Northampton County in the War Time: A Community History

The geographical position of Northampton County, lying as it does between the bay and ocean, furnishes marine facilities, which, together with the commercial activities and agricultural pursuits of the people, have supplied the county with more than an abundance of the luxuries which are necessary to the uplift and progressiveness of any people.

Prior to 1914 Northampton County was progressive and was fast becoming a power to be reckoned with in the distribution of certain food products in Northern and Western markets. But the financial disaster which swept the agricultural districts in 1915 was keenly felt in Northampton. However, the disaster proved a blessing in disguise, for men, in their efforts to find a way out of the difficulty, forgot their differences and worked together in establishing all business on a smoother basis than it had ever known in the past. Out of the chaos came system and improved living conditions, greater care in making investments, more intelligent conservation of resources. When war broke out in Europe prices of all materials shot skyward almost overnight and the financial pinch was everywhere in evidence. By 1916 business had adjusted itself to such an extent as to give a fair return in Northampton County, and as the outlook brightened the cloud lifted and men breathed easier.

But in 1917 the United States declared war. The cost of material, farm implements and labor reached undreamed of heights. Men did not know how to prepare for the following year's crops. However, with a determination to be of service to the country and to make the most of a bad situation, they planted and reaped crops that were without precedent, receiving for their labors the highest prices ever known in the county.

When our nation declared war on Germany a wave of patriotism swept the county. Men, women and children, old and young, vied with one another in doing their bit. The churches seemed to forget their denomination differences and mobilized by common consent for service. The schools, too, were fertile fields for various activities, such as canning clubs, conservation clubs and the Junior Red Cross.

Cape Charles was the recruiting station of our county military company known as Company H. This company was finally absorbed by the 116th Infantry.

A naval base was established at Cherrystone Island, and the "Mosquito Fleet" did constant patrol duty off the coast.

The work of the local draft and exemption boards was carried on in a systematic way. A large percentage of the men drafted claimed exemption, and most of the claims were granted.

One hundred or more individuals in the county were actively engaged in Liberty Loan work. There was no detailed report published of the First Loan, but the percentage of quota subscribed in the Second Loan was 108, in the Third 171, in the Fourth 130, and in the Victory 131. The percentage of population subscribing to the various loans was: Second Loan, 5.77; Third Loan, 8.81; Fourth Loan, 12.60, and the Victory Loan, 7.26.

War gardens were planted and cultivated by both white and colored citizens of the county. The women throughout the county voluntarily pledged themselves to abstain from the use of wheat bread a certain number of days each week, and to practice food conservation and economy in every way. Meetings were held all through the county for the purpose of discussing household economy.

A chapter of the American Red Cross was organized at Cape Charles in December, 1917, with Mr. J. V. Moore as chairman. This chapter embraced the whole of Northampton and was a combination of seven branches and eleven auxiliaries, eight of which were colored. There was a membership of 1,350 the first year. A brief summary of the work follows: 27,814 surgical dressings, 2,203 hospital garments, 926 knitted garments made, 149 Christmas boxes were sent overseas, 2,706 pounds of clothing, 100 handkerchiefs, 100 hand towels, 50 bath towels, 50 sheets and 100 napkins were sent to the Belgian Relief. The chapter also contributed 721 surgical dressings to U. S. Naval Hospital, Norfolk, and a box of hospital garments and surgical dressings to the convalescent home, Hampton. An emergency aid was organized for Cherrystone Naval Base. The members throughout the county seemed untiring in their zeal to give help, comfort and entertainment to all service men with whom they came in contact. The total amount of money raised by the chapter from its organization in 1917 to June, 1919, was $12,662.

Another organization which did valuable service in the county during this time was the Cape Charles Branch of the National League for Woman's Service, with Mrs. Robert A. McGuire as chairman. Mrs. McGuire's own report of the work done by this organization follows:

The Cape Charles Branch of the National League for
Woman's Service was organized March 31, 1917, beginning war work as the "Auxiliary of Company H" (the county military organization), but merging into the State Division of the Nation League for Woman's Service the following June.

"The first officers elected were: Mrs. Robert A. McGuire, chairman; Mrs. J. W. Wilson, vice-chairman; Mrs. John T. Daniel, secretary; Mrs. A. L. Williams, assistant secretary, held office throughout the history of the organization. Mrs. J. W. Wilson was succeeded by Mrs. A. S. Downes as vice-chairman; Mrs. A. L. Williams' position as assistant secretary is now filled by Miss Gladys Nottingham; and after the death of our beloved and most efficient treasurer, Mrs. R. N. Beatty, Mrs. J. D. King was elected as her successor.

