We are a society that loves and depends on automobiles or other vehicles to get us from point A to point B, for work or pleasure. Imagine the reaction in the early 21st century if we were told to stop unnecessary driving and conserve gasoline to support a war effort.

Now imagine if some people could get more gasoline than others, depending on their work situation. How could such a system be enforced if someone tried to cheat?

In our region and across the United States, people dealt with gasoline rationing beginning in early 1943, as World War II was well under way. What you did for a living had a lot to do with how much gasoline you would be allotted in the form of rationing coupon books. While some had more than others, people in general were told to drive less or not at all, if possible.

An article in The Oneonta Herald on Jan. 14, 1943, concerning the curtailment of driving opened this way:

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself if you do because you are walking when you used to ride, because everybody is doing it. Feel sorry instead for the gasoline station operator who is practically out of business excepting the need for the use of their cars."

The Herald reminded you that, "The main reason you are walking, or staying home, is because gasoline has been poured through this section of the country and rushed across the ocean so that our planes, tanks, heavy guns and supply lines in North Africa shall have all the fuel they need to catch and fasten the Nazis and Italians as quickly as possible."

The U.S. Office of Price Administration (OPA) in 1942 called for gas rationing and the use of coupon books as people purchased gasoline, as well as curtailing as much unnecessary driving as possible.

The ban on pleasure driving officially began just a few days before the Herald article appeared in 1943. Together with the state police units, local police departments and heads of local governmental units throughout the 17 eastern states, Oneonta officials were advised of OPA rules and regulations, with appeals for prompt and effective treatment of willful violators of the gasoline ban.

Less pleasure driving meant a major crimp in sports programs around Otsego County. It meant not driving Oneonta High School teams to play scheduled basketball games that winter. Athletic Director W. Edwin Long said that arrangements were being made to play Hartwick and State Teachers College teams, instead.

Those tempted to pleasure drive were being watched by local authorities. Police Chief Robert Simmons arranged for the assignment of a detail of men to make certain that abuses of car-use were not allowed to continue.[an error occurred while processing this directive]