In A Newport Minute | 1936-1945

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This video is the 17th in our series, In A Newport Minute, created by the Newport Historical Society as part of Newport’s contribution to America Turns 250. Each installment highlights a moment in American history within a ten‑year span, beginning in 1776 and continuing to the present day.

Across these 25 short videos, we’ll explore how Newport grew, adapted, and evolved alongside the nation—sometimes in step with national events, sometimes in its own unique way. Our goal is to bring local history to life and show how our community’s story fits into the larger American narrative.

We invite you to follow along every two weeks as we share new chapters in Newport’s past.

Overview

The video chronicles how Newport, New Hampshire, contributed to the American home-front effort during World War II. It highlights military service, wartime employment, selective-service registration, manufacturing, ration administration, and the participation of teachers, medical professionals, students, and women in essential community work.

Newport also served as a regional civil-defense center for fourteen communities. Residents organized air-raid wardens, blackout drills, warning systems, first-aid units, listening posts, Red Cross activities, Victory Gardens, War Bond drives, and collection campaigns. Together, these efforts demonstrate how civic organization and everyday sacrifice supported the war effort.

All of the videos in the series can be viewed using the link below:

Sources & Credits:

Precision Valley: The Machine Tool Companies of Springfield, Vermont (p. 242) – HathiTrust Digital Library

Richards Free Library Digital Archives

Celebrating Community: Newport, New Hampshire, 250 Years and Beyond by Jayna Huot Hooper

Other photos credited on page in video

Key Words:

Newport, New Hampshire, Springfield VT, Springfield Vermont, Franklin Roosevelt, Fireside Chats, World War II, WWII, home front, Civil Defense Control Center, Civilian Defense Corps, District Warning Center, Air Raid Wardens, blackout regulations, air raid drills, alarms, shelters, first aid units, Selective Service, John Condon, John J. Condon, E. M. Perkins, H. J. Sawyer, Dr. B.C. Thorpe, Dr. B.D. Thorpe, Dr Donald Moriarty, Dr. W. M. Prince, Red Cross Room, Army Information Center, North Newport Listening Post, Newport Telephone Exchange, Newport Clothing Manufacturing Co., Spring Street, Army overcoats, 32 oz Olive Drab, teachers, sugar rations, ration books, ration stamps, sugar rationing, gas rationing, coffee rationing, liquor rationing, meat rationing, butter rationing, tires rationing, nylon rationing, War Bonds, War Stamp Drive, Victory Gardens, Minuteman flags, Service flags, American Legion, Brewster Post #25, Newport Fire Department, high school students, milkweed floss, kapok, Southeast Asia, Japan, National Guard, War Labor Board, Dorr Woolen, Gordon Woolen, Brampton Woolen, V-E Day, Newport Citizens Committee, Frank M. Farmer Jr., Mrs. George Miller, Hope Johnson, Pearl Harbor, Philippines prison camp

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