Oakie's
Heart To Heart Oakie's
Heart To Heart "Home is where the heart is! Learn the Past! Live the Present! Look to the Future!"
| Millennium Edition - http://OkieLegacy.org |
31 March 2001, Vol. III, Iss. 13 |
WWII Ration Books...
A friend sent me this Relic of the Past... This War Ration Book No. 3, OPA Form No. R-130, 863071, is stamped as follows... Carter County, War Price & Rationing Board #5513, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Made out to James E. Martin. The Warning Reads... "This book is the property of the United States Government. It is unlawful to sell it to any other person, or to use it or permit anyone else to use it, except to obtain rationed goods in accordance with regulations of the Office of Price Administration. Any person who finds a lost War Ration Book must return it to the War Price and Rationing Board which issued it. Persons who violate rationing regulations are subject to $10,000 fine or imprisonment, or both."
The instructions... 1. This book is vauable. Do not lose it. 2. Each stamp authorizes you to purchase rationed goods in the quanties and at the times designated by the Office of Price Administration. Without the stamps you will be unable to purchase those goods. 3. Detailed instructions concerning the use of the book and the stamps will be issued. Watch for those instructions so that you will know how to use your book and stamps. Your local War Price and Rationing Board can give you full information. 4. Do not throw this book away when all of the stamps have been used, or when the times for their use has expired. You may be required to present this book when you apply for subsequent books. Rationing is a vital part of your country's war effort. Any attempt to violate the rules is an effort to deny someone his share and will create hardship and help the enemy. This book is your Government's assurance of your right to buy your fair share of certain goods made scarce by war. Price ceilings have also been established for your protection. Dealers must post these prices conspicuously. Don't pay more. Give your whole support to rationing and thereby conserve our vital goods.
Be guided by the rule: "IF you don't need it, DON'T BUY IT.
1947 Freedom Train..."Beginning on September, 17, 1947, the Freedom Train, a streamliner, in her beautiful coat of red, white and blue paint, traveled 33,162 miles, visiting 300 communities in all 48 states of America, until finally rolling to a stop in January, 1949, in Washington, D.C. during Inauguration Week." They say the one millionth visitor was an Oklahoma girl who had traveled sixty miles in a blizzard to see the exhibit. Waits of from 4-5 hours in line were common. Did the Freedom Train roll through your neck of the woods in September, 1947? Do you know of anyone out there that recalls stories of waiting in line to see the Freedom Train? The American Heritage Foundation says the Freedom Train was used, "...to help raise the level of active citizenship in our country. Its objectives are to develop a greater awareness of the advantages we enjoy as Americans emphasizing the relationship of our hard-won personal freedoms to our development as the strongest nation of free people in history." Oakie's Column...Are you ready for the end of March, thundershowers, sunshine and Spring when you set your clocks ahead an hour Saturday (Sunday morning, 2am)? It's that time of year again! April showers! extra sunlight! When did it originate? They say, "The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in 1784, in an essay, "An Economical Project." Speaking of Spring, my fruitless pear trees in my front yard have yet to blossom. BUT... It should be any day now, though.
Last Sunday it was cloudy, cool, but calm. It didn't rain, but I did have on my rain jacket. AND.... The colts had already picked the apple treats clean from the huge pockets in my jacket. Moon and his buddies do let me do a little brushing on their spring, shedding coats. I might be brushing on one colt and here comes Moon to let me know it's his turn. I have had lots of great responses concerning the "1957 memories" in last week's, March 24th newsletter. I wish I could take credit for it, BUT... The author of the piece is unknown! It was sent to me by another person. I am glad you all enjoyed it. I even had someone ask whatever happen to the "Family Saga" (or The Probate from Hell) that I used to have up on my site. As to the saga... It has been put behind some of us for over the last three or four years or so. For those newcomers who haven't read it yet, you will just have to wait for the book version in the distant future. I can tell you that my oldest sister divorced herself from her other sisters and walked away with everything she wanted or could steal from the rest of us. I haven't talked to Connie since the assault back in August, 1995 (or was it '94), in the jury room of the courthouse when we were trying to work out a settlement. Oh! How time flies! All I was trying to do to her was calm her down. She hauled off and swung her arm around and knocked me (almost) in the head... If I hadn't duck backwards. Anyway, that has all been put behind some of us as we move on into the present, the future and better things. It's her loss! My gain! -- Linda - "Oakie" |
Bison, Oklahoma...
There is a small community by the name of Bison, Oklahoma situated on hwy 81, south of Enid, between Waukomis and Hennessey, Oklahoma. At first glance driving by, all you see is a bison logo adorning the towering grain elevators that stand adjacent to hwy 81. Last Sunday afternoon I decided to take the turn off of hwy 81 on to the east/west Main Street. I slowly navigated over the railroad tracks heading west on Main Street and passed the towering Bison grain elevators. That is where I found the small building that houses the local post office. What I did NOT get a photo of just up the street was what looked to be an empty boarded up business. Mailbag & Links....
