Local Apple Crop Rescued by Teenagers During World War II
by Barbara Rimkunas
This "Historically Speaking" column was published in the Exeter News-Letter on Friday, October 11, 2019.
Late in the summer of 1942, Hampton Falls apple grower James Elton attended the National Apple Planning Committee meeting at Buffalo, N.Y. There officials of the US Department of Agriculture predicted a banner year for apples. The Exeter News-Letter reported, “New Hampshire’s bumper crop, estimated at about 1,000,000 bushels, is 50 per cent greater than a year ago. In the Exeter area, which includes the Applecrest and Elton orchards in Hampton Falls and those of the Gowen brothers in Stratham, the yield is expected to be upwards of 100,00 bushels.” It was a sunny bit of news amidst all the dire warnings of wartime food production.
Apples, however, can be fragile and need to be picked at just the right time. With a large chunk of the state’s agricultural labor now off at war, the need for pickers became acute. In the same edition of the News-Letter and in the daily Portsmouth Herald, local apple growers were advertising for help. “Men and Women wanted for Picking Apples,” advertised Elton Orchards. “Heavy Crop, Low Trees, Large Apples give Excellent Picking. Rate: 12 cents per bushel – Picking begins September 1st”
“A major problem of the industry,” reported the News-Letter, “will be harvesting, and steps are being taken to enlist high school students, through cooperation of the United States employment service and the state school system; working with the state horticultural society. The need of successfully harvesting the apple crop under war-time conditions is well recognized. Women’s services will also be sought to offset the increasing scarcity of male labor.” Most women were already involved in regular war-related industry, however, or busy with childcare. Few were available for seasonal labor. For the next two years, the seacoast apple growers would have to depend on teenagers.
Before the apple season got underway, the boys of Phillips Exeter Academy had already seen changes to their daily lives. With little help available, they were now required to take care of housekeeping duties in the dorms. Now they were being asked to do farm work as well. “All this is in reality only an extension of the institution of student waiters in the dining halls, which has been going on for nearly half a century. The difference is that student waiters perform their services in addition to carrying on their regular scholastic and athletic program. The harvesters, on the other hand, are excused from all classes, and, to make possible the care of student rooms, the daily schedule has had to be revised.” The following year, the Exonian touted war work: “Working out in the open with crops and animals ought to be a very interesting experience for any boy. Besides the broadening experience gained, any boy ought to benefit physically from the vigorous outdoor work. He will see how farmers live, how crops are raised, and he will learn the value of a dollar and how to earn it the hard way. A job on a farm is an excellent experience. It also will help our war effort if enough boys apply. Knowledge, experience, a good healthy life, and some extra spending money all come in handy. How about it boys?”
To their credit, quite a number of Academy boys were willing to pitch in. Thirty boys were chosen from among the 200 who volunteered. “The apple pickers leave the Academy at 7 a.m. by bus for the farm, which is in Hampton Falls, and return at 5:30 p.m. the school supplies their lunches. They pick between 25 – 50 bushels a day.” The work was hard, but must have been a great break from study for most. The numbers of boys increased as the program continued.
Exeter High School had fewer boys to send to the orchards. The 1943 yearbook reported, “When nearby apple growers appealed to the high school for pickers, not many were able to answer this call. Because many of the older boys were already employed, very few responded. Younger boys were anxious to assist, but their ages were not within the limit.” It was also noted, however, that the school year was shortened by two weeks so that boys could assist in war occupations. High School boys were actively recruited to shovel snow from streets and the B&M railroad. They also took turns as plane spotters for air defense. In 1943, age restrictions were loosened and more students were allowed to work. Mr. Elton donated the final box of apples picked to the high school students.
The Robinson Seminary assisted the harvest in 1943. At least 71 girls worked the orchards that fall. Like their high school counterparts, the girls were also recruited for plane spotting and assisted with Red Cross work.
But the highlight of the 1943 season was probably the assistance of the Boy Scouts. Those participating had to be over age 14 and have permission from school. “The boys will be organized in labor camps at which they will be housed, fed and at which regular camping programs will be presented during non-working hours. They will pay a nominal fee for board out of the money they will be paid for harvesting but housing will be furnished as will transportation,” reported the Portsmouth Herald. Scouts camped at Applecrest for three weeks during September and October under the cooperation of the Daniel Webster council. The News-Letter noted that “their work was so satisfactory that if possible, the same plan will be worked out next year.”
1944 didn’t find the orchards recruiting student help. The crop was depleted that year by a mid-September hurricane and growers had already decided to import more experienced workers from Jamaica. Still, the necessary experiment was a good reminder of how essential teenagers were and are to the economy.
Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Image: Girls from the Robinson Female Seminary board trucks destined for Applecrest Farm in September of 1943. Without the help of local students and Boy Scouts, the apple crops of 1942 & 43 might not have made it to market.
Late in the summer of 1942, Hampton Falls apple grower James Elton attended the National Apple Planning Committee meeting at Buffalo, N.Y. There officials of the US Department of Agriculture predicted a banner year for apples. The Exeter News-Letter reported, “New Hampshire’s bumper crop, estimated at about 1,000,000 bushels, is 50 per cent greater than a year ago. In the Exeter area, which includes the Applecrest and Elton orchards in Hampton Falls and those of the Gowen brothers in Stratham, the yield is expected to be upwards of 100,00 bushels.” It was a sunny bit of news amidst all the dire warnings of wartime food production.
“A major problem of the industry,” reported the News-Letter, “will be harvesting, and steps are being taken to enlist high school students, through cooperation of the United States employment service and the state school system; working with the state horticultural society. The need of successfully harvesting the apple crop under war-time conditions is well recognized. Women’s services will also be sought to offset the increasing scarcity of male labor.” Most women were already involved in regular war-related industry, however, or busy with childcare. Few were available for seasonal labor. For the next two years, the seacoast apple growers would have to depend on teenagers.
Before the apple season got underway, the boys of Phillips Exeter Academy had already seen changes to their daily lives. With little help available, they were now required to take care of housekeeping duties in the dorms. Now they were being asked to do farm work as well. “All this is in reality only an extension of the institution of student waiters in the dining halls, which has been going on for nearly half a century. The difference is that student waiters perform their services in addition to carrying on their regular scholastic and athletic program. The harvesters, on the other hand, are excused from all classes, and, to make possible the care of student rooms, the daily schedule has had to be revised.” The following year, the Exonian touted war work: “Working out in the open with crops and animals ought to be a very interesting experience for any boy. Besides the broadening experience gained, any boy ought to benefit physically from the vigorous outdoor work. He will see how farmers live, how crops are raised, and he will learn the value of a dollar and how to earn it the hard way. A job on a farm is an excellent experience. It also will help our war effort if enough boys apply. Knowledge, experience, a good healthy life, and some extra spending money all come in handy. How about it boys?”
To their credit, quite a number of Academy boys were willing to pitch in. Thirty boys were chosen from among the 200 who volunteered. “The apple pickers leave the Academy at 7 a.m. by bus for the farm, which is in Hampton Falls, and return at 5:30 p.m. the school supplies their lunches. They pick between 25 – 50 bushels a day.” The work was hard, but must have been a great break from study for most. The numbers of boys increased as the program continued.
Exeter High School had fewer boys to send to the orchards. The 1943 yearbook reported, “When nearby apple growers appealed to the high school for pickers, not many were able to answer this call. Because many of the older boys were already employed, very few responded. Younger boys were anxious to assist, but their ages were not within the limit.” It was also noted, however, that the school year was shortened by two weeks so that boys could assist in war occupations. High School boys were actively recruited to shovel snow from streets and the B&M railroad. They also took turns as plane spotters for air defense. In 1943, age restrictions were loosened and more students were allowed to work. Mr. Elton donated the final box of apples picked to the high school students.
The Robinson Seminary assisted the harvest in 1943. At least 71 girls worked the orchards that fall. Like their high school counterparts, the girls were also recruited for plane spotting and assisted with Red Cross work.
But the highlight of the 1943 season was probably the assistance of the Boy Scouts. Those participating had to be over age 14 and have permission from school. “The boys will be organized in labor camps at which they will be housed, fed and at which regular camping programs will be presented during non-working hours. They will pay a nominal fee for board out of the money they will be paid for harvesting but housing will be furnished as will transportation,” reported the Portsmouth Herald. Scouts camped at Applecrest for three weeks during September and October under the cooperation of the Daniel Webster council. The News-Letter noted that “their work was so satisfactory that if possible, the same plan will be worked out next year.”
1944 didn’t find the orchards recruiting student help. The crop was depleted that year by a mid-September hurricane and growers had already decided to import more experienced workers from Jamaica. Still, the necessary experiment was a good reminder of how essential teenagers were and are to the economy.
Barbara Rimkunas is curator of the Exeter Historical Society. Support the Exeter Historical Society by becoming a member! Join online at: www.exeterhistory.org
Image: Girls from the Robinson Female Seminary board trucks destined for Applecrest Farm in September of 1943. Without the help of local students and Boy Scouts, the apple crops of 1942 & 43 might not have made it to market.
Comments