Men like Joseph Pendleton and their deeds, whether popular or not, were virtually unknown to Americans in the transition period between the SpanishAmerican War and the American entry into World War I. Perhaps this was due to the fact most citizens considered the United States a neutral nation, not one glorified by the carnage of warfare, especially European wars. "Isolationism" was the byword, and the nation believed it could be carried off, despite the trouble boiling overseas in the Balkans, Austria-Hungary, and other like places.
When the news of the assassination of Austrian Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, reached the County on June 28, 1914, there were little more than one hundred words written on it in the Evening Tribune that day. Even as late as the first months of 1917, did headlines here seldom refer to the ever-widening conflict on the Continent. More concern was expressed over "Black Jack" Pershing's efforts against the bandits in Mexico than the "Peril of the Hun" along the muddy trenches in France.
As the war in Europe heated up, Americans appeared more and more obstinate in the recognition of the threat imposed. There were, of course, rallies by ProGerman or Pro-British sympathizers, usually conducted by specific nationality groups associated with ties in Europe. But even these were without much zest or support by the general populace here." As late as December 23, 1916, the Alhambra Theater in Beaver Falls ran a Christmas matinee of Thomas H. Ince's propagandistic film "Civilization," whose intent it was to stir domestic awareness of the war. "Murder legitimized . . .," ran the advertisement, "Twenty million men butchering their fellows ... That is the spectacle which Europe presents today - wholesale slaughter beyond the frenzied imaginings of an army of homocidal maniacs. . ." Probably films like these, and particularly the newsreels that accompanied movie house matinees each week, had as much influence in determining United States' position in world affairs as any other media.
There was a dramatic shift in attitude in February, March, and April of 1917 when the German naval command instituted "unrestricted submarine warfare" in a bold attempt to isolate Britain from its allies and American-shipped supplies. When American merchant ships were torpedoed on the high seas, public sentiment began to turn swiftly against the Axis Powers. On April 9, 1917, the United States declared war.
While the nation mobilized, Beaver County prepared itself too. All over the area there was a wave of patriotism, demonstrations, flag raisings, parades, and enlistments. Calls to enlist in all communities was rampant. Captain William Fish of Company B of the National Guard in new Brighton reported as many enlistees as he could handle in the days after war was declared." Homer Swaney of Beaver Falls organized a home guard. Coligny B. Metheney, a Geneva football coach, organized the Geneva College Battalion for training men as officers. Any student involved in the program could receive room, board, and tuition for only $30. Beaver College also began to specialize in courses on war.
Residents' opinion concerning the belligerents saw a radical change too. The distaste held by most citizens for the enemy led to such irrational behavior as the elimination of German from high school curricula. And people around the County let those who sided with the enemy know, in no uncertain terms, that they would not be tolerated. In June, one man, Wilhelm Genge, was arrested and held without bail for advocating resistance to the draft at Standard Gauge." "Slackers" or draft evaders were treated with suspicion and contempt. Lists of slackers were published in the newspapers and even those with legitimate exemptions might not be free of the scorn of the public. Previously, an eighty-five year old Woodlawn machinest at Jones and Laughlin Steel, Robert Schnarzillar, was fined $500 for "insults to the flag."" The "enemy" (anyone of German descent) was soon required to obtain alien registration cards, which consisted of four photographs of themselves with fingerprints." Residents carefully monitored all such aliens and were sure to read the strongly anti-German article, "Back Door Propaganda" by Margaret Widdemer of "the Vigilantes," that appeared regularly in the Evening Tribune."
Suspicions toward aliens were inflamed further when on April 13, 1917, a fifteen year old boy, Edesas Snyder, by chance, found explosives wired under the New Brighton-Beaver Falls Bridge, apparently part of a German plot. By May 1, military guards were posted on all county bridges to protect them against similar attempted sabotage. Within a year, a special police force was organized for home defense. Each member of the home defense was issued a badge, whistle, and blackjack." Even though no official action was taken by this organization, it underscores how jittery residents had become over the issue of aliens and also showed they were not willing to entirely place their safety in the hands of the government
junction Park in New Brighton was converted into a temporary mobilization and training camp for the Fifth Reserve Regiment of Engineers of Pittsburgh on June 15, 1917 .16 Several Beaver Falls men belonged to this unit on July 17, 1917 when the first "Sammies" from Beaver County under Colonel Edgar Jadwin entered France. (However, there were those like Henry Carling of Beaver Falls who had been serving in the Canadian Army in the 38th Battalion of the American Legion").
