Victory Gardens in 1944 Naugatuck

During World War II, the government rationed basic foods such as sugar, eggs, coffee, butter and meats. Much of our labor force was involved in the war effort, creating shortages in labor and transportation.

And in Naugatuck, it was no different.

The government reached out to citizens to plant “Victory Gardens” to provide for themselves nutritious fruits and vegetables to keep our country strong. The gardens were promoted through posters, schools, civic groups and local government organizations.

While this was a way of life for rural areas, cities and towns coast to coast joined forces along with the White House, 20 million in all, planting on rooftops, window boxes and backyard gardens. 

Spring and Summer of 1944 , Naugatuck “dug in“ for this all-out effort, as it was not just a passing fad but each citizens patriotic duty.

On March 6, the Naugatuck Woman’s Club had noted speaker Carl Wedell give a lecture on the Victory Garden. He pointed out that gardening without waste was key as the United States is confronted with a shortage of seeds and fertilizers as well as gardening tools. The Department of Agriculture urged that no individual plow up a lawn or flower garden where the soil is not promising or excess fertilizer must be used. It is not only unwise but unpatriotic to grow gardens where the cost of materials exceeds the value of the vegetables produced.

James Linsley, chief of the Garden Unit, Naugatuck War Council, offered a series of recommendations on gardening, with everything from details on size to what should be planted there.

“It is your patriotic duty to plant a victory garden whenever possible,” he’s quoted as saying. “Here is one case where you can help the war effort and benefit yourself.”

In the “Around The Clock “ section of The Naugatuck Daily News, it was noted that Regina Sullivan, 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Sullivan of Beebe Street, had a victory garden all her own. She worked on it with such experience and knowledge that even a mid-western farmer would find envy in their heart at the sight of it.

Victory gardeners in the Millville Ave area were reported breathing a sigh of relief today with the news that cows that have been visiting the garden plots are once more safe behind adequate fencing. Owners of the cows, who also live in the area, report that the cows broke through fences and headed for the luscious vegetable gardens on Tuesday. Thankfully the matter of the weak fence has been taken care of. Gardeners can once again entertain the idea of having sweet corn smothered in butter with just a dash of salt and pepper.

Max Leouhardt, an old hand at victory gardening, was asked by the paper what he’d do if he saw a herd helping themselves to his plants. Max replied that he wasn’t worried; instead he stated that the readers ought to see his bean sprouts, which are almost as high as his 30-foot flag pole.

“No cow could reach so high, so why worry about ‘em,” he said.

On Borough radios, you can hear “I’ll Be Seeing You” by Bing Crosby and “People Will Say Were in Love” by Ole Blue eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. Then at 7:30 p.m. residents would be planted in front of their radio cabinets listening to The Lone Ranger.

Highland Grocery, owned by Rocco Rado on Highland Avenue, reminded residents of the War Loan Drive to buy War Bonds. There is an ad in the paper of a loving grandmother gazing at her grandchildren with the words, “Grandmothers Bond with the future, with Bonds. “You’d be hard pressed to find a single soul in town that hasn’t invested in War Bonds at the time, the newspaper noted.

Naugatuck residents were reminded that it’s patriotic to save our used food cans. Remove labels, wash, flatten and put in a separate container next to your trashcan.

Have you been setting aside the daily paper and saved other paper material that can be used in helping to alleviate the existing shortage? This was common too.

Borough street department trucks will pick up paper salvage starting Monday morning. The quota was 50 tons at the time. Salvaging paper helps in putting the war in the bag for us.

Sweeney’s Art and Stationary store ads read, “Service Men want mail! Write more often, we have stationary, V-mail, air mail, boxed paper and envelopes ink in all colors.”

Murphy’s store on Church Street in offering Victory Garden Supplies including Straw Hats for the entire family for .37 cents. For Johnny’s Homecoming, they are offering furlough bags at half price. They are regulation khaki, 16- or 20-inch collapsible bags made of a heavy army duck with zipper closure.

