This month’s focus for Bella is “change.” 2020 has been especially full of changes, and the year isn’t over yet! With the idea that nothing is ever quite new, let’s explore our community’s history and how we have handled periods of great change. The time period is the early 1940s and World War II is in full force.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, young American men left their hometowns, their jobs, and their families to fight against the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan. While they were away, their mothers, wives, and sisters kept the home front going by working in factories, tending Victory Gardens, and rationing supplies. Here are just a few stories from the home front of Aiken County during this period of great change.
Women doing good work.
More than 180,000 South Carolinians, including 2,500 women, signed up to serve in the military during World War II. As a result, businesses lost a large part of their labor force as South Carolina citizens left to fight. Taking their spots in the workplace were women. This article from June 21, 1944, in the Aiken Standard and Review expresses the value of women in the workplace.
As we see it, if it were not for the women, God bless ‘em, this old war torn world of ours would not be worth a tinker’s dam. The women folks have been figuratively wearing the pants for many years, but the gals have come out in the open and really strut their stuff in trousers. Strange, but true, women in many instances are not only taking over men’s jobs, but they are in some cases doing a better job than their male predecessors in the office and the industrial plants. Even farm women have taken on added work and responsibilities now that there is such a pronounced shortage of farm labor. It is not an uncommon sight to see the women in the fields doing men’s work.
As we see it, this new found independence of women from the aid of the brawny male, may change the whole complexion of domestic life in the years to come. The old man may stay at home and do the household work, while mother dons her pants and becomes the breadwinner. …
… All of us are frank to admit that if it were not for the women, the war loan drives would not be so successful nor would the salvage campaigns.
The fifth War Loan campaign in which men, women and children are working to sell $994,000 in bonds in Aiken County is now in its second week. The county organization is headed by Chairman Dr. B. C. McLean, and everyone in the organization regardless of age, color or sex is working tirelessly toward the county’s goal. As a matter of fact, what applies to Aiken County can be said of every county in South Carolina. The reports are very encouraging.
Rationing isn’t new.
While we struggle with shortages of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and face coverings in 2020, South Carolinians during the WWII period struggled with expansive rationing by the federal Office of Price Administration (OPA). The first material to be rationed was car tires in January of 1942, next came gasoline, metal, clothing, and food items such as red meat, coffee, canned fruits and vegetables, sugar, and flour. All of these items were desperately needed for the troops fighting overseas and thus had to be rationed for Americans on the home front. Inside the OPA’s ration books were stamps that could be used to purchase restricted items. The newspaper clipping below expresses the sentiment of the citizens of Salley, South Carolina, on the idea of rationing.
Victory through gardening.
With the rationing of food products, many women and men on the home front were encouraged to create Victory Gardens. These gardens would provide each family with a personal food supply to supplement the rationed goods of a grocery store. Shown here is an advertisement for supplies to get your Victory Garden started in Aiken County. Not only was it self-sufficient to grow a Victory Garden, but it was also patriotic!
History can provide a path for grasping the lessons of those who lived before us. Their strength and success in the face of fear can aid in our own course of self-discovery and victory. Our advice during this time of great change? Plant your roots and turn toward the sunshine — be your own Victory Garden.
