Lima in Allen County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Servicemen's Free Canteen

Freedom • Lima, OH

— Lima's Local History Hunt —

Servicemen's Free Canteen Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 25, 2026

1. Servicemen's Free Canteen Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1942 by the Lima Chapter of the American Women's Voluntary Services (AWVS), this canteen served troops traveling by rail during World War II. Volunteers met up to 40 trains a day, serving food and coffee to millions of soldiers. Although the AWVS disbanded in 1945, service continued through the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Operating until 1970, Lima's canteen became the longest-running of its kind in the U.S., serving an estimated four million servicemen and women.

Erected 2026 by America 250-Ohio Commission. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Military • Railroads & Streetcars • Women. In addition, it is included in the America 250: Ohio Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 40° 44.68′ N, 84° 6.14′ W. Marker is in Lima, Ohio, in Allen County. It is at the intersection of North Central Avenue and East Wane Street, on the left when traveling north on North Central Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 424 N Central Ave, Lima OH 45801, United

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States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Servicemen's Free Canteen (a few steps from this marker); Adam Welty Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Lima's First Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of Lima's First Cemetery and burial place of Pvt. Elijah Stites 1758-1843 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Allen County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Allen County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Met Block (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Allen County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lima.

Also see . . . Lima's Local History Hunt.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 25, 2026

2. Servicemen's Free Canteen Marker

(Submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)

America 250-Ohio Commission image. Click for full size.

Photographed by America 250-Ohio Commission

3. America 250-Ohio Commission

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 30, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.