Generosity kept Connellsville Canteen afloat
(Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series about the efforts of the Connellsville Canteen to provide sandwiches, coffee and other comforts for service men and women coming through Connellsville by train during the last two years of World War II.)It was decided that the official opening of the Connellsville Canteen was to be on Monday, April 11, 1944, and the public was to be invited. All ladies of each group were to be part of the opening. The minutes state that the rooms “have been beautifully decorated.” Someone had to be at the Canteen at all times during a 24-hour period. Sandwiches were not to be sold to the public. As new groups were added, the group chairman was to appoint a co-chairman for those ladies. Each group of ladies serving at the Canteen was responsible for the room at the Canteen, tea towels and equipment for the 24-hour period.
There were generous donations from many people and groups. Members of Kiwanis offered to transport service men to Uniontown or Scottdale after the last streetcar had gone. Donations listed in the minutes included a radio, a coal bucket, sandwich bags, potholders, and American flags donated by the American Legion and the Loyal Order of Moose. N.E. Ferguson made three carts for the train service and a large canvas shelter in case of rain. Scottdale even had a tag day for the Connellsville Canteen and turned over $305 to the Canteen treasurer.
A group of 10 to 12 ladies was considered sufficient to meet each train arriving, except for large troop trains. A group was to make only enough sandwiches and coffee for its time period. Each new group would make its own food so that food would always be fresh. There was even instructions that the crust of the bread were to be used, but no sandwich was to have two crusts. All food was to be measured and care was to be taken to spread filling over the entire sandwich.
Each chairwoman was responsible for the conduct of her group and was to eliminate anyone who disobeyed orders. The minutes stated that another canteen had been closed because of the conduct of some of its ladies. Smoking was not permitted by the ladies at the Canteen. There was a little room by the storage room where smoking was allowed.
There was some criticism about feeding train personnel such as porters, conductors and dispatchers. The explanation was that the ladies would have no service people to serve if the porters didn’t announce the Connellsville Canteen to the military on board, and the dispatchers didn’t send ahead the information regarding the times of the trains and the special trains arriving in Connellsville. With this knowledge, the ladies could be ready to serve when the train arrived. When serving at the trains, the carts were to stay on the platform, on the side of the tracks. There was to be no service until the passengers were on or off the train. You were never to serve anyone after the train was in motion.
Arizona resident Don Reagan, whose mother was in charge of the Connellsville Canteen’s Seventh Group, tells an interesting story about this rule. Reagan said that sometimes women who were serving troops were still on the trains as they pulled out of the station. Those ladies had to remain on the train until the next stop, and then the B&O Railroad would put them on the next train back to Connellsville. The ladies would arrive home carrying the empty coffee pot with them.
Another interesting story I heard involved a train carrying German prisoners of war. Our Connellsville ladies were determined to serve those prisoners even though the officials didn’t think it was a good idea. The ladies probably hoped that some kind mothers might look out for their sons if by chance they became prisoners of war. Needless to say, the ladies of the Canteen were never again informed when prisoners were on the trains going through Connellsville. The ladies were told to co-operate with the B&O Police, as they were the only people who could put a stop to the Canteen.
For the benefit of the service people, Bell Telephone was permitted to place a pay station in the Canteen. In case a military person wanted to send letters, a mailbox or basket was placed in the Canteen. No one was to open the mail. Guests of the service people were to be treated like guests in your own home. Workers could visit with guests and servicemen but could not ask any personal questions. The Canteen was to be as homelike as possible. Loafers at the Canteen were not to be tolerated.
Looking back at this time in history, some things mentioned sound rather odd. Paper cups were only to be used for serving at the train and the workers were not permitted to use the paper cups. Servicemen were always served in china cups inside the Canteen.
Paper cups must have been hard to come by then. Each group was to bring its own coffee bag to work. Again, one doesn’t think of coffee bags today. Another interesting note was that each group was to mix the butter. Nothing was to be wasted. Left over sandwiches were to be put in bags. Sugar was scarce and used with care.
Concern for the young men and women in service was evident in the minutes. They had a Catholic Calendar in the kitchen so that cheese and egg filling sandwiches were available for fast days. Any service person could request a packed lunch to take along “with then when they left. Beds were to be checked and linens changed after every occupant once the sleeping quarters were set up in the Canteen. Extra ladies were called in to serve when needed.
