Just as the sugar rationing was being put in effect in 1942 during the war years, Daviess County had taken steps to prepare to hand out ration stamps and ration sugar when they got the “go” orders.

The supplies for the rationing were locked in a vault in the city clerk’s office. The supplies included 15,000 rationing books, 16,000 application blanks for books, and 16,000 instructional leaflets.

At the appointed time, these books had to be available for necessary distribution 24 hours a day. Only one member of the rationing board would be able to pass out the books.

Ration books were issued to each household for the eligible amount of sugar they’d receive. For example, a war stamp book No. 8 was issued for a 10-week period from Aug. 23 to Oct. 31, 1942, and was good for five pounds of sugar.

Later, there was a small change. The half pound per person per week was the same as the five pound per person for 10 weeks. This new change was more efficient as it was easier to divide the five pound purchase, which was packed in five, 10, and 25 pound bags that had been put up the previous fall before the sugar was rationed.

Sugar ration books issued to persons who had since died, entered the army, or had been absent from the country for a period of more than 30 days had to be returned to the local War Price and Ration Board which issued them.

To keep informed of the status of consumers in this area, members of the ration board were established. They kept in contact with the local draft board and county health authorities who had a record of deaths.

— written and presented by Wilbur Bush, Gallatin, MO