The Twenties
The Roaring Twenties were a wonderful time. So many things we take for granted began then. For instance, in 1923 “the big breakthrough for Gideon Sundback's Hookless No. 2
slide fastener comes when the device is used by B.F. Goodrich on its line of rubber galoshes. A Goodrich salesman names Hookless No. 2 the zipper, because he can close it and
open it quickly (zip it).”1
In the world of baseball “Pittsburgh-born Cardinals pitcher Bill Doak, 28, had an ...idea for a glove with a multi-thong web laced between the forefinger and thumb; his design
revolutionizes the sport, ... and by the end of the century more than half of all major-league players will be using Rawlings gloves, each made from 16 to 20 pieces of cowhide with six
to nine feet of rawhide lacing.”2
revolutionizes the sport, ... and by the end of the century more than half of all major-league players will be using Rawlings gloves, each made from 16 to 20 pieces of cowhide with six
to nine feet of rawhide lacing.”2
In 1921 Band-Aid brand adhesive bandages are introduced by Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, N.J.3
“Burma-Shave signs appear for the first time on U.S. roadsides, mostly along two-lane roads in rural areas where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Miniature red-and-white
billboards for the brushless shaving cream created initially by Alan G. Odell, son of the Burma-Vita Co. founder, will be posted in 45 states between now and 1964, with some 7,000
sets of them in the early 1950s carrying verses such as, "Keep well/ To the right/ Of the oncoming car/ Get your close shaves/ From the half-pound jar/ Burma-Shave" and "Within this vale/ Of toil/ And sin/ Your head grows bald/ But not your chin/ Burma-Shave."”4
billboards for the brushless shaving cream created initially by Alan G. Odell, son of the Burma-Vita Co. founder, will be posted in 45 states between now and 1964, with some 7,000
sets of them in the early 1950s carrying verses such as, "Keep well/ To the right/ Of the oncoming car/ Get your close shaves/ From the half-pound jar/ Burma-Shave" and "Within this vale/ Of toil/ And sin/ Your head grows bald/ But not your chin/ Burma-Shave."”4
In 1925 one popular song was Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue. Click on this link to hear the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYJjA4aYXM 5
“Bambi by Austrian critic-magazine writer Felix Salten .. whose anthropomorphic tale of a fawn [is]translated into English by Philadelphia-born magazine editor (Jay Vivian)
Chambers.”6
Chambers.”6
And some things never change. “Italian-born "financial wizard" Charles Ponzi, 38, offers a 50-percent return on investment in 45 days, 100 percent in 90 days, and by late July his
Securities and Exchange Co. at 27 School Street is taking in hundreds of thousands of dollars per day.”7
Securities and Exchange Co. at 27 School Street is taking in hundreds of thousands of dollars per day.”7
The small unassuming house on Stafford Street that Granny; Fred, her husband; Marv, Glady and GiGi lived in was at the western edge of Palmyra. Next door was a dairy. Past their
street were mostly fields. Hyde Park did not exist nor the high school and all the houses there.
Their house probably had electricity, but it did not have an indoor toilet. I'm pretty sure they had an ice box, not a refrigerator because refrigerators were still quite expensive. The
bedrooms were not heated even in the winter time. Getting ready for bed was done by the stove. Then it was a quick dash for the covers. If there was a wash stand in the bedroom,
the water would be frozen in the morning. The kitchen and the parlor had stoves that had to be filled with wood or coal and the fire started each day. The kitchen stove was always
burning, but every morning Granny had to restart the fire. So the kitchen was cold for awhile especially on those below zero winter days.8 Baths were taken once a week in the
kitchen. Usually one of the wash tubs was filled with water heated on the stove. Then several people would bathe in the same water. To the right is the kind of wash tub they might
have bathed in.
street were mostly fields. Hyde Park did not exist nor the high school and all the houses there.
Their house probably had electricity, but it did not have an indoor toilet. I'm pretty sure they had an ice box, not a refrigerator because refrigerators were still quite expensive. The
bedrooms were not heated even in the winter time. Getting ready for bed was done by the stove. Then it was a quick dash for the covers. If there was a wash stand in the bedroom,
the water would be frozen in the morning. The kitchen and the parlor had stoves that had to be filled with wood or coal and the fire started each day. The kitchen stove was always
burning, but every morning Granny had to restart the fire. So the kitchen was cold for awhile especially on those below zero winter days.8 Baths were taken once a week in the
kitchen. Usually one of the wash tubs was filled with water heated on the stove. Then several people would bathe in the same water. To the right is the kind of wash tub they might
have bathed in.