The camp at junction Park (See Sports and Recreation), when abandoned by the Fifth Engineers, provided the perfect place for local soldiers to train. It was used by Company B (see Company B 28th Signal Battalion 28th Infantry, page 2) and the Beaver Falls Battalion until mid July. On the Fourth of July, the two units pitted their military skills in an exhibition mock battle. Captain William Fish led Company B against Major E. H. Porter's Beaver Falls Battalion's defensive positions at the south end of the race track. Of course, the order not to "fix bayonets" was given, and ammunition was not issued to the combatants. When Company B ended up less than twenty-five yards from the defensive lines of its "enemy," military officials in attendance declared Company B would have been decimated by the fire from the Beaver Falls Battalion since more than fifty percent of them were considered marksmen. In the end, all participants were awarded fly swatters by the Beaver Valley Traction Company in appreciation for their efforts." Apparently this provided some interest among the local citizenry because on September 26, 1918, another sham battle was staged at the same site by the newly-formed Company H of New Brighton and the Beaver Falls Battalion.
On October 16, 1917, Company B, New Brighton, moved its mobilization to Camp Cuthbertson, located at Brady's Run. Briefly, the Tenth Regular Machine Company, attached to Company B remained at junction Park under Captain Edward Boyle. On the night of September 5, it was so cold, and the unit being unprepared for bitter weather, they turned theJunction Theater into sleeping quarters for the men."
The military draft was held on July 20, 1917, and the first draftee was Frank Ellis Grant of Beaver (#258). Also drafted early were Roy Walter Beightley and Peter Raymond Rankin of Beaver Falls. Draftees were sent to Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio. One unit that was made up of practically all Beaver County men was the 323rd Light Artillery. (The first draftee death, William Walters, was reported from this camp, due to acute appendicitis.") By November, due to severe cold and the shortage of coal, draftees were shifted south to Camp Hancock, in Augusta, Georgia.
In an interesting sidelight, a number of soldiers challenged the Geneva College football team to an exhibition game on November 22, 1917. A lot was made of the game, but Geneva handled the soldier's team quite aptly, beating them 26-0. One witness said the soldiers "fought for every inch of ground and never lost their determination."" The college team was too well organized and trained for the soldiers.
Countians answered the call when asked to open their purse strings to the war efforts. By the middle of June, 1917, Liberty Loans here amounted to more than two and a half million dollars. Quotas for a Second and Third Liberty Loan Drive were set and not only met, but surpassed, each by well over two million dollars." Red Cross membership drives boasted twelve hundred members with local auxiliaries proudly displaying impressive figures for donations. The Beaver Falls auxiliary was credited with the most money collected - $1500 in less than two weeks." Other support groups were begun. A War Library Fund, sponsored by local libraries, raised $750 to send reading materials to soldiers." Another $5000 was raised county-wide for a "Comfort Fund Drive" to provide soldiers with things such as tobacco and other "comforts" they might not be able to attain otherwise." For one dollar, residents of the county could purchase "Smileage Books" which were coupon booklets to be given to soldiers that could be redeemed for admissions at liberty theaters and other places of entertainment away from home."
Everyone was to do his or her own part in the war effort as well as make the necessary sacrifices. Women began to fill positions held once by men only. On April 24, 1917, the Beaver Valley Traction Company advertised for the first time ever that women could now serve as trolley car conductors, and that applications were now being taken. Also, most Beaver County residents who owned cars or trucks registered them in a pool that could be called on if there happened to be an emergency."
Shortly after the United States entered the war in 1917, the Federal government realized the importance of maintaining certain vital arteries of transportation throughout the country and soon designated certain strategically-located roads as "war roads." It would be the duty of the citizens to maintain these vital roadways for the efficient transport of war materials. One of these war roads ran through Beaver County. It was Route 204, that ran from the west into Beaver County following what is now Darlington Road into Beaver Falls, and from there it traced present-day Route 51 to Allegheny County. Most of the roadway remained unpaved, with the exception of Steffin Hill in Beaver Falls, which was bricked. During the winter and spring, the war road was cindered heavily and arrangements for snow removal were made.
