The Minnesota Public Safety Commission was formed during World War I to help provide domestic security while many of the state’s young men were off in Europe in uniform.

The women’s auxiliary of the Commission selected chairwomen in each county to head the effort to sell war bonds and conserve food supplies for the war effort. Mrs. F.R. Walters of Moose Lake was the chairwoman for Carlton County, Mrs. Jack Scott of Grand Marais was the Cook County chairwoman and Mrs. Leo Strauss of Two Harbors headed the Lake County effort.

Carlton County

Soon after the United States declared war on Germany in 1917, the Cloquet Council of Defense was formed to support the war effort in Carlton County. The group announced its goals of increasing local food production, supporting the Red Cross, holding regular military-style drilling exercises, stressing home economics preparedness, taking a census of the possible war contributions of county residents and supporting the Boy Scouts program.

During World War II the home-front activities increased substantially.

In January 1942, only weeks after America entered the war, tire rationing had forced local stores to reduce delivery services. A month later, county residents joined others in putting clocks ahead by one hour to meet "war time" rules.

The county had its first blackout exercise on Oct. 23, 1942, to ensure its readiness in case of enemy attack. A second blackout took place on Dec. 18, 1942. Later that month the county was awarded a pennant for its participation in a statewide scrap drive.