“Saw in the new Co-op store after school.“ Tuesday, February 27, 1945
25 Sun. Nearly eleven before I woke up. Read a little, had lunch. Miss Farrell went to Dorwarts. We went over to Freeman’s about 3.30. Had a nice visit & then the grandest supper. Ailyne had made the swellest chocolate cake. We had wine and wedding cake before leaving. Bed at 10.30. Didn’t sleep til 12.30.
26 Mon. Dad brought us to town. Nice day. Saw Harm & John after school. Barbara Morris was married here at 2 o’clock. Doris & I went upstairs early & read til 10.15. Found it very interesting.
27 Tues. Another nice day. Saw in the new Co-op store after school. Came home & cleaned up. Didn’t do any homework. Went to the bowling alley at 7.15. Dad, Harm, Isabelle & Wilma, all came up. Bowled til 8.15, went up and watched Curling for a few minutes, then to the show. “The Seventh Cross” — Spencer Tracey — fair. Lunch in the Commercial. Bed at 12.15.
28 Wed. Snowed awhile — real fine. I got my 80 in Shorthand. Sure feel happy. Had ice-cream in Snelgroves after 4. Doris got her sixty. Did our work, went upstairs early, and read til nearly eleven. I was really dead-tired.
Mar 1 Thurs. Got real cold this afternoon. We met Stutts down town. Harms train was to be late, so he came up home with us with us until 5.45 then took us both to supper at the Commercial. It was really nice. I had hamburger. We then went to the station with him. Train was in at seven. Really a cold walk. Came home & did a little work. Went to the show, “Abbott & Costello”
2 Fri. Waited for the men after school, then rode up here. I stayed in, slept awhile, had supper, & went to Midale with the “Knights of Rhythm.” Didn’t start til 10.15. Crowd was tame — kind of boring. Wilbur bought our lunch at the Chinaman’s. I came back to McDonell’s.
3 Sat. Up at 9.10. got ready, had breakfast & met Jim Gireaux at Com. Rode to Pierces with him. Stopped there & gave the boys their lessons, then Donald took me home. I gave Shirley her lesson. Did my washing. Mom & Wilma went to town with Stutts. I got supper. Set hair. In bed at 8.40.
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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.”