Blanche Moon, (standing, third from right), 1948 Enlisted Sergeant First Class Army – WAC Auxiliary, 1949. Photo courtesy of Lake County Historical Museum.
Edited press release
BALDWIN – “Lake County Women in War” will be the topic of the next Lake County Historical Museum program, beginning at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 915 N. Michigan Ave. The free program, presented by Chris Crosthwaite, is dedicated to the Lake County women who served in the military or supported the war effort here at home.
Attendees are invited to bring a dessert to share for the museum’s table of desserts.
Women have served in the United States military since the Revolutionary War, (1775-1783). Some were spies or saboteurs.
Women from Lake County began serving during World War I as army nurses. Eva Clemenshaw and Bernice Prout, of Luther, are among six women documented as serving. By World War II, Lake County had at least nine women who entered the military, some as nurses, clerical workers, weather service workers, pilots and more. They served in the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) and the Women’s Airforce (or Auxiliary) Service Pilots (WASP).
The museum’s evening program will highlight the military careers of Muriel Castallante, Julie Henderson Thomas and Blanche Moon — all of Idlewild, as well as Virginia Homer Keye, Margaret Peterson, and sisters Norma Trucks and Olga Trucks.
Women supported the war efforts here at home, too. Posters throughout the U.S. encouraged women to go to work, start Victory Gardens, become Red Cross members and more. “We Can Do It!” was the slogan that sent many women into the factories.
In Lake County, women went to work each day at the Nirvana Manufacturing Company, commonly known as the Nirvana Parachute Factory. Along with two satellite plants, one in Scottville and one in Evart, the company produced parachutes and canvas gear bags for clothing and tents.
There were plane spotters scattered all over America. In Baldwin, Emily Allison and Romayne Radtke (among others) sat in the upper-floor windows of the fire house and watched for enemy aircraft.
Edna Bradford in Baldwin began a Victory Garden.
Some wrote letters to soldiers as part of the Red Cross’s efforts to ease the homesickness of our military. Emilie Smith of Baldwin noted in her journal that she had taken part in such activities.
Others helped with the rationing program, by handing out ration books and stamps.
This event will bring to light the immense contribution women have made in the past to our military campaigns — and are still giving each day. The museum wishes to thank all women for their service to our country.
