Naval Apron
The declaration of war in 1941 changed life overnight for young people in America, and Bonner County was no exception. Young men were called up and began shipping out. As the boys left, young women began to take jobs around town, to do their part for the war effort. When Farragut opened in late 1942, so did the opportunities for young women. Local girls took jobs at the Naval Station, working as telephone operators, nurses, laundresses and store clerks. But improving morale was a job all on its own. Many women, young and old, did their part as USO hostesses at the club in Sandpoint. Rules for Junior Hostesses were strict: unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 35, who had completed high school and could provide two character references. They were expected to dance, make conversation, entertain sailors and generally be charming as well as serve food, write letters, do volunteer work outside of the USO, plan events and fill all of the gaps left by the US government when it came to morale. They planned trips to visit the Canadian Border, ski excursions, hikes and picnics, dances, and monthly dinners for wounded sailors. Junior Hostesses were expected to behave properly at all times, with particular emphasis placed on knowing what was acceptable and what was too forward. Several of the regulations address dating, dancing and forming attachments with men in uniform. Local girls found the thousands of sailors training at Farragut to be a deep pool of potential husbands, and some attachments were formed, as the USO hosted a number of weddings during the war, and many more men returned to live in Sandpoint after the war.
Donor: Mary Verdal
Adopted by:
The declaration of war in 1941 changed life overnight for young people in America, and Bonner County was no exception. Young men were called up and began shipping out. As the boys left, young women began to take jobs around town, to do their part for the war effort. When Farragut opened in late 1942, so did the opportunities for young women. Local girls took jobs at the Naval Station, working as telephone operators, nurses, laundresses and store clerks. But improving morale was a job all on its own. Many women, young and old, did their part as USO hostesses at the club in Sandpoint. Rules for Junior Hostesses were strict: unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 35, who had completed high school and could provide two character references. They were expected to dance, make conversation, entertain sailors and generally be charming as well as serve food, write letters, do volunteer work outside of the USO, plan events and fill all of the gaps left by the US government when it came to morale. They planned trips to visit the Canadian Border, ski excursions, hikes and picnics, dances, and monthly dinners for wounded sailors. Junior Hostesses were expected to behave properly at all times, with particular emphasis placed on knowing what was acceptable and what was too forward. Several of the regulations address dating, dancing and forming attachments with men in uniform. Local girls found the thousands of sailors training at Farragut to be a deep pool of potential husbands, and some attachments were formed, as the USO hosted a number of weddings during the war, and many more men returned to live in Sandpoint after the war.
Donor: Mary Verdal
Adopted by: