Talk on WWII 'Rosie the Riveters' Scheduled in Weston

WESTON, CT — The Weston History & Culture Center will host a presentation on the contributions of women workers during World War II on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 2 p.m. The event, held at 104 Weston Road, is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online in advance, though walk-ins are welcome.

The program, held in honor of Women’s History Month, will feature Park Ranger Susan Ashman of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Ashman will discuss the role of Women Ordnance Workers, known as “Soldiers of Production,” at the Springfield Armory. During World War I, women made up 15 percent of the workforce at the armory, a figure that rose to 42 percent at the height of World War II. Their contributions not only advanced wartime production but also played a role in the movement for gender equality in the workplace.

Samantha Fargione, executive director of the Weston History & Culture Center, will provide insights into the contributions of Weston’s women during the war. While not employed in factories, many local women supported the war effort in other meaningful ways.

The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Weston Public Library, the League of Women Voters of Weston, and the Weston History & Culture Center. Parking and entrance are accessible from High Acre Road. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be rescheduled.

Ashman, a lead park ranger and historic weapons supervisor at Springfield Armory NHS, has extensive experience in historical interpretation. She previously worked at Old Sturbridge Village and served as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. She has presented at Civil War Round Tables, the Civil War Institute in Gettysburg, and other venues across New England.