You are reading No. 2, Volume 89 ofThe Western Producer, but the mail recently brought us a pristine copy of No. 2, Volume 20. We do have complete archives of this publication, but seldom do we take time to have a good look backward.
While storm-stayed in Lethbridge last weekend, there was ample time to examine the yellowed pages of No. 2, Volume 20, published Sept. 10, 1942, which was sent to us by Real Lejeune of Dryden, Ont. He found this copy in an old house in Prince Rupert, B.C., about 20 years ago, and kept it safe until contacting us.
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“I do not know if it is actually valuable but I do not want it to come to harm. I hope that it will be taken care of,” he wrote. “If something good becomes of this paper, please let me know.”
Perhaps this column will constitute “something good” and beyond that, it will have a home in our archives and library. It’s gratifying to know thatWP staffers are not the only ones who see value in older copies.
The address on this particular issue is that of Chris Berg of Prince Rupert. Records show he isn’t getting the paper anymore, although there are 32 Berg families in Canada who do.
The issue is chock full of war news. “Rommel’s desert army back where it started week ago,” is the top headline, recounting a “limited victory” by the British 8th Army in the battle of Egypt.
“Dieppe raid’s known killed,” says another headline, announcing the death of 170 Canadians in that horrific battle. Today, history has recorded more than 900 Canadians were killed in that raid.
With news of such import, there was relatively little agricultural fodder in No. 2, Volume 20, unlike the issue you’re holding now.
However, theWPdid note Canada was to supply nine million bushels of wheat to Russian allies, and that cattle producers didn’t like a plan that would see the Wartime Food Corporation become the sole exporter of beef cattle to the United States.
Canadian farmers were being urged to spend the winter of 1942-43 in the bush, obtaining lumber badly needed in the war effort.
And in the Help Wanted section, many farmers were looking for housekeepers and cooks. An added enticement was a notation of whether electricity was available in the farmhouse.
A look backward can certainly make us grateful for the present.
See Barb’s blog at producer. com.
