Telegraph | May 8, 1945 The blowing of whistles at nine a.m. this morning proved to be only a “curtain raiser,” but [it] threw everything and everyone in North Platte to a tem- porary standstill. Radio reports continued to repeat that the announcement of unconditional surrender in Europe was unofficial, and most people either went back to “business as usual” or began to make preparations for the [V-E Day] holiday. … Homes were not the only place grocery lists were being made. At the Canteen, Mrs. Ted [Edna] Neid, buyer, warned the chairmen of the serving groups that, should the announcement come, all stores, bakeries and dairies would close and they must do their ordering. As soon as needed supplies for the day were estimated, she picked up the telephone and remained there until all orders were placed. Daily Bulletin | May 9, 1945 Observance of V-E Day in North Platte [May 8] was solemn, quiet and thankful. It was just about a 100 percent closing, with only a few vitally needed offices, the Canteen and communication services in operation. Stores, cafes, public buildings, bars and offices were closed. Churches were opened for prayer and medita- tion during the day, and special services were held last night. … Coming as an anti-climax, the long-awaited day did not alter the realization [that] the country was still at war, and most residents began to lay plans for the coming events.
in the quantity of food donated by the 102 com- munities and organizations, thus requiring the Canteen management to spend more money for needed supplies; but the greater reason for the increased expense has been the growing number of hospital trains passing through, the expense for each of these trains averaging thirty-five dol- lars. Then, too, taken day by day there has been an increase in the number of uniformed men and women served, the daily average this year placed at five thousand compared with thirty-five hundred last year. … As the transfer of troops from the European to the Pacific area will probably mean increased demands upon the North Platte Canteen, just to what extent “the corners must be cut” depend upon the future donations of cash and food from the people of the community and the wide-flung area from which so much of the support comes.
The Daily Bulletin announced V-E Day in its issue of May 9, 1945. The North Platte Telegraph
The Canteen’s first task after V-E Day was to re- mind its supporters that their labor and donations were needed as much as ever. Telegraph | May 11, 1945 Contributors to the North Platte Canteen, as well as the public generally, are advised by the auditing committee that during the first four months of this year … expenditures exceeded receipts by … an average of $839.46 per month. This has resulted in a reduction in the bank balance in the four months of $3,357.38. … The monthly cash donations have not quite kept pace with last year; there has been some falling off
It took little time for Pacific-bound European vet- erans to show up.
Telegraph | May 13, 1945 Thursday was “home coming” day for two service- men at the North Platte Canteen. A young soldier boy rushed up to the desk to shake hands with Mrs. Bruce [Mae] Eshom and explained, “You probably don’t remember me, but I was here just three years ago today and you brought a basket of fruit and candy out to my car in the troop train.” Continued on page 98
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