The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941, and the United States declared war on Japan the next day.
This war story has been told for many years but Professional Storyteller Bette Lou Higgins of Eden Valley Enterprises has a different swing on this infamous tale. Bette Lou tells the story of goodness, kindness, and generosity of humanity, making it evident that even in dark times, people always find ways to share love.
She tells the story about wartime efforts in a small town in Ohio that came to be nicknamed “Dreamsville.”
Dreamsville became the nickname for Dennison, Ohio. It was located on the National Defense Strategic Railway Route. Many soldiers were moved across the country by train and this location was a famous stopping point.
The troops needed to be fed but the steam-powered trains sometimes only stopped for 5 minutes – just long enough to fill with water.
During those brief moments, this track-side canteen went into a flurry of activity with volunteers from neighboring counties, all answering the call to help serve the troops food quickly!
According to the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, “1.3 million soldiers were served free food at the Dennison Salvation Army Servicemen’s Canteen. 3,987 Volunteers contributed 601,520 hours of service and raised $1,319,439 to operate the Canteen nonstop from March 19, 1942 to April 8, 1946. Thousands of cups of coffee, sandwiches, pies, cakes, cookies, donuts, lollipops, candy bars, pieces of fruit, gum, magazines and Christmas packages were passed out.”
Bette Lou Higgins tells this story as a special birthday gift to Kathryn Eyring, whose birthday is December 7th!
Pull up a chair and enjoy the story!
Please share your thoughts in the comment box below…
Are YOU old enough to remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor? What do you remember?
Have you ever heard of Dreamsville? Been to Dreamsville (Dennison, Ohio)?
Do you have another story of LOVE you’d like to share?
Thanks Bette Lou! That was very interesting. I’ve been to Dennison University but didn’t know anything about the Dreamville history. My father was on a B17 & survived 33missions I wonder if he ever was on one of those trains. Thanks
Such an interesting telling of this piece of history we all stand on. Thanks, (and Happy Birthday Kathryn).
What an interesting story. I never knew that about Dennison, but I only moved to Ohio in the fifties. I remember exactly where I was when FDR made his “day of infamy “ speech. We were living in Bethesda, MD, and I was playing house under our dining room table with my paper dolls. My father worked at the Pentagon. It was a frightening time.
But living through difficult times and understanding the need to make sacrifices gives us the strength to get through other difficult times, like now.
Marty
Hi, Bette Lou,
Just watched your story on Pearl Harbor and it reminded me of one of my own. As you know,when I first started at Ohio Bell,I spent 7 years at Tuxedo central office in Parma. One of the fellows I worked with was Ted Karabinus. He was a Marine at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. In 1985 I returned to Tuxedo to help cut the new 5 ESS digital switch into service. Since this was the last #1 crossbar office in greater Cleveland they decided to invite all retirees who had worked there to watch the cutover. In those days we would christen the new switch with a banner. Names like Titanic,Lusitania, Andrea Doria.( See a pattern here?)
Since Ted would be coming back and because the cut date was Saturday, Dec 7, 1985 we named this switch the E.S.S.Arizona.
When the cut was completed Don Hodges removed the banner and gave it to Ted!
Rick
That was a great idea, Rick! I’m sure Ted appreciated that — what a great way to remember the day and his service!
In the summer of 1963, I was on an eastbound train (Chicago to New York) that stopped somewhere in Ohio. It waa announced that we would stop long enough for members of the military to have complimentary coffee on the platform. Now that I live in Ohio, I have often wondered where it was that volunteers were still honoring service members so many years after WW II.
Sounds like you found Dreamsville, Janice! You can still visit there — [Link deleted] They bring their good works back to life!
I recall as a five year old sitting with my family around the dining room table listening to president Roosevelt’s Declaration of War. It was my older brother Bob’s 8th birthday. I learned to read new words in newspaper headlines and later in longer articles. I never heard about Dennison’s troop train volunteers, however, In later years when I visited Bob, who was a physician in North Platte , Nebraska, he took me to their railroad museum which told a similar story to Dennisons. It was such a period of Patriotism. God Bless America. ??
I’m sure there’s were similar stories all across the country like Dennison’s and North Platte’s. Thank goodness so many came out to help.
Thanks for listening, Joan.
Bette Lou
With all that is going on in today’s world, stopping to think about a time in history helps put life in the proper perspective. I remember that Sunday and the aftermath of the war. We are going through so much with our world today stopping for a few minutes to think we are survivors! This to shall pass.
Gret job Bette Lou.
Tina
Thanks, Tina! You said that beautifully! Here’s to the survivors of this year’s disasters and to remembering those who are gone.
Bette Lou
Came across this by accident and enjoyed another story by you, Bette Lou. Marian Macbeth here, I live in East Lansing now. My husband died 3 1/2 years ago and I had no family in N. Ohio so I moved back to Michigan ( where I was raised & went to school) to East Lansing where my daughter lives. I am settled quite happily in a “retirement” home, have made many new friends and am fortunate to have them in the same building now that we are all quarantined..
Have a Merry Christmas and Keep telling stories.
Marian
Hey, Marian! I’m so glad you found Kathryn’s site. It’s great!
Do glad to know you’re doing well and enjoying your family and new friends — but, of course, all your old friends miss you!
Take care and have a wonderful Christmas and here’s to hoping we all have a safe and healthy 2021!
Bette Lou
Thanks for letting me share your birthday, Kathryn. I hope you have a wonderful day and a fabulous year!