Local Health Problems in War Industry Areas (New York State Dept. of Health, 1942)

This film illustrates the health and sanitary pressures created for a rural area of New York State when the federal government establishes a large ordnance depot in Seneca County and issues a call for thousands of construction and other workers. Because the county and local towns are ill-equipped to handle the influx, the state steps in to test wells, cleaning up or capping them as necessary; close filthy privies and build new ones; truck clean water to the area; send nurses to workers’ homes (which include tents, cars, and old school buses); and eventually establish a modern trailer camp with trailers provided by the Farm Security Administration. The trailers are heated and have small kitchens, and central facilities are provided for showering and laundry. A child-care cooperative is set up as well. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: Learn more about the National Library of Medicine’s historical audiovisu