September 16, 2020 at 5:03 p.m.
Museum of the Soldier for decades had a letter from the United States War Department thanking the company for its efforts making coveralls and shirts for the World War II effort.
But the clothing items themselves had eluded the museum’s benefactors.
They knew the garments existed.
They had been searching for them.
But they had no luck.
That changed in August when Brian Williamson acquired the museum’s “holy grail.”
Williamson bought a pair of 1944 coveralls made by The Jay Garment Company as part of a lot during an auction of items from the National Military History Center in Auburn.
“I’ve been looking for either a shirt or something made by The Jay Garment Company for years, ever since I knew that the company made products during World War II,” said Williamson, a museum board member.
The coveralls are now on display at Museum of the Soldier, which will be open this weekend in conjunction with the Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation Association Swap and Sell Meet at Jay County Fairgrounds. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and admission is free.
For more than two decades, Williamson, fellow board member Jim Waechter and others had been searching for an item from Jay Garment. But finding one proved difficult, especially given the quality of the tags.
“They’re pretty fragile,” said Williamson. “After two or three washings, generally, they fade away. Finding a pair that’s in good shape is kind of a chore. …
“It’s unusual to find them in decent enough shape to see the labels.”
Williamson was looking at lots for the Auburn auction online when he noticed a box that had coveralls in it. He made a note to check the box.
When he came upon it at a sale preview, the first pair of coveralls he pulled out was made for nurses.
It was unusual, but not what he was looking for.
“And then I pulled out the second pair of coveralls and lo and behold it said Jay Garment,” said Williamson. “It’s one of those moments you don’t really believe your eyes. … So I kind of closed my eyes and I looked again and it still said Jay Garment. So that’s pretty exciting.”
He immediately called Waechter to share the news.
“It’s like the prize of Jay County, in my opinion,” Waechter said. “It’s just a pristine one. …
“They made a lot of them. We knew they were out there.”
The Jay Garment coveralls are now on display, on loan from Williamson, at Museum of the Solider, 510 E. Arch St., Portland, alongside the letter from the war department and one of the company’s U.S. Army printing stamps. The tag — it is in mint condition — reads “Special, One Piece, Stock No. 55-S-45545, 40 L, The Jay Garment Co., P.O. No. 11249, Dated May 23, 1944, Spec. P.Q.D. No. 92F, Phila. Q.M. Depot.” Information along with the “herringbone twill special” indicates that the Portland-based company produced the coveralls at its Brookville factory to be worn by mechanics, truck drivers and other armed forces members as working uniforms.
It’s the latest item in the section dedicated to war-related items produced in Jay County. Also included are pieces from Portland Forge, including artillery shells, a gun sight and an ashtray, and from Sheller-Globe, including tank pads, a landing strip mat and steering wheels.
The letter to Jay Garment from the war department offers some insight as to why the coveralls were such an important find for Museum of the Solider.
“… these garments are used by our soldiers the world over, and they are very urgently needed in tremendous quantities,” the letter says. “The fact that you have delivered them on time and according to specification means that your firm has taken a very important part in the War Effort.”
The letter is signed by Col. Thomas W. Jones from the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot and dated Dec. 14, 1943.
The uniform now on display at the museum was made about five months later.
“It’s got so much local connection,” said Williams. “It’s a really neat piece because of the local history involved.
“We’re excited to have something so local that we’ve been looking for for so long.”
But the clothing items themselves had eluded the museum’s benefactors.
They knew the garments existed.
They had been searching for them.
But they had no luck.
That changed in August when Brian Williamson acquired the museum’s “holy grail.”
Williamson bought a pair of 1944 coveralls made by The Jay Garment Company as part of a lot during an auction of items from the National Military History Center in Auburn.
“I’ve been looking for either a shirt or something made by The Jay Garment Company for years, ever since I knew that the company made products during World War II,” said Williamson, a museum board member.
The coveralls are now on display at Museum of the Soldier, which will be open this weekend in conjunction with the Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation Association Swap and Sell Meet at Jay County Fairgrounds. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and admission is free.
For more than two decades, Williamson, fellow board member Jim Waechter and others had been searching for an item from Jay Garment. But finding one proved difficult, especially given the quality of the tags.
“They’re pretty fragile,” said Williamson. “After two or three washings, generally, they fade away. Finding a pair that’s in good shape is kind of a chore. …
“It’s unusual to find them in decent enough shape to see the labels.”
Williamson was looking at lots for the Auburn auction online when he noticed a box that had coveralls in it. He made a note to check the box.
When he came upon it at a sale preview, the first pair of coveralls he pulled out was made for nurses.
It was unusual, but not what he was looking for.
“And then I pulled out the second pair of coveralls and lo and behold it said Jay Garment,” said Williamson. “It’s one of those moments you don’t really believe your eyes. … So I kind of closed my eyes and I looked again and it still said Jay Garment. So that’s pretty exciting.”
He immediately called Waechter to share the news.
“It’s like the prize of Jay County, in my opinion,” Waechter said. “It’s just a pristine one. …
“They made a lot of them. We knew they were out there.”
The Jay Garment coveralls are now on display, on loan from Williamson, at Museum of the Solider, 510 E. Arch St., Portland, alongside the letter from the war department and one of the company’s U.S. Army printing stamps. The tag — it is in mint condition — reads “Special, One Piece, Stock No. 55-S-45545, 40 L, The Jay Garment Co., P.O. No. 11249, Dated May 23, 1944, Spec. P.Q.D. No. 92F, Phila. Q.M. Depot.” Information along with the “herringbone twill special” indicates that the Portland-based company produced the coveralls at its Brookville factory to be worn by mechanics, truck drivers and other armed forces members as working uniforms.
It’s the latest item in the section dedicated to war-related items produced in Jay County. Also included are pieces from Portland Forge, including artillery shells, a gun sight and an ashtray, and from Sheller-Globe, including tank pads, a landing strip mat and steering wheels.
The letter to Jay Garment from the war department offers some insight as to why the coveralls were such an important find for Museum of the Solider.
“… these garments are used by our soldiers the world over, and they are very urgently needed in tremendous quantities,” the letter says. “The fact that you have delivered them on time and according to specification means that your firm has taken a very important part in the War Effort.”
The letter is signed by Col. Thomas W. Jones from the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot and dated Dec. 14, 1943.
The uniform now on display at the museum was made about five months later.
“It’s got so much local connection,” said Williams. “It’s a really neat piece because of the local history involved.
“We’re excited to have something so local that we’ve been looking for for so long.”
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