It was important to the Canteen ladies to serve everyone on a troop train. Early morning groups were instructed to always clean and have everything in order. They were to clean the coffee pots, empty garbage, defrost the refrigerator, clean the milk coolers, and always empty the pan under the ice box. Letters from the boys and girls in the service were read at Canteen meetings. Rose Cavalier was in charge of the Motor Corps. Service people could be driven home within a 12-mile radius after the streetcars stopped running for the day. This service was for military people on leave.
Where did the money come from for such a major undertaking? People in the area were extremely generous. This was recorded in the minutes. One man from Morgantown, W.Va., donated $5. A Mrs. Ellenberger donated six dozen eggs. One lady donated 50 cents. People donated cookies, cupcakes, doughnuts, sugar, cinnamon rolls, relish, oranges, meat, peppers, grapes, tomatoes and potato chips. Donations came from individuals, churches, Sunday school classes, lodges and clubs. Anyone having an idea for a fund-raiser had to contact the executive board of the Canteen. Plays were produced, there were fabric drives, and concerts at East Park. Letters were sent to the outlying districts like Brownsville, Uniontown, Monarch, Dawson, Vanderbilt, Scottdale and Dunbar to keep them involved. Thank you letters were run in the local paper from time to time for all the support given to the Canteen.
How did the ladies make the holidays special? On Thanksgiving Day in 1944, chicken sandwiches were to be served. The ladies talked about giving Christmas boxes on Dec. 24-25, 1944. Boxes were to have candy, gum, etc. A Christmas tree was placed in the Canteen lounge, and wrapped boxes were handed out from Saturday, Dec. 23, at 8 a.m. and continue through Monday, Dec. 25. If you were making candy, white and brown sugar was available. You had to call Mrs. J. Cypher for the sugar. Each day each group arranged something special for their carts during the holiday season. They even had a lady in charge of Christmas Carol singing from Dec. 18 and throughout the holiday season.
What an amazing group of ladies! What a combined effort to be of service during a most difficult time! I was overwhelmed as I read through their minutes and newspaper clippings of the Connellsville Canteen. How do you say good-bye to an effort such as this? The war ended and the need for the Canteen ceased to exist. On March 13, 1946, the executive board and the 24-hour chairmen met at Mrs. Brady’s home. They decided to close the Canteen on April 10, 1946, the second anniversary of the Canteen. It was suggested that any balance of money be used to buy an ambulance for Connellsville. This was thought to be a good idea.
Before the Canteen closed, many lovely banquets and parties were given. Each day of the week group met and had a delightful social time. Mrs. Brady was presented with lovely jade earrings, a gift from all the Canteen workers. The ladies of the executive board were also presented with beautiful lapel pins also gifts from all the Canteen workers. On April 25, 1946, Rose Brady entertained the executive officers and the 24-hour chairmen at the Crawford Tea Room. A meeting was then held at Mrs. Brady’s home. Thank you letters were to be sent to numerous newspapers thanking all for their donations and contributions to the Canteen.
All together, this dedicated group of people served 512,911 sandwiches and 494,607 cups of coffee. This figure does not include the many quarts of milk, dozens of doughnuts, dozens of cookies, eggs, oranges, apples, etc. that were served. Through many sources of fund-raisers, a total of $49,968.97 was raised to pay expenses. A balance remaining, after all expenses were paid, of more than $3,000 was divided and given to Connellsville and South Connellsville to pay for or help pay for ambulances. These figures don’t even touch the hundreds of hours of time and energy, love and devotion to this massive project that were exhibited by those who made this Canteen function day after day, season after season, holiday after holiday for two solid years. Their dedication to the Connellsville Canteen was amazing!
What a legacy to us from these outstanding ladies and gentlemen from the World War II-era. How proud their descendants should be to have had relatives involved in such a meaningful contribution to the war effort.
For myself, I feel that I have fulfilled a small part of the challenge presented years ago by W.L. Lewis to a young student in his U.S. history class. You never know how far your influence will reach into the future.
Editor’s note: Karen Hechler is president of the Connellsville Historical Society. Comments about this column can be sent to Pete Skirchak, Connellsville Editor, 8-18 E. Church St., Uniontown, 15401, or by e-mail to pskirchak@heraldstandard.com.