Johnstown - WWI History - 12 December 1953 - The Tribune-Democrat

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Some World War One Vets

Johnstown WWI Veterans:

Front Row - left to right: Durell (Hap) Custer, Sgt. Thomas Van Atta, George Hertzinger.

Back Row - left to right - Alex Ginsberg, Russel Truax, Allen Geist.

Bonus Army

Bonus Army at Ideal Park

Prospect Victory Garden

Prospect Victory Garden - World War I

Walnut Grove - Victory Garden

 

Walnut Grove - Victory Garden

Victory Garden - Osborne Street

 

Victory Garden - Osborne Street - World War I

Prospect Victory Garden

 

Prospect Victory Garden - World War I

Walnut Grove Victory Garden

Walnut Grove Victory Garden

 

Minersville Victory Garden

Minersville Victory Garden - World War I 

 

Coopersdale Victory Garden

Coopersdale Victory Garden - World War I 

 

Cypress Avenue - Victory Garden

What is so interesting about this look at the Cypress Avenue - Victory Garden - is that even up to 1917 - 1918 - most parts of Johnstown were still very rural.

 

Prospect Victory Garden

I thought today - I'd post some of my favorites from a couple of years ago - since I have a lot of new readers sign on recently. The trend of Victory Gardens started during World War I - any land not being used - was planted by families and school children for crops - it was an easy way for ordinary folks to feel like they too - could contribute to the war effort on the home front.

 

The Parade To End All Parades...

 

Another cool look at the First Armistice Day Parade - Downtown Johnstown - November 1918. As you can see the troop transport truck has just rounded the corner in front of Swanks. 

Armistice Day - 1918 - Part 2

Second look at Johntown celebrating the end of The Great War - 1918. Franklin Street Bridge in the background with the Conrad Building on the left hand side. Click to enlarge. 

Armistice Day - 1918 - Part 1

Armistice Day - 1918. The parade making it's way across the Franklin Street Bridge. The wooden structure on the right housed Johnstown Fire Department - Company No. 1. Click to enlarge.

The Men Who Licked The Kaiser

End of The Great War - 1918 - Franklin Street Bridge - The Men who rolled the bullets that licked the Kaiser.

Bonus Army - Ideal Park

Picture postcard of the Bonus Army (Bonus Expedinary Force) leaving Ideal Park - Johnstown.

In the fall of 1931, hundreds of veterans and their families camped near Johnstown on their way to Washington D.C. The next summer, more than 20,000 Bonus Marchers converged on Washington to demand immediate payment of the Soldiers" bonus promised to men who had served in the armed forces during World War I.

Driven out of the nation's capital at bayonet point, more than 4,000 broke and disheartened Bonus Army marchers spent the better part of two weeks in a makeshift encampment near Ideal Park before returning to their homes.

Shell Time in Morrellville

 

My grandfathers brother Albert Lenz holding some of the shells he helped make at Cambria Steel for the war effort around 1917 or '18. Albert was deaf - so he must have worked in part of the plant that made the most noise. He standing along side their Virginia Avenue home.

40 et 8

 

40 et 8 - Local 23 - One of the Oldest Voitures in the Country - Organized in 1920 - Home Association - 128 Jackson Street

War Relief Fund - 1915

Back in 1915 - The German and Hungarians got together to help raise funds for their relatives back in the old country as World War I continued to wreck havoc all across the landscape. Officially the U.S. was neutral - which meant that this War Relief Fund for the German People was legal. The German Ambassador even came to Johnstown to thank the people. My great-grandmother Mrs. John Lenz was head of the committee - along with Mrs. John Abele, Mrs. Joseph Bullinger, Mrs. Frank Bruckner and Mrs. Carl Schubert. The event was held at the Masonic Temple. One of these days - I will scan the entire booklet.