Historic Hood River
“Dinner Time, Cafeteria Style”
5-13-2024
Notes
This is another image for the World War II (1942-1943) era Oregon State Extension report describing how they recruited Mexican workers to replace the Japanese who had been forceably removed from the Hood River Valley. These men are waiting in line for dinner at “Cafeteria 2”. Note the large bin of what I think is coal in the foreground. Perhaps the coal was for cooking, or perhaps it was fed in to furnaces to warm the living quarters.
L. E.
Interesting!
nails
OPB TV ran the hour long workers program on the workers imported in 1942 last night. They rebelled against the constant PBJ sandwiches and lack of Mexican foods. Their point was that American soldiers fought the battle and won, but it was the Mexican workers who fed the soldiers and the whole country. The American govt brought it on themselves by imprisoning the Japanese orchardists and farmers. It was discontinued in 1962 but by that time orchardists had made contacts with the workers that they wanted to come back and made arrangements to house them and their families. About that time the border enforcement made a sweep into the valley but the orchardists hid them or told them to run. I think the present HR County is 50% Mexican.
DAVID A KNOBLACH
Although it is logical to think this is coal, I am skeptical. Although low-grade coal can have a lighter color, most coal is very dark and black. The stuff in the bin is not close to dark–like the clothing on nearby people. And dark coal would have left dark marks on the interior of the bin when removed (which there are no marks). At first I was thinking it was oysters. But oysters could spoil potentially if stored that way. I’m just saying it doesn’t seem to be coal or charcoal.