creating forces for war. America was sailing along serenely in peaceful pursuit of its own internal welfare. It was America-an island unto itself; America first; no more foreign wars; let Europe settle its own affairs; America was isolated by two mighty oceans of water and a world of complacency within itself. We had laws that forbid sales of war material to other nations, but a new concept was devised. It was called Lend-Lease.

Soon American industry, shipyards, munition plants and aircraft factories were humming with activity. National Guard units were called up for training to "protect our coast lines" in case anyone dared an invasion of our sacred soil. America would never again be embroiled in the conflicts of the world.

The great bubble burst on December 7, 1941, as Japanese bombers flew in from over the Pacific. With sudden swiftness, they struck at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. In a few hours time, the bones of the American Navy lay crippled or sunken in the harbor, and the great airbase was a shambles of smoke and fire. With the dramatic fury of a tornado, the temper of America turned from peace to war.

In Saint Marys, our National Guard units had already been mustered into the U.S. Army and were training at Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Their advanced training put these units into the fore, and consequently, moved them into the first offensives against the enemy. Back home every citizen became involved. The Saint Marys Woolen Mills again, as in 1917, turned to army blankets as the Crane-McMahan's "Spoke Works" turned out army cots by the car load. Every facility in the area bent to its task. The new Goodyear plant expanded and expanded as the war effort needed more and more products that they were able to produce. Housewives who had never seen the inside of a factory took over the jobs of more than 800 men who went into service. Oldsters who had retired came back into the work force as youngsters also worked while waiting for their draft.

This being "The Saint Marys Story," the actions of the Second World War will be recorded elsewhere. The bravery, dedication and victories as well as the suffering and hardships of those embroiled in the conflict is deeply engraved in the appreciation of this entire country. The war ended as quickly and dramatically as it had begun. Pearl Harbor had been surprised by an attack of sudden destruction. A brilliant flash in the skies over Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought a new force of complete destruction to the world scene. The atomic age was born.

As the war came to a close, opinion in Saint Marys as throughout the nation varied as to the future. Many anticipated a lengthy period of adjustment to peacetime activity. Others saw the pent up need for better housing, furniture and appliances, automobiles, and in fact, consumer goods of all types.

America and local industry were better prepared than in 1920 to welcome

home the returning veterans. Work opportunities were plentiful, and Saint Marys turned its attention to the needs of the city. Again, as at the close of World War I, the people sought a way to create a proper memorial tribute to those who had served. A city hospital was proposed. It was soon determined that a city of this size was too small of a base to support such an endeavor. Cooperation of other communities in the area led to the establishment of a Joint Township Hospital District with Jackson, German, Saint Marys and Noble townships working together. In May of 1953, the hospital was opened. The years since have been expansions and in the summer of 1973, the area will have completed a greatly enlarged facility dedicated to many specialized treatments. A more complete history of the Joint Township Memorial Hospital was prepared by Prof. A. J. Kohler at the time of its tenth anniversary.

Servicemen of World War II not only returned to their jobs in Saint Marys. They married, had children and built homes. New homes, new streets and whole new subdivisions in a few years doubled the residential capacity of the city. The so-called "baby boom" as had been anticipated took place.

In the decade of the 1950's, to accommodate this influx of school children, the Saint Marys Board of Education was faced with a heavy building program. The MeBroom Junior High was opened in 1952 with 13 rooms for seventh and eighth graders. In only three years, it was necessary to add on 10 more rooms. At the end of this ten year period, the old East and West Schools were replaced by new modern buildings located in more spacious grounds. Other public school expansions were completed at the Memorial and McBroom complex in 1962 and 1967.

The Holy Rosary Parochial School also kept pace with the growth in population. In 1956, they opened their new building with a capacity of 300 pupils.

Churches were also caught in the enlargement of population and service to their congregations as the Saint Pauls E. & R. (now United Church of Christ), the Zion Lutheran and the Methodist Churches all built new education facilities. The United Rubber Workers Local erected a fine meeting hall on East South Street that is available to the community for many public meetings and private parties.

As Saint Marys grew in size and population, the need for services supplied by city government also increased. A wholly new sanitary sewerage treatment plant was constructed even before the subject of pollution became popular. A water treatment and softening process was installed near the new deep well field south of town.