January 29, 1944 Scrap Material Drive

The January 25^th Snippet opened with the question “How does the government finance a war?” Today our snippet focuses on what the community did to raise funds to support and encourage the boys and girls from home.

The headline of the article which led to this snippet reads: “Local Scrap Drive Set for January 29.” A second article, also on the front page notes “Rural Scrap Drive Jan 22 Through Jan. 31.” In the second article, John R. VanLiew, Rural Scrap Drive Chairman asked, “Will you take a little time to help a lad in the armed forces?...and at the same time assist our country in its need for scrap iron.” People were encouraged to bring scrap iron to the Town Building in Interlaken. If they happened to have a large amount, Mr. VanLiew offered to have it picked up. (Page 1 Interlaken Review Friday January 21, 1944.)

Under the headline for the first article is information about the items needed. At that time, 660,000 tons of waste paper was needed each month. One reason the need was so great in January 1944, only 500,000 tons were being collected, a shortage of 160,000 tons each month.

Tin was also essential to the war program, and there was no substitute for it. The article stated that the tin cans to be collected needed to be cleaned and flattened. When we think of today’s recycling with one container for all recyclables, we realize how much easier it is today.

The last item noted in the article was the need for turning in waste fats to local meat markets. In exchange, they received 2 rations points and 4 cents per pound of fat.

The proceeds of the drive were to be placed in the local service fund to help send The Review to those in service.

This was not the first scrap drive of the war effort. Jeanine and Joanne Blauvelt (daughters of newspaper owner and editor Fred Blauvelt) kept a scrapbook during the war, and it includes several photos of earlier scrap drives. The photos, dated October 1942, show piles of scrap at the corner of Main and Railroad, next door to the fire house. 

In the February 11, 1944, issue of The Review, Mr. VanLiew noted, “that the recent scrap drive has been very satisfactory for tin cans and paper but disappointing as far as scrap iron was concerned.” There had been a ton of tin cans, three tons of paper collected, but only two tons of iron.

M. C. Slaght was chairman for a Paper Salvage drive in June of 1944, and he reported that 10,830 pounds of paper were collected and sold for $59.56. This was added to other moneys being raised to send Christmas gifts to those in the service. The total at that time was $129.21. He also went on to say, “We hope to be able to raise this amount considerable before time to mail Christmas checks.”

In another report, this one by M. [Maurice] L. Patterson as secretary of the Interlaken Chamber of Commerce, listed the funds raised from an early scrap drive effort. Beginning in November 1942 when a fund was established at the Wheeler National Bank with the receipts from sale of scrap $236.00. October 1943 donation to the National War fund $50.00 and to the Boys in Service subscription fund $90.00. In March 1943 $25 was given to the Red Cross, and an additional $50 for the subscription fund. On May 1, 1944, the balance of $21 was turned over to the executive committee for the Subscription fund. (Interlaken Review June 24, 1944)

We know that these fund-raising efforts were appreciated; each week The Review published letters from the young men and women stationed around the world. Three letters from January 1944 all begin with appreciation.

McCaw General Hospital, Walla Walla, Washington.; Dear Editor: Today I was very happy to receive the good old hometown paper. News from Interlaken sure makes me feel good and I thank you for sending it to me and to the rest of the Interlaken boys who are in the service. (Manley Fowler, January 7, 1944)

England. Dear Fred and Lillian: I want you to know how much I appreciate the Review. When you are so far away from home there isn't a line you don't read. The length of time for its arrival varies. From four to seven weeks, but its all news to me. (Tom Bassett, January 7, 1944)

England. Dear Fred: After a long time this G.I. material is getting around to thank you and the others who make it possible for us in the service to get the hometown paper. (Morris Brown January 21, 1944)

Click here to see the complete letters. The Interlaken Historical Society also has a scrapbook kept by Esther Wyckoff which has all of the letters from camp if anyone is interested in reading letters from a family member.

Dewitt’s Diary: Wednesday, January 29, 1941 More snow in the night, temperature 24 this morning and 10 tonight at 4 o'clock. Snow flurries and cold wind from the north. A Mr. E Lantos is moving into the WAB [Wheeler Bassett] farm [across the road from Dewitt's].
Thursday 1942 George and I working in the woods, Cold and north wind.
Friday 1943 3 1/2 inches of new snow. Francis and I went fox hunting today.
Saturday 1944 Temperature 32 a little white on the ground and some colder. Worked in the woods again today. Some colder tonight.