possible continued operation of the Canteen. All scrap money not otherwise designated will also be given to the Canteen. In this way, scrap hunters will be reaping a two- fold benefit for every bit of scrap. The scrap will make more bullets for America’s fighting men, and the money from its sale will keep up the morale of the soldiers, sailors and marines who pass through North Platte so that they will be in fine fettle to place the bullets where they’ll do the most good. Daily Bulletin | Oct. 15, 1942 [Lincoln] County Salvage Chairman E.M. Kincaid estimated that the campaign brought to light approximately 1,000 tons of scrap [county- wide] to throw into the fight against the Axis. … Probably 2,000 persons in the North Platte area assisted in the work. …
Last evening it was estimated that approximately 500 tons of scrap had been earmarked for the Canteen. … The Canteen set up a sub-canteen at the scrap pile and sold hot-dogs, apples and coffee thru the day. All proceeds will go into the fund. … One of the interesting features of this day oc- curred at the North Platte cafe where the manage- ment had offered pie and Cokes to any boy or girl who brought five pounds of scrap. The place was jammed with kids from 2:30 to 4:30 [p.m.], with a block-long line waiting most of the time. The cafe was closed to all other customers. Though it remained mainly a western Nebraska project, North Platte’s canteen was drawing aid from coast to coast. (The referenced article was the one that quoted the Canteen worker’s “export- ing morale” statement that ends Chapter 3.) Telegraph | Oct. 30, 1942 Again the North Platte Canteen has received nationwide publicity when “This Week,” a Sunday supplement used by most of the large daily pa- pers in the country, gave considerable space to an article, “One Town’s War Job.” It describes in detail how the Canteen was first organized by Miss Rae Wilson and is accompanied by pictures of the Canteen workers. That the article was widely read is shown by the more than 80 letters that have been received from all parts of the United States, all of them contain- ing cash contributions ranging from $1 to $50.
Fans of the Monopoly game recognize the name “Community Chest,” known today as the United Way. In fall 1942, North Platte leaders added the Canteen (as well as the USO) to the beneficia- ries of their annual Community Chest drive. This decision, renewed annually through 1945, went far toward ensuring the financial stability the Canteen needed. Telegraph Editorial | Oct. 9, 1942 On the success of North Platte’s community chest drive, now well underway, rests much more than just whether or not a certain amount of money is to be raised for what many otherwise well-mean- ing people loosely call “charity.” Reaching the goal in this drive means that not only will the city have provided for its own more unfortunate children but [it also] will have made possible continuation of the North Platte Canteen and contributed to the morale-building activities of the USO. Lincoln County’s second scrap-metal drive was set to begin. Two more would follow, in May and October 1943. No contests were involved — just a determination to send scrap to war factories and raise money for the Canteen. Telegraph | Oct. 12, 1942 Every scrap gatherer in the county-wide drive for scrap will be permitted to have his scrap sold and the fund[s] turned over to the Canteen to make
Canteen scene, circa 1943.
50 CANTEEN: AS IT HAPPENED
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