DOB/DOD: August 28, 1888 (Norwalk, CT) – November 21, 1967 (Rockport, MA); 79 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Daniel H. Bly [1894-1978] on December 8, 1920, in Norwalk.
CHILDREN: One daughter, Virginia H. Bly Arone Scarpello [1922-1997]. Two sons, Donald A. [1924-2008] and Lewis N. [1926-2017].
LOCAL ADDRESS: 47 Elmwood Avenue, Norwalk
FAMILY: Born to Lewis H. [1852-1923] and Anna M. Archer Nash [1858-1931]. One sister, Marion H. Nash Quintard [1885-1965]. Two brothers, Douglas E. [1889-1972] and Harold L. [1892-1975]. NOTE: Her brother, Harold Nash, was the Mayor of Norwalk from 1931 to 1933.
OTHER: Her father, Lewis H. Nash, was the founder of Nash Engineering in Norwalk. The Nash Engineering Company was formed in Brooklyn, New York, by Lewis H. Nash in 1905. A native of Norwalk, Connecticut, Nash moved the firm to his hometown in 1908, where it manufactured air pumps in a small shop on Water Street in South Norwalk. In 1910, Nash patented his first designs for several vacuum pumps and compressors used in steam heating and sewage systems, and the following year, a new facility was established on Wilson Avenue in South Norwalk.
After the war, Mildred published three articles in the Christian Science Journal. Some of the content spoke about her service overseas during WWI.
SERVICE DATES: Mildred was a Canteen Worker and Sculptress on the National War Work Council of the YMCA. Mildred was a student of sculptor Solon H. Borglum. From 1916 to 1917, Solon taught at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design in New York and also developed ideas for an art textbook called Sound Construction, which he worked on with Mildred Nash, who was his student assistant. Like Mildred, in 1918, he enlisted in the YMCA for overseas war work and was attached to the Third Army. While there, he was also the Director of Sculpture at the specially organized American Expeditionary Forces Art Training Center.
Passport photo from 1918
From The Norwalk Hour March 2, 1918
Miss Mildred Nash, of Flax Hill Road, was given a farewell party at the home of Miss Ruth Kendall on Washington Street last night. She expects to work “over there” for the Red Cross.
From The Norwalk Hour (Weekly) May 9, 1919
MISS MILDRED A. NASH CITED FOR BRAVERY
Was YMCA Worker Under Shell Fire at Battle of Marne
Miss Mildred A. Nash of 129 Flax Hill Road, South Norwalk, is one of the overseas workers of the YMCA cited by two Major Generals of the American Expeditionary Forces for serving the Third Division under fire on the Marne and the Argonne. Miss Nash is included in the general citation of the entire Third Division “Y” unit made by Major General Dickman for the work of the unit on the Marne, and her name appears in the citation by Major General Howze in which he expresses his appreciation for “the untiring energy, zeal, and courage displayed by the YMCA detachment with this division” for the work in the Argonne, and lists all the workers of the unit. Forty American men and women with YMCA service “went in” with the Third Division at the Marne and worked under shell fire through the fighting last July that halted the tide of battle. Afterward, this “Y” unit went with the Third Division to St. Mihiel and accompanied it to the Argonne, where shells had rained on the unit often. But there were no longer 40 members in the unit. Shell fragments, bullets, gas, accident, and illness had reduced its personnel to 24. Some of these are still with the Third Division on the Rhine. For its work on the Marne, Major General Dickman cited the unit in General Order No. 33, expressing appreciation for its work during the fighting from May 31 to July 30.
Obituary from The Norwalk Hour November 28, 1967
Mrs. Mildred N. Bly, 78, of 24 Mount Pleasant Street, Rockport, Massachusetts, died Tuesday, November 21, at her home after a brief illness, it was learned here today. Mrs. Bly was born in South Norwalk on August 28, 1889, to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis H. Nash. Mrs. Bly’s father was the founder of the Nash Engineering Company. She was a direct descendant of Edward Nash, who settled in Norwalk in 1652 and whose son, John, was the first child to be born in Norwalk. Mrs. Bly lived for many years at Nash Island, Noroton. She is survived by three children, Donald A. Bly of Simsbury, Lewis N. Bly of New Canaan, and Mrs. Virginia Bly Scarpello, of Indialantic, Florida; six granddaughters, Vicki, Sandra, Lizabeth, Tracey, Jamie, and Alison; two grandsons, John and Nash; two brothers, Douglas E. Nash and Harold L. Nash, both of Noroton. A memorial service was held for the immediate family on November 22 at Rockport, Massachusetts.
Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts, said that Mildred wasn’t buried in the cemetery. However, they do say they handled her cremation per her wishes. It’s unknown where her ashes are.
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Honor Norwalk CT veterans 