(First snow)
(Excerpts from the Daily Log of the WAR RELOCATION AUTHORITY Central Utah Relocation Project, Project Reports Division, Historical Section. Topaz, Utah)
OCTOBER 28 (1942)
FIRST SNOW — To the many residents of Topaz their first glimpse of snowfall brought forth smiles and cries of joy. A little after 7 a.m. a sprinkling of snow flakes began to fall. Around 8 a.m. it increased and the grounds became white. People going to work were covered with flakes, and the anticipation of Christmas with real snow warmed the hearts of the young and the old.
SCHOOLS CLOSED — Schools were closed with Topaz’ first snow, due to lack of heating facilities in the classrooms.
DELTA LION’S RECEPTION — To encourage mutual understanding between the communities of Topaz and Delta, an exchange of receptions was held, with the first of the functions taking place at the Delta High School tonight. Four members of the Community Council were the guests of the Delta Lion’s Club. A very favorable exchange of ideas and opinions took place.
COAL EMERGENCY — Two more carloads were hauled into the City by the resident truck drivers.
OCTOBER 29
TEMPERATURE — A very cold morning greeted the Topaz residents this morning with a, temperature of 12 degrees above zero. A heavy frost covered the rooftops and the grounds. To further add a freezing atmosphere, electricity was not available in the morning to numerous sections of the City.
CLASSES CANCELLED — School classes were cancelled this morning.
While the WRA claimed that the thought of a white Christmas “warmed the hearts of young and old,” it’s likely that little else was warm, what with the shortage of coal and insufficient heating. Children, however, with the resilience of innocence, managed to find delights in the cold weather. Read “Winter Sports,” by Grace Mori Saito Tom, on our website.
*Image: Image of woodcut print of Topaz Relocation Center barracks in snow (cropped). 1940/50. Artist unknown [but possibly George Matsusaburo Hibi. Japanese American Archival, Collection JA 7, Box 4 Folder 119. Item #JC17F:19. Donald & Beverly Gerth Special Collections & University Archives, University Library, California State University, Sacramento. Used with kind permission of the Cal State Sacramento Library and Ibuki Hibi Lee.
Previous “Daily Log” entries:
October 25-27: Coal crisis
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)