Safety Helmet, worn by Lucille Jenkins (Nutt), 1943-1945. Courtesy of the Maine Maritime Museum.
Safety Helmet, worn by Lucille Jenkins (Nutt), 1943-1945. Courtesy of the Maine Maritime Museum.
The most dangerous war industry in Maine during World War II was shipbuilding. As a result, safety equipment was of upmost importance. This personalized safety helmet was owned by Lucille Jenkins.
About 1,100 women worked to build destroyers at Bath Iron Works (BIW). The BIW newsletter noted on September 3, 1943: “A modern mother is one who can use a welding torch as handily as a safety pin.”