Relocated Japanese in Union Grove, Wisconsin, Moving to Shabbona, Illinois, to Work in Hemp Industry in 1945

From the September 23, 2020, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"Announcement was made at Union Grove, Wisconsin,  that approximately 25  relocated Japanese  who have been working on government  contracts there, will leave to work at Shabbona"

They will be employed at the war hemp industries at Shabbona, according to the announcement, leaving Union Grove for Shabbona today."

I didn't know there were relocated Japanese this far east.

--GreGen

Working at the Hemp Mill and a Wound from a Kamikaze Attack

From the September 2, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1945, 75 Years Ago.

"The women employed at the hemp mill did not work Saturday as the day was used by the men  for some needed  repairing and cleaning of the boilers."

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"For wounds suffered last May when his ship was hit by a Jap suicide plane off Okinawa  after 39 days in combat, Robert C. Helson,  pharmacist's mate  first class, of  206 Maplewood Avenue in DeKalb was awarded the Purple Heart medal."

Hemp, A Growing Industry in DeKalb County in 1945.  --GreGen

DeKalb County's Hemp Production to Expand in 1944

From the February 27, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"According to the announcement made this morning by E.E. Houghtby, the manager of  the War Henp Industries at Shabbona, the hemp quota for DeKalb County will be increased by several hundred acres this year.

"He stated that due to the extension of the hemp program in DeKalb County for 1944 it appears there will be an opportunity or new  growers to sign contracts for production of this essential fiber crop."

That's Hemp To You.  --GreGen

The Hemp Crop Is In DeKalb County

From the February 6, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago,

"According to E,E, Houghtby, all hemp growers in the area of the Shabbona mill have completed their part of the  1943 growers contracts.

"The first load of straw passed over the scales  on October 26, and the last load was delivered to he mill on January  119, 1944.  Hemp growers in  Kirkland and Shabbona areas are to be highly commended for the excellent job that was done even in the face of great handicaps.  Growing hemp was an extra load at a time when labor was extremely scarce."

GreGen

Reduction in Hemp Plants Ordered; We've Got Too Much Hemp

From the January 16, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"Hemp processing plants at Shabbona and Kirkland, as well as the plant  at Polo and two in Wisconsin, will remain the five operating establishments in the government's elaborate  hemp program, following the drastic order of curtailment.

"The five remaining plants will be the only operating units of a  28-plant program in the middle west that was sponsored by the government through the Commercial Credit Corporation, to meet the shortage of hemp fiber as the Japs seized South Pacific areas."

--GreGen

Housing, Hemp and Books on the Home Front

From the March 27, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1944, 75 Years Ago.

"With completion of some of the apartments in the State theater building, it is announced that two of them are now occupied.    These apartments are three room kitchenettes an make a comfortable home for a family  of two or three."

War industries caused a big housing shortage all over.  This was in Sycamore.

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"Announcement was made  at Decatur that the 1944 hemp crop of six midwestern states, including Illinois, will be decreased by two-thirds of 1943 production on record because of the current large reserve supply of fiber in the United States."

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"Mrs. Leta Best Mueller has started a campaign to secure a large number of the better books for the men in service, and while there has been some response it is not what she thinks it should be, due to the fact, possibly,  that many persons have forgotten the campaign."

Home Front.  --GreGen

Banner Year for Hemp in DeKalb County in 1943

From the December 26, 2018, MidWeek   "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"E.E. Houghtby, manager of the War Hemp Industries, Inc., at Shabbona, announced that a total of6,237 tons of hemp was shocked at the mill property at this time, with a value of approximately  $282,555.

"This total tonnage of almost 9,000 tons is this year's hemp crop in the area controlled by the Shabbona mill, and was harvested from about 3,800 acres.  Next year, the War Hemp Industries, Inc, hopes to have 5,500 acres planted to hemp for the Shabbona mill."

Of course, I can't help but chuckle thinking back when I was a student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb from 1969 to 1973, when we often heard there was marijuana growing along the roads and railroads in DeKalb County.  Wonder where that rumor got started?

--GreGen

DeKalb County's 1943 Hemp Crop Is In

From the October 3, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Harvesting the first crop of hemp in the northern part of DeKalb County is rapidly nearing completion according to the manager of the Kirkland mill.  He reports that 3,600 acres of hemp have been cut and are now retting in the swath, where it will remain exposed to the weather until it has properly retted to be ready for the next step of binding.

"The process of retting is nothing more than allowing the weather to rot and start breaking down the bark of the hemp plant.  Certain forms of mold work on the straw, causing the removal of the resin or green color.  The process must be allowed to continue until the hemp reaches what is known as the 'bow-string' stage, a condition where the fiber or outer skin of the begins to separate from the inner.  Hemp usually has reached a dark slate color with dark specks at this time."

No Smoking the Product.  --GreGen

Hemp Mills Near Completion in DeKalb County

From the October 24, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"DeKalb residents who have been in the vicinity of Kirkland and Shabbona in the last  two weeks, report that construction work on the hemp mills at both places  is going along very satisfactorily.

"The mill at Shabbona, it is understood,  is nearer to completion than the one at Kirkland, but both will be completed within a short time."

--Cooter

Hemp Very Profitable in DeKalb County in 1943

From the November 28, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Hemp raising in DeKalb county, although in its infancy this year, is going to prove a profitable project for farmers, its first check presented this week to Orville Olson, of Corrtland, is a criterion.

"Mr Olson raised ten acres of hemp, which was graded as number one,  and after all deductions had been made for seed, planting, harvesting, and hauling to the mill at Kirkland, he was presented with a check for $1,883.89.

Which Explains All Those Rumors of Wild Marijuana Growing Along Roads In DeKalb While We Were At NIU In the 1970s.  --GreGen

What Were They Smoking On That Hemp Tour in 1943?

From the September 5, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois"  "Looking Back"

1943, 75 Years Ago.

:Over 200 DeKalb county farmers attended the hemp tours held at the Kirkland and Shabonna hemp mill  areas in DeKalb County.

And, What Were They Smoking.  --GreGen

A Bumper Hemp Crop and A New Hemp Mill

From the July 18, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Construction work has started on the new hemp mill to be erected at Kirkland, cement has been poured and the surveyors are finishing up their end of the work at this time.

"It was stated that at the present time there is hemp to the north of Kirkland that is outstanding and is seven feet in height.  Any number of acres that are planted to hemp in the north end of the county measure five feet  in height."

Don't Bogart That Hemp for the War Effort.  --GreGen

Hemp For the War Effort in DeKalb County

From the April 25, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Secretary of Commerce Jesse Jones announced that the Defense Plant Corporation had authorized eight contracts with the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide eight hemp processing plants, two of which will be built in DeKalb County.

"The two plants which will be built in this county will be located in Kirkland and Shabbona."

Hemp for the War Effort.  --GreGen

The Hemp Industry in Illinois-- Part 3: "Hemp for Victory"

The U.S. government even produced a film "Hemp for Victory."  The plant was needed to make "shoes for millions of American soldiers,"  "parachute webbing for our paratroopers," fire hoses and millions of feet of rope for our battleships.

There are farmers who claim hemp still grows along railroad tracks where it fell off cars during World War II.

From Hempology

The pilot hemp plant was built in Polo, Illinois.

The need for hemp came about when U.S. supplies of it from Asia were cut off during the war.

The first harvest was in 1943.  Camp Grant had many German POWs captured in North Africa.  They were  brought in by the busload to harvest.

On January 6, 1944, 52 truckloads of hemp was harvested.  As the war wound down, the government began closing plants because of the availability of supplies of hemp from Central America.

--GreGen

The Hemp Industry in Illinois-- Part 2: Growing Hemp Was Patriotic Duty

Industrial hemp contains less than .03 % THC, the active chemical compound that provides the psychological effects sought by users.

Industrial hemp looks like bamboo.  Its fiber is used to make cloth and fabric while its seeds and oil are used in foods and other products.  Now, most hemp in the U.S. comes from Canada and China.

Illinois became a leading hemp producer in 1943 with the opening of the Polo Hemp Mill (located an hour west of Elgin).  Local farmers grew hemp as part of their patriotic duty for the war effort.

--GreGen

The Hemp Industry in Illinois-- Part 1: Victim of War on Drugs, Hemp Industry Poised for Comeback

There were several mentions of DeKalb County being chosen a site for a new hemp industry to help the war effort.  In the last post, I wrote about sites for hemp mills.

From the May 22, 2014, Chicago Daily Herald  "A victim of war on drugs, hemp poised for Illinois comeback."  Burt Constable.

This week, the Illinois legislature moved a step closer to reviving the plant once hailed in our state as part of our patriotic duty.  A bill to allow Illinois colleges to do research on industrial hemp.

Illinois once had a thriving hemp industry, but not anymore.

The tall agricultural hemp once grown by Illinois farmers is not the same as the leafy pot plants grown for medical marijuana or by illegal drug producers.

--GreGen

Farmers Being Contacted to Grow Hemp in 1942: Hemp For Victory

From the December 27, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Farmers of DeKalb County who are being contacted at the present time concerning the growing of hemp for the proposed processing mills to be established in Kirkland and Shabbona, might find income from their crop that will run about $100 per acre.

"At the same time the matter of income is not being stressed in urging farmers to contact for growing the crop and the general impression is given that the revenue will be about what can be expected from soy beans."

--GreGen

Hemp Mill Sites Selected in Illinois: Growing Hemp for the War

From the December 20, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Kirkland, Sandwich and Shabbona have been tentative designation sites for hemp mills according to the announcement made today by Lee M. Gentry, chairman of the State Federal Farm War Board.

"Tentative site s for fourteen of the fifteen hemp mills which are to be built have been selected, the others being at Earlville, Woodstock, Galva, Ladd, Wyoming, Galesburg, Roseville, Mononk, Gibson City, Lexington and Polo."

--GreGen