“Wartime at Oneida Ltd. “curated by Tony Wonderley at the Oneida Community Mansion House showcases the output of one of America’s best manufacturers of military equipment during World War II.
On view through the summer of 2013, the exhibit features objects ranging from surgical forceps and scalpels to rifle sights, bayonets, and other gun accessories. Plenty of parachute hardware can be seen including the amazing “Quick Release” buckle. Also on display is a hand grenade casing, a mess kit, a “Superrench,” artifacts from World War I, and compressor blades made for jet engineers of the Air Force during the Korean and Cold Wars.
Panels designed by Don Cornue, Sign & Art, Etc., show the manufacture of airplane wing controls, fuel tanks, and bomb shackles as well as the products of the company’s Canastota Division. This division produced mobile photographic darkrooms, trailers for taking bombs to planes, and trailers for big trucks.
Installed by Maria Skinner, Simply Designed Spaces, the exhibit contains more than 100 period photographic views. Original magazine ads illustrate such famous advertising campaigns as “These Are The Things We Are Fighting For” and “Back Home For Keeps!” Issues of The Community Commando, Oneida’s wartime newsletter, are available to examine.
The Oneida Community Mansion House was the home of the 19th century utopian Oneida Community (1848-1880). Today, the 93,000 square foot brick building houses a museum, residential apartments, overnight lodging, and banquet and meeting space. Guided tours are available Wed. through Sat. at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m.