West Hartford Confronts

WEST HARTFORD CONFRONTS
WORLD WAR I
On the Home Front
And
In the Service

Hartford Courant 3 April 1917
On 4 April 1917 the United States Senate voted to declare war on Germany, followed by the
House of Representatives on 6 April.

Earlier, in August 1916, after two
years of the war in Europe,
President Woodrow Wilson
established the Council of
National Defense. Its mission
was to begin the coordination of
transportation, industrial and
farm production, financial
support and public morale.
Wilson believed that "The
Country is best prepared for war
when thoroughly prepared for
peace.“ On 26 April 1917, Gov. Marcus
Holcomb established the
Connecticut Council of Defense,
the umbrella agency for all home
front activities during the war

Hartford Courant 26 September 1917
In April 1917, Pres. Wilson established the
Women’s Committee of the Council of
National Defense, with Divisions in each state.
On 25 September a West Hartford committee
was formed, with Mrs. F.E. Duffy as Chairman.
The purpose of the Committee was “to
correlate and amalgamate all branches of war
work among women and to bring all societies
and organizations in town into close, practical
relations with the government.”

Hartford Courant 23 October 1917
There were many groups contributing to the war effort.
The West Hartford House Wives’ Army collected jams, jellies, canned fruit and dried
foods to be sent to military hospitals in France.

The War Mass Meeting of
16 November provided an opportunity
for West Hartford residents to
contribute to the Y.M.C.A. campaign
and help the town surpass its quota of
$5000. $2000 had already been
subscribed by the time of the meeting.
West Hartford Historical Society

Hartford Courant 7 July1917
The Home Guard was a quasi-military organization,
authorized by the state legislature in March 1917,
formed to provide constabulary duty when called
upon. It consisted of men too young or too old to be
eligible for the armed forces. The West Hartford
company was organized in April 1917.
The West Hartford Company, Battalion B,
was led by Captain Oliver R. Beckwith,
1st Lieutenant William J. Craig and
2nd Lieutenant Henry J. Zweygartt

On 20 November 1917, West
Hartford established a War Bureau
which merged with the Council of
Defense established in September.
Twenty members were appointed
and one of the first orders of
business was obtaining funding,
not to exceed $200, to erect a
Roll of Honor.

One week later, the War Bureau established seven committees and
appointed their members. As circumstances demanded, more
committees were created and, by the end of the war, there were fifteen.

Relief Committee
Help pay mortgages for servicemen
See that appropriate tokens of respect sent in case of the death of a serviceman
Thoroughly canvassed town for all records of men in active service or in training in any
branch of Army and Navy: including name, age, rank, unit, present address of
serviceman and family names, ages and addresses
Oversaw the Smileage Book Campaign—placed books for sale at various places around
town

Smileage Books were purchased by family members and friends of soldiers stationed
in military camps around the country. They contained coupons that soldiers could exchange for
tickets for entertainment events at YMCA-run camp theaters and other venues.
$90.00 raised so far (6 May 1918)
$146.00 raised (3 June 1918)
$370.00 quota reached (24 Nov. 1918)

Relief Committee
Going to provide a way for the sister of Pvt. William P. Grennan, who is stationed at
Camp Devens and is “quite ill,” to visit him. (3 March 1918)
Pvt. Grennan died of lobar pneumonia on 14 March 1918.
Approved the wording of a letter to the families in case of the injury or death of a
soldier:
The citizens of West Hartford through their agency the War Bureau
wish to express its deepest sympathy for your great loss. The full measure
of devotion given on battlefield and in camp puts us under greatest
obligations to render through the Civilian Relief Committee whatever
available service they can to those who have suffered in the struggle for
the brotherhood of man.

2nd Lieutenant Caldwell Colt Robinson was
the grandnephew of Elizabeth Jarvis Colt,
wife of Samuel Colt, and the son of Col.
C.L.F. Robinson, President of Colt’s Patent
Firearms Mfg. Co.
It was reported that, at the time of his
death, he was firing at the enemy with a
Colt .45 caliber automatic pistol in each
hand.
From The Connecticut Veterans Memorial West Hartford, by Joseph M. Donahue, 2006
On 24 June 1918, the Relief Committee
reported the death of
Caldwell Colt Robinson:
“We have lost one more of our boys
who was with the brave Marines”

2nd Lieutenant Donald B. Cowles, a member of the first aviation
squadron formed by the United States Marine Corps, died of pneumonia
in a hospital in Liverpool, England on 1 October 1918

Red Cross
Mrs. G.W. Wright reported as follows:
Knitted articles: sweaters, socks, scarves, wristlets, etc. 1,292
Garments: pajamas, bath robes, hospital shirts, etc. 2,107
Surgical dressings: 43,479
Comfort kits made and filled: 125
Miscellaneous articles 71
Also given 148 West Hartford boys their outfits consisting of
460 articles
(24 June 1918)
In his 1930 history of West Hartford, William H. Hall stated that the women
connected with the Red Cross and the Relief Committee of the War Bureau
“were busily engaged in providing knitted garments, surgical supplies,
comfort kits, etc. They provided complete outfits for one hundred and forty-
eight West Hartford young men who had entered the service, and were
diligent in providing for the comfort and the needs of the families of those
who had enlisted.”

