The Factory Goes to the Farm For the War Effort

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"As another way of showing their patriotism, a crowd of the American Steel & Wire company fellows went out to the farm of L.H. Hopkins last night after work and put in two or three hours in the field.

"A more patriotic aggregation in the city than the steel fellows cannot be found.  They have always gone over the top in any drive that has been instituted here and are now willing to take up labor on a farm after working hours, if it will help win the war."

A serious manpower shortage in agriculture because of World War I.

--Cooter

DeKalb Wagon Co. Goes to the Oats in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"As a diversion from the daily routine of factory work and also as a patriotic movement, 20 employees of the DeKalb Wagon company were sent to Cliff Hunt's farm last night after five o'clock and shocked oats until dark.

"Farm help this year is scarce, and farmers who have large fields of small grain have been compelled to send out S.O.S. calls  for men to get bundles shocked."

There was a major problem in agriculture as far as workers because of World War I.

Young Men Away in the Military.  --Cooter

DeKalb Business Making Money from World War I in 1917

From the September 20, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The Nehring Electrical Works at the corner of Sixth and Lincoln Highway are working day and night shifts at this time and enjoying an unusual amount of business in the covered wire lines.

"An order was received this morning for 1,000 miles of the best covered wire, and this will keep the plant busy for several days."

A war industry.

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1941: Hot for Factory Workers Too

From the August 17, 2016, MidWeek "DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"On account of the high temperature here today the management of the Wurlitzer piano factory closed the plant at noon today.

"Employees were finding it difficult to continue with the regular operations on account of the high temperatures that could not b contained with forced ventilation."

I imagine forced ventilation would refer to fans all those years ago.

What, No Air Conditioning?  --Cooter

Looking Back 127 Years Ago, 1889: Congrats to DeKalb on New Shoe Factory

From the October 8, 2014, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

October 9, 1889:  DeKalb (Illinois) has secured the promise of a location in her limits of the A.G. Leonatf & Co. boot and shoe factory.  ...Sycamore feliciates her sister city upon the exhibition of enterprise and hopes that in time she may grow large enough to wear a pair of red-topped, copper-toed boots with a barb in each heel."

Not sure about this compliment.

--CootBoot

Made in the U.S.A.-- Part 1

From the April 22, 2013, Time Magazine by Rana Foroohar and Bill Saporito. Interesting article on the comeback of American manufacturing, sort of. But, I found the graphic at the beginning of the article about items still made in the U.S. and since when: PYREX, 1915, SHARPIE 1964, SLINKY 1945, NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS 1938, TABASCO 1868, MRS. MYERS CLEAN DAY 2000, LOUISVILLE SLUGGER 1894, WEBER GRILLS 1952, RED WING SHOES 1905, CRAYOLA 1903, STANLEY 1843, STETSON HATS 1865, KETTLE (chips) 1982. Very Interesting-- Cooter