WW1 Soldier’s Connection to the Manitowoc County Historical Society

Aug 11

World War I was an event that affected big and small cities, including Manitowoc County. When the United States became involved in the war in early April of 1918, many young men had already been drafted to serve their country as a soldier. Edwin Adolph Sykora was one of these young men that was drafted. He was originally from Tisch Mills and helped his father run their harness shop, which also has a special meaning to the Manitowoc County Historical Society.

Edwin Sykora was 22 when he was drafted for immediate military service. He had received a letter in the mail that notified him of his selection. The letter told him to report to the Local Board for Division Number 2 in Two Rivers, on March 28th, 1918. From that point on, the letter states, he was a soldier in the military service of the United States.

By April 29th, 1918, Sykora was at the US National Army Cantonment Camp Gordon, in Atlanta, Georgia. At this time, it was common for soldiers to send their family a souvenir collapsible collection of photos of the camp that they currently resided in. In addition to the photos, the book had a long list of what the United States had accomplished in the first six months of the war. In this case, Sykora sent a souvenir book back home to his father Wenzel Sykora. It was postmarked April 29th, 6:30pm, 1918. Photos in the book include the soldiers at attention, the cafeteria style mess hall, how they washed the dishes in buckets, and a partial view of the camp.

During World War I, Edwin Sykora served overseas with Saddle Battalion C of the 111th Field Artillery. As was common at this time, as soon as a soldier was overseas, they received a handwritten letter from King George V of the British Isles. In the letter, King George V welcomed the soldiers to help fight for the human freedom. He finished the letters by wishing the soldiers luck and a great thank you. The letter that Edwin Sykora received he mailed to his parents back home in Tisch Mills.

Edwin Sykora was in the service until he received his discharge on June 9, 1919. He served for just over one year. Upon his discharge from the military, he returned home to Tisch Mills to work with his dad at their harness shop.

This story is not only fascinating by itself, but it has a connection to the Manitowoc County Historical Society. Located in the Brennan Building, at Pinecrest Historical Village, are the contents of the Sykora Harness and Shoe Shop that Edwin and his father ran until it closed. Wenzel Sykora, Edwin’s father, originally ran the Harness shop with Edwin, until Edwin got drafted. While in the service Edwin learned the shoemaker trade, and after his return home combined his skill with his father’s harness skills to expand the offerings of the family shop.

Edwin Sykora is just one local story about a young man who was drafted for World War 1. While in the war he received correspondence from the King of England, learned new skills, and maintained contact with his family through letters. It is interesting to see in this case how the Manitowoc County Historical Society connects to this. It is quite a coincidence that this drafted soldier happened to be from the family whose harness and shoe shop items are in Pinecrest Historical Village. So, stop on down to witness the objects that once filled the Sykora Harness and Shoe Shop in the Brennan Building in the village. It sure transports you back in time.