Rhode Islanders, Food and the World Wars

The United States Food Administration advertised corn as a patriotic substitute for wheat. Ads appeared in the newspaper and as full color posters. Got corn?

In January of 1918, The Bristol Women's Committee on Food Conservation organized a campaign of "mutual helpfulness" in the "matter of meeting patriotic obligations." The housewives would meet informally to share recipes. "Foreign" (immigrant) women were encouraged to join.

The Bristol committee consisted of Mrs. C. T. Sherman, Mrs. J. H. Wall, Mrs. Harold DeWolf-, Mrs. William LeClair, Mrs. Frank H. Hammill, Mrs. Delia Morte, Miss Emma, August Mrs. A. L. Morgan, chairman'.

A demonstration of fish as wartime food was offered at the Home Economics Laboratory, 77 Washington street Providence on Jan. 8th, hosted by Miss Ethel Wright.

Bristol Phoenix January 8, 1918, p. 1

(A lot of other food stories appear on that page as well).

Here you can see what foods were available at local markets in 1918. Notice brown bread listed at the bottom. Bakers turned to their ancestor for inspiration when wheat and sugar were rationed. Brown bread is a New England classic! Fannie Farmer's Boston Cooking School cookbook recipe uses 1 c. rye flour, 1 c. cornmeal, 1 c. graham flour and molasses. It's commonly steamed in a can.

Read more about on Nucoa nut margarine

Newman Bros. Aug 28, 1917

Liberty Market May 28, 1918

Newman Bros. Market June 4, 1918

See what was available during World War II when rationing was mandatory and strict. You can see how desirable red meat was based on the price. The reality was, most Americans simply could never afford to buy it even before the war.

While sugar was rationed, you could still get your sugar fix energy from bottled beverages!

The Bristol Garden Club assisted newcomers with their vegetable gardens. The newspaper also answered questions about gardening.

On February 16, 1943 the Phoenix reports that 11-year-old Gilbert Costa, a 5th grader at Reynold School and son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony E. Costa, won a gold medal for Victory Gardening from the Providence and Bristol County 4-H Clubs! A 2-year veteran of 4-H, young Gilbert did all the work on a small plot. With his money, he purchased a War Bond. Gilbert's sister Eileen ha won a medal for canning the year before.

On July, 27 John Ferri, of the Cup Defenders' Association, had a garden with the most complete assortment of vegetables which showed unusual care and effort towards its growth. Club members toured various gardens and a panel of judges awarded John Ferri the winning prize. Benni Mansi was runner up.

On March 7, 1944 the Bristol Phoenix reported that the RI State Council for the Defense was planning A Victory Food Campaign to promote food production, canning and nutritional needs. Dr. Raymond G. Bressler, State Director of Agriculture and Conservation, representatives from the Civilian War Services Branch of the State Council of Defense committees on Victory Gardens, Canning and Nutrition, War Food Administration, State Extension Services, State Department of Education.

A newly formed State Victory Food Committee was to plan the event. Miss Violet Higby (remember her from the applesauce cake?) , chairman of the State Nutrition Council, Miss Sara E. Coyne, Chairman of the State Canning Committee and Dr. Everett Austin, Chairman of the State Victory Garden Committee were appointed to make plans for early observance of Victory Food Week.

Other committee members included Professor George Durham, Ernest K. Thomas (the Victory Garden professor), Mrs. Florence Case, John E. Ferrell, Miss Olga Brucher, Clemens J. France, G.W. Hall Smith, R. Arthur Devine.

Is anyone related to any of these people? Do you know anything about Victory Food Week?

Bristol Phoenix, March 7, 1944, p. 3

The Bristol Phoenix Bristolians did their part to help the war effort in the 1940s by setting up canning centers at the Reynolds School.

Mrs. Louise Masters supervisor of domestic science at the high school was in charge of the canning center in the Reynolds School kitchen. Mrs. Charles M. Connery was chairman of the center.

The canning center at Reynolds School was open 5 days a week. The school waived a fee in exchange for 1/8th of canned goods being left for school lunches. (June 15, 1943)

In July 1943, Bristol women canned 220 quarts of food!

On August 10, 1943 women were canning chicken, baked beans, brown bread.

Over 1000 containers of meat, fish, fruits and vegetables were canned during the first half of the season. Unusual items canned: hunter style chicken, chicken soup, macaroni and meatballs, meat roll and sausage in tomato sauce, clam chowder, quahogs! (August 14, 1943)

On July 9, 1943, The Bristol Phoenix newspaper printed rules for canning. Gladys Kimbrough, Home Service Director of the Ball Brothers Company (canning jars) provided helpful tips for canning.

Marjorie Mills has a unique mac and cheese recipe in 1944. Note #1: For most authentic period results, use American cheese or processed cheese or use up whatever cheese you have. Note #2: She says to cook the macaroni until tender. DO NOT do this! Follow the directions on the package until al dente or still a bit hard. Cover with sauce and bake. Do not serve with tomato sauce. Mushroom sauce sounds wrong too. No Italian would ever make this recipe but it sounds like nacho cheese sauce on macaroni. For fussy eaters and harried moms, the still-popular box mixes were available too!

The A&P advertised planning ration shopping in advance as the patriotic way. In May 1944 they advertise ration point changes, emphasizing foods that are now available. Maybe butter from local dairies was available but more likely Oleo is more widely available and costs fewer points. (Even though everyone says it was gross!) Canned meat also sounds disgusting but was widely available and inexpensive. In case you missed the memo about Victory Gardens, you can buy your vegetables at A&P as well.

A plaque, designed by C. Paul Jennewein, an internationally known sculptor, was offered as an award by Calvert Distillers Corp. to the Cranston organization which contributes to the most to the Victory Garden program during the 1944 season.

The contest was judged by the Cranston Victory Garden Committee, chaired by Woodworth Bradley, and based on what civic, fraternal and social organizations in Cranston did to encourage Victory Gardening among their neighbors, organizing neighborhood gardens, arranging for plowing, conducting harvest shows, etc.

State manager for Calvert, Clarence E. Silverman, stated his company commissioned the plaque as part of its broad national program in support of Victory Gardening.

An exact copy of the plaque was placed on display outside the Outlet Company.

Jennewein is best known for the memorial to American soldiers in WWI in Tours, France and the sculptures on the U.S. Department of Justice building.