Illinois City

	Illinois City lies within two townships: Drury and Buffalo Prairie. Margaret Patterson grew up in Illinois City and provides a good description of what life was like there during the 1930s. This story was told to Wendy Heithoff. Margaret Patterson grew up in Illinois City, Illinois during World War II and although the war has ended, the images are still fresh in her mind. She recalls not only the events of the war, but the reactions of the country and war efforts she was involved in. Margaret attended a one-room school house that housed about 45 children. After Hitler began his rise to power, the schoolmaster began a current events activity for the fourth through eighth graders. Each day, every child had to bring in an article about the war. It was then read aloud in class and discussed. She remembers vividly stories such as battles over islands in the South Pacific, and the events that occurred in Poland. She says the memories wouldn't be as clear if current events hadn't been part of the daily curriculum. The key events in World War II are memories that contain lots of details in Margaret's mind. She remembers events such as Pearl Harbor. The radio broadcasts had one message that day. This country has been attacked. Even though she only knew of two people stationed at Pearl Harbor, her patriotism was strong. She recalls a neighborhood smashing party where all the children gathered up all their trinkets and jewelry from Japan and destroyed them. "We wanted nothing to do with Japan," she said. A feeling of shock spread across the country. "Here was a nation that had done everything to stay out of a war which wasn't theirs, but now they were attacked and their boys had died. Boys began to enlist in the military. Margaret's future husband signed himself up for the air force. She recalls the draft where19 and 20-year-olds were taken, and then 18-year-olds were accepted. Boys were taken out of high school to enter the military. Margaret's future brother-in-law was one of these boys. Pearl Harbor shifted the focus of the current events activity from other nation's interests to the United States. She recalls learning about the waves of soldiers arriving on the beaches of Normandy and how, in her words, "our boys were slaughtered." She remembers learning of the soldiers march through France and Germany, and the problems they encountered along the way. With the United States entrance into World War II, new practices were made a part of daily life to help the war effort. Rationing soon became a way of life for Margaret and her family. Her family received food stamps for butter, sugar, coffee, flour, shortening, and meat. Soon the family learned to go without certain items. Her family learned to be partially self-sufficient by growing a garden and raising a pig and chickens. The government gave out recipes to help families cope with the rationings. Margaret remembers making cakes with corn syrup and "some of them weren't bad." "We didn't have those things so it was good to have something," Margaret said. New clothes were another item the family learned to live without. Her father's bib overalls were a precious commodity and were only available by placing his name on a waitlist. He would travel nine miles to get two pairs of bib overalls. When they had worn out, the overalls were used as patches for clothes. Margaret's father also began carpooling to work because of the rationing of gas. The men worked at the Rock Island Arsenal. Because of the familyās proximity to the Arsenal, and the fear of an attack, the family was required to pull the black-out shades before any lights were turned on in the evening. Margaret didn't live in fear that her house would be bombed, but "fear for what the boys in Europe were experiencing." Rationing was not the only activity Margaret was involved in to aid the war effort. Neighborhood children created their own ways to help. They participated in paper drives and bought war stamps. The paper drives consisted of teenagers taking bundles of newspapers to the nearest pick up point where the papers could be taken for recycling. Many times the stacks of papers filled wagons. War stamps cost anywhere from ten cents to fifty cents. By buying stamps, children could build their way up to a war bond. The war continued as Margaret entered high school. During her high school days, Margaret had to travel 27 miles one way to school each day. The gas rationing led the school to hold all extra-curricular events, such as football games and plays, immediately after school. The buses then took the children home. Not many parents could make it to the events because of the lack of gas. Margaret's story has two layers, her memories and her husband's. Her husband was a staff sergeant on the SS San Juan. His ship was torpedoed, but failed to sink. The crew spent two days in life rafts waiting to be rescued. Her husband had a friend, Norm, who was a radio man in the Merchant Marines who wouldn't leave his post in Australia until his friend was rescued. When Margaret's husband was rescued, he was brought to Australia where he met up with Norm. Upon arrival Margaret's husband was brought to meet Norm's captain because the captain wanted to meet the man who kept Norm awake for 48 hours. Margaret feels it was a different era back then, when a friend would deprive himself of sleep until he was certain he was safe. Margaret's memories of World War II consist primarily of events and statistics surrounding the war. Her memories add a personal touch to the historical facts she recalls and her life is a window into the daily lives of many other Americans throughout the nation. HISTORY CHURCHES
	back to home

Illinois City lies within two townships: Drury and Buffalo Prairie.

