The 1940s brought a world of ever-changing life circumstances to the Tar Heel State. On the heels of the Great Depression, the first half of the decade first brought great hope for a lifestyle changing for the better after the angst and despair brought on during the depression. But soon, the lives of many North Carolinians would change again after the U.S. entered WWII in 1941. Below are some candid shots reminiscent of life in North Carolina in the first half of the 1940s.
- A mule auction on Main Street in Creedmoor (Granville County).
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein/LOC/LC-USF34-029260 Creedmoor is known as “Mule Town.” In 1940, when this image was taken, 640 people lived in Mule Town.
- The office of the Justice of the Peace in Graham (Alamance County), 1940.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-040573 It was an era of simple wedding services, with ceremonies often performed in family members’ homes or in the office of the Justice of the Peace. This image was taken in May of 1940.
- Some of the best images from the past are simple portraits that breathe life into the mystery of a bygone era.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-040596 The notes accompanying this shot indicate this man lived near Cedar Grove (Orange County), and his name was Mr. H.R. Wilson. The image was captured in May, 1940.
- A gathering of local men and boys on the front porch of the general store in Farrington (Chatham County).
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-040642 This candid photo was taken in May of 1940. Technically, WWII was underway, but the U.S. had not entered the conflict yet.
- Two students from UNC parked in front of the US Post Office in Chapel Hill.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-055964 Photo taken in October 1940.
- The official road sign announcing the arrival in the town of Stem (Granville County) as seen in 1940. The population of Stem, NC in 1940 was 218.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF33-020542 Four years before this photo was taken, in 1936, the Stem High School basketball team played and defeated the UNC at Chapel Hill’s men’s basketball team in an impromptu game that was struck up after a UNC scheduled opponent (Davidson) was unable to show up due to a snowstorm. By mere coincidence, the recent high school state champs had traveled as a team to watch the game that didn’t happen. Instead, an pop-up game occurred between the high school team and UNC — and the rest is history!
- A group of local men gather on the front lawn of the Yancey County Courthouse for a game of cards.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-055996 The town is Burnsville, and the image was taken in October, 1940.
- A dairy farmer’s son bottles milk at their family farm’s pasteurizing plant.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-056086 The photo is from 1940 and was taken in Caswell. Do you remember the days of milk delivery to your front porch in glass bottles like these?
- Main Street in Fayetteville, March 1941.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-043282 The 5:00 p.m. traffic leaving Fort Bragg is captured in this vintage shot of Main Street.
- March, 1942.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein/LOC/LC-USW3-000208 41st Engineers at Fort Bragg participate in a gas mask drill.
- March 1943. Camp LeJeune, New River.
Photogrammar/Roger Smith/LOC/LC-USW3-022997 Engineers of the 51st Composite Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps, in a bayonet drill.
- The A&P Super Market in Durham.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF33-020523 Image taken in March 1940.
- Mill worker houses in the mill town of Swepsonville (Alamance County).
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF33-020530 The man who established the mill (and the town) is known to have made off in the middle of the night with a considerable amount of cash. The mill continued to operate into the 1980s. This photo was taken in May of 1940.
Wow. Things certainly have changed in the last seven decades! Do you have any special recollections from the 1940s or stories that were passed down to you from another generation in your family? We’d love to hear them!
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein/LOC/LC-USF34-029260
Creedmoor is known as “Mule Town.” In 1940, when this image was taken, 640 people lived in Mule Town.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-040573
It was an era of simple wedding services, with ceremonies often performed in family members’ homes or in the office of the Justice of the Peace. This image was taken in May of 1940.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-040596
The notes accompanying this shot indicate this man lived near Cedar Grove (Orange County), and his name was Mr. H.R. Wilson. The image was captured in May, 1940.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-040642
This candid photo was taken in May of 1940. Technically, WWII was underway, but the U.S. had not entered the conflict yet.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-055964
Photo taken in October 1940.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF33-020542
Four years before this photo was taken, in 1936, the Stem High School basketball team played and defeated the UNC at Chapel Hill’s men’s basketball team in an impromptu game that was struck up after a UNC scheduled opponent (Davidson) was unable to show up due to a snowstorm. By mere coincidence, the recent high school state champs had traveled as a team to watch the game that didn’t happen. Instead, an pop-up game occurred between the high school team and UNC — and the rest is history!
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-055996
The town is Burnsville, and the image was taken in October, 1940.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-056086
The photo is from 1940 and was taken in Caswell. Do you remember the days of milk delivery to your front porch in glass bottles like these?
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF34-043282
The 5:00 p.m. traffic leaving Fort Bragg is captured in this vintage shot of Main Street.
Photogrammar/Arthur Rothstein/LOC/LC-USW3-000208
41st Engineers at Fort Bragg participate in a gas mask drill.
Photogrammar/Roger Smith/LOC/LC-USW3-022997
Engineers of the 51st Composite Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps, in a bayonet drill.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF33-020523
Image taken in March 1940.
Photogrammar/Jack Delano/LOC/LC-USF33-020530
The man who established the mill (and the town) is known to have made off in the middle of the night with a considerable amount of cash. The mill continued to operate into the 1980s. This photo was taken in May of 1940.
If you’d like to see more photos pertaining to WWII and North Carolina, keep reading: Most People Have Never Seen These 10 Rare Photos Taken During WWII In North Carolina.
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