Aikin Home » Harvill Journal » Chamber of Commerce Minutes

Chamber of Commerce Minutes

The archives at Paris Junior College houses the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce Minutes from 1918 - 1942. Being interested in the years of World War II in Paris, I pulled the 1942 minutes to learn that the “War Committees” included Air Raid Warning, USO Fund Drive, Home Defense Guard, War Price & Rationing Board, War Recreation Council, Homes Registration Office, Rents Stabilization
Committee, Paris & Lamar Co. Health Unit, Rubber Conservation, Draft Boards
#1 & #2, V.D. Clinic, Civilian Defense Council, American Red Cross, and Malarial Control.
I know that malaria was a problem in Paris during the forties because my brother had it when he was a teen. He was sent home sick by the Paris High School Band Director, and it recurred over the years for some time. We’ve almost come full circle because, now, we fear West Nile Virus.
The Civilian Defense Council alone, headed by Sam M. Weiss, covered Air Warnings, Chemical Warfare, Enlistments, Fire Prevention, Food, Business & Industrial Plants, Liaisons, Emergency Medical Services, Morale (headed by J.R. McLemore), Law Enforcement Police, Publicity, and Transportation.
I was interested in exploring the “Defense Recreation Council.” What did they do? Well, they met in the “Blue Room” of the Gibraltar Hotel on March 23, 1942, with the following persons present: Mrs. J. M. Caviness, A. L. Edmiaston, George N. Robinson, J. G. Brunson, J. A. McGill, Sam M. Weiss, A. G. Mayse, Mrs. T. D. Wells, W. N. Furey; Raymond Berry, J. R. McLemore, J. V. Berglund, and Louis B. Williams. Raymond T. Forsberg of the Federal Security Agency was also present.
Forsberg reported that during the “last war,” civilians were allowed to put recreation centers within the camps, but it was not satisfactory. This time the Army says they will take care of the soldier while he is on the post, and the people can do their part to keep him happy while he is in the community. He said that while there will be from 30,000 to 35,000 men in the camp, there will not likely be over 5 or 10 thousand in the town at one time. (Imagine that many soldiers in downtown Paris.)
At the camp, there would be a large field house, 7 motion picture theatres, and 4 or 5 service clubs. Each regiment would have a recreation hall accommodating about 300. They hoped to have entertainment groups from the city come out and put on shows at these halls.
He said that the churches possibly could do more good than any one other single agency. He also said the young men who would be in the camp would have left “fine homes, wives, sweethearts, good jobs, and all associations, and deserve the best that Paris has to offer. “They do not like special ‘soldier entertainments,’ but prefer to be included in regular civilian affairs.”
He mentioned African Americans, about 18% of the soldiers in the camp, which is about the number of a single regiment or 30,000 persons. He recommended that a representative from these men sit with the Defense Recreation Council and plan with them.
Oh, wow, I can see it in my mind’s eye. Has there ever been another time in Paris when the people were so busy, so civic-minded, so energized and patriotic? 5 or 10 thousand soldiers downtown at one time?

Reader comments

No one has commented on this article.

Want to comment on this article?

You must be registered and logged in order to leave comments on this site. Please register or log on the left side of this page in the "Toolbox" area. Once logged in, return to this page, and you will have access to the commenting form.