Interview With Margaret Lucci

Transcribed by Matthew Hayes

Lunchtime, March 22, 2002 at the Worcester Senior Center

Mrs. Lucci was born in Vermont and moved to Worcester in 1940, when she was in her early 20's.  During the war, she worked for the Whitcomb Envelope Company in Worcester.
 

Where did you live during the war? I lived up at Catherine Street. Cathreine Street, yep.

How old were you during the war? I was in my early 20’s. 24, 23.

So what do you remember about life during the war? What did you do? Well, I had to get rid of my car; I couldn’t get gas! I worked at Lincoln Square, and they wouldn’t give me any gas!

You had your own car? Yeah, I had it but I had to sell it. On three gallons a week, I couldn’t go anywhere! Of course the food was rationed, what else….

Where did you work? I worked for Whitcomb Envelopes, right on the Square. What were they? An envelope company! US envelopes. I ran a press. Was that a job that a man usually would have done? Nah, the girls were doing it, I graduated from Trade, and that’s what I took. So this was just like a regular job? Right. Did you work there after the war, as well? Uh, no, I left just before they, when they do put you on hold, so you couldn’t move. I had moved to another job, but I wish I hadn’t, because they made more money at the envelope shop than I had!

How was, do remember VE/VJ Day Celebrations in town? Celebrations? Everybody was down on Main Street! Haha! Everybody, was on Main Street! We didn’t sleep at all that night! Up celebrating. It was fun, it really was.

Were any of the troops there? No. Right after they came home, yeah.

Do you remember anything that stands out in your mind? Did the town change at all, was there decreased bus or trolley or train service? There was trolley service they had during the war, but they added trolleys I think, cause everybody was walking.

Anything else you remember? Oh, I hated it. You couldn’t go anywhere!

Were you married at that time? No, I had a boyfriend, but he went off in Australia and got married! 

When did you meet you husband? When he got out of the service, in ’46.

Was he from Worcester as well? Yes, he was born here. I was born in Vermont. I wasn’t born here. I came here in 1940, just before the war.

Oh, so your parents were still living in Vermont? No, no, we all moved here.

Ok, so now during the war did you all live together? Yes. Did you have any siblings? My brothers and sisters? There was 11 of us! 

Wow! Where did you all live? Well, some of them were married, when we moved here; we didn’t all come here. Some were in school; there were about 7 or 8 of us here, on Catherine Street. I was one of the older ones.

Did you have any brothers or brothers-in-law in the service? Not during the war. After the war, I had 2 in, one was in Nebraska, one was in France, but that was it. I don’t even know what war it was! haha But none during the war.

Anything else you remember, or would like to talk about? Not that I know of; that’s about it! Other than the rations….

Oh, now how did you get your ration coupons? My mother signed up for them, there were so many for each child.

Did your father do anything during the war? He worked for Heels, a machine company. 

Was your mother involved in any wartime industry? Nope. She couldn’t work with all those kids!

At this point, Mrs. Lucci had to leave.