Although many people at that time had a car, GiGi's family didn't. They had two horses and a buggy. Of course, there was the trolley if they needed to go to Rochester, but most of the
time Granny would just walk downtown. Palmyra had an amazing selection of stores including shoe repair, hardware, candy, barber, grocery, drug, electric supply, beauty shop, ice
cream parlor, men's store, dry goods (think Target), bakery, shoe, coffee shop, appliance, clothing, meat market, furniture, jewelry, tailor, liquor, and banks. There was also the
Grange Hall, movie theater, New York Gas and Electric, taverns, hotels and saloons.9 There were probably more than thirty thriving stores for Granny to buy everything she needed.
time Granny would just walk downtown. Palmyra had an amazing selection of stores including shoe repair, hardware, candy, barber, grocery, drug, electric supply, beauty shop, ice
cream parlor, men's store, dry goods (think Target), bakery, shoe, coffee shop, appliance, clothing, meat market, furniture, jewelry, tailor, liquor, and banks. There was also the
Grange Hall, movie theater, New York Gas and Electric, taverns, hotels and saloons.9 There were probably more than thirty thriving stores for Granny to buy everything she needed.
I spoke to Thelma Watters, one of GiGi's best friends, to get more background about what life was like then. She mentioned that her father was a miller. Granny may even have
bought flour to make bread that was milled by Thelma's father, but Thelma and GiGi had not met even though they lived in the same small town. She didn't meet Thelma until she was
in high school. When she was young, GiGi played with the children that lived near her.10
bought flour to make bread that was milled by Thelma's father, but Thelma and GiGi had not met even though they lived in the same small town. She didn't meet Thelma until she was
in high school. When she was young, GiGi played with the children that lived near her.10
Laundry was always done on Mondays.11 “Laundry was by far the most arduous task, and it took all day to do. Most women did their washing in tubs that had to be hauled into the
kitchen. Clothes were soaked, scrubbed, and rinsed several times according to the amount of dirt on them, then boiled, starched, wrung out, and hung to dry. The water for this had to
be boiled and poured each time.”12 Once the clothes were washed, they were hung on the clothes line in the back yard. Since the lines were long and the clothes and sheets were
heavy, a long clothes pole with a notch in the end was used to prop the line up higher so the clothes would not drag on the ground.
kitchen. Clothes were soaked, scrubbed, and rinsed several times according to the amount of dirt on them, then boiled, starched, wrung out, and hung to dry. The water for this had to
be boiled and poured each time.”12 Once the clothes were washed, they were hung on the clothes line in the back yard. Since the lines were long and the clothes and sheets were
heavy, a long clothes pole with a notch in the end was used to prop the line up higher so the clothes would not drag on the ground.
Granny enjoyed going to the movies. It was fun and inexpensive entertainment. Almost every week she would take her two daughters with her. Glady, being older, was able to enjoy
the movie, but her little sister, GiGi had a hard time sitting still. As they were getting ready to go to the movies one week, Granny warned GiGi, “If you don't sit still in the movie, when
we get home you will get a spanking.” GiGi really tried hard to sit still, but the movie was not very interesting. She bent way over to see the gum stuck to the bottom of her seat. She
swung her legs back and forth which was fun because her feet didn't even reach the ground. Then she dropped this pretty stone she had brought with her. So, of course, she had get
down and scramble under the seats to get it back. She knew her mom was upset with her, but she just couldn't sit still. After the movie they walked quietly home. GiGi knew she was
in trouble. Once inside the house, Granny said, “Doris, come here.” Doris was GiGi's real name. Granny laid GiGi over her lap and spanked her hard on her bottom. It really hurt and
GiGi cried a lot. She cried because it hurt and because she really had tried hard to be good. Life is so unfair sometimes.
