Essex County Records
Essex County is found within the Adirondack Park in upstate New York. During World War I, over 3,000 men between the ages of 21 and 31 left their homes to serve their country during its time of need. But it wasn’t just this age group that participated in the war efforts. Young school aged boys, with stars in their eyes, also wanted to participate in the glory of war. In 1917, under the new state preparedness laws, a provision was made for a state military training camp for boys from sixteen to eighteen years of age at Peekskill during the summer months, beginning on June 30th and ending on July 28th. Those younger than sixteen and older than eighteen were not allowed to apply. The camp only accepted 1,800 boys, approximately 900 of which were from the New York City area and the remainder from the rest of the state. The camp had thousands of applications and the list of accepted candidates was announced by the State Military Training Commission. Within the camp, boys attended infantry school and the state supplied tents, blankets, cots, arms, equipment, ammunition, food and railroad fare. In turn, the boys were required to furnish their own uniforms which cost $12 or $13. This month of camp gave these boys a taste of what military life was like.
Sources
Ticonderoga Historian, 1921, New York State Education Dept. Division of Archives and History World War I Veterans' Service Data and Photographs, 1917-1939. NYSA_A0412-78.
General Information Concerning the Military Training Commission: Statements for Publication Prepared by Thomas C. Stowell, Secretary, Military Training Committee, 1919.
Joseph Lawton Letter
