By Dorothy Scheele

n Saturday, November 15, Friendship 1947, witnessed "The T a ceremony at the Pennsyl- Trainl Let s All vania Railroad Station which Do Our Part" marked the beginning of an extra- - ordinary episode: the journey of the Altoona Tribune Friendship Train across . The cars were filledwithfood destined for the hungry people of Europe. It took three days and seven stops to cross the state, but bythen, an additional I 51 boxcars had been added to its length. The people of Pennsylvania had voluntarily, and with heart-warming generosity, donated the food which filled those cars to their 100,000-pound capacity. The enthusiasm behind this food drive, which occurred in y The Merci Train emblem virtually all 48 states, astounds. A portrays not just the engine but flowers — morning headline in The Erie Dispatch of glory, daisy, poppy — symbolizing 13 announced, citizens November "Erie Flanders Field, where many jointoday inFund-Raising for Friendship WWI American Doughboys Train." The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal are buried, 175 miles north shouted, "Here Comes the Friendship of Paris. The logo adorned all 49 boxcars and cards Train." Fifteen merchants and business- accompanying each of the men inAltoona sponsored a full-page ad 52,000 gifts. in the Altoona Tribune. "The Friendship

THE FRIENDSHIP & MERCI TRAINS 35 M

Train! Let's AllDo Our Part." A Pittsburgh paper printed a pic- * ture of actress Eve Arden's daughter Liza,holding a toy replica of the Friendship Train. Most likely, many serious. Twenty farmers who traveled children owned such a replica. toEurope at their own expense to assess the TheFriendship Train was, quite possibly, situation corroborated his observation. the greatest humanitarian movement in It was Drew Pearson, internationally recorded history. The American people, not known columnist, broadcaster, and the United States government, gave humanitarian, and a graduate of Swarth- $40 million worth of food to the more College inPhiladelphia, who had the hungry people of France and Italy. idea which resulted inthe Friendship Train. They gave from their own When Pearson broadcast the dire plight of kitchens, grain fields, and dairy the European people, Americans respond- farms. Unlike the Marshall Plan, ed. With an astonishing rapidity of organi- which was then just being for- zation, the firstboxcars left on Among the artifacts mulated in Congress, this was a November 7, 1947, just five weeks after he at the Blair County down-home, genuine present a people Historical Society are from announced his idea. The train crossed the this sugar bowl and who genuinely cared. Moreover, it led to country, collecting cars as it went, and by wind-up toy. something equally precious, obscure, 18, waiting ships as and — November ithad reached in the annals of American history the inNew York. The train totaled about 270 Merci Train, when France said thank you. boxcars; determining the precise number is nearly impossible because ofvariables such as unscheduled stops, last-minute changes incars added, and differences inreporting War IIhad stripped Euro- deadlines. peans of many of life's ordinary Manypersonal stories about the Friend- Worldcomforts, the most serious a grave ship Train were reported, and thousands shortage offood. Asevere drought in 1947 must stillbe fresh in many a person over compounded the misery of a continent 60. In one Pennsylvania town, a 6-year old already chaotic and bereft after the war. boy wrapped twopennies ina note: "Please Flour to bake bread, foremost in a Euro- buy some cakes for a littleboy or girl in pean's diet, was restricted to six ounces Europe." In Carlisle, Pa., 10-year-old daily.Ifa family wanted a few more ounces Ronald Ludwig spent his day off from to bake something else, it was taken off school collecting food; when his wagon was their bread ration. Personal accounts of filled,he took it to one of the collection those who visited Europe confirmed the need for food. Conference of Mayors presi- dent George Welsh, returning from a con- ference in Paris, described conditions as