War Ration Books... "This page describes the way in which resources such as gas and sugar were rationed and distributed to the civilian population in the United States during WWII. Several photographs of the paperwork needed to obtain food and gas are displayed here." Heartland Share... "S.H.A.R.E. (self-help and resource exchange), which is a not-for-profit organization, began in 1983 in California and quickly moved across the United States. S.H.A.R.E., is dedicated to providing a monthly basic, consistent, affordable supplemental food package to those willing to help themselves and others. SHARE experience's success in over 20 regions of the U.S., where more than 250,000 individuals, families, and 3,000 organizations participate in the program every month. The warehouse of the four-state program in Kansas, which was started in 1991, is located in Topeka, Ks, but there are around 375 sites across the state of Kansas, Oklahoma, Southern Nebraska, and Western Missouri. " June Glasgow, Host Site Developer for the communities in Kansas and Oklahoma, 1-800-932-2028. Kansas... Altoona, Andover, Anthony, Argonia, Arkansas City, Ashland, Augusta, Belle Plaine, Bentley, Burdett, Canton, Clearwater, Coldwater / Protection, Cottonwood Falls, Derby, Deerfield, Dodge City, Douglass, El Dorado, Elkhart, Emporia, Eureka, Fall River, Fredonia, Garden City, Garden Paine, Goddard, Greensburg, Halstead, Haven, Haysville, Hazelton, Hesston, Hillsboro, Hugoton, Hutchinson, Inman, Iuka, Johnson City, Kingman, Larned, Lewis, Liberal, Lindsborg, Lyons, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Milan, Minneola, Moundridge, Mulvane, Newton, Oxford, Partridge, Pratt, Pretty Prairie, Rose Hill, Satanta, Scott City, Sedan, Sedgwick, St. John, Syracuse, Udall, Ulysses, Valley Center, Wellington, Whitewater, Wichita, Winfield Oklahoma... Alva, Beaver, Boise City, Buffalo, Covington, Enid, Fairview, Forgan, Gate, Garber, Goltry, Guymon, Keyes, Kerrick, TX., Laverne, Marshall, Medford, Turpin, Woodward "Linda, I enjoy Oakie's HTH very much and it brings back so many memories of Alva and the area. I remember so well passing by the old McKeever School building as long as I can remember. I believe that all I have known it used as was a community center. Thanks for stirring the memories."
Looking for PARIS.... "I had a cousin, Michael Paris Woodcliff, last seen about late 1930 or early 1940. I am from Woodbridge,NJ." CASHA28@aol.com "Hey, enjoyed your newsletter... I lost touch this past year and half due to work related issues and travel and missed the ongoing saga... Do you have it listed somewhere? or if not how did that turn out for you? Later... " "Hi, My maiden name is Veley, and I found it very interesting that you had a number of Veleys listed in your Surname listing. In fact, some of them are from Alva, and I have family in Alva. My grandfather is Emmett Veley and my father is Carl Dean Veley. I'm certain that Russel Veley is related to us, but I don't know exactly how, though he may be an uncle to my father. I would be interested in learning more about the Veleys, but have never explored genealogy. I would love to have more information on getting started in this area if you have any words of wisdom to pass along. " Jennifer Daylight Saving Time... It is just around the corner this coming weekend (Sunday, April 1st, Fool's day). Check out this Daylight Saving Time site for more info. Time in most parts of North America will be "springing forward" this Sunday. If you're curious about why you'll be getting those few extra hours of daylight, visit this informative site. It explores everything from the origin and evolution of daylight-saving time to some of the controversy surrounding its continued existence. Recipes of War Time Europe... "The years from 1940 to 1950 were a terrible period for families struggling to keep alive during the ebb and flow of war. Rationing and shortages meant that housewives were forced to provide meals for their children from very little or almost nothing." Linda K McGill Wagner Thanks! You can also view The OkieLegacy online. Copyrighted © 2008 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy. All Rights Reserved. |
"I
was poking around on your site and went to the area that tells about you.
There was a picture of Gene some years before I knew him. I really got
to know him through the airport as I would take care of the Cessna 180
that he flew when he would come in. I was so surprised to read that he
was a pharmacist as all I had ever known him to do was farm and ranch.
I remember well many times Gene flying in and he would always be in a
hurry to be somewhere. I would try to meet him when he shut down and hanger
his plane for him and fuel it. It was not unusual for him to hand me a
tip for doing this even though it was not expected and not something too
many people did. I never remember an unkind word being said by your Dad.
He was just always grateful for what little I would do for him. He has
always stuck in my memory and always will. I just had to let you know.
I am going to send a link to that site to my sister who worked at Kinzie
Industries and also knew Gene. I think she will get a kick out of seeing
a Gene that we never saw before." Larry 
