“The farm is a mess. The neighbours are all coming to help clean it up today.” Monday, July 23, 1945
22 Sun. Mom & girls went to McGugans to pick strawberries this morn. I helped do work, then at 12 George Cranes came in. Before they were gone, Pete Gaabs came. We coaxed them to stay for dinner. Had some music this aft. They left, as John Williamsons came. We were just having ice-cream for supper & Russ Mitchells came & shared it with us. We girls rode to the farm with them after supper. Lawrences & Bowditches were here. I had a bath. I am really tired.
23 Mon. The farm is a mess. The neighbours are all coming to help clean it up today. Isabelle brought Doris & I to town. 18 men out home helping to clean up the mess. Couldn’t get a balance. I went back and worked for an hour, til 9.30. After doing some odd jobs. came home & drank ginger ale, played the piano and went to bed.
1945 Hail Storm
24 Tues. Worked on balance today all day. Very hot. Home for supper about 6.40. Doris & I went to the show “The Song of Bernadette.” It began at 8.30 and ended at 11.30. Ross and another fellow came in tonight from Wawota. Show was queer.
25 Rodeo Wed. Saw the parade real well from upstairs in the office. Was pretty good. Finally got a balance just before noon. Worked til 1.00, then had the afternoon off. Doris & I went to the Rodeo Grounds, & sat in the tent, looking after the Old Timers Register. It was real interesting. Came home & got supper for Ross & Dale Oliver. Bill Bell came up & spent most of the evening. He and Ross were a scream. It rained.
26 Thurs. Worked fairly hard this morn. Got the afternoon off again. Ross & Dale took Doris & I to the Grounds as soon as I was off. We went on the Grandstand, which was fairly good. Met the folks, & we all came down to Stewarts & had supper. Went back on the G. tonight & saw the car & chariot races, which were real good. Doris met Willard, so Is. & I went together. She stayed here.
27 Fri. Nice Day. I got caught up on my work this afternoon. Mr. McGugan died early this morn. He was so bad that it is for the best. Isabelle got our dinner for us. The three of us went down to the bus. Pert came in. Miss Farrell was going through so we talked to her. Came home & washed our hair & set it.
28 Sat. Worked on dividends some today. Saw Pert this morn for a minute. It always gives me a thrill! Stutts were in, and went to the second show, so I had the keys and sat in the truck from 9.45 until 11.15. I was really very tired. Doris went out to Lutz’s.
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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.