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 Davidson County, 1940 – 1945: Local newspapers describe life on the WWII homefront”
This text has been modified from a book written and copyrighted by J.M. Daniel in 2005. The Museum presented two exhibits about WWII that year and Daniel’s research accompanied the first exhibit, A Band of Families: The World War II Home Front. Compiled from local newspaper articles published during the war in The Dispatch (Lexington), and The Times (Thomasville), the book reflects the extraordinary level of patriotic engagement citizens at home made in support of the war effort. A subsequent exhibit, Our Own Band of Brother: Those Who Served, told the story of thousands of Davidson County men and women who saw military service during WWII.
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What’s it worth? …There are several references in this booklet to worker’s wages. There are also food prices, toy prices, and automobile prices. Comparing prices from the 1940’s to those today requires some idea of the differences in value of a dollar between the times. The following table shows the value of a dollar in the WWII years and today. (Source: U.S. Govt. Board of Labor Statistics)
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$1 in
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Is worth this amount in 2005
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1941
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$13.15
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1942
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$11.86
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1943
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$11.17
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1944
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$10.98
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1945
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$10.74
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Drives & War Loans:
To finance America’s war efforts, massive fund raising campaigns were staged around the sale of “war bonds”. For those, such as children, who didn’t have the means to invest in an $18.75 cent bond, “Defense Stamps” were available at face amounts as low as $0.10. These could be exchanged for bonds when a suitable amount had been accumulated. With contributions from individuals at all levels and industry, nearly $160 Billion was raised in the period from 11/30/42 until 12/8/45.
The First War Loan began on 11/30/1942 and ended on 12/23/42. The national goal was $9 Billion. Almost $13 Billion was raised.
The Second War Loan drive began on 4/12/43 and ended on 5/1/43. The goal was $13 Billion, but over $18 Billion was raised.
The Third War Loan was kicked off on 9/9/43 and was completed on 10/2/43. Its goal was $15 Billion, a number that was well exceeded by the nearly $19 Billion raised.
The Fourth War Loan ran for less than a month from 1/18/44 until 2/15/44 with a goal of $14 Billion. It closed out with nearly $17 Billion collected.
The Fifth War Loan The invasion of Normandy was quickly followed by another drive, this one beginning on 6/12/44 with a goal of $16 Billion. It was completed on 7/8/44 with nearly $21 Billion raised.
The Sixth War Loan drive began on 11/20/44 as hopes for a quick conclusion to the war in Europe were at a high level. Nearly $22 Billion was raised.
The Seventh War Loan followed on the heels of the German surrender, beginning on 5/14/45. Although there were fears of a let down following the allied victory in Europe, over $26 Billion was raised against the $14 Billion goal by the end of the drive.
The Eighth War Loan drive got its start on 10/29/45, after the end of the war. It had a comparatively low goal of $9 Billion; but, by 12/8/45 over $21 Billion had been raised.
Rationing:
In an effort to deal with the shortages brought about by the war and the needs of war production, a national system of commodity rationing was established. In Davidson County, ration boards were established at Thomasville and Lexington, each being responsible for the program in approximately ½ the county. These ration boards made decisions on applications for limited resources such as new tire and automobiles. As every man, woman and child was eligible to receive a ration book, entitling them to purchase carefully apportioned amounts of commodities, the local ration boards also controlled ration book distribution.
The Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies early in the war cut off the United States’ supply of raw rubber, making rubber goods among the first to be subject to rationing. Gasoline, food of most types, lumber and construction materials all followed. By the end of the war, rationing limited consumption of nearly every consumer product. Every man, woman, and child in America was effected. The government encouraged the public to conserve and to add to their food supplies with the produce of “Victory Gardens”.
One of the most onerous ration restrictions was that imposed on gasoline. Not only was the American war machine exhibiting a huge thirst for gasoline, reducing the amount of gas allocated to the public also reduced wear on tires, providing a double saving.
The local ration boards based individual gas allotments on their appraisal of necessity. Emergency vehicles and medical staff were eligible for an “X” certificate, allowing them unlimited amounts, while at the other end of the spectrum, an “A” certificate… the most common… offered as little as 1 ½ gallon per week.
Ration programs were continually changing with the needs of the war effort. Local newspapers published weekly reminders of the current programs in effect and how they were to be administered.
The following notice is from April of 1943:
NOT ALL FOOD IS RATIONED - Chief un-rationed items are eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, dried and dehydrated fruits (prunes, raisins, etc.) fish and shellfish of all varieties except that in sealed containers, bread and cereals, milk, grain products such as spaghetti, macaroni and noodles, poultry and game, jams, preserves and jellies, mayonnaise and salad dressing, perishable cheeses.
RED STAMP RATIONING - This covers all meats, butter, fats and oils, and cheese (except the soft, perishable varieties). Each person is allowed sixteen points a week. Red coupons in War Ration Book 2 marked D are valid this week. These coupons and any A, B and C coupons saved from the preceding three weeks may be used at any time through April 30.
BLUE STAMP RATIONING - G, H and J blue stamps in War Ration Book 2, worth a total of forty-eight points a person, become valid tomorrow, April 24, and are good throughout the month of May. D, E and F blue stamps, in use since March 25, expire Friday, April 30. Thus there will be an overlap period of one week in which all six stamps will be valid. These stamps cover canned, bottled and frozen fruits and vegetables and their juices, dry beans, peas, lentils, etc., and processed foods such as soups, baby foods, baked beans, catsup and chili sauce.
- SHOES - No. 17 coupon in War Ration Book 1 is good for one pair until June 15. Families may pool coupons of a household.
- COFFEE - Coupon No. 25, in War Ration Book 1, good for one pound of coffee, expires Sunday, April 25.
- SUGAR - Coupon No. 12 in War Ration Book 1 is good for five pounds, but this must last through May 31.
- GASOLINE - A, B and C coupons each are worth three gallons. T coupons are good for five gallons each. The A coupons numbered 5 must last through July 21, which is double the time of previous ration periods. B and C books bear own expiration dates.
- FUEL OIL - Period 5 coupons, which must last you through Sept. 30, are now valid for ten gallons (household type) and 100 gallons (institutional type). The O. P. A. advises you to save the stubs from ration sheets - you will need them when the new heating season begins on Oct. 1.
- TIRES - Tires for essential driving are available on application to rationing boards. Recapping with reclaimed rubber is now available to all without restriction. “
While there was widespread cooperation with rationing’s limitations, there were also those who sought to find relief through other means. Tire theft, black market gas sales, ration book theft, and other illegal or unethical practices were not uncommon.
Copyright J. M. Daniel, 2005
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