A history of the ‘harvest’ scrap metal in Dickenson County

For the past six weeks, most Dickenson County citizens have responded to the call of the federal and state governments to help lessen the spread of the Covid19 virus by abiding to “stay at home” orders, wearing masks, and practicing social distancing. By studying the history of our county, especially during such trying times, one can see that during its past Dickenson County has always gone “above and beyond” the call of duty to help in national emergencies.

During World War II, when a call for scrap metal went out from the government, Dickenson County pitched in and whole heartedly participated. Using articles from the local newspaper, Dickenson County Herald, dated from September, 1942 until December, 1942, a history of the “Harvest” Scrap Metal in Dickenson County has been compiled and is presented below in the language found in those articles. Other newspapers reported that Dickenson County had begun gathering scrap metal as early as March, 1942.

“During the period from September 21 to October 10, the nation was expected to collect at least 17 million tons of scrap. Virginia’s part was 238,000 tons, and for Dickenson County the figure was about 800 tons.” Factories were in great need of scrap metal and would have been unable to turn out tanks and guns... without the one hundred percent cooperation of citizens throughout the nation.”

When “the ‘Scrap Harvest’ in Dickenson County started...”it was hoped that every bit of scrap metal and rubber in the county would be gathered up... and delivered to the various salvage depots over the county.”

“Four salvage depots were established in the county; one at Clintwood, one at Haysi, one at Clinchco, and one at Nora. Volunteer trucks owned by Walter Jackson, Sherman Wallace, Claude Reedy, Fred J. Carter, J. M. Stanley, and others aided in picking up the scrap.

“On the basis of school population, the school board agreed to award a prize to the school that had the best scrap collection.”

“Individuals were asked to donate metal to the school. The school would then sell the scrap and invest the money received in War Saving Bonds and Stamps.”

Monday, October 5, 1942, was “designated by the school board as workday for all schools. Classes were suspended and the pupils, under the supervision of teachers, made an effort to visit each home in the county in order not to overlook any available scrap material. Parents of school children and homes not represented in the schools were notified through the schools to have all possible metal already collected before the home was visited. If the householder had not made a collection, he was urged to permit the children to search his premises for the much-needed metal.”

However, some residents and students began gathering the scrap metal before October 5. By Monday, October 5, “the local high school [Dickenson Memorial, Industrial and High School] had already collected and disposed of more than three tons through a scrap dealer. The school at Darwin reported more than five tons [had been] accumulated. Down at Mountain View School, the teacher, Joel F. Phipps, indicated great surprise... at the amount of scrap that had already been carried to the school... The FFA boys at Haysi, representing both the Sandlick and Willis districts, put on a spirited campaign.

On Monday, October 5, “more than five thousand school children in Dickenson County...under the direction of teachers, sallied forth to make their contribution to the National Scrap Harvest. From the Breaks of Sandy to the headwaters of Cranes Nest and from the peaks of the Cumberlands to the top of Sandy Ridge practically every home in the county was visited by school children in quest of scrap. Early in the morning, it looked as if Hitler had scored a victory thru the rainy weather, which kept many children indoors for a few hours. However, the heavy clouds passed and the scrap began to roll to collection points.

“The children of the local high school literally searched out every nook and corner of the town and surrounding countryside. Four trucks hauled scrap thru out the day Monday and most of the following day. Estimates of the tonnage piled on the school ground here varied from fifteen to seventy five tons, but persons who helped handle the metal estimated the total to be about 40 tons.”

“At Haysi, the metal collected by the school there and smaller neighboring schools was approximately 36 tons. A junk dealer from Princeton, W. Va. looked the pile over and bought it for $390.00.”

“Not all schools had reported; but among those reporting, Darwin, Davis, Fremont, and Bearpen made unexpected showings.”

“Clinchco did not start its salvage program until [Tuesday, October 6] but it was thought that this particular school would have had the highest total tonnage collected, due to its proximity to the coal operations where much scrap metal would always be obtainable.”

“An ancient hand mill, perhaps one hundred years old, was thrown into the scrap-pile at the Osborne Gap School... This mill was used by the old settlers in that section for grinding corn into meal when grist mills were few and far between. Later on, the mill was found to be handy for grinding malt corn, used in the manufacture of moonshine whiskey, and was handed down from father to son during the last two or three generations. The last owner disappeared from the walks of men, by the homicide route, slightly over three years ago, his family not knowing the location of his final resting place. The old mill had lain since that time beneath a Cumberland Mountain cabin, with no one to use it. School children, searching for scrap day metal last Monday, found and carried it to the junk pile.”

“And thus, one by one, did the last links with the sometimes, heroic, sometimes rip-roaring days pass. It was hoped that the metal from that old mill serves this country as well and faithfully when it lands in Germany.”

By October 15, 1942, the Dickenson County Herald reported that “The first report to come in placed Dickenson at second place [in the state of Virginia], but a county or so with the air of nearby cities, edged in ahead of us. Dickenson so far had been credited with 1,520,000 pounds, or 71.4 pounds per person. The drive was extended another week and was scheduled to end on October 17th.

Among the schools, Haysi took the lead with a good margin... with a total of some 80 tons. Clinchco had a total of nearly 70 tons or a close second to Haysi.

The collection at Clintwood did not pan out as well as at first estimated, there being a considerable amount of light material in the huge pile on the school grounds, which caused the estimators to raise their sights too high. The scrap weighed out something over 30 tons and about 2300 pounds of rubber was in the collection.

Ervinton had about 25 tons and was still gathering scrap.

The rural schools came in strong during the drive, and all told, some 750 tons of metal was collected and about 20,000 pounds of rubber. The quota of the county was set at 800 tons, and it was believed the quota would be passed as soon as all scrap was brought in from outlying sections. The schools will get the funds derived from all junk collected by them.

December 7, 1942, was named Pearl Harbor Scrap Day by the county Salvage Committee, according to E. C. Smith, chairman. On that day, Dec. 7, every citizen and boy and girl in the county were requested to gather up ten pounds of scrap metal and deliver it to the scrap heap at the school houses in their respective communities.

Then, on December, 10, 1942, the newspaper reported that “Dickenson County Wins Pennant for Good Work in Scrap Harvest.”

“The Salvage Pennant for Dickenson’s excellent showing in the recent nationwide Scrap Harvest was officially presented to the county at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors.”

“After a group of children from the high school here paraded to the court house, the program opened with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, followed by prayer by the Rev. Cicero Dobbs, pastor of the Methodist Church. The pennant was presented to county officials by E. C. Smith, of the Salvage Committee.”

“In the absence of the superintendent of schools, Mrs. Elizabeth Skeen, Clerk of the School Board, accepted the pennant and gave credit to the school children of the county for the splendid showing made by Dickenson County in the scrap harvest.”

“The program closed with a chronology of the war since the United State’s entry and a group of children singing Remember Pearl Harbor.”

Just as our parents and grandparents did their part in the war effort, Dickenson County citizens can help by continuing their efforts to stop the spread of the Covid19 virus.

Because of the present Covid19 virus situation in our country, our office will be closed until further notice. For more information concerning any of our publications or books for sale or for assistance with research, please contact the Historical Society office at 276-926-6355, P. O. Box 52, Clintwood, Va., 24228, or dchs1880@gmail.com. If no answer, please leave a message (which includes your name and phone number) and one of our volunteers will return your call. Or contact Edith Faye Redden at 276-926-4117.