the movie, but her little sister, GiGi had a hard time sitting still. As they were getting ready to go to the movies one week, Granny warned GiGi, “If you don't sit still in the movie, when
we get home you will get a spanking.” GiGi really tried hard to sit still, but the movie was not very interesting. She bent way over to see the gum stuck to the bottom of her seat. She
swung her legs back and forth which was fun because her feet didn't even reach the ground. Then she dropped this pretty stone she had brought with her. So, of course, she had get
down and scramble under the seats to get it back. She knew her mom was upset with her, but she just couldn't sit still. After the movie they walked quietly home. GiGi knew she was
in trouble. Once inside the house, Granny said, “Doris, come here.” Doris was GiGi's real name. Granny laid GiGi over her lap and spanked her hard on her bottom. It really hurt and
GiGi cried a lot. She cried because it hurt and because she really had tried hard to be good. Life is so unfair sometimes.
When GiGi was about four or five she had a real problem. She was old enough to do for herself, but she was terrified of the chickens. She hated the way they flapped around. That
wouldn't have been a problem except that they went in the outhouse looking for bugs to eat. And that was a problem when GiGi had to go to the bathroom. She would tell her mom
that she didn't want to go to the outhouse, she wanted to use the pot in the house. (Everyone kept a ceramic pot under their bed for use at night. It was a long way to the outhouse in
the dark especially when it was snowing.) Granny would tell her she had to use the outhouse, but GiGi would beg not to have to go out where the chickens were. Finally, Granny would
carry GiGi to the outhouse. Ever after GiGi did not like birds. When she would go to someone's house with a parakeet, she was always extremely nervous if the bird was out of its
cage flying around.
wouldn't have been a problem except that they went in the outhouse looking for bugs to eat. And that was a problem when GiGi had to go to the bathroom. She would tell her mom
that she didn't want to go to the outhouse, she wanted to use the pot in the house. (Everyone kept a ceramic pot under their bed for use at night. It was a long way to the outhouse in
the dark especially when it was snowing.) Granny would tell her she had to use the outhouse, but GiGi would beg not to have to go out where the chickens were. Finally, Granny would
carry GiGi to the outhouse. Ever after GiGi did not like birds. When she would go to someone's house with a parakeet, she was always extremely nervous if the bird was out of its
cage flying around.
GiGi had a lot of fun when she was a girl. She played with her dolls and played tag and other games with the neighbor children. Sometimes she would play house up in the barn. She
even had a cat that let her dress him up in baby clothes. She also had a dog named Perpy. She really liked him and often talked about him when she was older. She also explained
the dog's strange name, saying, “they called all dogs 'purp'.13 That's something you just don't hear today. In the winter time, she would sled or make snowmen. She never went on a
play date. In those days children were expected to play with whoever lived on their street. Parents could not imagine taking their children to a playmate's house to play. Parents in
those days were busy working (the fathers) or doing the endless rounds of laundry and house cleaning without the help of vacuums, dishwashers or microwaves.
even had a cat that let her dress him up in baby clothes. She also had a dog named Perpy. She really liked him and often talked about him when she was older. She also explained
the dog's strange name, saying, “they called all dogs 'purp'.13 That's something you just don't hear today. In the winter time, she would sled or make snowmen. She never went on a
play date. In those days children were expected to play with whoever lived on their street. Parents could not imagine taking their children to a playmate's house to play. Parents in
those days were busy working (the fathers) or doing the endless rounds of laundry and house cleaning without the help of vacuums, dishwashers or microwaves.
When GiGi was seven years old she started first grade. In those days, there was no kindergarten, so first grade was when children started school. She and her sister, Glady, walked a half mile to school and back. They also walked home for lunch. One day on her way home from school for lunch, GiGi really had to poop. She tried to hold it but she just couldn't.
She felt really bad. It was so embarrassing. Fortunately she was going home. When she got home, Granny helped her take her pants off. It must have been Monday (wash day)
because there were no clean underwear for GiGi to put on. GiGi only had two pairs of underwear. (Most people had a set of clothes to wear and one more to be washed.) So Granny
did her best to clean the underwear by wiping the poop out really well. Then GiGi put the same underwear back on. After lunch she walked back to school. Although she didn't say,
I'm sure she felt uncomfortable at school that afternoon. She probably worried that the other kids might smell something. I'm guessing she couldn't wait for that day to be over.