"Along other lines of activity the following members have rendered service: Mrs. C. I. Mellvaine. chairman Red Cross first aid; Miss Marion C. Daniel, chairman hospital supplies division (overseas relief); Mrs. L. O. Milbourne, chairman relief division; Mrs. E. C. Young, chairman hospitality (in connection with Service and Red Circle Clubs); Mrs. F. E. Marsh, chairman entertainment division; Mrs. Robert A. McGuire, chairman Service and Red Circle Clubs.

"All knitted article were handled and shipped by Mrs. R. N. Beatty, succeeded by Mrs. F. E. Marsh. Mrs. L. E. Mumford acted as chairman of the division which had charge of packing hospital supplies. Of the social welfare division, Mrs. S. M. Boyer was first chairman, followed by Mrs. Harry Layfield, who has since been succeeded by Mrs. F. E. Marsh. A separate section was made of household economy, of which Mrs. W. C. Flourney was chairman. Mrs. C. I. Leiper was chairman of war gardens division.

"This was never a large organization in the all-embracing sense of the Red Cross, yet its membership has been composed of women who have given themselves, throughout its history, in a spirit of devoted patriotism to the service of their country. This was the pioneer war organization of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and as the ripples spread from the stone dropped in the water, so had the influence of the first work done in this part of the State spread in slow but ever-widening circles. And perhaps there is as much, after all, in the spirit which radiates from an organization as in the work actually accomplished.

"Besides the making of hospital supplies for overseas relief, comfort quilts have been knitted and sent to the Anglo-American Hospital, at Wimereux, France; 150 sweaters shipped the War Relief Association of Virginia, or distributed by the League wherever need was shown; socks also were
knitted and sent to the State headquarters of the League in Richmond; 150 comfort kits (every one of which contained a Testament), were made and given Company H; this number was finally increased to 210 by the Eastville branch of the league; one box of muslin sent War Relief Association of Virginia; and to the National Red Cross, through which our work was done in the beginning, sheets, pillow cases, towels, tray cloths, bath robes, etc.

"There were many other fields of activity covered besides those above mentioned. For instance, our women were in the vanguard of those through the country who voluntarily pledged themselves to abstain from the use of wheat bread a certain number of days each week to help conserve the supply of wheat for shipment to the Allies. War gardens were planted and cultivated among both white and colored citizens, with notably successful results among the latter. Among the former the work immediately under the supervision of the Service League was confined to the school children, though war gardens were successful cultivated throughout the town. Among the children a prize was given by the league to the maker of the most successful garden.

"During the time the local military company was doing guard duty in the town much efficient relief work was done by the relief division. This included everything form the securing of medical service, the supplying of bed covering for use in impromptu barracks, to the furnishing of fruit, coffee and other things (which included cheer and comfort), to both sick and homesick boys. To these boys, when transferred for service elsewhere, were later sent generous supplies of the things that most appeal to the soldier in camp, and acknowledgments, amusing as well as appreciative, were received by the league as a result. In a special sense we felt that these boys were ours; they had been adopted bodily by our organization at the beginning of its work, and the link thus established was never entirely severed, even when Company "H" lost its identity and became merged in the 116th Virginia Infantry.

"Likewise Company "H," of the Fifth Maryland Regiment, while on guard duty in the town, were the recipients of weekly donations of milk, vegetables, cakes and any other comforts which the league under military regulations was allowed to extend. This company was also given dances and sings in the local Casino.

"During the influenza epidemic we sent boxes of delicacies to the hospital at Cherrystone Naval Base and helped in the local work of caring for the sick. Books, papers and magazines were sent to different points until our own need at home limited the supply sent away. Gauze handkerchiefs were sup-
plied the members of our own Company "H" until we found that they were being used as rifle "wipes." These later went into the Northampton Chapter of the Red Cross. We shipped to Richmond 246 jars of fruit, 16 glasses of jelly, 14 cans of vegetables. These were for distribution at the different cantonments and training stations.

"Early in our history a Red Cross first aid class of seventeen members was organized, eight of whom took the examination and received certificates.

"The first food registration in the county was done entirely through the Service League, with the co-operation of workers in other parts of the county.

"In every Liberty Loan campaign and War Savings drive our members have been efficient, energetic workers, the chairman of the league having been county chairman of the Third and Fourth Liberty Loan campaigns (woman's committee); of the local War Savings and United War Work drives, and is present county chairman of Thrift.

