Copyright © All rights reserved. Made by Dr. Joseph P. Kawoski.
When there was a contagious disease (such as measles, chicken pox, scarlet fever, or diphtheria) in a home, they were quarantined. A sign was placed in the door with the name of the disease printed on it and no one was allowed to go in or out till the doctor took the sign down after the contagion danger passed.
The corpse of a dead person was laid out at home, in the parlor. A velvet drape hung over doors or archways to shut out the rest of the house, and a black crepe was hung on the outside of the front door.
Very few of those that smoked cigarettes could afford to buy the packs, and rolled their own. Bugler and Target were the two popular brands of cigarette tobaccos.
In the summer, we made root beer, and more than a few made home brew and the smell of boiling hops frequently filled the air. Dandelion blossoms were gathered in spring to make wine and the leaves to make salads.
Ice cream was made on the Forth of July. Ice cream was a rare treat, and if bought in the store, one pint was divided among the entire family.
Christmas was sad for many parents. A number of them had no money to buy toys for their children. Many toys were hand made: wooden soldiers, wooden whistles, homemade wagons were made out of crates, rag dolls and stocking dolls. To get an orange in your stocking was a big treat. To get an orange was rare. One of the fun things at Christmas was to gaze in the Penn Traffic windows as they were so beautiful, and for awhile you could lose yourself in this wonderland of elves and fairies.
I knew children that didn’t get a toy at Christmas and had dried beef for the meal, and were grateful for it.