~ Inaugurations of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman
~ Bombing of Pearl Harbor and the beginning of World War II
~ D Day, VE Day, and the ending of the war
~ President Franklin Roosevelt's death
 

AT 16, Dolores worked at the Hecht Company pricing clothes. She admitted that most of her time was spent talking to her friend rather than pricing.

During her senior year in high school, she worked half days as a typist at the War Manpower Commission. The Commission was responsible for keeping track of special personnel (such as scientists, doctors and teachers) who were needed at home during the war.

After graduating, Dolores was hired by the Reconstruction Finance Department, which was created by Franklin Roosevelt for the purpose of granting loans to small businesses. Her duries as a clerk included finger printing for the FBI. 

When Dolores was 14, her dad became ill and was told he had to get out of the coal mines. The family decided to move to Washington, DC, because they had relatives there. Dolores thought her world had come to an end when she had to leave her dear friends, expecially Helen.

It was hard adjusting to new surroundings and especially to a new high school. But she did adjust and graduated. Naturally, she made new, very good friends. In addition, she still had her friendship with Helen, even though it was through letters.

The war years were busy for all teens. They all worked, particularly the girls, and Dolores was no different. During her senior year in high school, she went to work for the government.

 In spite of the war, it was a fun time for her. Washington was a small city, but it was growing fast. Dolores went out most Saturday evenings, enjoying dances at the Washington Hotel and the YWCA. Most of her time, however, was spent at the roller skating rink with friends or on a bicycle riding around Haines Point.

Dolores and her friends spent much of their leisure time, day and night, hanging out between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It was safe in those days and they usually went out in groups. Often they met service men who were stationed nearby or on leave for a short time. Most of the men were very nice, but they were lonely and afraid of what was ahead of them.

There were blackouts in Washington during the war. During the blackouts, there were no lights on in any of the government buildings. Even though it was a sad and frightening time, Dolores and her friends managed to enjoy themselves.

The day finally came when the war was over! Dolores and her firnds flocked to the White House with thousands of other happy people. People were extremely happy and were dancing and cheering in the streets of Washington and throughout America. Dolores knew she would always remember that very special day. 

Dolores grew up in the pretty little mountain valley town of Mayfield, PA. In the 1930s no one had any money, but the children didn't know the difference. Dolores spent her summers swimming in a clear, cool dammed up mountain stream. She and her friends had to walk a mile up into the mountains to the swimming hole. Since their parents insisted that an adult accompany them to the stream, Dolores and her lifelong friend, Helen, usually badgered Helen's sister into going with them.

The evenings were cool in the summertime. Dolores's family often built a campfire and roasted potatoes. Oh, they were black and so good!

In the wintertime, Dolores and her friends slid down the snowy hills on boxes or whatever they could find. Also, the town folk flooded a field behind some barns so the kids could go ice skating. Since none of these activities cost money, they had fun just being kids and doing what kids do best -- play.