36 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORJ |FALL 2002 £ Many of the picture postcards were made into needle cases, attached to similar scenes on 1 the other side. points and then went to collect more. vegetables and flour.The Western Pennsyl- A citizens committee in tiny Barnesboro, vania Brewers Association and the United Pa., near Altoona, raised $1,000 in two Steel Workers each donated a carload of days. InSpencer, Iowa, an engineer stopped flour.Food bins were set out at 1,800 stores his freight train and trudged through the for people to deposit donations, which snow to donate his money to a radio sta- were collected by firemen under the direc- tion's fund-raiser. One cab driver collected that chilly and drizzling Novem- tion ofFire Chief WilliamH.Davis. $10 from his passengers. At football games ber 1947 evening inPittsburgh, the Because of the brief time period and inmovie theaters, spectators donated OnFriendship Train rolled into the between the inception of the food drive when the collection box came around. East Liberty freight yard at Penn Avenue and the date of the train's arrival, outlying A Johnstown businessman, I. Klatzkin, and Dahlem Street. Railroad workmen had communities were asked to contribute cash head of Penn Furniture Company, offered prepared the yard for the welcoming cere- tobe used later topurchase food wholesale to match each dollar with one dime. mony and the attachment of the cars. inNew York. Atleast $1,000 was collected. The [] Evening Bulletin of Although between 3,000 and 5,000 people West Virginia's donation to the food train November 17 reported that a Sioux Indian were expected, according to The Pittsburgh was sent to Pittsburgh; Parkersburg sent an tribe inNebraska, while making its contri- Press, only about 500 were there, deterred entire carload, and Fairmont and Charleston bution,held up a sign saying, "TellEurope most likelyby the weather. The CityPolice each contributed quarter carloads. we want peace." and Firemen's Band launched the enter- The train left Pittsburgh at 9 a.m., Companies contributed withequal gen- tainment and local radio personalities and November 16, forJohnstown, 70 miles east. erosity: none of the railroads on which the nightclub acts performed. There were The fact that Johnstown was not a sched- Friendship Train traveled charged for the speeches by MayorDavid H.Lawrence and uled stop reflects the unbridled enthusiasm use of their men, rails, and boxcars. J.S. Crutchfield, chairman of Pittsburgh for the Friendship Train; when Johnstown- Because some food arrived too late to be Citizens Food Committee. Radio station ers demanded to be among the contribu- loaded on the train, Eastern Air- WWSW recorded the activities for later tors, Congressman Harve Tibbott and the ways announced it would fly Friendship rebroadcast inEurope. Pennsylvania Railroad arranged for the planes east to without charge. The Steel City added five cars to the stop. Even though the area's first snow had Goodyear train, Tire and Rubber supplied food each bearing a sign— in French fallen the previous day, thousands of pliofilm for waterproofing all packages. and Italian, "Pittsburgh Food For enthusiastic citizens waved, cheered, and Both the United States Lines and American Friends." Two of the boxcars were filled applauded as the diesel-powered Friend- Export line shipped all of the food to with wheat, the others withassorted staples ship Train roared into the P.R.R. station Europe without charge. requested by the organizing committee at 12:01 p.m. According to the Johnstown such as condensed milkand pasta. TheItal- Tribune, thousands more were watching ian Sons and Daughters, the Independent from Iron Street and the Prospect viaduct. Order of the Sons ofItaly, and the Sons of The BlueDevils Trumpet and Drum Corps Columbus donated 1,600 cases of assorted of American Legion Post No. 294 added to foods. Manufacturer Salvatore Viviano the occasion. added 300 more, and M.Rom Sons, Inc., contributed more than 200 cases ofcanned

THE FRIENDSHIP « MERCI TRAINS 37 in Italy & France From Windber, PA." i Nicholas Bruno of Central City headed a delegation seeking $4,000 which would be sent toNew York to purchase food. While the train was at the station, John- stown residents signed their names to one A number of cards portray life in the historic provinces of France: here, Normandy, of the posters on the side of the car. An Provence, and Brittany. The senders wrote hour after its arrival, the train was on its notes on back, too: way. After a quick stop in Huntingdon, Saint-Charles Orphanage Mayor Arthur L.Schwing and members where a boxcar of flour was added, the 17 St-Maurice Road of the city council greeted the train. Drew train headed for Altoona, where itarrived Iam a little orphan. Ino longer have my Pearson was on the train almost its entire at 3 p.m. Daddy, my Mommy. journey, and spoke to the crowd at John- Altoona had apersonal connection with Itwas a pleasure for me to realize that stown. Others addressing the crowd were the train:Drew Pearson's secretary, Marian generous hearts over there, far away in M.M. Chudy, who headed the local food Canty, was an Altoona native, and was with America, have thought ofme. Ifeel less drive; Daniel L. Wertz, (Pearson isolated. President of the the train when itstopped there. Pennsylvania Junior Chamber of Com- left the train in Altoona, and delivered his Thank you fromall my heart. merce (and a native); and W.N. weeklySunday night program from WRTA May God protect you. Johnstown Lockard, representing the contributors of in Allentown, then rejoined the train in S. Macaigne Windber, Pa. Mrs. John Chiodo of Harrisburg.) Altoona mayor H. Atlee John- — stown, originally from Florence, Italy, Brumbaugh and other officials includ- thanked the crowd for their contribution to ing Roy F. Thompson, George P. Gable, native country. Her husband, she, Rouzer, Judge her and Police Chief— and Matthew D. had returned from Army duty inItaly just Patterson had boarded the train inJohn- three weeks before. Mr. Niocola Guilli,a stown and ridden it to Altoona. representative of the Italian Embassy, The town was extremely conscientious also spoke. about its food drive, which was headed by Johnstown had purchased an entire Lee J. Buechele. The November 12 Altoona boxcar of milk which, for reason unclear, Tribune printed a two-page ad about the had been added to the train in ; Friendship Train under the headline, "The hence, itwas already withthe train when it Friendship Train! Let's AllDo Our Part." arrived inJohnstown. With the help ofpeo- Everyone did: Altoona bakers alone con- ple from Cambria County, Johnstown tributed a boxcar of flour, one of the two raised another $7,000 to buy food which cars from Altoona proper. Bedford and would be added inNew York,bringing the Lewistown also each contributed a boxcar town's contribution to two cars. Nearby of flour; Bellefonte contributed a car of Windber contributed one carload of milk, its car bearing the banner "To Our Friends

