Ward-Stilson Company During World War Two
1888-1913 - New London, OH
1913-1955 - Anderson, IN

This page added 12-25-2024

The company began operations in 1888 in New London, OH when C.E. Ward and E.R. Stilson purchased a company that manufactured lodge rosettes.  Orders from the Odd Fellows Lodge, the Masons, and the Knights of Pythias boosted the business and in 1905 a large order from the Masons resulted in Mr. Stilson purchasing Mr. Ward's share of the company.  With the gas boom ending in Anderson, IN the Anderson Commercial Club sought out new business for the town.  In 1913, the Anderson Commercial Club was able to have the Ward-Stilson Company move operations to Anderson. 

The company moved into a three-story building on the northeast corner of Meridian and Seventh Streets.  This building was found to be too small as business expanded and the company moved to the building shown below.  The building at Meridian and Seventh Streets is no longer there.  Image courtesy of Sanborn Maps. 

The company next moved into this building at Ninth and Central Streets in Anderson.  This building burned down in 1927. 

The third and final location for the company was the former Hayes Wheel Company factory at Third and Sycamore Streets in Anderson.  The company remained here until 1955 when Ward-Stilson went out of business.  The factory was destroyed by fire in 1986.   

This 1954 Sanborn Map shows the plant the year before the company went out of business. 

An important addition to the company's product line was women's dresses that were marketed under the name of Maisonette Frocks.  These were only sold door-to-door by company salesmen.  This was because during this time period women did not normally venture outside the house, and the best way to reach them for a sale was by a salesman at the woman's house.

During World War One, the company produced gas masks.  When World War Two arrived two decades later, the company was again called on to make gas masks and related items.

The Ward-Stilson Company's World War Two Products:  Table 1 shows that the company had $4,759,000 in major contracts.  All the contracts were released by the Army Chemical Corps for gas mask components. 

This photo shows a World War Two military type gas mask.  Contract number 11021-CWS-46 for $329,000 was released during November 1943 for type M1XA2 canister assemblies.  Contract number 11021-CWS-313 for $700,000 released during April 1944 was also for canister assemblies.  The $1,329,000 in total canister contracts was 28% of the total major contracts the company was awarded during World War Two.  Also shown in this photo are lenses, the diaphragm, and the final product.  The company had contracts for all of these components and the assembly of the mask. 

This and the next two photos show the canister in more detail. 

The numbering on the end of the canister shows it as an M1XA1.  This most likely very similar to the M2XA2 Ward-Stilson produced. 

This is an M6 gas mask carrier.  The company had two contracts for this gas mask accessory totaling $283,000.

This M2 gas mask is very similar to the one above but does not have the exhaust exit in the face of the mask. 

This World War Two era photo shows soldiers wearing their M2 gas masks on a road march. 

This posed photo shows soldiers in an aggressive stance. 

These tank crewmen in the posed photo are wearing the M2 gas masks.  This is an M4A1(75) small hatch Sherman tank.

Ward-Stilson Peacetime Factory Photos:  Below are several photos showing mostly women in the factory.

This photo shows the women at their hour-long lunch in the company cafeteria. 

This is the shipping room which appears to be staffed by males only.

This is the main sewing area. 

This long bay in the plant was the cutting room.