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World War II Canteen at Streator Train Station

During the war years women from Streator and the small towns around Streator took turns operating Canteens. They met the troop trains that came through the Santa Fe station in Streator. They provided home made refreshments to the GI’s on the trains. Back row from the left is the USO Coordinator-name unknown, Ruth May, Betty (Oneil) Finlen, ?, Leora Harms, Rita Trekker, Maurine Vinecore, Mrs. Marshall, Gladys Sanders, Hale Jackson's wife, ?, Teresa McClure, Mrs. Vonshan, Effie Pope, Pearl Stenzel, Mildred Anderson. Front row from the left is Geneviewe Palmer, Deloris Smith, Betty Stenzel, Lilian Oldenburg, Dela Kinkade, Maxine McClure, Ruby Crone, Wahneta Hamrs Hacker, Betty McClure, Ruth Andrews, Mildren Schmillen, Charlotte Copp, Anna Louise Arndt.

The occasion was Rutland Day at the Streator Canteen and about 1000 service men were fed. Meat sandwiches, cup cakes, doughnuts, coffee, milk, apples and oranges were given to the men according to an article in the Rutland Record on March 29, 1945.

The photo was submitted by Dan O’Neil of Mendota, IL, who is a brother to Betty Finlen.
The names were provided by Marjorie Palmore.


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