History Series: Kayte Casebolt and Latah County and WW1

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:12

This is the Kestrel Country Podcast where we discuss the people , places and events all around Kestrel country podcast . We are very excited to be presenting a history series with Kate Casebolt , who has been a longtime writer now for the Kestrel Post . And if you don't get the Kestrel Post yet , head over to movetomoscocom and sign up to get our free newspaper . But Kate is going to be presenting her past articles , which is a lot of history about our area , so looking forward to hearing what she has to say which is a lot of history about our area .

Speaker 2 1:10

So looking forward to hearing what she has to say . Many of the men from Latah County were sent to Camp Lewis during World War I . These men trained at the University of Idaho first and then boarded a train at the Northern Pacific Railway as crowds of well-wishers gathered around to say their goodbyes . Camp Lewis was named after none other than Meriwether Lewis . It was the first National Army Cantonment for draftee training , with its first arrivals on September 5 , 1917 . By the end of that year there were already 37,000 officers , garrison and trainees there During the war . It was the largest military post and it did its best to live up to its name . Subscribers of the Tacoma Daily News for Camp Lewis helped purchase the largest flag ever flown at the time . The flag weighed 257 pounds with dimensions of 60 by 90 feet . On their first attempt to raise this flag at Camp Lewis , the weight of it was too heavy for the pole to hold up and the pole broke under its pressure . The weight of it was too heavy for the pole to hold up and the pole broke under its pressure . After another unsuccessful attempt , the flag was finally raised on December 7 , 1918 . But the men at Camp Lewis weren't the only ones from Latah County that did their part for the American war effort .

Speaker 2 2:17

Since the men had left behind many open positions at the mills , like the Potlatch Mill , women had to step up and fill in these roles . Before World War I , many of the women were homemakers . They rarely worked outside of the house , but when they did , it was usually a job at the mercantile or as part of the company clerical staff . Some became maids , post office workers or boarding house cooks . As they worked at the mill , their jobs were in administrative support roles or flunkies those who prepared meals for the loggers . But that all changed during wartime . Early fighter planes needed the spruce from the lumber company , since the planes were built from wood trusses . In order to continue providing lumber , women became loggerettes . During World War II , around 40 women worked at the potlatch mill . Women also served as Red Cross nurses during the wars . Some went to serve in France , while others stayed local and helped make bandages and care packages . They also played an important role in raising funds and marching in Liberty Bond parades . Often they carried blue star flags in the parade , with each star representing a family member in service .

Speaker 2 3:24

Liberty Bonds were debt securities issued by the government that helped pay for military expenses . William Giz Mikadu , secretary of Treasury , worked with the Division of the Committee on Public Information to develop this campaign . The division was called the Four Minute Men and they often included patriotic language into their posters to motivate people to purchase these bonds . Famous artists were hired to create the posters and famous actors and actresses hosted bond rallies to support the war effort . Like Ethel Barrymore and Charlie Chaplin , american viewers all over the country watched Charlie Chaplin's the Bond , a short film that Chaplin made with money out of his own pocket . Even kids got involved in this campaign . Both the Boy and Girl Scouts sold Liberty Bonds to raise funds for the war . The government was able to raise about $17 billion from Liberty Bonds . This was about $170 per American citizen .

Speaker 2 4:19

At long last , world War I came to an end and the people of Potlatch were among the earliest to celebrate . Most of the country was still unaware of the end of the war , but Potlatch had frontline connections . Their celebrations began on November 9 , 1918 , even before the official documents ending the war had been signed . While Potlatch provided much lumber for the construction of fighter planes , they also used the wood for their sidewalks , but since these sidewalks have recently been torn out and piled in the street . They lit the planks on fire for a huge bonfire celebration . Their party lasted two full days and two nights . These warriors shaped our community as people stood together through the most difficult circumstances . Today , the memorial in East City Park reminds one and all that this is the land of the free because of the brave .

Speaker 1 5:08

Thanks for joining us . Like , share , subscribe . We'll see you next week .