W.A.V.E.S at Christmas…

Throughout his career, NCR founder John H. Patterson was known for his innovative ideas and business acumen.  In 1893, Patterson built a first-of-its-kind training facility for his employees on a hillside overlooking Dayton. Sugar Camp, as it was known, began as a summer community of tents, which were replaced by Adirondack style cabins in the 1930s, for the National Cash Register Company’s sales staff. During WWII, the facility was host to more than 600 U.S. Navy W.A.V.E.S, who were part of a top secret project based at NCR to build the Bombe, a code breaking machine that cracked the German enigma code. When not working, the W.A.V.E.S would find time to relax and celebrate.  Pictured here are several of the gals, gathered around a Christmas tree in one of the cabins. This photograph is from Dayton History’s Image Collection.

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