Central Pennsylvania celebrated war-time Christmas in 1917 by welcoming soldiers on leave, big turkey dinners, and plenty of snow.
Christmastime at War in Harrisburg: 1917
“All the coal crackers are here together” – Lykens Soldiers Write Home in December 1917
In a series of letters published by the Lykens Standard, we see the lives and perspectives of World War 1 soldiers from Central Pennsylvania.
“The army is a builder of men” – A Pennsylvania Soldier Reflects on Training for World War I
A corporal from Elizabethville, Pennsylvania writes home in December 1917 about training to become a soldier.
“First Lykens Boy Enlisted in World War”
The Lykens Standard reports on Charles Buffington joining the Army in April 1917 while encouraging others to volunteer.
In April 1917, a loose floorboard revealed a letter written in the days after the Battle of Antietam
The letter was written by a soldier from Shamokin, Pennsylvania in September 1862.
Wartime Thanksgiving in Harrisburg – Central Pennsylvania’s Celebration Amid World War I | 1917
Discover how Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, celebrated Thanksgiving in 1917 amid the challenges of World War I. Explore wartime traditions, soaring food prices, and community spirit during America's first wartime Thanksgiving in over 50 years. Delve into historical accounts capturing this pivotal moment in Central Pennsylvania. Read the full story.
“A Soldier’s Gratitude” – A World War I Soldier Thanks His Hometown Red Cross Auxiliary
Corp. William Graeff sent a note to the women of Elizabethville, PA thanking them for a handmade sweater sent to him in the fall of 1917.
“I am going to stick and protect the stars and stripes” – A World War I Soldier’s Letter
Leroy Temple writes home to Elizabethville, Pennsylvania from his training camp at Fort Riley, Kansas in the summer of 1917.