Oregon’s Gifts to the Friendship Train The Friendship Train was an extraordinary and almost unknown event in American history. In November 1947 Americans gave $40 million dollars worth of food to the starving people in Europe, chiefly taly and France. Every state contributed to the Train. A more complete history of the Friendship Train is on the home page of this web site.
Undoubtedly, there were many other contributors, but these were the only names reported. All donations were to be in by Tuesday November 4th as shipment to Ogden, Utah, was to occur on November5th. (The freight cars were destined for Utah because the Friendship Train did not stop in Oregon, but traveled north to Sacramento and then headed directly east.) Two carloads of wheat from Gilliam county were to be shipped the following week. The Portland Draymen Assoc. and U. S. Army trucks and city and county trucks transported all donations from the fire halls, then to the waiting freight cars. Undoubtedly, there were many other contributors, but these were the only names reported. Oregon, along with Washington, Idaho, Montana, and the territory of Alaska, had formed a group which had plans to create their own Friendship Train. This conveyance would be known as the Pacific Northwest Christmas Train. The intended departure date was December 31, 1947. The development and history of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Train, is a topic which I will cover in a subsequent article. Oregonians, like the citizenry of all the states, shared their wealth with the deprived Europeans.
“Áid Due ‘Friendship Train’ From Churches in Oregon” Oregonian Oct. 30, 1947: 13. The author welcomes any additional information which would add to this state's history. The Friendship Train was the genesis for the French Merci Train. Website www.mercitrain.org has information about that train. Copies of Mr. Bennett's Book The Merci Train, A Big Thank You From the French Merci Train is available at ebennett89@yahoo.com. The price is $25.00 per copy, including postage. |
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