Growing up in Craig, Colorado
Norman Foster grew up in the small rural town of Craig, Colorado. During that time Craig's population was roughly 2,500 people. He lived on 187 Victory Drive, which was renamed
to commemorate the Allied victory in World War I - the “the war to end all
wars.” The house no longer stands; it has been turned into a parking lot. It was there that he grew up with his parents, George and Sophie Foster, and his four siblings- Kenneth, Edith, and Donald and Beth. Norman was the second youngest, and his sister, Beth, adored Norman. The most common jobs among the citizens of Craig were ranching and mining, though there were other options for employment as well. Norman’s father, George Foster, worked at the
Texaco Refinery. Later on in 1941 or 42 George opened a Pontiac and Allis Chambers (farm implements) dealership.
Norman was in the graduating class of 1943 which had 43 students in it. Sports were very popular among the boys growing up in Craig, and Norman was no exception. During the school year Norman played on the high school football team as right tackle. School dances were always something to look forward to. The movie theater was the most popular form of entertainment for the kids in the town, and is still there today. Some weekends were spent driving the 40 miles up to Steamboat Springs. There Norman and his friends would spend time visiting the hot springs or Fish Creek Falls. Norman would also spend time helping out at his Dad's Pontiac dealership.
Norman was in the graduating class of 1943 which had 43 students in it. Sports were very popular among the boys growing up in Craig, and Norman was no exception. During the school year Norman played on the high school football team as right tackle. School dances were always something to look forward to. The movie theater was the most popular form of entertainment for the kids in the town, and is still there today. Some weekends were spent driving the 40 miles up to Steamboat Springs. There Norman and his friends would spend time visiting the hot springs or Fish Creek Falls. Norman would also spend time helping out at his Dad's Pontiac dealership.
Photographs courtesy of Verleen Tucker, Norman Foster's niece, who provided the photos from Norman's camera.
The Homefront
In Craig there were regular postings in the local newspaper, the Craig Empire Courier, about where the town’s enlisted men and women were. The newspapers from that time also advertised junk drives that were held in Craig. People would bring in anything made out of metal, plastic, or rubber and it would be shipped off to be re-manufactured. The local newspaper also made paper cutbacks in order to do their part in the war effort. The United States Treasury sold war bonds which were considered a very safe investment.