Editor’s note: This is the second installment in the West Hills Gazette’s nine-part series that looks at life in Robinson Township during World War II. This series, written by Janet Gonter of the Robinson Township Historical Society, originally ran in the Suburban Gazette in 2017 but is timely now, as the 80th anniversary of the end of the war will be observed later this summer. Check back each Sunday for a new installment.
Part 1 of 10 | Part 2 of 10 | Part 3 of 10 | Part 4 of 10 | Part 5 of 10
Part 6 of 10 | Part 7 of 10 | Part 8 of 10 | Part 9 of 10 | Part 10 of 10
As the year 1941 drew to a close, the U.S. was slowly emerging from the Great Depression, and the newly declared war was frightening. The Depression had greatly decreased military spending, leaving the United States unprepared for war. But after Pearl Harbor, plants like Dravo began hiring thousands of workers, hundreds of them from Robinson Township.
Americans were working again, but taxes could not possibly support a war effort, so War Bonds (called Defense Bonds before Pearl Harbor), valued at $25 to $1,000, became a vital source of revenue. In essence, they were a personal loan to the government.
Americans were expected to purchase bonds, and most of them did so willingly. Advertising was everywhere. Movie stars — Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney and Lucille Ball, to name a few — implored huge crowds at the old Forbes Field to buy bonds, which they did in droves.
Celebrity appearances yielded some $87 million from Pittsburghers alone. By 1943, Western Pennsylvania had contributed more than $305 million in bonds to the war effort.
Even elementary school students became involved. They were given little books in which each week they would paste War Bond stamps valued at 10 or 25 cents until the book was filled ($18.75). In 10 years, the value of the bond would grow to $25, a significant sum in those years.
Even the children of Robinson’s many coal miners and farmers, who often struggled to make ends meet, took immense pride in the part they were playing to support the war effort.
Banks, insurance companies and corporations all invested heavily in War Bonds. By the end of the war, 85 million individual Americans and companies had bought an astounding $185 million worth of bonds — at a time when the average yearly income was only $2,000! Everyone sacrified to buy War Bonds, to “bring the boys home sooner.”
It was a national passion.
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