Red Cross volunteers in West Hartford traveled throughout town
canvassing houses for information on soldiers and their families and
shuttling residents to and from patriotic events.

Home Garden and Food Committee
War Bureau resolved that the Town “raise from 75-100 acres of some
standard cereal crop” and that $5000 be appropriated from the Town
contingent fund for use by the Food Committee (11 March 1918)
Sought more fertilizer from the State Council of Defense
Establishing a “Junior Food Army” (17 April 1918)
One carload of fertilizer had arrived
Will start plowing as soon as ground is dry enough (6 May 1918)
Hartford Courant 10 May 1918

108 garden plots have been taken--remaining 13 should be claimed
soon (3 June 1918)
“Receive authorization from the Chairman of the War Bureau to rent
the machinery of the Town to other towns after “our crops have
been taken care of “
Machinery bought by the Food Committee “had taken care of from
75 to 80 acres of grain” (2 August 1918)

Information and Research Committee
Started and maintained a card file on every serviceman and every
family in town
Authorized a map drawn up by Town Engineer dividing town into 9
districts to facilitate canvassing
Put up bulletin boards in several locations around town for posting of
official War Bureau notices
By 11 March 1918 had verified information on 200 West Hartford
servicemen
By 20 March 1918 verified the names of 216 men to be placed on
Honor Roll

The Information and Research Committee maintained a card
file of West Hartford servicemen with as up-to-date as
possible addresses.

Roll of Honor Committee
Established 23 February 1918
Solicited bids for Honor Roll to be placed in front of Town Hall—
contract awarded to Mr. Korder (23 Feb. 1918)
Honor Roll has been started (3 March 1918)
Honor Roll completed—216 names—213 active servicemen and 3
YMCA workers
Will add wings as new names need to be added (17 April 1918)
“Measurements and investigations will be made as to enlarging the
Board (12 July 1918)
Expect to let contract for enlarging the Board—duplicate present
Board—make it 2 panels with 3 pillars (2 August 1918)
F.C. Cook paid $72.00 for new Honor Roll (22 August 1918)
Bill for $82.60 paid for lettering and painting Honor Roll (29 Nov.
1918)

When completed, the Honor Roll, which stood near the Town Hall,
contained 357 names, including several Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross workers
who served in France.
Hayes-Velhage American Legion Post 96

Y.M.C.A. War Work Secretaries from West Hartford
Keith C. Brown Associate Secretary and Music Director, Italian Army 25 May 1918-21 March 1919
Edwin D. Garrette Hut, Divisional and Business Secretary, France 23 Dec. 1917-12 Aug. 1919
Louis H. Moody Athletic, Hut and Camp Secretary, Entertainer, France 25 May 1918-2 August 1919
Walter H. Payne Canteen and Hut Secretary, France 26 July 1918-15 September 1919
Connecticut State Archives, Record Group 12

Finance Committee
Received appropriation of $8000 from the town Finance Board: $6000
for the Red Cross and $2000 for the Town Gardens (11 Feb. 1918)
War Bureau agreed to request of State Council of Defense to hold a War
Rally on 25 June and requested the Council to send 200 song books
(3 June 1918)
Conservation Committee
Investigated the “exorbitant” prices of yarns used in knitting mittens,
scarves and socks for soldiers
Savings achieved by having yarn bought through the War Bureau
Arranged for a “Patriotic Food Exhibit” on 29 May 1918 at the Old Town
Hall

Foreign Born Committee
Sought to have different nationalities represented on the Committee
Considering representatives of “the German and Polish peoples” (27 Nov. 1917)
Chairman Father Ryan “reported progress” and that the Committee “had planned to
hold meetings with the Foreign Born and secure their loyalty” (3 March 1918)
Rev. J.W. Bradin “reported progress” (17 April 1918)
Mr. Marin, Chair, “reported progress” (3 June 1918)
Name of Committee changed to “Committee on Americanization” (22 Oct. 1918)
Committee expected to start classes in the New Departure and Whitlock Coil Pipe
Co. in the near future (29 Oct. 1918)
William H. Hall hoping to start evening classes (29 Oct. 1918)

War Savings Committee
Established War Savings Societies in each room of the town’s schools
$2100 worth of War Savings Stamps sold at the Connecticut Fair at
Charter Oak Park—over 100 people assisting during the week
(1 October 1918)

Mrs. James B. Henry, Secretary of the War Savings Stamp Committee,
described an upcoming “French Market” at the 1 October 1918
Meeting of the War Bureau.

