Sherburne History Center Blog

Every so often I strive to recognize Sherburne County men and women in military service.   Individuals who sacrificed for their country.   I want to acknowledge the life of Robert Darrow, a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, who died in combat in Italy in September 1943.   Robert Darrow, born in Elk River; for a short time, lived in Big Lake before returning to the city.   He graduated from Elk River High School in 1939.   He trained as a pilot at the North Dakota State School of Science.   He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and received his commission as Lieutenant in July 1942.   Bob Darrow received some recognition as an excellent pilot.   The Sherburne County Star News published a report of Darrow, during a training session in Louisiana, landing a crippled plane at high speed.   He kept the plane, with damaged wings, in the air for an hour to allow his crew to bail out.   To a man, the crew stayed with Darrow. ...

Earlier, we wrote of the rationing programs effecting Sherburne County during World War Two.   Following up on the discussion, we want to shift gears away from rationing of farm necessities and scrap metal to explore the food rationing programs.   Although the advertisement emphasizes the scrap drives, the theme of rationing for the war effort served as a universal message  Although the scrap drives and farm implement rationing remained significant in Sherburne County, sugar and other food rationing gained importance beginning in the spring of 1942.   In February, the Federal Price Administration developed plans for rationing of sugar, coffee, meat, gasoline, and other household necessities. In Sherburne County, teachers served as the registrants, to record the size and food requirements of each family in the county.   The teachers worked late nights to document members of each family and issue ration books for food and gasoline.   In the case...