Victory Garden on Gary Avenue

In the fall of 1939 Hitler invaded Poland from the west and, two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany. December 7th, 1941, Japanese forces attacked U.S. navel bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. World War II was in full swing.

According to several of elderly residents of the Renaissance Neighborhood, a strong sense of coming together, solidarity and community was present during this time. One resident who has lived in the neighborhood 86 years, told of a victory garden built on the site where this home on Gary Avenue.

Reportedly, a child psychologist who lived in the neighborhood sought and obtained permission to use the land for a garden. With her guidance neighborhood children tended the garden. The activity served to keep neighborhood children busy and promoted a useful, helpful feeling for them during the early, uncertain days of war.

Authors Note:

The Tulsa County Tax assessor reports that this home on Gary Avenue was built in 1940. However, we don't know exactly when construction began, or if part of the property was used for the garden. The facts reported could not be further verified. The primary objective for this blog remains: sharing oral history.

References:

McCormick, D. (2019, November 2). Personal interview. Also present were P. Casey Morgan.

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