310. Howard Co. in WWI

Howard County was heavily involved with the manufacturing of many war related products during World War I. In fact, the city of Kokomo is ranked second in Indiana for holding the largest amount of war related manufacturing contracts. Some of the companies involved in the war efforts were Liberty Pressed Metal Company, Globe Stove and Range Company, Kokomo Steel and Wire Company, D. C. Jenkins Glass Company, Kokomo Rubber Company, and Haynes Stellite Company. As pictured above, mortar shells, made by Globe Stove and Range Company, were just some of the many items that businesses in Kokomo helped to produce during the war.

Many Howard County women contributed to the war effort through organizations such as the Red Cross, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Women’s Relief Corps. These women helped to donate goods, raise money, and also helped to sew and knit items for soldiers and those affected by the war in Europe. It was often common, at this time, to see these women with knitting needles in their hands at events such as social gatherings and Sunday morning church.

Used to help raise funds for the war, Liberty bonds were a large part of World War I. Howard County, through the course of the war, was allotted four different Liberty Loans each totaling over the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The picture above illustrates individuals from Kokomo contributing to the promotion of both the first and second Liberty Loans. Howard County was so successful at promoting and selling these Liberty bonds that they ranked first overall in the State for meeting their required allotments.

Children even helped with the war effort through organizations such as the Victory Boys and Girls, the Boy Scouts, and the United States Boys’ Working Reserve. The Boy Scouts, a very influential group of kids, were largely contributed with helping sell bonds, thrift stamps and also raising money for relief organizations. Pictured above you can see the Boy Scouts walking in the Victory Parade celebrating the end of the war.