1944
There are many decisions to be made when a wedding is being planned such as a time, place, reception and an infinite number of others. But if you were getting married in war time 1944, there was additionally one unusual decision that had to be made regarding the honeymoon. Today, one critical getaway decision would be to arrange perhaps with a travel agent or an online search for a honeymoon destination usually at some popular resort or even out of the country. It surely must be memorable and perhaps one that would cast envy among friends.
During WWII in order to reserve critically needed and limited supplies the government inaugurated a system of rationing. The scarce items were needed to carry on the war effort successfully so home front civilians were restricted as to the amount each would receive. This was done through a system of rationing coupons issued mostly in booklet forms. Typically there was a rationing board that would issue these coupons according to need. A family of 8 would be issued coupons accordingly. Too, there were exceptions for those who carried on something vital to the war effort such as producing needed essentials for the war effort.
The things that I remember being rationed then were sugar, tires, coffee, gasoline and shoes. The most obvious one was gasoline. Depending on the perceived need, coupons were issued to be used over a designated period of time. You would go to the filling station, have the gasoline pumped and upon payment, the merchant would remove an appropriate rationing stamp. Of course when there is rationing, the ‘black market’ is not far behind for those seeking to take advantage of the limited resources.
But the just wed couple followed the rationing rules which meant that unfortunately when the wedding day arrived, there was only one 5 gallon rationing stamp left in the groom’s book so what to do about a destination now?
No one wanted to honeymoon at Mack’s Motel at Hamer, the Henry Hotel in Rowland or the Wheeler Hotel in Dillon, (there was no South of the Border) and the lack of fuel limited the distance which could be traveled. That would include Florence and perhaps Fayetteville but these were not ideal romantic honeymoon destinations; however there was one place available, sort of.
Within their restricted driving range, there was one place that would do if barely, White Lake near Elizabethtown, N.C. was known as a ‘resort’ with at least basic accommodations. It was no Niagara Falls but after all, there was a war going on. Everyone had to make sacrifices.
The trip was memorable if not overwhelmingly in a romantic setting, but the couple apparently got off to the good start, one that has lasted some 70 years and counting.
*
Bill Lee, PO Box 128,
Hamer, SC 29547
