Mary (Pulak) Pirie

1945, Thedford 

I was in Thedford in 1945 when there were nine girls from Geraldton that summer. We had heard about the Ontario Farm Labour Force and thought it would be a good chance for a nice summer and to meet new friends from all over Ontario and Quebec.

It was my first trip away from home so it was exciting, educational and a great learning experience, besides helping us to become independent. I really missed my family and wrote many letters telling them all about my work – weeding onions, hoeing sugar beets and planting celery – and about all the girls I had met from all over. They loved hearing about my experiences but my parents worried about the hitchhiking part.

I told them about weeding onions alongside German P.O.Ws. I had no fear of these men. I felt sorry for them because they were separated from their families a far greater distance that I was from mine. They asked about my family and I knew how much they must have missed theirs.

We earned 35 cents an hour, a total pay at the end of the week of $14.00 and we had to pay $7.00 for board. I did manage to save $50 for the summer to bring home to my mom and even brought presents. My parents were pleased at my accomplishments.

Some of the Farmerettes played ball although I can’t remember if it was a mixed team of local girls and Farmerettes (I think it was). Anyway we went to Strathroy, Parkhill and other places to play.

I remember taking an organized trip to Detroit with our camp mother. We visited the Detroit Zoo and saw some of the city. It was real exciting for a kid from Geraldton where the tallest building might have been three stories.

On rainy days we used to walk to the main street in Thedford and buy Long John’s (doughnuts) from the local bakery. Yummy!

The girls I met were nice, all types and so many different stories they had to tell. It was a really nice experience for me and my friends. So many memories even though I can’t remember them all.

I do remember that the farmers gave us a picnic with great food. The farmer I worked for had us to his home for dinner and we made our own homemade ice cream and topped it with fresh strawberries.

I was also there in 1946 but the first trip was the most memorable.

Farmerettes and farmers work planting celery with a machine.