HAMPTON -- Great Britain was under siege in World War II, and Americans expressed sympathy and showed their support for the British people in a variety of ways. In Hampton, elementary school children prepared packages to send to England. The shop class of the then-Junior High, the seventh and eighth grades, made toys to send to Britain, said Holman. The shop teacher was either Frances Leavitt or Henry Shelley.

This photo was taken in October 1941. Shown with toys, made in their shop class,
that were being sent to Great Britain during World War II, are from left to right:
Barbara Scruton, Robert Tacetta, Fred Russell, Richard Taylor, Billy Davidson, Forrest
Brown, Gene Heal, John Holman and Gail Davis. [Photo courtesy: Ada Heal Merrill]

John M. Holman submitted this wonderful picture from that time and explained the photo is courtesy of Ada Heal Merrill. The photo was taken on the second floor of what was Legion Post No. 35 Hall and the Hampton Fire Station #2. Holman reports the building used to be the Grammar School on the site of Hampton’s Centre School. In later years it was the Hampton District Court House until November of 2005, when it was transferred to a temporary court house in Seabrook.

[Editor's note: The 140-year-old building that served as Hampton's District Court was demolished Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in accordance with a vote at this year's Town Meeting, and while the voters decided overwhelmingly that it was time for the building to go, history buffs wish it hadn't. In later years it was the Hampton District Court House until November of 2005, when it was transferred to a temporary court house in Seabrook.]


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The American Legion Hall and Fire Station #2 (later the Hampton District
Court Building until November 2005) and the old Town Hall, which burned in 1949.

Bundles For Britain Letterhead

The Hampton Chapter Bundles for Britain is meeting jointly with the American Red Cross workers each Wednesday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., and since the opening of the work sessions this fall there is an every increasing attendance, with the resultant increase in the amount of work done for not only British relief, but also for the relief of sufferers wherever the American Red Cross aides to bring back health to those needing it.

Much work has been done regarding the sorting of clothing, preparatory to going to the cleaners and sewing on needed garments for men, women and children. Bandages and dressings of an increasing variety are being made by the Red Cross workers with Mrs. Louise L. Davidson in charge. Recently the abdominal bandages were started, and although these are new to our workers, they are making fair progress on these. There were over 500 bandages of all descriptions made at one Wednesday session recently.

The boys of the Junior High school, under the able direction of Principal Edward H. Hazen, are making toys for the British children's Christmas en masse, and the products that these boys of the higher grades of the Centre School are turning out are of exceptionally fine workmanship. All these things will go to bring added cheer to those across the sea, whose Christmas will not be any too bright. Many a small English child will be made glad by some little gift such as these, on Christmas day.

Recently the Hampton Chapter of Bundles for Britain held a most successful tag day at the Rockingham race track, and the results of this will be used in the work of the chapter for British relief. Plans are underway for a benefit soccer game to be played between the Free French and British submarine crews at Durham.

Last week a bountiful turkey dinner was served in American Legion Hall at noon with Mrs. Edward Norton of Hampton Falls in charge.

Join these weekly work meetings, and enjoy the hospitality and helpfulness that you can make others happy, and relieve the distress of many whom you may never know personally, but whose welfare is one of the responsibilities of humanity for his fellow man.

Hot dinners are being served each Wednesday noon, for those who desire them, or who wish to supplement their lunches brought from home with some hot dish.

There is an abundance of wool for knitters, and anyone desiring this may apply for same. The D.E.W. club is doing much work on small garments and these will all go into the "Bundles for Britain."