Windows at the front of the Allen County Historical Society Museum, Madison and Washington avenues, have theme-focused decorations throughout the years. Currently they feature winter scenes related to World War II.
The north window, with a backdrop of trees on a snow-covered hill, “was perfect for ‘coming home for holidays,’” said Donna Houser, who decides and arranges for the decorations. Helpers this time were her daughter, Laura, and Jim Smith. Both have assisted many times previously.
Smith, an ACHS board member, set up his historical trains, track and town replete with buildings, livestock, vehicles and so forth to finish off the display.
The south window depicts indoor and outdoor scenes. The outdoor shows a WWII soldier, who arrived home to find loved one sitting on a bench, and surprised by his arrival.
The indoor scene depicts the same time period when loved ones, school children and people in general were encouraged to send V-mail to soldiers serving overseas and unable to come home. An adjunct was, the government suggested what letters should say to ensure notes were uplifting and not depressing.
“Inspiration for the scene came when I told Laura how when I was 6 years old my teacher gave us a list of soldiers’ names whom we could write,” Houser said. “As you can imagine, our letters weren’t long and probably would not interest people today, but to homesick soldiers, who had little to no communication from home, they provided news from home.” The soldiers often wrote back.
Houser’s hope is the windows’ depictions will be appreciated by all. “For those of us in our 70s, the windows evoke memories that are heartwarming, nostalgic and sometimes sad,” a reminder of times when commodities were rationed, if they could be had at all.
Houser also hopes that the scenes will generate conversations between folks who remember the times and younger people who don’t.
