The Friendship Train in Kentucky

Dorothy R. Scheele

The Friendship Train, America’s gift of food to France and Italy after World War
II, was an enormous and unmatched present of kindness and caring. Even though
the train traveled through only 11 states, all the states contributed to it. Every facet
of this conveyance of generosity was free: from the collection of food to the ships
transporting the commodities to Europe. Every morsel of food the people gave was
free. A more complete history of the Friendship Train is available on the home
page of this site.  

In Louisville, J. R. Kurfees, Jr. was chairman of the Louisville Citizens Food
Committee. He appointed Rev. Roger G. Imhoff, pastor of Fenner Memorial
Church, and Earle Runyan, as chairmen of the Friendship Train committee. Mr.
Imoff added Emil Klempner to the committee. They in turn had asked others to
help in organizing the work for the Friendship Train. On November 5 th , each
member of the Lions Club of Louisville pledged a case of macaroni. Other
organizations offered their services including the Boy Scouts, the students of the
University of Louisville, and the Retail Merchants Association. Throughout the
Friendship Train campaign, the Louisville Council of Churches, of which John W.
Moley was executive secretary, and the Louisville Council of Churchwomen,
headed by Mrs. William J. Halfter, expressed avid support for the Friendship
Train.

As Kentucky’s response to the Friendship Train was late, organizing and assigning
responsibilities had to be accomplished immediately. Because of time limitations
and also the expense of collecting food, Rev. Imhoff asked the Louisville populace
for cash donations. He suggested that each donation be $2.20, the costs of one
case of macaroni, or a portion thereof. The goal was a full freight car of macaroni.
Approximately $4,500 was needed to pay for the food. Cash donations were to be
sent directly to the Friendship Train Fund in care of the Board of Trade or put in
collections bottles located in various stores.
A second goal was a freight car full of flour. This was the result of a personal
campaign by Mr. Emil Klempner. In addition to Mr. Klempner’s donation of
$400, he sought donations from various businesses to cover the approximate cost
of $2,700 for the flour.

On November 11 th , two carloads, the one filled with macaroni and the other with
flour, departed from Louisville bound for Chicago, where they would be joined to
the cross-country Friendship Train. The freight cars were furnished by Monon
Railroad. The monetary value of the boxcars was $7,825. All cases of macaroni
were stamped “Product of the U.S.A., Donated by the people of Louisville, KY.”
American flags were also pasted on each case.
A remarkable situation occurred in Perry County. The people of Perry County
donated one full boxcar of canned milk. The Hazard Jaycees, a new organization
of 21 men undertook soliciting a carload of milk as its first project. Donations
came from many different sources. The people’s gifts were borne from their
generosity and their feeling for humanity. The reporter who wrote about Perry
County and the town of Hazard noted that if all the people of Kentucky had made a
similar effort, the state would have contributed 70 boxcars. Sam H. Powell, Jr.,
president of the Hazard Jr. Chamber of Commerce, announced that the freight car
would be sent to Cincinnati because it was too late to join the Louisville
departures. This car was provided free by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad
Company.

While it was already November 11 th , no official action had yet been taken by
Lexington to contribute to the Friendship Train. Mayor R. Mack Oldham said that
he hadn’t know anything about Lexington’s participation in the Friendship Train
until he was informed by Ed Wilder, secretary of the Board of Commerce that the
Board had numerous queries from citizens. Lester Robb, executive secretary of the
Community Chest, stated that the only knowledge he had of the Friendship Train
he had acquired through the newspapers.
As a result of this circumstance, a committee of local service clubs representatives
arranged the Friendship Train Campaign in Lexington. The chairman of the
committee was J.B. Faulconer, president of the Exchange Club. Other members
consisted of representatives Robert M. Odear, the Kiwanis Club; Mayo Travis, the
Lions Club; Sid Yuro, the Co-Operative Club, and Bart N. Peak, the Rotary Club.
Lexington and Central Kentucky made a last minute shipment to the Friendship
Train. A freight car filled with macaroni moved out of Louisville on November
12th headed for Philadelphia and the eastbound Friendship Train. Placards on each
side of the car had the slogan: ‘Friendship Train-Donated by the City of Lexington
and Central Kentucky.’ Every one of the 2,000 cases had the words ‘Made in the
U. S. A. Donated by the Citizens of Lexington and Central Kentucky.’