Advertisements for the
“French Market” held in
October 1918, organized
by the West Hartford
Women’s Fourth Liberty
Loan Committee

West Hartford women donned costumes as they worked the
booths at the French Market at Vine Hill Farm.

Miss Edith Beach presented the final report on the French Market
at the 22 October meeting of the War Bureau.

In 1917 The Connecticut Council of Defense undertook an Industrial Survey to determine what
Connecticut companies were manufacturing, what percentage of their production was going to
assist the U.S. and allied forces directly or indirectly and what war materiel they might be able to
provide in the future.

The Abbott Ball Co. reported “Small orders for Navy Dept.” and “Approximately
50%” of production going indirectly to the war effort.

The women polishers at the New Departure Co. displayed their patriotism.

Post cards sent to Elliott S. Foote notifying
him of his 1-A classification, the date of his
physical examination and his qualification for
military service.
Inducted on 24 June 1918
Reported to a Medical Training School for
Sanitary Trains
Served in France at Field Hospital 5 from 26
July 1918 to 22 January 1919
Honorably Discharged on 15 February 1919
Pvt. Elliott S. Foote’s dog tags.
All West Hartford Historical Society

1st Lieutenant Robert William Horner
Inducted 20 September 1917
Co. D 301st Machine Gun Battalion
Sergeant 1 November 1917
Officer Training Corps
2nd Lieutenant 1 June 1918
1st Lieutenant 11 November 1918
Stationed at: Camp Mills, NY
Camp Sheridan, AL
Camp Lee, VA
Honorably Discharged 4 February 1919

Pvt. James Francis Cosgrove
Inducted 4 October 1917
301st Trench Mortar Battalion
Honorably Discharged 24 May 1918
Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability
12 ½% Disabled

Pvt. First Class Joseph P. Cosgrove
Inducted 4 October 1917
Battery D 301st Trench Mortar Battalion
Pvt. First Class 1 October 1918
Served in France 15 July 1918-23 March 1919
Honorably Discharged 1 April 1919

Pvt. First Class Leonard H.F. Wessel
Inducted 1 May 1918
Co. K. 114th Infantry
Pvt. First Class 1 Nov. 1918
American Expeditionary Force 15 June 1918-20
May 1919
Honorably Discharged 31 May 1919
Received the Distinguished Service Cross
“for extraordinary heroism in action while
serving with Company K, 114th Infantry
Regiment, 29th Division, A.E.F., near Verdun,
France, October 12 - 14, 1918. Private First Class
Wessel performed his duties as a runner under
heavy shell fire three days and nights without
rest, and when the relay stations between the
battalion and regimental posts of command had
been wiped out he continued to carry messages
the entire distances between the two posts.”
Also received the French Croix de Guerre with
unit citation

West Hartford Women in War Service
Ida F. Butler
Dorothy D. Carpenter
Beatrice Cook
Helen Norton
Mary A. Rees
Dorothy D. Carpenter served as a Reconstruction Aide in the Division of
Physio-Therapy at Camp Dix, following training at the Massachusetts General
Hospital and in an advanced government course at Harvard Medical School.

Waldo C. Hayes Francis B. Velhage
Perhaps the best-known West Hartford soldiers are Waldo C. Hayes and
Francis Velhage. Both lost their lives during World War I and the local
American Legion Post 96, organized in 1921, is named in their memory.

From The Connecticut Veterans Memorial West Hartford, by Joseph M. Donahue, 2006

Oct. 26 1918 “Bobby Hayes was badly wounded
while driving his car in Verdun on the 23rd. He
was rushed to a hospital.”
Oct. 29, 1918 “Bobby Hayes is reported dead.”
“War Diary of a Machine Gunner,” compiled and edited by 1st Lieutenant
Philip S. Wainwright, in History of the 101st Machine Gun Battalion, 1922.
French War Cemetery Verdun-Glorieux

Waldo C. Hayes is buried in the family
plot in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford

