Contributed by Bangor Public Library
Description
This photograph accompanied an article in the Dow Field Observer detailing the opening of a beauty shop for WACs and nurses. The text of the article read:
"WAC Hill has an important new addition in the form of the inviting looking beauty shop which was recently opened for the exclusive use of WACS and Army Nurses.
The new operator and owner is the attractive Mrs. Verna Cook, wife of Sgt. James Cook of the Billeting Section.
Mrs. Cook takes over her new duties with fourteen years of experience in the beauty business behind her--ten years of which she had her own shops.
Corsicana, Texas, the home of 1st Sgt. Leah E. Mitchell, is also the home-town of Mrs. Cook. Born and raised there, she knew Sgt. Mitchell's mother and older brother, but had never met the top-kick before coming to Dow. Mrs. Cook said:
'We both graduated from the same high school, but she went there quite a few years later than I.'
She was the proprietor of the 'Modern' beauty shop in Corsicana for six years, and had another salon in Wichita Falls, Texas for four years. With the advent of the war, however, she went into defense work. Before coming to Dow Field, she was employed for 14 months as a storekeeper at Kelly Field, Texas. She said:
'I didn't intend to do beauty work when I came to Bangor. My husband was assigned to Dow Field after 21 months in Iceland, and I came up here to be with him. Then one day I was in the PX, and I got to talking with some of the Wacs all of whom were eager to have a beauty shop of their own up on the hill. I got to thinking about it then--and--here I am!'
The shop itself is most attractive with a cream and blue linoleum on the floor, and gold damask drapes at the windows; it is of good size, with plenty of comfortable cretonne covered chairs and magazine-full tables for the waiting customers. There are few empty chairs, for the shop has made a tremendous hit. The Wacs are pleased with the caliber of the work, and delighted not to have to go into town for sets, shampoos and permanents. As a result business is rushing!"
About This Item
- Title: Beauty shop, Dow Field, Bangor, 1945
- Creator: Signal Section Dow Field
- Creation Date: 1945-04-18
- Subject Date: 1945-04-18
- Location: Dow Field, Bangor, Penobscot County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 12 cm x 10 cm
- Local Code: 974.131 .D752a v.1
- Collection: Dow Field Collection
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Beauty shops--Maine
- Dow Air Force Base (Me.)--Facilities
- Dow Field Hospital (Me.)
- Hairdressing
- United States. Army. Women's Army Corps
- Women--Military service
- World War, 1939-1945--Military personnel
- World War, 1939-1945--War work
People
Other Keywords
- Air Force
- Army Air Corps
- Aviation
- Bangor
- Beauty shop
- Dow Air Force Base
- Dow Field
- Military
- Salon
- The Dow Field Observer
- W.A.C.
- WAC
- Women in business
- Women's Army Corps
- World War Two
For more information about this item, contact:
Bangor Public Library145 Harlow Street, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 947-8336
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.