At the time of departure, the Delmonico macaroni firm, which had supplied the
macaroni, declared it would pay for the $400 shipping expense. The Plug Horse
Derby advanced $4,600 to the organizers so that the freight could be shipped
immediately. Repayment of this debt to the Plug Horse Derby, Inc. was to be
made by contributions of the citizens of Central Kentucky. Contributions were
solicited from schools and churches. A unique financial source was a collection
taken at the University of Kentucky football game with Evansville, which resulted
in an impressive $781.10 donated. When word about the train became public
knowledge, there was a rapid response. The Lexington Herald of November 13th
published information for citizens of where to send or drop off their donations.
The persons responsible for the financial aspects were LeRoy Miller of the First
National Bank and Trust Company; L. W. Haley of Kentucky Utilities Company,
and Earl Willis, Radio station WLAP. Donations could be sent directly to them
with check made payable to “Friendship Train”; the Hart Drug Store also accepted
donations. The youngest contributor from Lexington was 3 year-old Marvin
Young Watts. He broke open his piggy bank to give 100 pennies to L. Willis
Haley for the Friendship Train. Lexingtonians actually contributed $605 more
than was needed to repay the Plug Horse Derby, Inc. Mr. Faulconer, stated that
these excess funds would be sent to Drew Pearson, the Washington columnist who
conceived the idea of the Friendship Train.

A list of some of the contributors throughout Kentucky appears at the end of this
article.

The Blue Grass state can be proud of its participation in the nation’s gift to Europe.
Like all states, Kentucky received the momentous gifts from France known as the
Merci train. This train was called the Merci train and it consisted of 49 box cars,
called the 40 & 8s. It was filled with thank you gifts from the grateful nation.
There was one boxcar for each state; the 49th car was to be shared by Hawaii and
Washington D.C. The contents came from the French people not the government,
matching the same policy and spirit with which the American people gave to the
French people.

On February 14. 1949, Andre, Picard, an employee of the French National
Railways who organized the Merci Train, presented to Governor Earle C Clements
Kentucky’s box car of gifts from the people of France. The presentation ceremony
was held at the Frankfort railway station where a crowd watched, partially
protected from the downpour of rain. Mr. J.J. Leary, master of ceremonies said,
“If ever I perceived gratitude in a man I have found it in the heart of Andre
Picard.” Rev. Imhoff, of Louisville, remarked “The food for friendship which we
cast upon the waters 15 months ago is being returned many fold. Of such is the
kingdom of good will and brotherhood.”

Aboard the car were 40 cases containing 341 gifts donated from the homes of
grateful French families. In addition to personal letter of thanks, gifts included
lacework, statuary, books, paintings, porcelain, dolls, a wedding dress and also
trees for transplanting into American soil. Gift were first exhibited at the
museum of the Kentucky State Historical Society, then at the J. B. Speed Art
Museum in Louisville, and then were to be displayed in other towns throughout the
state. Eventually gifts were to be distributed to public places such as museums,
libraries, historical societies, schools, universities, veterans’ organizations, and
State parks. The Merci car was to be given to the 40 and 8 branch of the American
Legion.

Kentucky’s Merci Train boxcar is located at the Kentucky Railway Museum,
136 Main Street, New Haven, KY 40051

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.

The following is a list of some of the contributions made:
Arnold Hanger $200.00
Blue Grass Ordnance Depot $53.00
Citizens of Elkton $226.
Citizens of Hopkinsville $713
Citizens of Richmond $216
Downtown Coaches Club $95.55
Flora Wooley Circle $8.00
Girl Scouts Troop No. 41 $2.00
Jessamine Women’s Club $25.00
Lexington Lions Club, Voiture 785 $133.93
Lexington Optimist Club $137.24
Lexington Public Schools Pupils $240.66
Lexington Rotary Club $300.25