"The same chairman has served as county chairman of the Woman's Section of the council of National Defense, in this way allying the work with that of the State C. N. D.; and as a member of the Southern Sociological Congress, that work has also been identified with all that we could possible make progressive along social lines.

"There have been meetings devoted to the discussion of household economy, at which many helpful, practical suggestions have been made through the open 'forum' held on these occasions. Each member would come prepared to give some suggestion relative to household economy which had been personally tried and found of practical value. These meetings were very interesting and most helpful.

"The services of a State food demonstrator were secured for exhibition demonstrations, and later on, as a result of this effort, this part of the State had its own home demonstrator in Miss Myrtis Tankard, of Franktown.

"While our war relief work was at first done through the National Red Cross, it was eventually done entirely through the War Relief Association of Virginia, to which we contributed monthly and in return received hospital supplies, which were 'made up' in the room devoted to this purpose at the home of our secretary and returned to the association for shipment to points in need.

"In November, 1917, several cases of clothing and various supplies, value at $700.00, were shipped to Mrs. A. W. Dyke, of the American Fund for French Wounded, for distribution to French refugees in devastated districts of France. Each year a French orphan has been adopted through the Virginia
Committee, Fatherless Children of France, and to this child have been sent clothing, toys, books, etc.

"No appeal for patriotic or war relief work has ever been refused. No matter how low the funds in our treasury some contribution has always been made.

"In July, 1918, a service club for the soldiers and sailors at the training bases near Cape Charles was established. This work was undertaken with but six dollars in our treasury, but with great faith in the patriotism of our people and with high enthusiasm within the organization. A dilapidated building was rented. The sailors themselves helped to put it in order, making it bright and clean and inviting with paint and scrub-brush. The people of the community contributed second-hand furniture, rugs, pictures, etc. First an organ was loaned; later a piano; and a Victrola gave endless amusement and pleasure. Books, magazines and papers were donated, and later when the War Camp Community Service of the Fifth Naval District established here a Red Circle Club, the work was still left in the hands of the Service League. The executive committee of the latter becoming the executive committee of the War Camp Community Service. The furnishings of the Service Club were transferred to the Red Circle Club and the work simply sent forward on a larger scale.

"Between four and five hundred men per week, it is estimated, used the club, and many thousands knew its cheer and comfort during the months of its existence. (The War Camp Community Service closed the work here at the time Cherrystone Naval Base was closed). This meant much, considering the fact that the training bases near at hand were not large. The men were frequently entertained, and hostesses were usually present to give a homelike welcome to those who might come in.

"The social welfare division from the first has made an effort towards civic betterment along lines of sanitation and towards the awakening of an enlightened civic conscience. Since the ending of the war more and more have we tried to make this work a telling influence in the community.

"There has been an alliance also with education work, the league closely co-operating with the high school, where the chairman has made addresses from time to time. This year our organization presented a replica of the league insignia in gold as a memorial medal in the department of mathematics, and one of our members gave the English medal.

"A memorial library and community center are also in anticipation in our town, and the league has already started the fund for this object with a liberal contribution of Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps and cash, and is continuing to
work in the further interest of the project. One section of books has already been started by the chairman of the league.

"From time to time speakers on various subjects have appeared before us, and we have supplemented the high school lyceum course with entertainers of charm and distinction. Furniture, books, magazines and a Victrola have been given the Boy Scouts for their log cabin; and every two months the league gives them what is known in their own eloquent language as "a feed." We have also organized community sings and have placed an honor roll in the local high school.

"The work done along the above-mentioned lines has stimulated interest in similar activities elsewhere, for only recently another body of women in another part of the county have organized for the accomplishment of work along the same lines.

"In a word, the National League for Woman's Service, here as elsewhere, during the war stood for devoted and unselfish patriotic service, and now that war needs are no longer making their imperious demands, it still seeks to lend itself to the furtherance of the best in citizenship and in community life.

"Only thus do we feel that we can realize the full reach and sweep of our motto -- 'For God -- for country -- for home.'"

When the Armistice was signed all active work along these lines ceased. The effects of demobilization were scarcely perceptible.

During the summer of 1919 Northampton Post, No. 56, of the American Legion, was chartered. This organization not only gives aid to the ex-soldier, but with its celebration of Armistice Day, Memorial Day, tag day, etc., serves to keep the fires of patriotism burning in the hearts of our people.