Southington: The War Years

With the outbreak of World War I, industry in Southington--previously an agrarian community--grew in both size and profit. The citizens of Southington banded together to help in the war effort by joining the American Red Cross and Home Guard and selling Liberty Bonds. Industrial growth continued until the stock market crash of 1929. Though few factories closed, most were forced to reduce their workforce and hours of production. By the end of the 1930s, the nation was preparing for a war most people hoped would never happen. Factories rehired former employees and created new job opportunities, and four months after Pearl Harbor, Southington's 17 factories were working around the clock to produce wartime goods. Two World Wars and the Great Depression left their mark on citizens, creating changes that remain today.