OGDEN — The French gave America more than just the Statue of Liberty. They also provided the Merci Train, a little-known historical treasure and a token of gratitude for America's support in World War II.
While the Golden Spike is well-known in Utah history, the Merci or "Gratitude" Train isn't common knowledge. The French Merci train came to the Beehive State almost 60 years ago.
The Merci Train comprised 49 French railroad boxcars filled with tens of thousands of gifts from at least that many individual French citizens.
The French were showing appreciation for the more than 700 American box cars of relief goods sent to them in 1948 to help the war-torn nation recover.
The train arrived via ship in New York harbor on Feb. 3, 1949, and each of the 48 states at that time received one of the gift-laden boxcars. The 49th boxcar was shared by Washington, D.C., and the Territory of Hawaii.
The boxcars were antiques by 1949 — they were built between 1872 and 1885, which means those surviving today are at least 123 years old.
Parades and ceremonies of welcome were conducted in the state capitals and major cities of almost all of the states.
Utah's Merci car arrived on Feb. 22, 1949. It had to make a three-state detour to reach Utah, because the winter of 1948-49 was perhaps the region's worst ever. Snow blocked railroad tracks across Wyoming.
Utah's car paraded through downtown Salt Lake and was exhibited in front of the Union Pacific Building for a short time.
According to the Utah Historical Society, items from the boxcar were apparently distributed throughout the state. The fate of most of the gifts is unknown. Some 25 items, including artwork, medals, a hat and some cloth stars, are in the state archives.
Costumed dolls, crystal, books, lingerie, wine, historic souvenirs, lace, wooden shoes and various handmade thank-you items were among the thousands of gifts contained in the boxcar.
Union Station and museum volunteer Bryon Lewis headed a recent restoration of the boxcar. It was on display in Salt Lake's Memory Grove from April 17, 1949, until 2001, when it was given to Ogden's Union Station at 2501 Wall Ave.
"It was damaged by the 1999 tornado that swept through Memory Grove," Lewis said. That damage included holes in the roof when a tree fell on the car.
Restoration of the car has taken countless hours spanning 15 years.
"It's not done yet," he said. A commemorative plaque will be added to the boxcar as well as more gravel and curbing around it.
A formal dedication of the revamped boxcar is being planned for April.
Lewis said despite what Utah historical records say, the boxcar is standard gauge size, not narrow gauge, meaning it probably came from northern France.
Also, he's found that the boxcar transported French troops during World War II. Whether it also carried troops during World War I isn't clear, but it is old enough to have done so.
Utah's boxcar is very colorful and easily accessible on the northeast side of the Union Station parking lot by the tall black water tower and the caboose display.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com