38 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY |FALL 2002 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES from Hourly Consultation to Complete Contract Administration

wheat and flour; and Bellwood, Barnes- boro, Claysburg, Roaring Spring, Tyrone, and Williamsburg allcontributed. The fund-raising drive,led by Mrs. Julia Homer, resulted innearly $7,500. The min- ers of Clearfield County donated $1,341; Johnstown Automobile Dealers Associa- tion donated $330; Barnesboro Lions over $1,000; and county school children donated an amazing $1,100.

Fran Landscape Architects phone: (412) 243-7214 fax: (412) 242-5232 On February 2, 1949, the ship Magellan steamed into New York harbor. AirForce ?)

F-80s and F-82s swooped overhead; fire- Mark McKenzie, Owner Master of Science in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning _^ boats sprayed plumes of water into the air; small and large boats blasted their whistles; and people cheered. The ship from France, sides, was car- with"MerciAmerica" on—its rying one milliongifts 250 tons ofitems in49 railroad boxcars. Withthe same inten- sityand sincerity displayed by Americans 15 months earlier, 6 million deeply apprecia- tiveFrench families said thank you. The 49 boxcars made up the Merci Train. One car was assigned to each of the 48 states, and one was to be shared by Washington, D.C.and Hawaii. Within two days after its arrival, the cars were on vari- ous railroads heading for the state capitals. Andre Picard, a French railroad worker, originated the idea of the Merci Train, also known as the Gratitude Train. His thought was simple and genuine: "Let's thank America." He and other railroad men pre- sented the plan to officials, and the thank

THE FRIENDSHIP 8 MERCI TRAINS 39 French President Vincent Auriol. AFrench couple gave the uniform wornby their son who had been killed in World War I.Two men donated their eyes, upon their death, to the American Eye Bank. Alittlegirl,who gave her doll,cut offher ownhair and past- ed it on the doll's head. A descendant of Gen. Lafayette donated the general's walk- ing stick. The list is endless.

Some of the articles sent were you drive took off.Picard, serving as a rep- Pennsylvania's Merci car, filled with 10,000 reminders of darker days. The resentative ofthe French railroads, accom- gifts, made only two stops before reaching magazine cover proclaims, Columbus, Harrisburg, its final destination. In "Under the boot of the Nazis." panied the train to America. In The notice, in Dutch and , {The Columbus Citizen, Feb. 12, Philadelphia, 2,000 people greeted the German, provides rules for 1949) he presented the car to the governor bright red boxcar when it arrived at the rationing, food and the and also spoke at the ceremony, with a pro- Broad Street Station at 11:45 a.m. that cold, consequences for disobeying. fessor translating his comments. clear day. Legionnaires from the 40 &8s The 49 boxcars were known as 40 &8s, were among the spectators, plus 1,000 the name derived from the original inten- schoolchildren waving French and Ameri- tion to carry either 40 men or eight horses. can flags. The Police and Firemen's Band American Doughboys of World War Iand played, and the Breen-McCracken Post of servicemen ofWorld War IIhad ridden in the American Legion provided the color them during both wars. (A branch of the guard. Speaking from a special open car of American Legion, known as the 40 & 8s, the train were French Ambassador Henri still exists and is responsible for many of Bonnet, and Michel Junet, head of the the restorations ofthe Merci cars). Flatbed French delegation and representative ofthe railcars and trucks transported the boxcars Prime Minister. The February 6 Sunday because their small gauge prevented their Bulletin reported that the French speakers traveling on standard rails. credited the American assistance with aid- The gifts to America ranged from simple ing France's recovery, and helping their to wonderful; an original bust ofBenjamin country resist Communism. The Philadel- Franklin, the bugle which sounded the end phia Inquirer of the same day stated that of World War 1, 49 Sevres vases donated by Drew Pearson commented that the mayor and "his friends have made Philadelphia the most hospitable, brotherly and progres- sive city in the country." Mayor Bernard Samuel proudly told the spectators that