Margaret Patterson grew up in Illinois City and provides a good description of what life was like there during the 1930s. This story was told to Wendy Heithoff.

Margaret Patterson grew up in Illinois City, Illinois during World War II and although the war has ended, the images are still fresh in her mind. She recalls not only the events of the war, but the reactions of the country and war efforts she was involved in.

Margaret attended a one-room school house that housed about 45 children. After Hitler began his rise to power, the schoolmaster began a current events activity for the fourth through eighth graders. Each day, every child had to bring in an article about the war. It was then read aloud in class and discussed. She remembers vividly stories such as battles over islands in the South Pacific, and the events that occurred in Poland. She says the memories wouldn't be as clear if current events hadn't been part of the daily curriculum.

The key events in World War II are memories that contain lots of details in Margaret's mind. She remembers events such as Pearl Harbor. The radio broadcasts had one message that day. This country has been attacked. Even though she only knew of two people stationed at Pearl Harbor, her patriotism was strong. She recalls a neighborhood smashing party where all the children gathered up all their trinkets and jewelry from Japan and destroyed them. "We wanted nothing to do with Japan," she said. A feeling of shock spread across the country. "Here was a nation that had done everything to stay out of a war which wasn't theirs, but now they were attacked and their boys had died. Boys began to enlist in the military. Margaret's future husband signed himself up for the air force. She recalls the draft where19 and 20-year-olds were taken, and then 18-year-olds were accepted. Boys were taken out of high school to enter the military. Margaret's future brother-in-law was one of these boys.

Pearl Harbor shifted the focus of the current events activity from other nation's interests to the United States. She recalls learning about the waves of soldiers arriving on the beaches of Normandy and how, in her words, "our boys were slaughtered." She remembers learning of the soldiers march through France and Germany, and the problems they encountered along the way.

With the United States entrance into World War II, new practices were made a part of daily life to help the war effort. Rationing soon became a way of life for Margaret and her family. Her family received food stamps for butter, sugar, coffee, flour, shortening, and meat. Soon the family learned to go without certain items. Her family learned to be partially self-sufficient by growing a garden and raising a pig and chickens. The government gave out recipes to help families cope with the rationings. Margaret remembers making cakes with corn syrup and "some of them weren't bad." "We didn't have those things so it was good to have something," Margaret said.

New clothes were another item the family learned to live without. Her father's bib overalls were a precious commodity and were only available by placing his name on a waitlist. He would travel nine miles to get two pairs of bib overalls. When they had worn out, the overalls were used as patches for clothes. Margaret's father also began carpooling to work because of the rationing of gas. The men worked at the Rock Island Arsenal.

Because of the familyās proximity to the Arsenal, and the fear of an attack, the family was required to pull the black-out shades before any lights were turned on in the evening. Margaret didn't live in fear that her house would be bombed, but "fear for what the boys in Europe were experiencing."

Rationing was not the only activity Margaret was involved in to aid the war effort. Neighborhood children created their own ways to help. They participated in paper drives and bought war stamps. The paper drives consisted of teenagers taking bundles of newspapers to the nearest pick up point where the papers could be taken for recycling. Many times the stacks of papers filled wagons. War stamps cost anywhere from ten cents to fifty cents. By buying stamps, children could build their way up to a war bond.

The war continued as Margaret entered high school. During her high school days, Margaret had to travel 27 miles one way to school each day. The gas rationing led the school to hold all extra-curricular events, such as football games and plays, immediately after school. The buses then took the children home. Not many parents could make it to the events because of the lack of gas.

Margaret's story has two layers, her memories and her husband's. Her husband was a staff sergeant on the SS San Juan. His ship was torpedoed, but failed to sink. The crew spent two days in life rafts waiting to be rescued. Her husband had a friend, Norm, who was a radio man in the Merchant Marines who wouldn't leave his post in Australia until his friend was rescued. When Margaret's husband was rescued, he was brought to Australia where he met up with Norm. Upon arrival Margaret's husband was brought to meet Norm's captain because the captain wanted to meet the man who kept Norm awake for 48 hours. Margaret feels it was a different era back then, when a friend would deprive himself of sleep until he was certain he was safe.

Margaret's memories of World War II consist primarily of events and statistics surrounding the war. Her memories add a personal touch to the historical facts she recalls and her life is a window into the daily lives of many other Americans throughout the nation.

HISTORY CHURCHES

back to home