On December 15, 1917, a thrill ran through Beaver County residents when it was announced the first convoy of "auto trucks" would be proceeding to the East Coast from Detroit through the County within three weeks. That day, a heavy snow hit accompanied with high winds and drifts. The road was virtually impassable. Some drifts were more than ten feet deep. In and around the towns, snow could be removed more readily, but in rural areas where the population was more sparse, volunteers were needed. Every available person was used to shovel. In fact, some high school boys in Beaver Falls were excused from classes to assist in snow removal. Within two days, the road was declared usable in its entirety. But the truck convoy was delayed and never got to the Valley until December 20 because of the bad weather in Akron, and then there was a serious accident when one truck was rammed by an "Erie Flyer" freight express train. One driver was killed and another injured. During this delay, residents with cars or trucks were asked to drive out and beat down further accumulations of snow .31 When the convoy arrived it had no trouble proceeding; in fact, it spent the night in the Valley before moving east.
After that truck convoys became rather commonplace. By the end of January, 1918, one hundred thirty-nine trucks had been counted. The novelty and the enthusiasm for the war effort began to dim somewhat too. This could be seen in March when the spring thaws created great mires along the routes. Some residents, it was reported, were using the mud to their profit by charging as high as $12 per tow when the convoys got bogged down. One farmer just to the north of Beaver Falls supposedly made $55 in one day."
People locally became involved in the "Garden Movement" whereby citizens were encouraged to grow as much in backyard and neighborhood plots that might not be utilized for anything otherwise. The intent of officials was to free up more foodstuffs for shipment to the front. Companies such as Armstrong Cork and Penn Bridge gave residents free use of idle lands. Plots were plowed free, seeds were donated, and practical advice was given." An article titled "The Backyard Garden" ran in the Evening Tribune on a regular basis. The gardens were such an enormous success that there was a constant appeal by officials for more land to fill the demand. The government even instituted Daylight Savings Time in the spring of 1918 to aid gardeners."
There were shortages that County residents had to endure. Certain days were designated as "wheatless" or "meatless" in order to satisfy the need for soldiers at the front. On February 3, 1918, there was an order for Americans to produce "Victory Loafs," that were made up of twenty percent substitute ingredients. In October, 1918, Countians bore the weight of the country's first gasoline rationing. Likewise, there were coal shortages during the winter of 1917-18 in the County. Coke was seized from a Canadian railroad car in order to operate Crucible Steel," and the Garfield Law, which required industries to close down for five days to help alleviate the fuel crisis was effected .41 William Howard Taft came to Beaver County on March 8, 1918, to settle the issue of "plant holidays" and the fuel crisis.
Industries in Beaver County had, in the meantime, been quietly supporting the war effort. The steel mills naturally provided much of the material of war. A great deal of the steel plating for ships and the pipe needed for a variety of needs was produced locally. In addition, industries like Phoenix Glass in Monaca and Keystone Driller in Beaver Falls contributed their bit. Phoenix Glass provided lenses for signal lamps, running lights, search lights, and runway lights." Keystone Driller's traction steam drillers were used by the British Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli, and the Americans used them in France. These drillers had been specially designed and were made heavier and more efficient for wartime use. Also Keystone Driller made excavators that were shipped overseas and were used for excavating parade grounds and streets and for digging trenches." (See Chapter on Industry and Labor)
But the one sacrifice a civilian is least
expected to give was the one that many Americans, including County
citizens, were subjected to - violent and indiscriminate death.
A rather unsettling specter materialized in the County in October
1918, that inflicted the worst hardships of all on the civilian
population here. When soldiers began returning home from Europe,
they brought with them, a rather unwelcome guest, Spanish Influenza.
It was first reported at Ambridge on October 7, 1918. By the middle
of the month, schools and colleges were shut down, trolley runs
were discontinued and even church services were canceled. Tent
hospitals were established in many communities, and unlikely places
(like the Patterson Heights Country Club) became hospitals to
handle the victims of the "Flu." Doctors and undertakers
worked twenty-four hours. By the time the epidemic had run its
course, hundreds had died from its highly-lethal effects. (See
Medicine and Emergency Services Chapter)
In the final analysis of Beaver County's role in "The Great
War to End All Wars," we can see they paid the price expected
of them. Thirty-six Beaver County men were killed in battle, while
fourteen died later of wounds. Then there were those, both soldier
and civilian, who numbered in the hundreds, died of non-battle
causes like influenza. And perhaps even more, we can cite those
who were wounded, gassed, or injured in various other ways and
lived on, maybe suffering the rest of their lives. While we can
certainly appreciate the effort civilians made in the sacrifices
of daily life, in the home and in the factory, we can never underestimate
the sacrifice these soldiers have made to insure our peace and
prosperity.