Ethelyn Springs

"Couple dancing at Bruton Heights USO"
Photo courtesy: Albert W. Durant Collection, Visual Resources, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Mrs. Ethelyn Springs provided these reflections as part of the Oral History Community Nights hosted by Colonial Williamsburg during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The clips are excerpts from The World War II Years, one of several films produced from these oral history nights. The full film can be viewed here.

Film Credit: Media Collections, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation



Mrs. Springs discusses her family moving to Grove after the Navy took the land in Magruder during WWII. Other families first went to the Civilian Conservatin Corps (CCC) camp at William & Mary before relocating.



Mrs. Springs discusses the job opportunities that opened up for women during WWII.



Mrs. Springs discusses soldiers coming to the dances at the Bruton Heights USO and other recreation activities.



Mrs. Springs discusses the trauma of losing a family member in the war.



Mrs. Springs describes the sadness of seeing husbands and fiancés go off to war and recalls looking out for the young soldiers stationed in the area.



Mrs. Springs recalls her father having visions of the impending war at church.