Reenactors in Norwich recognize role of doughnuts in World War I

Norwich — Dressed as World War I "doughnut lassie" Myrtle Turkington, Christine Pittsley was happy to spend her Saturday teaching people — especially kids — not only about the role of doughnuts in the war, but also the role of girls.Wearing a coverall uniform, Pittsley was at the Norwichtown Green for the Doughnut Day event in a volunteer capacity, but it was through her job at the Connecticut State Library that she first learned about Turkington, who was from Manchester.She was excited to learn of a woman from Connecticut supporting soldiers, and she came across letters from men who mentioned seeing her.Pittsley explained that Salvation Army doughnut lassies, also known as doughnut girls, set up huts behind the front lines to provide the sweets, in addition to pies, cookies and coffee. They also sang songs and did religious services."This was about as close as a woman could get to the front lines," Pittsley said. She added that doughnuts became a symbol of comfort for soldiers.Turkington was attached to the 26th Division, and people from the 26th Yankee Division WWI Living History Group were involved in the event.Norwich native Alan Crane said he's "very big into World War I history" and thought it would be neat to have a rolling kitchen, but after looking all over the country, the only one he could find was in the Vermont National Guard Library & Museum.Chris Douglass of Griswold, a reenactor who on Friday was dressed as a cook — "You get older and you don't want to run around with the rifles," he said — explained that the field kitchens were left in France or sold after the war.So, Crane decided to set about making one. The Vermont museum let him measure the field kitchen, and he made one with hand tools, finishing it in 2018.In addition to the women representing Salvation Army doughnut girls, Crane's daughters — 13-year-old Abbie and 10-year-old Samantha — helped make doughnuts Saturday. They used a recipe from Crane's grandmother.In exchange for the doughnuts they gave to visitors, reenactors accepted donations that will go toward the restoration of the city's howitzer, an artillery piece that came to Norwich in 1926. It was placed on Chelsea Parade until it rotted, and was removed.Former Connecticut State Troubadour Tom Callinan, who was collecting donations in a helmet, said he hopes by the 100th anniversary of the cannon's arrival in 2026, there will have been enough money raised to have it restored and displayed.Callinan performed an hourlong set of World War I-era songs and his own compositions under a tree on Norwichtown Green, aside a figure representing his Great Uncle Jeremiah "Jerry" Coleman.He put a Styrofoam head atop a post and covered the "torso" with a jacket that he adorned with pins and ribbons, such as a 307th Infantry Regiment pin. Coleman served in the regiment, which was part of the 77th Division, and was killed in 1918.Callinan wrote a song for his great-uncle, singing as he strummed his guitar, "Great Uncle Terry died in Château-Thierry, one of millions who died in the war/He swore to defend our land with his life, which he did at age 24."Before singing that song, Callinan took a break for reenactor Everett Padro to release one of the three pigeons he brought; pigeons were used to carry messages in World War I. Padro is involved with both the 26th Division group and the Connecticut Classic Pigeon Club.He explained that the pigeon would circle around to get her bearings and then fly to New Britain, as pigeons always return to their birthplace.Callinan sang other songs about Flanders Fields, mothers whose sons fought in the war, and local veterans William Durr and Apostil Alexander.He said that "even though the songs sound fun, there's an awful lot of terrible pain and misery and heartache."e.moser@theday.com