South Dakota Dorothy R. Scheele The Friendship Train, one of America's greatest contributions to mankind, exploded into American life in November 1947. Leaving from Los Angeles on November 7, the train reached New York 11 days later. Its purpose was to collect food for the famished people of France and Italy. All aspects of the Friendship Train were gratis, including the food itself, rail transportation, unloading the cargo of the freight cars unto the ships, trans-Atlantic shipping, and the myriad other jobs demanded by such a colossal endeavor. Drew Pearson, a well-known columnist and broadcaster during the mid-20th century, is the originator of the Friendship Train. While in Europe, Pearson noted that the Soviet Union was sending badly needed food to Europe and creating a brouhaha whenever a shipment arrived. He realized that this beneficent gift was actually an attempt to persuade the Europeans to accept communism and he thought that America could offer the same life-saving gifts. Hence, the idea of the Friendship Train resulted. Five weeks after Pearson announced his plan, the train was in motion. Although the historic and inimitable Friendship Train did not travel through every state, every state contributed to it by either shipping its contributions to New York for transportation to Europe or by sending its own boxcars or trucks to meet the Train along its cross country odyssey.
South Dakota's population in the 1940s was 642,269. The residents donated an impressive amount of food to the Friendship Train. Because the train did not travel South Dakota, its contributions had to be shipped to other states.
South Dakota was very generous in donating to the victims of World War II. Rev. A.A. Schade of Huron was Chairman of the South Dakota World Relief Program and was also executive secretary of the South Dakota Council of Churches. By December 2, 1947, South Dakota had contributed $130,000 in cash and grain to World Relief. Included in this amount were donations directly to the Friendship Train.
Several large advertisements were printed in the The Rapid City Journal to encourage contributions to the Train. On November 6th the advertisement said., "Get on the Friendship Train! Help the starving people of France and Italy by sending a check, or selling grain and livestock and giving the proceeds to the Friendship Train Relief Fund, Chamber of Commerce, Rapid City" On November 7th, the advertisement said, "Get on the Friendship Train! All over the country Americans are doing their bit to fill the Friendship Train with food for the hungry people of France and Italy. The Black Hills, which has met every call for help, in war and peace, is again being asked for aid to a worthy cause. Let's not fail to do our share. There will be no solicitations. The fund is being raised purely by voluntary donations of money to purchase essential food to be sent abroad. Send your contribution NOW! Send your Donation To FRIENDSHIP TRAIN RELIEF FUND Rabid City Chamber of Commerce. Another advertisement in the November 8th Rapid City Journal encouraged giving, "All Aboard The Friendship Train" was paid for by the Anchor Bar and Grill, indicating the communality of the Friendship Train movement. Donations began coming in from every part of the state.
E. H. Lighter, president of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce, announced that a check in the amount of $1,039, raised by churches and the Chamber of Commerce in Rapid City, had been mailed to the Omaha Junior Chamber of Commerce. The funds had been mailed to Omaha because it was more economical to buy the food there. Howard Drew, secretary of the Omaha Jaycees, bought two hundred bags of flour each weighing 100 pounds with the funds raised. Another drive in Rapid City resulted in the city itself donating $700. $100 was donated from the Rapid City Protection Credit Association. Sam Margulies, in addition to generously donating $300, he also offered his full time services along with resources such as an office, a stenographer, and an automobile to help in the food drive.
Bon Homme County contributed a check in the amount of $6,385 along with a grain contribution valued at $2,080. The grain was shipped to Kansas City where it was attached to the Friendship Train's Southwest Special Train, on November 21st.
Harry Christensen, of the Spearfish Lions Club received a check for $100 from the club which he forwarded to the food drive. Western Airline employees donated 300 pounds of flour which was shipped to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Farmers from Campbell, Walworth, and McPherson counties donated five boxcars. Campbell County which sent three carloads of wheat and 11,000 in cash was the largest contributor. Other high end contributors were Hutchinson, Turner, Brookings, Hand, Pennington, and Douglas counties. Walworth County donated 1,700 bushels of wheat and $300 in cash. Lake County donated $5,040 designated for the purchase of canned meat. Freight cars of wheat were anticipated from Spink and Brown counties. The commodities and cash received from most of these counties were not reported in the newspaper.
The Rapid City Journal reported that several boxcars of wheat were transported to Duluth, MN where the grain was stored in grain elevators held by the Farmers Union Grain Terminals. Arrangements had been made on paper to exchange the South Dakota grain in Duluth with wheat currently stored in the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association elevators in Topeka, KS and were attached to the Friendship Train there.
Another method of collection was to place boxcars on railroad tracks where donors could then take their gifts directly to the cars. The boxcars were spotted in Day, Marshall, Grant, Potter, and Sully counties enabling the residents to take their gifts directly to these boxcars.
South Dakotans gave from their hearts. They were not thinking in terms of dollars and sense or my needs. Instead their thoughts were with their fellowman and their needs. They can rightly feel satisfaction in the help they gave.
List of works consulted Black Hills Friendship Car Rapid City Journal Nov. 1, 1947: 2. Black Hills Friendship Train Gathers Steam Rapid City Journal Nov. 7, 1947: 2. Club Makes Friendship Contribution Rapid City Journal Nov. 7, 1947: 3. The Daily Plainsman [Huron South Dakota] Jan. 23, 1948: 4. Editorial Compliments to South Dakota Churches The Daily Plainsman [Huron South Dakota] Mar. 22, 1948: 1. French Merci Train is Accepted by S. D. In Big Ceremonial Here Today Feb. 11, 1949: 1. Friendship Train Exceeds Original Plan Rapid City Journal Nov. 13, 1947: 1 Friendship Train Fund Tops $1,000 Rapid City Journal Nov. 12, 1947: 1. Friendship Train Funds Sought by Local Civic Club Queen City Mail [Spearfish, South Dakota] Nov. 13, 1947: 1. Hills Civic Club Elects Officers Argus-Leader [Sioux Falls. South Dakota] Dec. 14, 1947: 9. Lake to Contribute to European Relief Argus-Leader [Sioux Falls, South Dakota] Dec. 5, 1948: 9. State Foreign Relief Valued At $130,000 Rapid City Journal Dec. 2, 1947: 3. Friendship Train Gets Car of Wheat From South Dakota Argus-Leader [Sioux Falls, South Dakota] Nov. 12, 1947: 2. Relief Plan Bogs Down In Rapid City Rapid City Journal Nov. 5, 1947: 5. S. D. Food Train Leaves Falls Rapid City Journal Feb. 12, 1948: 8. World Relief Coffers Get More Funds Argus Leader [Sioux Falls, South Dakota] Nov. 6, 1947: 18.
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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