(Coal crisis)
(Excerpts from the Daily Log of the WAR RELOCATION AUTHORITY Central Utah Relocation Project, Project Reports Division, Historical Section. Topaz, Utah)
OCTOBER 25 (1942)
COAL TRUCKS — Twelve trucks (resident workers and drivers) left this morning to relieve the coal shortage in Topaz. Dining halls and shower rooms were assured an ample supply for the present.
OCTOBER 26
AFTERNOON CLASSES — With no stoves installed in any of the class buildings, school will continue its classes in the afternoons for the week and drop its morning periods.
LABOR SHORTAGE — A special hearing was held at Recreation Hall 11 to discuss the importance of the labor shortage and its bearing on the coal shortage. The meeting was under the sponsorship of the Community Council.
OCTOBER 27
COAL RELIEF —Eleven tons of coal were hurriedly sent into Topaz to relief [sic] the coal shortage in the kitchens.
SOLDIER DIES – Pfc. Isao Tsuno, whose family resides in Topaz, died after being confined at the Station Hospital, Port Snelling, Mich. His guardian, Mr. Tsutsui, and brother, Iwao, made a cross-country dash to be at the bedside of the youth.
SERVICE ERRAND – Fifteen schoolboys went to Delta on a community service errand this afternoon. By nightfall, the boys brought in almost 100 tons of coal for Topaz.
Yoneo Kawakita worked as a truck driver in Topaz. Read his story, “Topaz Trucker.”
Previous “Daily Log” entries:
October 16-18: Hospital dedication
October 14-15: First Nisei soldier visits
October 12-13: “Jankee”
October 7-9: Fresnans, Santa Anitans arrive
October 3-5: Tar
September 29-October 1: Community Council
September 27-28: Dust, new arrivals
September 23-26: Outside workers, lost and found
September 22: First baby
September 18-21: First frost
September 17: First group arrives
September 15: Topaz Times launched
September 11: Welcome to Topaz
The Topaz Stories Team
Plan to visit the Topaz Stories Exhibit in Salt Lake City before it closes on December 31, 2022.
Contact us if you have a Topaz Story to share.
Follow us on Instagram @topazstories
Media Coverage:
Watch Topaz survivors tell their stories (abc4 news, 4/22/2022)
Listen to the “In the Hive” podcast with interviews with Ann Dion, Jonathan Hirabayashi, and Topaz survivors Jeanie Kashima and Joseph Nishimura (KCPW, 4/28/2022)
Read How a Utah exhibit about Topaz Camp looks to find empathy in ‘an ugly stain on American history (ksl.com, 4/22/2022)
Read “Topaz Stories rise from the dust,” (Department of Culture & Community Engagement, 4/2022)
Listen to KQED Forum, Day of Remembrance interview with Ruth Sasaki, 2/15/2022
Listen to Max Chang and Ruth Sasaki interviewed (KRCL RadioActive, 2/9/2022
Read On Topaz Stories and ‘Authentic Voice’, the Discover Nikkei interview with Ruth Sasaki (10/14/2022)
Listen to Remembering the Japanese American Incarceration, the Topaz Stories podcast with Ruth Sasaki and Jonathan Hirabayashi (6/2/2021)