledgment from the Federal chairman, as above mentioned.
A similar arrangement was made by the Natrona Daily Press in selling Liberty Loan advertise- ments in Natrona.
Lastly, but perhaps greatest of all from point of patriotic service, is mention made of the cooperation upon the part of the local newspapers with District No. 15 Selective Service Board's most extensive and important operations and functions. The newspapers kept in daily, almost hourly, touch with the Selective Service Board, announcing daily the various calls and publishing fully and most prominently the numerous messages and instructions that the Selective Service Board found necessary to promulgate to the people.
How vast this work was may be gleaned from the fact that for over a year and a half practically no day passed without some item or items of important Selective Service Board news or informa- tion. In fact it was commented upon one day when for the first time within a period of several months there was no occasion for selective service news upon the first page of the local dailies.
Truly the war days were important and busy days for the newspapers. Many were the things they found to do to help in the winning of the war.
Not all the tasks were pleasant either. Some were depressing and sad. None who assisted in the publishing of the local newspapers in those days will ever forget the fateful seventeenth of July, 1917, when the great selective service lottery took place in Washington. Through their telegraphic services the local newspapers bulletined almost instantly, as drawn at Washing- ton, the numbers of those called first to service.
Anxious mothers, wives and sweethearts were among the great throngs who stood for hours in the hot sun of that July day watching the fateful numbers as they appeared on the bulletin boards. Each bore in hand or indelibly written upon heart the number that meant the call of "her boy." Many a mother turned in tears or with blanched face early that afternoon as her son's number appeared among the first called. Spirits mounted visibly among the women who remained until later, while the list grew longer, and still their number of fate appeared not; while among the boys themselves who were assembled, and many of them anxious to go, but held by home duties or home ties, chagrin grew apace when their numbers failed to appear and destiny declined to accept the decision from their hands.
Moreover, later in the war, there came to the newspaper workers that most unwelcome of
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THE NEWSPAPERS
all duties, the occasion to publish the name of a local boy killed or wounded in battle. How the ring of the telephone was dreaded in the newspaper offices at the hour when the papers bearing such sad tidings first appeared on the streets. In many instances this was the first inkling loved ones received of these facts. Not infrequently the sounding of the telephone bell would be followed by a broken voice seeking with waning hope a possible error in the report.
Finally came that greatest of all war days, November 11, 1918, when the local newspaper offices, working throughout the night watches, were able to carry before daylight to a joyously awakened community the special editions bearing the glad tidings, "The War is Over."
CHAPTER IV
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
The area included in District No. 15 of Allegheny County has always played an important part in the agricultural activities of the county. The splendid transportation facilities that are afforded by its peculiar location and its proximity to the Pittsburgh market have always made not only general agriculture but such specialties as market gardening and the growing of small fruits extremely profitable.
Within recent years, however, more and more attention has been given to manufacturing. The first factory to locate in this district was the Salt Works at Natrona, which has developed into one of the finest chemical and acid manufacturing plants in the United States. Next came the glass industry. The large factories at Creighton, Glassmere, and Springdale and the plants at Tarentum have made this District one of the important centers in the United States for this line of manufacture. Within recent years the erection of four steel plants with a large number of foundries and machine shops in addition have swung the pendulum in favor of the steel industry.
Natural advantages and wealth have contributed to the present status of our District as an industrial section. Foremost, perhaps, among these is the immense deposits of coal that produce fuel for carrying on the industries above mentioned. The ease with which its coal can be trans- ported to the furnaces in the District not only has resulted in a wonderful establishment of large industries but has developed an industry which is second only to manufacturing itself. Much of the coal mined is sold in the general market and heavy shipments go out daily to supply the demands of railroads, factories, and private consumers. Another larger factor contributing to its importance as an industrial section is to be found in the transportation facilities. Located as the District is along the banks of the Allegheny River, a natural easy grade is furnished for trans- portation of products of mill and mine to the chief distributing points. During the period of the war the District therefore held high rank among those comprising Greater Pittsburgh, itself one of the important centers of the country in the production of munitions and other supplies for the Army.
