“Nearly froze at the well. The water was so cold.“ Saturday, March 31, 1945
25 Sun. Didn’t sleep well last night. Jean called and invited us down there. I did my work, then we had lunch. Left about 3 o’clock. Had a fairly nice visit, and a grand supper. Put in time when we came home. I was in bed before 10.
26 Mon. Raining when we got up, and the roads to town were quite bad. Dad brought us in. Went back to school early at noon. It was snowing after school. Rather miserable. Doris & Mrs S. Went to Easter Thank Offering at Mission Circle. I stayed home & did quite a bit of Bookkeeping. Ross showed me some Boogie Woogie. We ate chocolate bars.
27 Tues. Windy & kind of miserable. We stayed downtown a little while. Did some work, then went to the show after supper, at 8.15. It wasn’t out until 11. Katherine Hepburn in “Dragon Seed.” Chinese war picture. Real good. Wonderful acting.
28 Wed. We helped move the Grand Piano & all other furniture out of the dining room after school. We now have the desk in the kitchen. What fun! Got our own supper. Just Doris & I, as Mr. & Mrs were invited out, & Ross is in Regina. Had a picnic dashing upstairs to answer the phone. Went to the hospital & back on the bus. Saw Delia & baby. Mrs. S. went to Petits with us. We kids made popcorn balls, then had lunch. Bed at 11.30.
29 Thurs. Nice day. Flat broke! Mom & Dad came in for us. Babe Bowditch came home from the north. Didn’t see him. Didn’t accomplish much tonight. Started reading “Greater Love Hath No Man.”
30 Fri. Worked like the dickens. Scrubbed & waxed the kitchen floor. Mended, pressed, made an angel food. After supper I did face, hair, nails & bathed. Started reading “Greater Love Hath No Man.” Sure is good.
31 Sat. Isabelle & I washed the car. Nearly froze at the well. The water was so cold. The Pierce kids couldn’t come for lessons. Our whole family went to town early. We girls went to the show at 1.30. It was “Can’t Help Singing” in technicolor with Deanna Durbin. Real good. Man, what Costumes. Bowditches all came up tonight. Babe is down. We had a fairly nice visit. I embroidered. We had lunch. Got to bed at about 1 o’clock.
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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.”