Francis B. Velhage, 1917
“Happy side cleaners U.S.S.S.C.”
Francis B. Velhage at left,
holding paint brush
Francis B. Velhage was injured
on 21 August 1917 aboard the
USS South Carolina while
painting the anchor chain. He
suffered a broken finger on his
right hand and a broken jaw
when a grating fell and pinned
him to the deck.
He was placed in the hospital
at the Philadelphia Navy Yard,
where the ship was berthed.
He was in the hospital for two
weeks, and seemed to be on
the road to recovery.
Battleship USS South Carolina

But, in a letter to his father on
11 September 1917, Velhage told him
that he had gotten very weak , could
not eat and had to dictate the letter to
a nurse. He said that his broken jaw
was “one of the minor things” and that
doctors had discovered “considerable
internal injuries.”

Velhage sent the letter to his
father’s work place and said “I do
not know whether you would like
to tell mother or not as it may start
to worry her.”
The letter was postmarked at
10 A.M. and, the next day, the
Hartford Courant reported his
death “on the morning of
September 11th,” which
must have occurred shortly
after dictating this letter

Soon after his death, his Navy shipmates commissioned a
bronze plaque to be erected on a granite marker
purchased by his family.
The plaque reads:
In Memory Of
Seaman Second Class NNV
Francis Buckley Velhage
Born January 15, 1897
Died September 11, 1917
From Injuries Received In
The Line of Duty On Board The
U.S.S. South Carolina
He Will Ever Live In Our Hearts
As A Man Of High Ideals And Of
Great Devotion To His Duty
Who Laid Down His Life
For His Country During
The Great War
This Tablet
Is Erected By His Shipmates
Of The First Division
U.S.S. South Carolina

The granite marker with the bronze plaque still
stands in the family plot in
Zion Hill Cemetery in Hartford.

22 West Hartford residents lost their lives in World War I
from The Connecticut Veterans Memorial West Hartford, by Joseph M. Donahue, 2006

West Hartford soldiers began returning to town at irregular intervals, some
remaining in Europe as part of an occupation force. There was a massive
repatriation program that brought them to various camps around the
country to be discharged and eventually return to West Hartford.
With the end of the war on 11 November 1918, a slow return to pre-war
life in West Hartford began.
A single typed page in the records of the West Hartford War Bureau noted that:

On 21 May 1919 the West Hartford War Bureau, satisfied that the majority of West Hartford soldiers
had returned home, began making arrangements for a Welcome Home Reception for town residents
who had served in the war. Nine committees were appointed to oversee the event.

Before the Welcome Home
Reception could take place, the
War Bureau had to seek
permission to use the Green from
its owner, the First Ecclesiastical
Society.

Returning soldiers, sailors, marines and war workers
received invitations in the Welcome Home program
and were provided with a response card and
envelope to indicate if they would be attending the
Welcome Home Ceremony.

A colonnade commemorating West Hartford residents who died
in service was erected around the Green as part of the Welcome Home
Reception 14 June 1919

Museum of Connecticut History
Colt’s Armory Band provided musical selections during the Welcome Home Reception

West Hartford residents
F. A. Mitchell, a Civil
War veteran, and F. D.
Cadwell, a Spanish-
American War veteran
were among the guests
of honor at the supper
held during the
Welcome Home
Ceremony
Hartford Courant 15 June 1919
Honored guests at the Welcome Home
Reception, 13 West Hartford Civil War
veterans posed for a group photo on the
Green in front of the colonnade honoring
the 22 West Hartford casualties
From West Hartford, by William H. Hall, 1930
S .Earle Livingston served with the
Headquarters Company 102nd
Infantry as a Mess Sergeant in
France from 19 September 1917 to
7 April 1919

The reverse is inscribed:
“United States Military Forces 1914-1919.
Presented to Her Gallant Sons in Grateful
Recognition of Their Part in the World War.”
Service medal presented to
Carl A. Kjelleren
Museum of Connecticut History

On 21 August 1917, Troop B Cavalry CT National Guard was transferred into
the 101st Machine Gun Battalion of the 26th Division. Allied forces were
somewhat slow to realize that mounted cavalry had become an anachronism in
the age of industrial warfare.
Pvt. 1st Class Kjelleren was
honorably discharged
29 April 1919
from The Origin and
Fortunes of Troop B, 1921

Each returning serviceman and war
worker received this
“commemorative token” from the
town as “a lasting tribute of
appreciation and esteem.”
Each certificate was signed by C.
Edward Beach, Chairman of the
West Hartford War Bureau, and
three Town Selectmen

Lt. Albert M. Simons of
Hartford, a twice-wounded
member of the 26th Division,
spoke at the Welcome Home
Ceremony. He described
some of his war-time
experiences and praised the
many women workers who
had died in service and said
that the soldiers at the front
could not have won without
the “great work of the
women of the country.”
The Nature Dances
performed by Mrs. Helen
Way-Linder’s pupils were
“thoroughly enjoyed.”

