In our century

Immediately after the United States declared war with Germany in April 1917, The American City surveyed its readers to determine what efforts they were taking to support the war. The survey revealed that a great number of them were encouraging residents to turn vacant lots into community gardens in which to grow their own food. The May 1917 edition of the magazine included an article that summarized how cities were “mobilizing unused land and forces” to address food shortages from war-time interruptions in food production and distribution. The editor’s note on the article described gardening as “a municipal function of the first importance.”

Known as “war gardens” and “victory gardens,” the practice of turning vacant lots or backyards into vegetable- and fruit-producing plots spread widely with leadership from the National War Garden Commission. Commission President Charles Lathrop Pack wrote in the February 1918 edition that “soldiers of the soil” planted more than 3 million war gardens in 1917 and produced more than $300 million worth of food. A year later, he reported there were 5,285,000 war gardens in the United States in 1918, and he set the goal of doubling that number to help meet the United States’ post-war pledge to send 20 million tons of food to Europe in 1919. He suggested that cities offer prizes, organize dinners made from victory garden produce, and employ a garden supervisor or instructor to aid the effort.

Victory gardens reappeared in the pages of The American City during World War II, their number having grown to 20 million in 1943, according to a report in the February 1944 edition about a meeting of the National Victory Garden Institute. Also in that edition, Fred Heuchling, assistant director of the Victory Garden Department and public information service director for the Chicago Park District, offered tips for organizing and supporting victory gardens. He wrote that the gardens had benefits beyond just producing food: “Community gardens everywhere have bred friendliness and wholesome community spirit that strengthen our democratic institutions.”

Previous “In our century” Stories

• In our century — October 1936
  Cities work to eradicate sub-standard housing and create safer options for low-income residents
• In our century — November 1916
  Cities and counties open libraries to supply free access to books and educational materials for children and adults
• In our century — September 1918
  Cities build memorials as community buildings instead of obelisks to pay tribute to soldiers in the Great War
• In our century — January 1941
  Cities develop public relations efforts to inform residents about municipal activities and improve customer service
• In our century — December 1930
  Cities do what they can to put residents to work in the early days of the Great Depression
• In our century — October 1915
  Winter weather regularly demands that cities improve practices for clearing snow and ice from streets
• In our century — January 1911
  As aviation takes off, cities make use of the quick mode of transportation and secure their spots on the aerial highways
• In our century — May 1928
  Police departments adopt radio technology to dispatch patrol officers more quickly and catch, deter criminals
• In our century — December 1913
  Cities adopt the city manager form of government to improve administration and bring efficiency to operations
• In our century — October 1913
  Cities take action in the earliest days of motion pictures to regulate content and ensure theater safety
• In our century — July 1935
  Cities install parking meters in business districts to improve traffic flow, reduce car damage and generate revenue
• In our century — April 1910
  Cities organize July Fourth events, regulate fireworks to reduce Independence Day injuries and deaths
• In our century — May 1915
  Cities seize revenue-generating opportunities to provide ice and refrigeration to residents and businesses
• In our century — May 1914
  Officials invest in maps to guide public projects, improve city administration and communicate plans to the public
• In our century — September 1915
  Technology develops to ensure the safe movement of trains, cars and emergency vehicles through city streets
• In our century — July 1914
  Among the early efforts to improve public health, cities invent and seek weapons of mass fly destruction
• In our century — August 1913
  When bond issues fail, cities seek alternative funding for infrastructure improvements and other public projects
• In our century — August 1914
  Cities improve cleanliness and public health by strategically placing public restrooms and encouraging their use
• In our century — December 1914
  Cities begin the tradition of decorating enormous public Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays
• In our century — June 1910
  Government accounting methods and reports mature from vague and incomplete records to standard formats.
• In our century — October 1909
  Investigations into corruption and mismanagement lead to (some) reforms in government policies and operations.
• In our century — January 1913
  Cities experiment with road surfaces and set out methods for funding road construction and maintenance.
• In our century — September 1909
  Limits on outdoor advertising are set through cities’ hard-fought battles over billboard sizes, messages and locations.
• In our century — August 1911
  Fire departments gain authority, modern equipment to prevent and improve response times to structure fires.
• In our century — June 1910
  Street lights become symbols of communities’ economic success, and lighting technology efficiency evolves.
• In our century — September 1909
  With urban growth comes city leaders’ desire to control and direct it for the community’s greatest benefit.
• In our century — September 1909
  Cities embrace playgrounds as valuable public assets for children’s safety, health and social development.
• In our century — September 1909
  Women embrace public causes, work to improve their communities and expand their societal roles.
• In our century — March 1910
  Cities develop methods, mechanisms and regulations for residential solid waste collection and disposal.
• In our century — November 1909
  Occupancy laws and social workers emerge in the early 1900s to clean up inner-city neighborhoods.
• The way we were
  Publisher’s son remembers American City & County‘s roots.