When communities pulled together
What's It Wednesdays
ACHC #1993.096.131
This photo appeared on the front page of The Andover Townsman, October 8, 1942 with the headline, Children Collect Huge Scrap Pile.
The article read:
Possibly never in the history of Andover was there such a demonstration of mass cooperation on the part of school children …all the youngsters got together. They visited nearly every house and street in town. They went down into cellars and into attics. They scoured fields and dumps. They loaded trucks, filled toy carts, made use of bicycles, carried junk in their own two hands.
After the U.S. entered World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, factories shifted to making military goods. The global trade of raw materials was in a state of uncertainty. Americans were asked to help provide scrap metal to be melted down and reused in the production of warships, planes, tanks, and weapons. Scrap metal drives were called for across the country. In October 1942, as need became severe, the War Production Board announced a national metal scrap drive. Communities across America rallied around the effort.
Andover’s Civilian Defense Committee appointed Harry Emmons, as the local salvage committee chairman. He organized the scrap drives and collection plans.
The Andover Townsman October 2, 1942
On Oct. 1, 1942. The Townsman wrote of the need
“…scrap is very, very vital in the production of war armaments. The steel mills need it, and Andover with the other communities of the nation must supply it.”
"An enormous total of 275,000 pounds of metal alone is needed from Andover at the present time, an average of 25 pounds for every man, woman and child who lives here."
And of the October 11 drive, people were cautioned to place their scrap metal on the curbs by Saturday evening because
"Trucks will be sent through town to collect the scrap, starting at 9:30 Sunday morning. There will be 48 different vehicles on the job, 33 trucks and 15 station wagons."
Junk too heavy to be hauled out? Just call the Civilian Defense office. An extra nine trucks were standing by.
ACHC #1993.096.128
In November, the regional conservation manager of the War Production Board wrote to thank Emmons, "may we extend our thanks to the many volunteers who assisted you, and to the public, each of whom, to a greater or less degree, contributed the time, effort and thought which enabled your community to make its fine showing.”
Harry Emmons reported that Andover had gathered the grand total of 305 tons “a remarkable figure.” He added that
“Andover is proud of her citizens who have cooperated to make this achievement possible.”
What happened to all that metal? It was sold to dealers to be used by factories. And the proceeds went to the Andover Service Men’s fund, the Red Cross and the U. S. O. All to benefit our soldiers.
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