Carol Gomoljak: Abstract | Full Story | Images and Artifacts

“Extra, extra read all about it!” shouted a newspaper delivery boy as he walked down an Annapolis street. The year was 1942, and Mrs. Carol Gomoljak was just 14 years old when she heard those words outside the window of her Eastport home off of Bay Ridge Avenue where she lived with her parents. She knew that the U.S. had declared war on the Axis forces following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Eventually, she would say goodbye to her boyfriend and many other local boys who were shipped abroad.

So many young males were sent away that Mrs. Gomoljak had to share the remaining three local farm boys with all the high school girls at her high school prom. She also remembers walking across the Spa Creek Bridge in high heels and a fancy dress to get to Annapolis Senior High School, now Maryland Hall, as there was no car available to her family for transportation. People walked or rode bicycles wherever they needed to go; during the war, driving was scarce unless it was essential for a job.

Indeed, Annapolis was quite a different place during that period from 1941 to 1945. Mrs. Gomoljak remembers that many goods were rationed, including shoes, sugar, meats, and gasoline. People had to do without many familiar comforts. Everyone had black-out curtains in their windows that were drawn tightly closed every night. The government reinforced a curfew, so people were not allowed out at night.

It was also tough on families who had soldiers in the war, especially because of the lack of communication. Soldiers would leave families for three years, and sometimes longer. Annapolis citizens would write letters frequently to relatives and friends serving abroad. Wives received censored letters in return with their contents blacked out. “Everything was hush hush,” said Mrs. Gomoljak, referring to the fact that most families had no idea where in the world their loved ones were or what was happening to them. There were no telephones, television, or internet to satiate the public’s curiosity. It was the dark ages of communication by today’s standards.

After high school, Mrs. Gomoljak started working as a secretary at Johnson Lumber Company on West Street. As soldiers began to return home, in 1945 she met a man named Steve Gomoljak who had been enlisted in the Seabees Battalion as a construction worker for the United States Navy. She soon married Mr. Gomoljak and they had four sons together. For 36 years, Mr. Gomoljak supported his family by working as a shop planner and estimator at the Naval Academy before passing away in 1986. To this day, the Seabees are known for their skill at constructing bases and building roads and airstrips around the world.

While raising her family, Mrs. Gomoljak developed close relationships with people in her community. She said that neighbors would pitch in whenever any other neighbor needed help. She wistfully exclaimed, “We were poor, but we were happy.” Everyone rode bicycles or walked to get around. Most people had vegetable gardens to grow their own food which was canned for the winter season. Though Mrs. Gomoljak reported that people around her lacked many things, there was an abundance of community unity and support. In contrast, Mrs. Gomoljak exclaimed, “There is too much jealousy, bitterness, and hate in the world today!” Her advice to young people today would be to “get united.” She then added a final suggestion…”and throw your credit cards away.”

...As told to Elaine Levit

Carol Gomoljak: Abstract | Full Story | Images and Artifacts