G.I. Furniture cost ~ 12-10-98 Alumni Sandstorm
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>>From: Mary Lee Coates Batterton (59)

 Since the topic came up about decorating a
Richland home with "GI" (Government Issue)
furniture, I dug out my parents', Frank &
Florence Coates, receipt for the furniture they
bought from the government. Our family was
flooded out of VanPort, Oregon on Memorial Day,
1948. We were left with nothing. No clothes, -
Thank you Red Cross! - no furniture, etc. We
lived at the Desert Inn until we got a 3 bedroom
prefab at 1316 Totten. We bought the following
furniture from G.E. How ironic, I notice this
receipt is dated Dec.10, 1948. The code
descriptions and unit prices read as follows.

Dining Room Table.............$ 4.39
Folding Chair.................  2.01
KDX Rocker....................  6.75
KLA Daveno.................... 15.00
MB Lamp-floor.................  2.34
MA Lamp-table.................  1.34
7x9 Rug & Pad................. 10.10
OB Rug........................  1.30
Bookcase......................  2.47
Double Unit Cabinet...........  3.03
Single Unit Cabinet...........  2.46
Clothes Hamper................  2.84
KIX Chair.....................  1.54
MD Lamp-boudoir................  .67
Dressing Table & Stool........  3.70
JAX Mirror....................  1.39
Single Chest of Drawers.......  5.72
Double Chest of Drawers.......  7.52
Double Bed & Mattress.........  8.16
Single Bed & Mattress.........  8.03
DA Pillow......................  .42

Since they bought more than one of each item
their grand total was $132.61, including 3%
Washington State sales tax.

Where else?

-Mary Lee Coates Batterton  '59
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April 1, 1948 ~ Government furniture to be sold. 
Village residents had the choice of buying furniture 
not being rented or turn it back.
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