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Fascinating Historical Photos of Life in Southington, Connecticut During WWII

During World War II, the War Department selected Southington, Connecticut, to be featured in a defense booklet entitled “Southington, CT-Microcosm of America.” At that time, the town had a total population of just under 10,000. According to the Southington Observer, 1,591 of those 10,000 residents served in World War II.

Photographers roamed the neighborhood, taking pictures of residents at work, at play, and in their homes and churches. Charles Fenno Jacobs had taken photographs for Time, Life, National Geographic, U.S. Camera, and Fortune. His particular talent was capturing subjects at their most vulnerable. Jacobs was recruited by Edward Steichen soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to join the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, a particular unit set up by the U.S. Navy to document and publicize its aviation activities.

Below are some fascinating historical photos by Charles Fenno Jacobs that show what life was like in Southington during World War II.

#1 Children stage a patriotic demonstration, Southington, 1942

#2 Andrew Smedberg came to America twenty-two years ago from Sweden.

Andrew Smedberg came to America twenty-two years ago from Sweden.

He was broke when he arrived but by hard work and perseverance was able to acquire what he has today--a thriving dairy farm, earning a "good living" for his family of seven.

#9 First Selectman (for 1942) James Simone (left) attending the town meeting in his capacity as citizen.

First Selectman (for 1942) James Simone (left) attending the town meeting in his capacity as citizen.

Like other citizens he has one vote on each measure. In his executive capacity he is empowered to act only after the people have given their consent at town meetings. The office of the First Selectman corresponds to that of mayor.

#13 School children pledging their allegiance to the flag, 1942

#15 An American town and its way of life.

An American town and its way of life.

The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street. The small number of spectators is accounted for by the fact that the town's war factories did not close.

#16 On All Soul’s Day the Catholic congregation is gathering in the Saint Thomas cemetery.

#17 August L. Loeb, editor of the Southington News, 1942

#19 Farm owned by James Pompey who twenty years ago came from Italy on the advice of a brother.

#23 Southington school children staging a patriotic demonstration, 1942

#24 A highlight in the town’s life is the annual girls’ glee club recital, 1942

#26 Worker in the Peck, Stow and Wilcox factory, 1942

#30 School children pledging their allegiance to the flag, 1942

#33 A highlight in the town’s life is the annual girls’ glee club recital, 1942

#34 At the health center, the people of Southington may receive medical advice and a certain amount of medical care, 1942

#37 The Old Mill is a popular place for young men to take girl friends on Saturday night.

The Old Mill is a popular place for young men to take girl friends on Saturday night.

The building was erected in 1737 as one of the first metal mills in the American colonies.

#38 A group of young men soon to leave for army induction camps are listening to William Mongelo, of the U.S. Army Air Corps,1942

#43 Southington school children staging a patriotic demonstration, 1942

#44 Southington girls, members of the youth drum corps, 1942

#46 Thomas J. Murphy, chief of the fire department, and its only salaried member, chatting with one of the volunteers, 1942

#47 Students of first aid, practicing artificial respiration, 1942

#48 Dimitrios Giorgios, who came from Greece, runs a soda fountain.

Dimitrios Giorgios, who came from Greece, runs a soda fountain.

He wasn't here long before the country entered World War I, he joined up and today is a member of the American Legion (shown making banana splits), 1942

#49 Mrs. John Chimbor, one of the newer generations of Americans. She came from Iceland twenty years ago, 1942

#51 Southington girls, members of the youth drum corps, 1942

#52 The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street.

The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street.

The small number of spectators is accounted for by the fact that the town's war factories did not close, 1942

#56 Worker in the Peck, Stow and Wilcox factory, 1942

#57 Bocci, an Italian game somewhat like bowling, is another popular outdoor sport in Southington, 1942

#59 The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street.

The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street.

The small numbers of spectators is accounted for by the fact that the town's war factories did not close, 1942

#60 The small number of spectators is accounted for by the fact that the town’s war factories did not close, 1942

#64 Group portrait of a policemen’s organization, 1942

#66 A group of women rolling bandages and preparing surgical dressings,1942

#69 School children pledging their allegiance to the flag, 1942

#71 Southington school children staging a patriotic demonstration, 1942

#72 Some of Southington’s 250 air raid wardens. They are attending one of the weekly meetings, 1942

#74 The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street, 1942

#76 Southington school children staging a patriotic demonstration, 1942

#77 A little girl is having her teeth fixed in the Center’s modern dental clinic, 1942

#79 Graduates of a course in Red Cross nursing, receiving their certificates, 1942

#86 An American town and its way of life. The vested choir singing at a Sunday morning service, 1942

#90 At the health center, the people of Southington may receive medical advice and a certain amount of medical care, 1942

#93 Mrs. John Chimbor, one of the newer generations of Americans. She came from Iceland twenty years ago, 1942

#96 A highlight in the town’s life is the annual girls’ glee club recital,1942

#97 At Beecher Street School, whose student body consists half of Americans of Polish descent.

At Beecher Street School, whose student body consists half of Americans of Polish descent.

The Queen of the May was Emily Shivak, of Polish extraction; the King, Philip D'Agostino, of Italian, 1942

#99 Southington school children staging a patriotic demonstration, 1942

#104 A little girl is having her teeth fixed in the center’s modern dental clinic, 1942

#105 The vested choir singing at a Sunday morning service, 1942

#108 At Beecher Street School, whose student body consists half of Americans of Italian descent and half of Americans of Polish descent.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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