July 2004                                                                 The Megaphone                                                                   Page 3

A Ship Named ELWOOD

by Nancy Sumner

Hi,

   Because I work at the Elwood Public Library, I have access to information that others on the Panther Den might not. Many times while doing research for a patron request involving the microfilm of the Elwood Call-Leader, you just can not imagine how easily I get side-tracked when looking for one thing and find other "diamonds  in the ruff!” Like my previously ended series on the Elwood Gun-Girl, I have found something else that caused me to say, “Well, I never heard of that!” I bet you haven’t either!

Elwood Call-Leader

April 12, 1920

Ship Launched Named Elwood

Miss Edna Bradley Christened Hull As It Left Ways at New Orleans

   The launching of the hull of the ship “City of Elwood” at New Orleans Saturday afternoon took place according to schedule and the craft christened in honor of this city is now ready to be finished, its machinery installed and take to the seas.

   The Chamber of Commerce today received from the Doullet & Williams Ship Building Company at New Orleans, a photograph of the hull before launching. It shows a vessel of considerable proportions and a capacity of 9,600 tons burden. Many took a look at the picture displayed in the Call-Leader window today.

   The ceremony of launching the ship was brief, it being an event of frequent occurrence in the city where the boats are built from one year to another. But to the Elwood people in attendance it was an occasion of much importance and they will long pleasantly remember their participation in it.

   Mrs. O. W. Coxen, who was chaperone for Miss Bradley, the sponsor writes the Chamber of Commerce that they were met on arrival by a committee and were being well entertained an auto drive over the city, a show and a dinner being on the program.

   Two pretty New Orleans girls were provided as maids to accompany Miss Bradley to the launching, as is usual on such occasions and the customary luncheon was given at the cafeteria of the ship building company following the launching.

   The ship was named “City of Elwood ” in recognition of the efforts of the people of this community in promptly responding to the government call in the various Liberty loan campaigns and for other war activities which were without equal in the state.

   Congressman Vestal and the Indiana senator assisted in having the Emergency Shipping Board select the name of this city of one of the boats under government contract.

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I found further information in the files in the form of a note written to the Bicentennial Committee of 1952 from The American Legion, Louis Monroe Post No. 53 Inc. It states:  

Elwood Has Ship Named In Her Honor

   In 1920 the United States War Department, in announcing it’s “Fifth Liberty Loan Bond Drive,” offered to name a Ship in honor of the first City in the State of Indiana that succeeded in reaching her Bond quota first. The good citizens of Elwood who had supported most generously four previous Bond drives, again accepted the challenge of their Country. Teams were immediately organized, challenging each other to see who could sell the most bonds. When the time allotted for the sale of the Bonds had expired, it was announced by the War Department, that Elwood had not only succeeded in being the first City in the State of Indiana to reach her quota, but had over subscribed her quota by nearly $20,000.

   The expenses for the girl that was to represent Elwood at the christening of the Ship, was to be shared equally between the local Post of the American legion and the Elwood Chamber of Commerce. Edna Bradley, now Mrs. Ray Smith, who had served as one of the captains during the Bond drive, and who had three brothers, Tom, Bernard and Arthur were veterans of World War 1 and members of the Louis Monroe Post #53, American Legion, was chosen to go to New Orleans, La. to christen the Ship. Accompanied by Mrs. O. W. Coxen, Miss Bradley left Elwood on April 5. The christening ceremonies were held Saturday April 10, at the Duluth-Williams Shipbuilding Yards, builders of the Ship.

   As the ribbons were cut and the large Ship slid down the runway, Miss Bradley, broke a real bottle of Champagne against the bow of the Ship and said, “I christen thee, The City of Elwood.”

   Immediately following the ceremonies a banquet was held in honor of Miss Bradley, which was attended by several hundred people. Miss Bradley was presented with many gifts among which was a beautiful wrist watch from Captain Duluth, which bore the inscriptions, “To the Sponsor of the “City of Elwood,” April 10, 1920.” Mrs. Coxen and Miss Bradley remained quests of the Duluth-Williams for several days returning to Elwood on April 22.

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Sorry, I could not find a picture published in the paper or in our files.

Submitted by . . .

Nancy Sumner, EHS/FHS '66