The 1947 Friendship Train

Colorado

Dorothy R. Scheele

The Friendship Train, America’s magnanimous gift to Europe after World War II, is unique in the history of the world. The Friendship Train crossed the country in 1947 and is considered one of the greatest humanitarian movements in history. The Friendship Train collected its gift of food from ordinary American citizens who opened their cupboards to contribute, and from American farmers who harvested grain from their fields. Leaving from Los Angeles on November 7, 1947, the Friendship Train roared into New York 11 days later. Its cargo consisted of $40 million worth of food destined for the desperate people in France and Italy. Although it traveled through only 11 states, every state contributed to it. Every aspect of the work required for the entire journey was gratis. No person or business charged for their services. A more complete history of the Friendship Train is on the homepage of this web site.

The Centennial State’s involvement with the Friendship Train was centered in Ft. Collins. The Kiwanis Club in Ft. Collins became the major organizer. The Kiwanis Club in Laramie, Wyoming, had asked the Ft. Collins Club to join in the collection of foodstuffs. Roger Dunn, president of the Ft. Collins club agreed, and he asked Arthur I. Puckett, chairman of public relations, to help inform the residents. In addition to Mr. Puckett’s efforts, Charles H. Sherman, chairman of the Citizens Food committee, also helped to spread the information about the Friendship Train. His committee delivered posters and stickers emphasizing the need to contribute. Printed on posters and stickers was the slogan, “save wheat, save meat, keep the peace.” A second poster slogan was directed towards children urging them to “join the Clean Plate club” and “be a food-saver, not a food waster.” A Kiwanis Club member had spoken with the city school superintendent David. B. Lesher about the children’s contributions. The men agreed that they would ask each child to contribute one can of milk or more if possible. Ft. Collins goal was one boxcar completely filled with milk.

Several Ft. Collins businessmen sent requests to Denver organizations for donations and urged them to send the donations in time for shipment to Laramie. Because the Friendship Train did not travel through the Centennial State, their donations were sent to Wyoming, the closest stop. The Ft. Collins Kiwanis Club also contacted towns in Laramie County: among them Loveland, Laporte, Willington, and Berthoud. The Church of God at Delta, led by Rev Clifford R. Carns notified the Friendship Train committee that Mr. Hertz, a member of his congregation, had donated the fruit from 130 apricot trees. The Delta processing plant canned the apricots.

All of the donors were asked to write their names on their gifts as a way to ‘personalize’ them. Writing one’s name and address was a practice throughout the nation. The notes contained the words:

“All races and creeds make up the vast melting pot of America, and in a democratic and Christian spirit of good will toward men, we, the American people, have worked together to bring this food to your doorsteps, hoping that it will tide you over until your fields are again rich and abundant with crops.”

France thanked the entire United States for the vital necessities the Americans had sent to them. Their gratitude arrived in the United States on a ship which docked in New York harbor on February 3, 1949. On this ship, the Magellan, were 49 boxcars of the French gifts: one for each state and one to be shared by Washington D.C and Hawaii, which at that time was not a state. These thank you presents were not from the French government. In the same esprit de corps of the Americans, the French people, not the government, contributed the gifts. The presents were intended to be given to the people, to public buildings, libraries, hospitals, schools, colleges

The Colorado boxcar arrived at the Capitol in Denver on February 14, 1949. At statehouse ceremonies, Governor Knous accepted the gifts in the car which included toys, pottery, paintings, books, and embroidered articles.

Sara Williamson, an employee of the Woodruff Memorial Library in LaJunta, Colorado, said in an email dated August 2010, that the library had a collection of six dolls. Sandy Messick, Director of Library Services, believes the collection was part of the gifts that came from France in the Colorado boxcar of the 1949 Merci Train.

The French boxcars, after much restoration following years of neglect, are displayed in most states. Colorado’s boxcar, at this time, has been lost for many years--its fate indeterminable.

The author welcomes any corrections or additional information which would add to this state's history. Her email address is draetrain@gmail.com.

For more information on the Merci Train, see Earl Bennett’s website www.mercitrain.org. 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.