neighbors and friends of the United States. … After a cup of coffee and a doughnut, King stopped outside the Canteen where he signed several autographs while waiting for his car to be pulled up to the depot. Mrs. W.P. [Ruth] Graydon tapped the Prime Minister on the shoulder and said, “Mr. King, I’d like to shake hands with you.” “Wait till I turn around and see what you look like,” he replied and, turning around, offered her his hand. … Before the Prime Minister boarded the train with his delegates, he patted a youngster on the cheek, saying, “Goodbye, little girl,” and then shook hands with a young Boy Scout. … [The trains included] Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lippmann … and Charlie Ross, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who has been appointed by President Truman as his press secretary, the ap- pointment to take effect in May.
Delegates from nine different countries, includ- ing China, Egypt and France, were aboard the first train. … A North Platte Telegraph reporter ran into Walter Lippmann as he was browsing around the Canteen kitchen. A big man, Lippmann was wearing a bow tie and his hair was very disheveled. He appeared to be very interested in the Canteen. Daily Bulletin | April 25, 1945 It was a repeat performance at the North Platte Canteen yesterday as the workers greeted the rep- resentatives from Belgium who are en route to the San Francisco World Security conference, which opens today. … “We have heard in our own land the plaudits of your organization,” said a spokesman for the group. “In every stop we were reminded we might have the opportunity to view the Canteen with our own eyes, and it is with the greatest of pleasure that we are your guests today.” Considering that the Canteen’s early “code words” for the confidential approach of troop trains were “I have the coffee on,” it’s surprising it took a North Platte daily so long to do a story like the next one. Daily Bulletin | April 26, 1945 “Gee that’s great coffee,” “You deserve an orchid for that coffee” and “Boy, that coffee really hits the spot.” Those remarks are the most frequent compli- ments every day at the North Platte Canteen.
Jessie Hutchens, left, and Helen Christ, right, help staff the Canteen’s sign-in desk.
Rationing, rearranged train schedules and specials have failed to make any difference in the fine cof- fee prepared every day at the center. … The credit for the fine brew goes largely to Mrs. Russell [Mayme] Wyman, who is chairman, and her corps of workers. At times augmented by add- ed help, the main committee is composed of the Mesdames Jason [Bertha] Sawyer, Laura Barnell, Ralph [Bessie] Luthultz, Sam [Marie] Carroll, Alan [Evangeline] Waugh, A.J. [Anna] Grabowski, R.D. [Ella] Batie, Roy [Belle] Murdock and W.A. [Margaret] Barraclough. They also have charge of the table arrangements and see to it that coffee is available at all stations. The workers divide their duties, some of them working two and others more days per week, but always at least two of the women are on hand
A Canteen “platform girl” offers a soldier a popcorn ball.
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