They weren't merely production workers at the Scintilla Magneto plant in Sidney in July 1942. They were soon known as the "Production Army," after being shown plenty of appreciation by a huge rally on Saturday, July 25.
The Sidney Enterprise reported, "With a 'bombers moon' peering over the foothills of the Catskills, the Scintilla Magneto Division of the Bendix Corporation at Sidney was re-dedicated Saturday night to the task of protecting our armed forces and the liberty of the people."
"Cheering and enthusiastic thousands of men and women of the production army thrilled at visits in the afternoon with those who bombed Tokyo, Essen, Kiel, and Hamburg, and with the fliers who called the workers fellow soldiers for the part they are playing in the battle for freedom, were aroused to a high pitch of patriotism by the climactic program bringing a brilliant close to the Army Day rally at the Scintilla plant."
The purpose of the gathering was to bring together the war fliers and the war production workers so that each could understand the work of the other.
More than 40 "aces" of the air force of the United Nations were among the guests of honor that day.
They toured the plant, watching the workers assemble parts that make the ignition systems of the planes they flew in battle. The fliers talked with workers and exchanged autographs during the afternoon.
Dinner was provided for the visitors in the plant cafeteria.
The visitors had arrived in Sidney on Saturday morning in two buses, escorted by Capt. Daniel E. Fox, the commanding officer of State Police Troop C. The Scintilla Band, in bright uniforms, opened the day's program with a concert, and played at other ceremonies throughout the day.
Capt. C.J. Bishop of the Army Air Force told workers, "The Army calls you fellow soldiers because that is exactly what you are. Every man and woman who walks through that gate is a soldier in the production line. Without you, we would be an army without arms."
Thousands gathered both on the factory grounds and outside the guard fences at 9 p.m. for the re-dedication ceremony.
Mr. W.W. Thomas, a Scintilla executive, was master of ceremonies and opened with a speech, saying, "The horny hands of hate and greed clutch at our very throats. The peril of the Pacific is no longer a fiction story, but a grim and actual reality; but America is awake, alive now, and our power of production will sweep like a tidal wave over our enemies. We must, and we will place these weapons of our production inn the hands of our armed forces so that these brave men of ours can smash our enemies on land, on sea, and in the air."
According to the Enterprise, all of Sidney closed down that day to join in the Army Day celebration, "but the production lines at the Scintilla plant were halted only for the period when the celebration was climaxed with the speeches, fireworks display and community singing." Nearly 7,500 witnessed the closing exercises.
Scintilla was a 24/7 operation at this point in World War II, and many of the male workers were going overseas to fight.
The Oneonta Star reported on Wednesday, July 29, that area defense plants had started hiring women, as well as men 45 years of age and older.
Miss Katherine Woodruff, manager of what was then called the Federal Employment Service, said as many as 50 placements of women were being made daily in war industries. They included both trained and inexperienced workers.
On Monday: Bluegrass music for the Cooperstown area in July 1982.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
Columns
Scintilla's 'Production Army' praised in July 1942
- Big Chuck D'Imperio
-
-
Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
I asked Cam Morris, head of Eastern Travel/Oneonta Bus Lines, how many years her company has been handling the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.
Continued ... - My pal Brucie, savior of Sidney's hospital
- Catching a whiff of 'Vermont Vapor'
- Selections from the virtual mailbag
- Recalling days of 'Doughnut King'
-
Safety Patrol D.C. visits never get old
- Cary Brunswick
-
-
We've become our own worst enemies
The past month has been marked by a seeming unprecedented number of man-made tragedies, as distinct from those caused by violent outbursts of the natural world, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Continued ... - Plenty of blame to go around for Bangladesh horror
- Obama is going against his word on Social Security
- Reflecting on a Florida trip
- Those magnificent spies in their flying machines
-
We've become our own worst enemies
- Chuck Pinkey
- Guest Column
-
-
Records seizure is an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
Continued ... - The evangelical view of same-sex marriage
- Manor's fate will be Otsego board's legacy
- A closer look at our economy - Part II
- Use fracking to fill budget gaps
-
Records seizure is an insult to free press
- Lisa Miller
-
-
A view from above
Fire towers in the Catskill Mountains have always been destination points, built to capture some of the region’s best views. These sentinel stations served an important role for the earliest possible sightings of forest fires in the remote mountain ranges. But the fire towers and those who manned them fulfilled a multitude of other roles as well.
Continued ... - Being a parent is a constant learning process
- Healthy doesn't have to mean expensive
- A family era ends with close of Potter series
- Independent stores make up for loss of Borders
-
- Mark Simonson
-
-
General Clinton Canoe Regatta got a new home in 1972
Ever since 1963, when Charles Hinkley and a group of Tri-Town businessmen came up with the idea for what we know today as the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, people lined the shores of the Susquehanna to watch the canoeists as they made their 70-mile trek from Cooperstown to Bainbridge.
Continued ... - Sunday movies in Oneonta finally shown in 1934
- Politics, fitness and landmarks dominated local news in May 1968
- Local people sought income in many ways in 1933
- Local windstorm in 1983 caused tense moments
-
- Rick Brockway
-
-
Kids have sparkle in their eyes
When I was in my teens, old Bill Naatz told me about a stream north of Lake George where a man had panned out enough gold to make his wife a wedding band. It was all rumors, but to his grandson and myself, it sounded like the makings of a great adventure.
- People make the outdoors even better
- Turkey season has ups and downs
- Spring air isn't always the freshest
- Adriondacks keep growing and growing
-
Kids have sparkle in their eyes
- Sam Pollak
- William Masters
-
-
Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
As the time to vote draws near, we need to remember how money can run politics more than we can. Raising funds is a prominent (if not the dominant) task of getting elected. Raising issues is also crucial, but those efforts are subject to distortion and fear-mongering.
- Republicans feelentitled to allthey can garner An entitlement is a legal benefit available from the government to individuals who are within a defined category of recipients, such as needing insurance for unemployment or health services.
-
Romney focuses on self; Obama emphasizes unity
Mitt Romney criticizes President Obama for saying a person's success is rooted in his community, and is not all his alone. Romney belittles this with his belief in individual initiative. He is better at the put-down than the push-up.
-
Romney shows little regard for common man
The Republicans in Congress have voted over and over, 33 times, redundantly and uselessly, to rescind what they call Obamacare.
-
Scouts' gay ban creates problem where none exists
The Boy Scouts of America's "emphatic reaffirmation" of its vow to exclude any and all homosexuals from its hallowed ranks is ill-considered and pathetic, especially in view of its having reviewed the matter for two years.
-
Schreibman tops Chris Gibson on women's issues