Louisville Rotary Club $552
Nicholasville Lions Club $50.00
Richmond Exchange Club $50
Richmond Kiwanis Club $30.00
Roxie Davis Post #7017 $250
Roxie Davis Post No. 7017, VFW $250.00
Rural Schools $100
St. John’s Episcopal $5.00
St. Paul’s Parochial School $12.50
Transylvania College Students $82.70
Wolf Run Homemakers Club $11.95
Women’s Bible Class of First Methodist Church $20.00

List of Works Consulted

“$200 Club Will Aid Food Train” The Lexington Herald Nov 15, 1947:1+.
“$4,600 Sought to Pay City’s Share of Train” Lexington Herald-Leader Nov. 13: 1.
“All Are Aboard But Lexington” Lexington Herald Nov. 11: 1.
“Breaks Piggy Bank For Friendship Train” Lexington Herald Nov. 14, 1947: 1.
“Cars to Leave Here Today for Food Train” The Courier-Journal [Louisville
Kentucky] Nov. 11, 1947: 3.
“Central Kentucky’s Food Train Loaded; Cash Short” The Lexington Herald Nov.
13, 1947:1+.
“Church Councils Back Friendship Train Plan” The Courier-Journal [Louisville
Kentucky] Nov. 4, 1947: 11.
“Club Donates $50” The Lexington Herald Nov 14, 1947: 13.
“Each Member of Lions Club Pledges A Case of Macaroni Food Train” The
Courier Journal [Louisville Kentucky] Nov. 5, 1947: 13.
“ ‘Friendship Train’ Fund Climbs to $3,716 Total” The Lexington Herald Leader
Nov. 16, 1947: 1.
“Friendship Train Drive A Success” The Franklin Favorite Nov. 13, 1947:1.
“Friendship Train Fund Drive Hits $1,400-$3,200 To Go” Lexington Herald-
Leader Nov. 14: 21.

“Friendship Train Fund Oversubscribed by $605” The Lexington Herald Dec. 3,
1947: 1.
“Friendship Train To Receive Last-Minute Lexington Car” Lexington Herald-
Leader Nov. 12, 1947: 1+.
“Governor Welcomes Car of Gratitude from France” The Courier Journal
[Louisville Kentucky] Feb. 15, 1949: 1+.
“Hazard Jaycees Put Over First Job, Car of Milk for Friendship Train” The
Courier-Journal [Louisville Kentucky] Nov. 30, 1947: 16.
“Kentuckiana Gave. $11,400” The Courier-Journal [Louisville Kentucky] Nov. 21,
1947: 4.
“Kentucky’s Most Generous Giver” The Courier-Journal [Louisville Kentucky]
Dec. 3, 1947: 6.
“Klempner Sets Out to Fill Another Car for Europe” The Courier-Journal
[Louisville. Kentucky] Nov. 6, 1947: 16.
“Lexington and Bluegrass Now On Food Train” Lexington Herald Nov. 12, 1947:
1+.
“Louisville to Donate Foodstuffs For Car 343 On Friendship “The Courier-Journal
Nov. 2, 1947: 8.
“Optimists Contribute To Friendship Train” Lexington Herald-Leader Nov. 14: 2.
“Paris VFW Gives $250 to Friendship Train” Lexington Herald-Leader Nov. 5,
1947: 14.
“Plan Friendship Campaign” Lexington Herald-Leader Nov. 12, 1947: 5.
“Richmond Exchange Club Gives $50 to Food Train” The Lexington Herald Nov
14, 1947: 1.
“Rotary Club Gives $552 For Food Train” The Courier-Journal Nov. 7 1947: 17.
“State Food Being Sent To ‘Friendship Train’” The Owensboro Messenger
[Owensboro, Kentucky] Nov. 11, 1947: 2.
“The Friendship Train” The Lexington Herald-Leader Nov. 21, 1947: 4.
“Two Cars of Food for Europe to Leave Tomorrow; Contributions Still Need” The
Courier-Journal [Louisville Kentucky] Nov. 9, 1947: 14.
“Week Remains For Us to Fill Friendship Car The Courier-Journal [Louisville
Kentucky] Nov. 4, 1947: 11.
“ ‘We Thank You,’ The French Say” The Courier-Journal [Louisville Kentucky]
Feb 27, 1947: 77+.

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

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