The Merci Train Boxcar of Manchester, New Hampshire

The Merci Train Boxcar 136 Reed Street, in the West Side of Manchester, New Hampshire

What was the "Merci Train"? Why is there a Merci Train boxcar on display in Manchester, New Hampshire? And where are all the other Merci Train boxcars?

A close up of the Merci Train boxcar taken through the display glass
of the protective building in Manchester, New Hampshire

Crowds welcome the Merci Train Boxcar in 1949 Manchester, New Hampshire
Photo courtesy of the Manchester Historic Association

Back during World War II, after the citizens of France suffered terrible hardships under Nazi occupation, the United States sent the Friendship Food Train in 1947.   This was actually three trains with 270 box cars full of food worth over $40 million at the time.  This was a volunteer effort all done by donation, not costing the government a penny for the transportation by ship, rail and truck.  Every package had this label in French and Italian "All races and creeds make up the vast melting pot of America, and in a democratic and Christian spirit of good will toward men, we, the American people, have worked together to bring this food to your doorsteps, hoping that it will tide you over until your own fields are again rich and abundant with crops." 

In return for this kindness, and for liberating their country from Nazi occupation, the citizens of France sent 49 boxcars to the United States. These were known as the Merci Train boxcars.  One boxcar for each state and the District of Columbia.  Each car toured France, and the villagers placed gifts inside each car.  These items included handmade lace, dolls, wines, cheeses, paintings, crafts, photographs of the war, as well as American, German and French weapons taken from battlefields and other objects. 

Only 35 of these Merci Train boxcars still exist. This historic event is long forgotten in American history.  Do you know where the Merci Train boxcar in your state now resides?  Were your ancestors involved with the Friendship Food Train project, or the Merci Train boxcar projects? 

The New Hampshire boxcar arrived in New Hampshire on 10 February 1949. It stopped first in Nashua at 7am, and then at Manchester at 8am where it was moved to a large trailer truck and paraded up Elm Street to a reception at City Hall.  The next day it went to Concord, where it was officially presented to the state of New Hampshire on the State House plaza.  It was accepted by Governor Sherman Adams.  

The New Hampshire boxcar was held at Concord until 1953.  It now rests in a display building at 136 Reed Street in Manchester, on the West Side off of Bremer Street. The land is part of the tiny Monsignor Gilbert Park donated by a local church.  A ceremony is held at this site on the last Sunday of every September, which commemorates the ties between France and the United States. A parade leaves the Justras Post at 56 Boutwell Street and marches to the Merci Boxcar.  It is unknown if the parade and ceremony will take place this year (2020) because of the COVID pandemic. 

An organization called the Grand Voiture du New Hampshire of the 40 & 8 safeguards the box car and its history. This group is named for the 40 men or 8 horses which could be held inside a box car.  This organization cares for Manchester's boxcar, and many of the boxcars from other states. There are links to explore (see below) if you are interested in learning more.  

Most of the items inside the boxcar were distributed to societies across New Hampshire. Here in Manchester there are some items at St. Anselm's College, which were formerly part of the collection of the Library of the Americaine Canadienne Association. This link has some photos of some of the items that were inside the boxcar, donated by citizens of France:   http://mercitrain.org/NewHampshire/   

For the Truly Curious:

A video by WMUR TV's Fritz Weatherbee, from his history spot on "Chronicle" about the Merci Train in Manchester, New Hampshire:   https://www.wmur.com/article/fritz-wetherbee-the-merci-boxcar-in-pinardville/31020345 

The Merci Train New Hampshire:  http://mercitrain.org/NewHampshire/
This same website has pages for each state that received a boxcar, including Washington, DC, and a good overview of the whole history of the Merci Train boxcars:   http://mercitrain.org 

This website has a list of the gifts from inside the New Hampshire boxcar:   http://www.trains-and-trains.dk/Arrangements/USA/Merci/new-hampshire.shtml 

New Hampshire: War and Peace, by John Clayton, Peter Randall Publishers, 2001.  Out of print, but still available at the Manchester Millyard Museum, and also at AbeBooks.com: 

https://www.abebooks.com/9780965068444/New-Hampshire-peace-Clayton-John-0965068447/plp   

     John Clayton, director of the Manchester Historic Association, also wrote this article about the Merci Train Boxcar:

     https://manchesterinklink.com/box-car-recalls-250-tons-thanks/?fbclid=IwAR3LJ_8qf_l-xaLGZLHOXoF-G7rW5uArPCUceWPiArtllcs-ofdj_Y6WLBQ    

Forty and Eight (La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux) -
       Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_and_Eight 
        Website:  https://www.fortyandeight.org/  

        Facebook group:

        https://www.facebook.com/Forty-and-Eight-Voiture-Nationale-483982595006573  

The Friendship Train 1947 website:  http://www.thefriendshiptrain1947.org/ 

The Journey of the Gratitude Train blog:  https://gratitudetrain.typepad.com/ 

--------------------

Cite/Link to this post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The Merci Train Boxcar of Manchester, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 4, 2020, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-merci-train-boxcar-of-manchester.html: accessed [access date]).