In the matter of direct contribution to the Army's needs several different branches of manu- facture deserve mention. Perhaps the first of these is the steel industry. Before our entrance into the war the Allegheny Steel Company had already equipped a factory for the manufacture of shells and was filling orders for the French Government, and when our own Government needed supplies it was ready for quantity production. While the Allegheny Steel Company was the only plant equipped for the manufacture of munitions, yet other iron and steel products were equally necessary and their manufacture equally important to the successful prosecution of the war. To these lines the other departments of the Allegheny Steel Company, the West Penn Steel Company, the Penn Iron and Steel Company, the Allegheny Foundry, Yost Brothers Foundry, and the Shoop Bronze Company contributed to the full capacity of their output. One remarkable development of the war was the tremendous impetus given to the use of chemicals in all spheres of military activity. The Pennsylvania Salt Company plant at Natrona supplied large quantities of acids and other materials that were extensively used in the manufacture of explosives and
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9
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15
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1. John Burger
6. Robert Cameron
7. Arthur Carion
8. George Carnahan
9. John Lloyd Carnahan
10. Benjamin Carpenter
11. Robert Carson 12. Steve Cervenec 13. Alvin Emil Mason 14. John H. Chestnut 15. Lawrence Clever
16. Floyd Clinton 17. Leonard Clough 18. James R. Conroy
21. Walter Cooper 22. Lloyd Copeland 23. Edgar Minor 24. Alvin Bennett Crawford
26. Charles Cupps
2. George Butkosky
3. Hugh P. Butler
4. Brady Ellsworth Buzzard
19. Edward J. Conroy
20. Francis Laury Conwell (Dr.) 25. George Lester Cupps
27. John Ford Cupps 28. Ernest Daum
29. Clarence J. F. Davidson 30. James Harold Dewalt
PLATE XIV
5. Robert L. Barrett
221
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INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
other munitions. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company turned its attention to the manufacture of spectacle and optical glass in order to supply a demand that had been taken care of heretofore largely through imports. The Tarentum Paper Mills at the request of the Government turned attention to producing a special kind of paper which was later made into aeroplane blades.
Individual reports of some of these industries will be found in the succeeding chapter, but their modest contributions do scant justice to the immense output of the District and when we consider that it is not the purpose of this volume to include anything but the industries within the confines of District No. 15 and that all the extensive industries of the Allegheny Valley from Freeport north and also on the opposite side of the river are excluded, we begin to realize the im- portance of the Allegheny Valley in an industrial way.
Reports which follow from some of the various industries have included a short general statement of the contributions in the Liberty Loan Drives, also to the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, and the United War Work Campaigns. Only in one or two instances were accurate figures submitted. For this reason and because reports for these campaigns for the entire District will be found in another place in this volume only a general statement will be found in this chapter.
ALLEGHENY STEEL COMPANY
Upon the entry of the United States into the World War, Mr. Harry E. Sheldon, President of the Allegheny Steel Company, wired Washington that the entire resources of the Company were at the disposal of the Government. Copies of this telegram were posted throughout the plant and every employee asked to put forth every effort toward a maximum output of war ma- terials. The production figures show that every man was on the job and did his best. An out- ward demonstration of the patriotic fever that gripped the employees was given a few weeks after the declaration of war, when at that time the employees, marching by departments, paraded to Peterson Park, where speeches of an appropriate nature were made, and then back to the mill, where each department raised a flag, purchased by the employees in the department, over their building or buildings. The sight of twenty-five hundred men, accompanied by brass bands, and carrying our flag and the flags of our allies, marching over the streets of Brackenridge and Taren- tum, made a lasting impression on the people of the community.
Although it was imperative that everyone stay on the job, three hundred and thirty-four employees entered actual service and four made the supreme sacrifice. A service flag bearing a star for each of these employees floated in front of the mill during the war, and is now replaced by a bronze memorial tablet bearing the names of all these employees, which is placed at the entrance to the main office.
War products made by the Allegheny Steel Company consisted of forgings for steel shells, steel shell blanks, brass cartridge cases, trench mortar shells, ship plates, ship castings, etc.
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