Morels on the Maginot Line

Many people stop by and peek into the Louden Nelson auditorium as we’re setting up for the Fungus Fair. It’s a great opportunity to chat up the fair and investigate the many different ways mushrooms fascinate us. This year was no exception.

A tall, slender woman approached me and inquired about what we were doing, and if we ever collected morels. “Whenever possible” was my likely response. My new friend, Ms. Hinemoa Ruskin, asked if I might be interested in pictures of morels on the Maginot Line, a military fortification in eastern France during WWII. Of course! The next day she came back with these photos.

Hinemoa had been stationed there as a nurse during the war. During a quiet time, the group had gone out on a quick foray, found morels, and wanted to cook them up. Due to wartime rationing, they had to use margarine instead of butter, but you can’t keep a good morel down— they were delicious! More info on the Maginot Line at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maginot_Line

Debbie Johnson

Editor's Note: The Loudon Nelson Community Center was renamed to London Nelson on Juneteenth 2021.