Thursday, August 02, 2012

a barn is found wanting


From an application form submitted by my grandfather, Jerry Joe Dykstra, to the War Production Board requesting permission to purchase materials that were rationed. It was filed in Sioux County, Iowa and approved by the office in Chicago.
August 2, 1943 (possibly August 24, 1943)
With the present barn being very old and small, it is impossible for me to properly house my livestock, and in the winter time my stock nearly freeze, and fact of the matter is that the past winter the ears were frozen so badly on my calves that they later fell off. I have a son in the armed forces, and I feel it my duty to him and my country to produce all the food that I can, and cannot with present facilities.
This project is for a new livestock barn, I intend to tear down all of the old barn, and will salavage (sic) and use all the lumber in it that is fit to reuse.
The size of this barn will be 36' by 50' and 8ft to plate. I intend to use cement block or clay tile to the plate to save on critical material.


Below the open door is my father and his dog.

We found this form in my father's papers.

4 comments:

  1. Wow, what a great find..thanks for sharing.

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  2. I was born in 1940 so too small at that time to realize how many things were rationed because of the war. I'm glad that form was saved, to help us realize what conditions were like at that time.

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  3. What a wonderful piece of history.

    Sharon

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  4. Nice letter. Did he get his barn?

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