40 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY | FALL 2002 This portrait of Children reach St. Therese, patron across the ocean in saint of France, is this local reception s from a convocation committee card. program on the 50th anniversary of her death. Philadelphia had donated more than any city Friendship other to the — Train. The next morning Sunday, February — tion Committee and the Pennsylvania 6 the Merci Train stopped inLancaster, National Guard, and funds were raised to Pa. The city's half-hour celebration began restore it.A dedication ceremony was held at 9:30 a.m. Two hundred people heard artifact from the Merci Train. Allof Penn- in November 1986. The boxcar, looking thank you declarations from local officials; sylvania's gifts, infact, shared this fate until brand new and bearing shields of the Commandant Guy de la Vassel, Mayor of recently. Despite having a complete inven- French provinces onthe sides, is ondisplay Saint-Symphorian; and Mile. Petit, secre- tory of the gifts, the State Museum has no at Fort Indiantown Gap, a National Guard tary to the French Consul inBoston. record oftheir disposition, nor oftheir cur- training site in Annville,Pa., under a pro- As inmost states, the largest celebration rent whereabouts. However, some small tective canopy. was inthe Capitol and began witha parade, items have surfaced in two counties. Blair This boxcar not only symbolizes the in which the boxcar was the highlight. On County Historical Society has 20 Merci literal train that February a half century that beautiful day inHarrisburg, the parade gifts,mostly booklets and personal effects, ago, but is a profound linkbetween France wound through the downtown streets, and Lycoming County Historical Society and the United States. The connection is ending at the State Museum. A ceremony has about 30, mostly postcards. To date, — historical the shared humanity between began there at 3 p.m. Francois Puaux, assis- these are the only known gifts inthe state. two peoples who helped and appreciated tant French Consul General in New York, Most likely, the institutions which — each other and it is personal; every gift presented the boxcar to Gov. Duff. The received the Merci Train gifts tagged and has a handwritten note fromits sender. governor broke the seal of the car and displayed them, but as time passed, their A web site www.rypn.org/merci has a presented its 40 cases to the public. Books, importance and significance faded. Eventu- picture of each state's boxcar, with the ashtrays, pictures, dolls, seeds, and count- ally the gifts became nondescript knick- exception of the six which are stillmissing. less other items comprised Pennsylvania's knacks relegated to attics, basements, and In some cases, there are pictures of some of gifts.Most noteworthy was an automobile, storage rooms. Inall likelihood, many gifts the gifts belonging to each state. Dolls, one ofthe firstpetroleum-operated vehicles are still there, obscured under the dust vases, shoes, dresses, oak saplings, dishes, ever made inFrance, given byan electrician of time. Searching most certainly would statues, wallpaper, sleds, paintings. Who inRouen. bring results. ... could resist such gifts? © Theloss of the Merci gifts is notlimited to states, Pennsylvania. Many mostly in Dorothy Scheele is a free-lance writer living in Into ot the eastern U.S., have no idea of the loca- Philadelphia. She has graduate degrees from Penn and Unfortunately, the whereabouts of that car tion of the French treasures. Others, State Beaver College, and has been researching and writingabout the Friendship and MerciTrains are Perhaps unknown. itis under wraps in Arizona and Idaho forexample, have many forseveral years. a garage or museum, the owner unaware of gifts displayed in their museums, along Thanks toCarla Rosen Vacher forher translations. its dual importance as a rare auto and an with the tags bearing the names and addresses of the donors. Like the gifts themselves, Pennsylvania's Merci car drifted into obscurity. It was eventually rescued by the 40 &8s Preserva-

