OLD TIMES: We found this gem in a copy of the March 25, 1918, Era.
“The War Library drive for books which was conducted last week on behalf of American soldiers on land and sea, was most successful in this locality, the quota of 1,000 books having been exceeded by a large number. It is pointed out that although the campaign is closed the demand for books for soldiers will continue to be pressing and the public is urged to continue contributions from week to week to supply the evergrowing requirements of the soldiers. Up to Saturday night the number of contributions totalled 1,267 books and 1,844 magazines.”
It seems that patriotism in Bradford has been strong for more than a century.
WAR TIME:We found several stories about cutting consumption and reducing waste, all in efforts to help the Allies in World War I.
On March 26, 1918, the Food Administration curtailed wheat consumption to 50 percent of normal, as the other half would go to the Allies.
“The remaining 50 percent is available for domestic use and is apportioned as equitably as possible in the basis of normal consumption. Retail stores are outside the Food Administrator’s zone of authority but any who fail to treat their trade fairly in distributing or who exact extortionate prices will be cut off from further supply. Retailers have been asked to limit their sales to one quarter of a barrel to town customers and twice that amount to country customers.”
What a different world it was then. We can’t imagine in today’s world that people would willingly comply with these regulations.
A story on March 29, 1918, gave a list of 30 men called from the Bradford area to fill in the ranks at Camp Lee. The list of men appears alongside a headline about the war on the front page. “French drive big dent into tide of German salient and hold terrain against huns.”
