“took the horse & cart.“ Tuesday, January 2, 1945
Jan 1 Monday. Mrs McGugan & boys, Stutts & Elton were here for dinner at noon. We had a very nice day. Elton took us kids all to Killians in the car to skate. Came home & played “Finance”. Gee, Neil was a crazy goon all day. McGugans left after nine, Elton later. Stutts stayed & played Five Hundred.
2 Tues. Got up late as usual. Jean asked we girls down for dinner. It was a cold wind but took the horse & cart. Played “Five in a Row,” Home by five. Elton & Dad come home from town & the former stayed for supper. I go ready for school tomorrow.
3 Wed. Back to school again! Kinda glad. Mr. S. brought us in. Didn’t do much all morn. Shopped after school. Mr. Wright is here — 8 of us. Jack was over to practice tonight. I had lots of homework. Two at supper. Had lunch down town. Looked in at dance. Saw J.D. Robinson
4 Thurs. Real frosty. I went back right after dinner & Kids helped me with Book K. We came home right after school. Doris went to the show tonight alone. I played the piano for the rest to dance after doing my book k. Then went to bed. Didn’t really get to sleep until after Doris.
5 Fri. Felt better this morn than I yesterday. We were late getting up so hurried to school and when we got there had to wait on the steps for Miss Blackwell to unlock it. Fairly good day. Dad, Isabelle & Wilma were in for us. Home shortly after 5.30. I gave Shirley her lesson tonight. Did my nails, diary, accts. etc.
6 Sat. Had a real easy day. Just gave Wilma a lesson, and most of the work was finished by lunch time. Bowditches came late this afternoon. We played Finance and then had supper. Had a fairly nice evening. They played Five Hundred. Isabelle & I made lunch. Bed about 1.30
Click Here to view a scan of the handwritten original
These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
For more information on BCATP see a blog site dedicated to “Paying homage to those who stayed behind to train those who fought overseas.”