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Images and Text: Preparing for War: From Foot Soldiers to Airplane Pilots
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DESCRIBING: A sepia-toned historic photograph of troops on the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground.
SYNOPSIS: A sepia-toned photograph taken from an elevated angle, about a 45 degree angle above ground level. The photograph shows soldiers marching in formation the Vancouver Barracks Parade Ground, a grassy field bisected by a paved path with some evergreen trees dotting the landscape. In the foreground, rows of soldiers stand shoulder-to-shoulder in three large groups. There are approximately 550 soldiers in view of the photograph, with additional rows of soldiers extending into the distance toward the horizon. All soldiers are wearing wide-brimmed hats with a Montana peak at the top. Each soldier is wearing a matching uniform with a jacket, pants, gaiters or leggings, and boots. Along the southern edge of the Parade Ground are groups of military and civilian spectators.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Along the southern border of the Parade Ground, on the right side of the photograph, is a wide sidewalk. On the righthand edge of the photograph, a line of covered porches attached to barracks buildings is partially visible. Soldiers stand along this wide sidewalk, watching the marching soldiers. A woman wearing a long white dress and hat is also watching the parade. Along this sidewalk, other groups of soldiers are walking east, into the distance. In the distance, tall evergreen trees line the horizon. The weather appears foggy.
Along the north edge of the Parade Ground is Officers' Row, a row of two-story homes, just visible through deciduous trees that have lost their leaves. Hedges divide the line of houses from the Parade Ground. The houses are painted a light color with dark roofs. Beyond the houses are evergreen trees.
CAPTION: Parade Ground. Their job done, soldiers from the Spruce Production Division await a parade in front of commanding officers. It is Armistice Day, November 11, 1918—time to recognize the end of the war.
CREDIT: Clark County Historical Museum/Gordon Stuart
RELATED TEXT:
With the new century came a new technology that would change the world—the airplane. By 1911, aviators were thrilling the spectators who gathered to watch their acrobatics over the military fields. In the First World War, planes became essential fighting machines. To make enough planes, the US military took over the logging industry to quickly log millions of spruce trees from the surrounding forests. In less than one year, the fort’s sprawling Spruce Mill (below) turned out enough lumber to produce over 120,000 airplanes. This massive war effort introduced motorized trucks and other changes to the logging industry.
Today small planes still take off and land at Pearson Field, a city airport. The park’s air museum houses early planes and exhibits of aviation history. Keeping stories alive—from native peoples to a fur trading fort, to a military post and airfield—is the role of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site ever since it was proclaimed a national monument in 1948.
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