When Work Is Done

This 1940s documentary, likely produced to boost morale, showcases how Sylacauga, Alabama, welcomed war plant workers, fostering community amid WWII’s industrial boom. Filmed in black-and-white, it captures a bustling small town adapting to newcomers. A pan down a car-packed downtown street sets the scene, while shipyard shots—like a hull marked “Hull 108 They Fight and Die”—link local effort to the war. Workers, including African Americans hammering metal and women welders (one named Doris), toil diligently, though segregation is evident in recreation: Black youth bands play for Black audiences, white kids swim in separate pools. Social life thrives—couples dance at a juke joint, kids chase cars, and a church sign quotes “Remember the stranger within thy gates.” The Federal Recreation Building buzzes with ping pong, dance classes, and a surreal “Eat to beat the devil” nutrition poster. From shipyard grit to barn dances and magic shows, the film paints Sylacauga as a microcosm of wartime unity and tension, balancing hard work with human connection.