PRICES: We’ve shared some concerns from local residents back in 1917, about the cost of living while the county was at war. We found an example of some prices on Oct. 30, 1917, in nearby New York towns of Salamanca and Jamestown.

“Salamanca: Gold Medal Flour, $3 per sack; California hams, per pound, .24; 20 ounce apples, peck, 40 cents; Quaker Oats, 3 packages, 25 cents; Sugar, 5 pounds with $2 order, 25 cents; Ward’s bread, 9 cents; cabbage, 50 pounds for 75 cents

“Jamestown: Sugar cured hams, 32 ½ cents per pound; Eggs, strictly fresh, 46 cents; Creamery buttery prints, best 47 cents; Potatoes, homegrown, $1 a bushel; New cabbage, per pound, 1 ½ cents; Tomatoes, 7 pounds, 20 cents; beets, per dozen, bunches, 45 cents.”

At the same time, though, The Era cautioned people not to panic, as the government was assuring there was enough food to be had by all.

“These are the days for sitting tight and not going off the handle,” the article read.

“Panics are the creation of fear often groundless and they result disastrously.

“A few days ago there was a panic about sugar. The Food Administration told the public not to be alarmed but to be cool. Despite this, however, there was a rush to lay in sugar which aggravated a temporary shortage so that the situation was serious.

“There was enough sugar for all present needs and more was coming, but when people began to go in droves to all retailers and try to lay in enough sugar to last them all winter, the supply on hand naturally vanished and a real shortage occurred.

“The same thing has happened more than once with coal.

“By acting in this way people forced up the price of sugar, paid more for what they laid in than was necessary and deprived some who did not rush but who went afterward when they actually needed sugar, to go without.

“It will not do to repeat this sort of thing. There are supplies enough for all and they are in competent hands. Slight shortages may occur from time to time, but they will be rectified if the panic-stricken public does not aggravate the situation.

“Keep cool and sit tight.”