Postwar layoff wave hits Eastern Iowa plants
After V J Day in 1945, War Department contract cancellations led to plant shutdowns and job losses at Collins Radio and Century Engineering. About 2,000 workers remained at Collins with nearly 1,000 laid off, while Century Engineering cut 700 positions including 570 women. Veterans faced rehiring rules as employers adjusted to civilian production and material shortages slowed recovery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George C. Ford
War Department
Collins Radio
Rockwell Collins
Century Engineering
Ordnance Division
Century
Japan
Mary Jane McKenney
Cedar Rapids
McKenney
Woolworths
E.J. Lattner
the Gazette
TCS
Dorothy Moeller a Pioneering Iowa Journalist in Wartime Role
Dorothy Moeller Mason City native edited the Waverly newspaper during World War II while husband Les served overseas. She rose to a leadership position among Iowa women in journalism, later contributing to Iowa Newspaper in Education and UI speech therapy history, with her husband directing the UI School of Journalism from 1947 to 1967.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dorothy Moeller
Moeller
Mason City
Waverly
Les
Iowa
Daily Iowan
Mason City Globe-Gazette
Iowa State Historical Society
Moellers
Wendell Johnson
Leslie Moeller
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Area plants seek workers to shift from wartime to peace time
Readiness to switch to civilian production varied across plants. Iowa Manufacturing's Howard Hall cited a need for 100 plus workers including skilled molders and foundry helpers to clear a rock crushing equipment backlog. Quaker Oats asked for 150 workers for government contracts. Penick and Ford called for 150 skilled and unskilled workers, including a few women. Wilson and Co. sought staff with contracts intact. LaPlant-Choate reported a backlog of civilian orders and needed 20 welders and 10 machinists. Amana Refrigeration planned to hire 100 or more as civilian orders resurface while maintaining military orders.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Howard Hall
Iowa Manufacturing
Cedarapids Inc
Iowa Steel and Iron Works
Quaker Oats
Penick and
Ford
Penford Products
Harry
Palmer
Wilson and Co. Packinghouse
LaPlant-Choate
Amana Colonies’ Refrigeration Department
Amana Refrigeration
U.S. Army
Navy
Marines
George Foerstner
Amana Refrigerator Department
Brother Enlists at 17 Reflects on Wartime Goodbye
Excerpts from Charles B Handy of Independence recount a 17-year-old brother William J. enlisting in the U S Navy in June 1945. The diary details parties, gifts, and farewells before departure, and notes his later service, World War II, and eventual death in a 1953 Pensacola aviation accident.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles B. Handy
Independence
Pacific
LST
Bill
Wm. J
Independence High School
U.S. Navy
Sally
Mary Kay
Jack
Waterloo
Neeley
N.Y
Wm J
U.S Navy
Navy
NROTC
University of Missouri
Samuel N. Moore
Naval Air Arm
Naval Air Station
Pensacola
Fla
Mary Catherine
Nine year old memories as nations war drums begin
Editor Robert Knoll recalls 1941 to 1945 from Webster City as his brothers go to war. He describes Pearl Harbor, drafts, Navy enlistment, trains, and a mother sending care packages while telegrams bring tragedy. The piece centers on family resilience during World War II.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Knoll of
Robins
United States
Webster City
Pearl Harbor
Lee
Manila
Corregidor
Guadalcanal
Bougainville
Wake Island
Midway
Hitler
Europe
France
England
George
Army
Navy Air Corp
Ames
George Anna
Chanute Field
Ill
California
Iowa City
Sam
Dad
Navy
Herb
Margaret
Herbert
Mom
George Knoll
Betty
War Department
Betty’s
Cpl
Howard George Knoll
Also Mentioned on This Page
Collins Radio Co
Rosemary Victorine Meeks
Collins
By George Ford
The
Nuremberg
Ruhr
Charles Handy
Dachau
Robert Knoll
Orville Knoll
Georgeanna
Georgeanna Knoll McKenzie
Raleigh
N.C
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!