One of the earliest World War I
Memorials in West Hartford was the
Memorial Communion Rail in St. John’s
Episcopal Church, dedicated to members
of the parish who served in World War I
and installed in November 1922.
Two inscriptions run the length of the rail. The left side reads “Come to me, all you that
labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you” (Matthew 11:28). The right side reads
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).
Images Courtesy of St. John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford

A plaque on the east wall of St.
John’s reads: ”The
Communion Rail of This
Church Given by the Members
of the Parish, is Dedicated to
the Memory of Those Who
Died, and in Honor of All
Those from This Parish Who
Served Their Country in the
Great War 1917-1918.”
The plaque lists parishoners
who served in World War I.
Included were several
members from West Hartford,
including Julius Adelbert
Steele, a U.S. Navy Coxswain
who died of influenza in the
Naval Hospital at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard on 9 October 1918.
Image Courtesy of St. John’s
Episcopal Church, West Hartford

In the years following the war, the Town of West Hartford debated the
issue of the appropriate way to memorialize its soldiers and those who
had lost their lives during the war. Headlines from the Hartford
Courant capture this debate, which ultimately resulted in no World
War memorial being built in West Hartford during these years. It was
not until 1929 that the town would acquire a World War memorial.
Hartford Courant 11 May 1922 Hartford Courant 26 June 1922

Hartford Courant 12 September 1923
Hartford Courant 5 December 1923
Hartford Courant 10 December 1923 Community House, Longmeadow, MA

Hartford Courant 19 Dec. 1923
Hartford Courant 20 Feb. 1924
Hartford Courant 11 Mar. 1924
Hartford Courant 16 July 1924

By late 1924, public interest in a
West Hartford War Memorial had
apparently waned. However, the
Hayes-Velhage American Legion
Post was still committed to a
memorial. In 1927 the Post
bought two lots on Seyms St.
(later named Memorial Road)
and launched a fund drive for the
erection of a building. On 24 May
1929, ground was broken and, on
15 June, the cornerstone for the
“American Legion Memorial
Building” was laid.

On 15 June 1929 the Hayes-Velhage American Legion Post laid the
cornerstone for their new building on Memorial Drive. The cornerstone
contained numerous items donated by the families of Charles McLean
Smith, Waldo C. Hayes, Francis B. Velhage and Raymond E. Mitchell, West
Hartford servicemen who had lost their lives during the war.

Hartford Courant 26 October 1929
Finally, on 25 October 1929, West Hartford had
its World War I Memorial. The Post remained
here until 2006, when the building was removed
to make way for Blue Back Square. The Post
now occupies quarters there.
From West Hartford, by William H. Hall, 1930

In 2006, the Town of West Hartford dedicated the
Veterans Memorial at the corner of North Main St. and
Farmington Ave. It includes the names of West Hartford
residents who have died while serving in the nation’s wars.
The 22 West Hartford men who died during World War I
are permanently memorialized here.

In 2006, the 1929 building housing the Hayes-Velhage American Legion Post was removed
to make way for Blue Back Square.
The Post retained possession of the building’s cornerstone and, in 2011, it was discovered
that there was a cavity in the stone, sealed with a layer of masonry. Within the cavity was
a sealed copper box—a time capsule that was carefully opened.

Wrist watch worn by Francis B.
Velhage at the time of his accident
on board the USS South Carolina

Trench Art cigarette
lighter owned by
Waldo C. Hayes at
the time of his death

Prayer book and New Testament owned
by U.S. Navy Hospital Apprentice
Second Class Raymond E. Mitchell
Raymond E. Mitchell enlisted in
the U.S. Navy on 24 September
1917. He was stationed at the
Naval Hospital in Norfolk, VA,
where he died of cerebrospinal
fever, a form of meningitis, on
21 December 1917 at age 18.

At the Welcome Home Reception
Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Smith of
27 Concord St. received the Town of West
Hartford Service Medal posthumously
awarded to their son, Pvt. Charles
McLean Smith. He had served in
Company G, 308th Infantry and died of
wounds received in combat in the
Argonne Forest on
4 October 1918.
Ten years after the Welcome Home
Reception, Mr. and Mrs. Smith placed
their son’s Service Medal in the copper
box in the cornerstone of the Hayes-
Velhage American Legion Post building,
where it remained until 2011.

West Hartford Confronts

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