Telegraph Editorial | Dec. 22, 1945 “Bill” knew railroading from the bottom up. And even when he reached the top pinnacle of suc- cess, he never forgot “the man who ate in the kitchen.” It was no wonder that the Union Pacific made such rapid advancements under the leader- ship of such a man, for railroading was literally in his blood. His many personal friends in North Platte are sorry to hear of his plans for retirement. These include citizens from all walks of life — and one group in particular to whom he has been a Godfather on more than one occasion: the North Platte Canteen. Telegraph | Dec. 25, 1945 “I’ll be home for Christmas — if only in my dreams.” To thousands of servicemen and women, the North Platte Canteen will be “home” for Christmas as they revisit the Canteen, on the way home, as they did two or three years ago on their way over- seas. Many of these servicemen and women had hoped to be in their homes by Christmas, only to find that, after weeks and miles of travel, they are still a few hours and a few hundred miles away. With the ending of the war, the majority of service canteens closed; so to find the North Platte Canteen in operation will be a pleasant surprise for the members of the armed forces who pass through this city tonight and tomorrow. But to find that the citizens of this and surrounding communities have done even more than continue to support the operation of the Canteen — have
Daily Bulletin | Dec. 21, 1945 The Canteen will need at least 3,000 gifts to present to the men and women of the services on Christmas Day. Yesterday, the officers of the day compiled a list of suggestions which might aid in selecting gifts. Among the desirable items which will run near the fifty-cent purchase price are handkerchiefs, combs, brushes, shaving needs, socks, cigarettes, playing cards, stationery, home-made candy, fruit, pocket-size books, puzzles, games, souvenir items, new magazines, talcum powder, toilet soap, sewing kits, clothes brushes, bath salts, gift boxes of gum, popcorn balls and various combinations of candy and fruit. All packages must be gift-wrapped, and if for the women, they should be so identified. That same issue of The Daily Bulletin carried the news that William Jeffers, who would turn 70 on Jan. 2, 1946, would end his 56-year Union Pacific career on Feb. 1. He then became vice chairman of the U.P. board of directors, allowing him to in- fluence the railroad’s choice of North Platte for a train classification “hump yard.” Opened in 1948, it became the foundation of today’s Bailey Yard, the world’s largest. Jeffers died at age 77 on March 6, 1953, but his hometown still reveres him for his tireless support of North Platte’s canteens — in both world wars — no less than for his other accomplishments.
The Daily Bulletin ran this full-page ad on Dec. 18, 1945. The North Platte Telegraph
Daily Bulletin | Dec. 18, 1945 The North Platte Canteen has taken on a Christmas air this week. There is a large Christmas tree decorated with tinsel and lights, of course, but there is also a pine wreath covered with tinsel and tied with a large red bow in each window. A garland of pine [boughs] decorated with bows and tinsel borders the whole room.
114 CANTEEN: AS IT HAPPENED
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