Celebrating the End of World War II: V-J Day in Schenectady

GE workers piled onto the back of a company truck to join a parade down State Street on the evening of August 14, 1945. The banner behind the workers reads "Ring the victory bell! Three down and none to go." Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.

On the evening of Tuesday, August 14, at 7:00 p.m., the news of Japan's surrender and the end of World War II hit Schenectady. Immediately following the announcement, the General Electric plant was closed. Schenectadians flooded into the streets, cheering, laughing, crying, and celebrating the end of the war. That evening, and the following day on August 15, would later be known as Victory Over Japan Day (or V-J Day). Local residents commemorated the end of the war in many ways -- from solemn prayer in local religious institutions to swinging from light poles to kissing in the streets. Below are a few photographs that illustrate the city's celebration of the end of the war.

Servicemen scoop up young women on the streets in celebration of the end of the war. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.

When informed of the end of the war, GE worker A.W. Kernaghan let out a celebratory shout while sitting astride a turbine component. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.

Local residents thronged to State Street for a parade on the evening of August 14, 1945. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.

Schenectadians at the First Methodist Church's service of thanks. These services began the evening of August 14, 1945, and were held the following day on the hour every hour from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thanksgiving services in honor of the war's end were held at a number of local religious institutions, including St. John the Evangelist Church, St. George's Church, All Souls Unitarian Church, Congregation Agudat Achim, and Cavalry Bapist Church. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.

Three Chinese-born residents of Schenectady, (left to right) Hong Chang, Fred Wong, and Paul Wong, smile and give the Victory salute. One of the men was quoted by the Gazette as saying, "We feel very happy, for this means so much to the Chinese people." Both Hong Chang and Fred Wong had wives and children in occupied China during the war. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection. 

"We Too Have Served," reads the banner on the Army Depot float in the State Street parade on August 14, 1945. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection. 

Celebrating servicemen participate in an impromptu parade on State Street on the evening of August 14, 1945. Photograph from Grems-Doolittle Library Photograph Collection.