She felt really bad. It was so embarrassing. Fortunately she was going home. When she got home, Granny helped her take her pants off. It must have been Monday (wash day)
because there were no clean underwear for GiGi to put on. GiGi only had two pairs of underwear. (Most people had a set of clothes to wear and one more to be washed.) So Granny
did her best to clean the underwear by wiping the poop out really well. Then GiGi put the same underwear back on. After lunch she walked back to school. Although she didn't say,
I'm sure she felt uncomfortable at school that afternoon. She probably worried that the other kids might smell something. I'm guessing she couldn't wait for that day to be over.
Other than that embarrassing day, GiGi enjoyed going to school. During the 1926-27 school year, when she was nine years old, GiGi did not miss a single day of school and she was
never late. As a reward, Mr. Earl Crowell, principal and Mr. F.E. Converse, school board president, presented her with her first “Honey Bunch: Just a Little Girl” book as a reward for
perfect attendance. The next year GiGi received another “Honey Bunch” book for perfect attendance again.
never late. As a reward, Mr. Earl Crowell, principal and Mr. F.E. Converse, school board president, presented her with her first “Honey Bunch: Just a Little Girl” book as a reward for
perfect attendance. The next year GiGi received another “Honey Bunch” book for perfect attendance again.
GiGi loved the Honey Bunch books. She received several more as gifts from friends and cousins. She read them all and really wanted to be like Honey Bunch and live her wonderful
idyllic life. From that time on, GiGi strove to be like Honey Bunch. “Honey Bunch was so sunny and smiling and so sweet, every day...”14 It was hard but GiGi always tried to be kind
and do things for others. She loved to set a beautiful table when she had dinners. It was important to her to have fine china and real silverware just like Honey Bunch's mother would
have done. In later years, she spent a lot of time helping her friends and neighbors. She also did a lot of volunteer work with the library and historic society. Just like Honey Bunch
would have done.
idyllic life. From that time on, GiGi strove to be like Honey Bunch. “Honey Bunch was so sunny and smiling and so sweet, every day...”14 It was hard but GiGi always tried to be kind
and do things for others. She loved to set a beautiful table when she had dinners. It was important to her to have fine china and real silverware just like Honey Bunch's mother would
have done. In later years, she spent a lot of time helping her friends and neighbors. She also did a lot of volunteer work with the library and historic society. Just like Honey Bunch
would have done.
GiGi's idyllic childhood is about to come to an abrupt end. As we all know, the Roaring Twenties end not with a bang, but a crash. What hardships will Granny and her family face?
How will GiGi manage the hardships of the Great Depression and being a teenager? How does GiGi's father fail his family? We will find out in the next chapter.
How will GiGi manage the hardships of the Great Depression and being a teenager? How does GiGi's father fail his family? We will find out in the next chapter.
1 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1920, 12/7/2009
2 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1920, 12/7/2009
3 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1921, 12/7/2009
4 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1925, 12/7/2009
5 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1925. 12/7/2009
6 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1924, 12/7/2009
7 Wiki, Answers.com, www.answers.com/topic/1920, 12/7/2009
8 Thelma Watters, Interview by phone, Boulder, CO, April 12, 2009
9 Betty Troskosky, Palmyra: A Bicentennial Celebration 1789-1989, Interlaken, NY: Heart of the Lakes Publishing, 1989, pp 165-185.
10 Thelma Watters, Interview by phone, Boulder, CO, April 12, 2009
11 Thelma Watters, Interview by phone, Boulder, CO, April 12, 2009
12 Susan Strasser, Never Done: A History of American Housework, New York: Pantheon, 1982, p 113 .
13 Helen Louise Thorndyke, Honey Bunch: Just a Little Girl, New York: Grosset & Dunlap, p 59. “That red-haired butcher boy seemed to understand at once. He popped the bone
into the bag, ….went with them back to the place where they had left the other girls and the dog and doll.“Here, you purp,” said the butcher boy, walking over to Teddy [the
dog], who wagged his tail...”
into the bag, ….went with them back to the place where they had left the other girls and the dog and doll.“Here, you purp,” said the butcher boy, walking over to Teddy [the
dog], who wagged his tail...”
14 Thorndyke, Pg 7.
.jpg)
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment