1940s

1945 Ford. By Richard Reed.

Local industries including Jeep, American Propeller, and DeVilbiss contributed heavily to the war effort in the 1940s. A review of our records from this period reveals land acquisition, plant expansion, and waste water treatment improvements at these facilities.

Lou’s oldest son, John, made his contribution to the war effort by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He obtained his bachelor of science in civil engineering (BSCE) from Marquette University and served as an officer in the Navy’s construction battalion, or “Fighting Seabees.” The Sixth Naval construction battalion Seabees adopted the motto “We Build – We Fight” and was responsible for building petroleum tank farms, airstrips, and roadways, often under enemy fire. Upon his release from active duty, Lt. Commander John Lewandowski joined the family engineering firm and earned his professional licenses as an engineer and land surveyor. War over, our focus returned to residential development and regional industry.