THE FRIENDSHIP £ MERCI TRAINS 41 "Altoona Completes Final Plans for Friendship Train Due Here Sunday," Altoona "Friendship Train Promotion Here Up to $6,000," Johnstown Tribune, 14 Nov. Mirror,14 Nov.1947: 1+. 1947: 8. "Altoona Lions Give $100 to Relief Train," Altoona Mirror,11 Nov. 1947: 16. "Friendship Train Starts Across Nation," Altoona Tribune, 8 Nov.1947: 1+. "Area Ready for Friendship Train Visit Tomorrow," Johnstown Tribune, 15 Nov. "Friendship Train Starts onJourney," Altoona Tribune, 7Nov.1947: 1. 1947: 18. "Here Comes The Friendship Train," [Lancaster, Pa.] Intelligencer Journal, 15 Nov. "Car ofGratitude Accepted From France by Governor," Columbus Citizen, Feb. 12, 1947. 1949: 1. "ListDetails ofFriendship Train Program," Altoona Mirror,15Nov. 1947: 1+. "Cash Gifts to Buy Urged as Friendship Train Nears Altoona," Altoona Mirror,15 "Local Residents Give Generously For Europeans," Johnstown Tribune, 2 Nov. Nov. 1947: 1+. 1947: 28. "Central District to Give Six Cars OfFood to Friendship Train," Altoona Tribune, "Local Residents Give Generously To Europeans," Johnstown Tribune, 12 Nov. 15 Nov.1947: 1. 1947: 28. "Citizens Awaits ArrivalofFriendship Train," [Philadelphia] Evening Bulletin, Nov. "New YorkWelcomes French," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 3 Feb. 1949: 2. 17, 1947: 1. "Pittsburgh's 5 Cars of Food Added to Friendship Train," Pittsburgh Press, 16Nov. "City Donates Five Carloads Of Food to Friendship Train," Pittsburgh Press, 15 1947: 14+. Nov.1947: 2. "This MilkIs Going Overseas to Starving Europeans," Johnstown Tribune, 15Nov. "City To FillFive Food Cars," Pittsburgh Gazette, 1Nov.1947: 4. 1947: 19+. "Combined Efforts For Food Train," [Allentown]Morning Call, 15Nov. 1947: 5+. "Thousands of Altoonans Greet Friendship Train," Altoona Mirror,17 Nov. 1947: "De Gaulle Asks Alliances With U.S.,"Altoona Tribune, 13 Nov. 1947: 1. 1+. "Erie Citizens Join Today InFund-Raising For Friendship Train," Erie Dispatch, 13 "Thousands of Persons And Six Carloads of Food Greet Friendship Train in Nov.1947: 1. Altoona," Altoona Tribune, 17 Nov.1947: 1+. "Five Cars of Food Being Filled Rapidly," Pittsburgh Gazette, 14 Nov. 1947: 16. "Throng Acclaims Gratitude Train," Philadelphia Inquirer, Feb. 6,1949: 1. "Food for Hungry Europe Is Given Warm Sendoff," Johnstown Tribune, 17 Nov. "Tricolor Hoisted Here For 'Merci' Train," {Philadelphia] Sunday Bulletin, Feb. 6, 1947: 17+. 1949: 1. "'Freedom Is Dynamic,' Says Dr. Kriner,"Altoona Tribune, 17 Nov.1947: 1+. "Two BoxCars ofFood Aim ofChairman," Altoona Tribune, 13Nov. 1947: 1+. "Friendship Cars AreReady," Pittsburgh Gazette, 15 Nov.1947: 7. "Types ofFood For Friendship Train Listed," Altoona Mirror,7 Nov.1947: 1. "Friendship Promotion Here Goes Over Top," Johnstown Tribune, 13 Nov. 1947: 34. "The Friendship Train," Altoona Tribune, 13 Nov.1947: 4+. "Friendship Train Campaign Started," [Allentown]Morning Call, 14 Nov.1947: 5. "Friendship Train Car From City Leaves Tonight," [Allentown] Morning Call, 25 Nov.1947: 5. 'Friendship Train Car Locates Here," [Allentown]Morning Call, 21Nov. 1947: 5+. "Friendship Train Donations Grow," Pittsburgh Press, 14 Nov.1947: 2. Among the artifacts at the "Friendship Train Donations Urged," Altoona Tribune, 10Nov. 1947: 1+, Blair County Historical "Friendship Train DriveHere at HalfwayPoint," Johnstown Tribune, 11Nov.1947: Society is this comb and 28. glasses case set. M 'Friendship Train DriveIs Extended," [Allentown]Sunday Call-Chronicle, 16 Nov. 1947: 5. \u25a0 "Friendship Train Fund Drive Pushed," Altoona Tribune, 10 Nov.1947: 1 'Friendship Train Leaves Calif." [Allentown]Morning Call, 10 Nov.1947: 1+,

42 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY IFALL 2002