The paper today revealed an interesting fact: that Army jeeps have tire treads patterned after a camels foot.

The following front page headlines of the Naugatuck Daily News on this rainy and muggy day on the July 19, 1944, reminds residents that they all touched deeply by the war and that they must keep morale high for their neighbors and friends here and abroad.

Two Naugatuck Families Now Have Four Sons with the American Forces in France

The News reported today that two Naugatuck families have four sons fighting with the American invasion forces in France. These are the only two instances that have been reported to date. Pvt. William Marinaccio and Pvt. Michael Marinaccio, sons of Mrs. Fitomena Marinaccio of 130 Cliff Street, are with the invading forces.

Mrs. J. William Johnson, also of Cliff Street, has recently been informed that a second son, Corp. J William Johnson Jr. has arrived in France. Pfc Franklin E. Johnson, a brother, went to France with the invasion forces on June 6.

The two boys father, Major J. William Johnson is also serving with the U.S. Army and a sister Ruth Johnson, is an army nurse in the South Pacific.

Sergeant William J Reilly Floated for 38 Hours before Being Picked Up

Twin son of Mr. and Mrs. John Reilly of Aetna Street was one of the survivors of the sinking of the troop ship, “Cape San Juan,” with the loss of 70 American lives last fall in the Pacific Ocean. The sinking was the work of a Japanese submarine. The lives of 1359 men were saved through the co-operation of Army, Navy, Merchant Marine and a commercial airplane.

The Naugatuck solder writes that he will never forget the sinking; that all he thought about was what was his mother was going to do when he didn’t come home. He said he was cool enough when he hit the water and managed to keep his wits about him.

Sergeant Reilly writes that he never thought the soldiers would be rescued, particularly when huge sharks began to circle the floating solders. They didn’t know how long they would have to wait before the giant fish attacked them.

The local solder said that God was good and that the sharks kept away from most of the men but attacked some of the injured solders when the opportunity came.

Reilly apparently was able to adopt a fantastic attitude about the situation, feeling that what was coming was coming and there was nothing that he could do about it. He wrote that in a situation like that, one just prays that the end will come easy and not like some of the boys get it.

The local solder writes that often repeated phrase of many a solders letters, that war is hell, and he hopes that this one will end all wars. He is confidant that the war will not last too long and that he will be back home before to many more months go by.

The commercial airplane mentioned in the first part of the story was a Mariner Flying Boat, operated by a crew from Pan American Airways. The craft flew 300 miles to sea, landed in high waves, rescued 48 men and then managed to take off after dumping a ton and a half of gasoline. The craft bounced 40 feet into the air when she tried to take off, almost tipped into the high waves, then after bouncing perilously five or six times, made it safely into the air.

Reilly later went to Australia and then into New Guinea and is now believed to be further along the island route from which the Japanese have steadily driven in recent months. 

Another Local Soldier “Missing” In Invasion Action

Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ploski of 28 Greenwood Street, Union City, that their son Sergeant Walter Ploski, age 23 has been missing in action since the start of the invasion of the coast of France last June 6.

The missing sergeant wrote his last letter May 30. The letter contained jewelry and other valuable possessions. Sergeant Ploski was a well-known athlete and prior to his entrance in the Army, was employed by the Chase Brass and Cooper Company in Waterbury.

The missing solder is a brother of William Ploski, a borough burgess and Henry Ploski from the local police force.

Since last weekend, three Naugatuck soldiers have been reported missing in France — Sgt. Ploski, Pvt. Robert Baummer of Oak Street and Pvt. William Cowan of Linden Street.

And so our town of Naugatuck bought their bonds, planted gardens with vigor, gathered papers and cans and used ration coupons, all in the name of patriotism. The Rev. George F. Dunn asks his 93 children of the St Francis parish who have just received their Holy Communion, to pray for servicemen who are fighting for their country.

Until next week when we find another place in Naugatuck History, I'll be seeing you.

Credits : Archives The Naugatuck Daily News; 1940's.org ; Library of Congress Picture Credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture