Nipmuc Regional High School students from a U.S. History II class interviewed community members as part of an oral history project documenting life on the home front during World War II. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
MENDON — The contingent of seniors from the Mendon Council On Aging marched into Nipmuc Regional High School to provide students with a first-hand history lesson about life in America during World War II.
“My grandfather had a Victory Garden, and we all helped out,” said Honey Vartabedian, while being interviewed by two American history students about food and rationing. “During that time, the government gave out a little brown colored token about the size of a nickel. We used it to get butter at Kennedy’s Butter Store in Milford, and there was a long line every time we went.”
For Vartabedian, the oral history interview process was a first.
“No one has asked us these questions before,” she said.
Superintendent Dr. Maureen Cohen and Co-Principals Mary Anne Moran and John Clements are pleased to share that Nipmuc Regional High School hosted a group of community members from the Mendon Senior Center on Friday, Jan. 30, to participate in an oral history project conducted by students about what American life was like on the home front during World War II.
The 16 students from teacher Darcy Daniels’s U.S. History II class teamed up in pairs to interview eight senior citizens from Mendon, Upton and Grafton, recording oral histories that touched on topics including Victory Gardens, women in the workforce, propaganda posters, scrap drives and rationing. The pairs of students sat with their interviewees face-to-face in the Professional Development Center at the high school. At the same time, a few students from the Nipmuc Photography Club took pictures to document the process, supervised by volunteer club advisor Joshua King.
Next, the U.S. History II students will write short biographies about their interview subjects and make podcasts about them. The results of the oral history project will then be exhibited at the school and at the Mendon Senior Center.
“Earlier in class, the students got a really strong handle on what was going on during the World War II period. But nothing can replace hearing people’s actual stories of what was happening during that time,” Daniels said. “We are really excited to welcome our seniors to share with us. The students came up with a whole list of questions to ask them. These seniors were so gracious to give us their time.”
Barbara Lawson, a volunteer at the Taft Public Library and the Senior Center, was the first to propose the idea of the oral history project, reaching out to the high school during the fall.
“I think it would be good if all schools did this,” said Lawson, as she listened in to some of the interviews, which touched on such topics as playing ball games with an orange, completing makeshift shoe repairs using cardboard, and watching short films providing updates on the war during the previews at the movie theater.
Students like Cailyn Andrews and Cooper Barrett, both juniors, were fascinated by all that they learned about family life here in New England during World War II.
“It was interesting to learn it firsthand, and learn what her family did, and what her childhood was like,” Cailyn said. “It was so much different — the toys they had and the foods that they ate.”
“Learning about the rations they had and just how little they had and how much they had to save to get by within a month is just crazy compared to how we live today,” Cooper said. “It’s just awesome to learn about it.”
“It makes you feel more grateful,” Cailyn added.
Co-Principals Clements and Moran praised the collaboration between students, educators, and community members, noting that the project brought history to life in a way that textbooks alone cannot.
“The stories that our guests came here to share are invaluable,” said Co-Principal Clements. “I want to thank them so much for being part of this day, for sharing their time and their stories with our students. It means so much to all of us. It’s a benefit to our students, the school, and the community.”
“This project gave students a meaningful opportunity to connect classroom learning with first-hand experiences of community members,” said Co-Principal Moran. “It helped them better understand history through personal stories while also building relationships across generations. Experiences like this deepen learning and strengthen our ties to the community.”
Superintendent Dr. Cohen echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the value of experiential learning and community partnerships.
“We were honored to host the seniors and to listen to their stories of life during
World War II,” Superintendent Cohen said. “It was priceless for our students to hear first-hand from those who lived through rationing, Victory Gardens, and all the other changes to our way of life in America that occurred during this period of history.”
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U.S. History II students at Nipmuc Regional High School conducted face-to-face interviews with local seniors, recording personal stories about rationing, family life and daily routines during World War II. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
Bill Gladwin, left, spoke to students from a U.S. History II class at Nipmuc Regional High School and showed them pictures regarding his father’s military service during World War II. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
Honey Vartabedian, left, recalled what life was like in Massachusetts during World War II. She was interviewed by juniors Cailyn Andrew, center, and Cooper Barrett, right. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
Community members from Mendon, Upton and Grafton share first-hand accounts of life during World War II with Nipmuc Regional High School students. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
Students from the Nipmuc Photo Club took pictures of the history students and their interviewees to document the process. From left to right, student photographer Corbin Devenney, Mia Garrow, Kay Holmes and Ella Daugherty. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
Pairs of history students from Nipmuc Regional High School took photographs with local senior citizens after interviewing them for an oral history project about what life was like in America during World War II. (Photo Courtesy Corbin Devenney)
Nipmuc Regional High School history students posed for photographs with guests from the Mendon Council on Aging after interviewing them for an oral history project about what life was like in the U.S. during World War II. (Photo Courtesy Corbin Devenney)
Students from Nipmuc Regional High School and members of the Mendon Council on Aging posed for a group photo following interview sessions for an oral history project focused on life in America during World War II. (Photo Courtesy Mendon-Upton Regional School District)
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