I love old pictures and this one definitely qualifies as old. This must have been taken in about 1942 or early 1943.
The boy on the left is Delbert Leroy Bartholomew, better known as "Jake". He should be about 4 or 5 years old. The girl on the right is Josephine Anne Walden Bartholomew. And the sweet little toddler who is probably 2 years old give or take a few months, is none other than yours truly. Isn't that cute how they have hold of me like they actually like me? Either that or they were going to drag me off and torture me. This picture was probably taken while we lived on the Ailmore place, wherever that was. That would have been back when Mother went to "Club" whatever that was. Seems as though back in those days when the women got together it was for "Club" and it entailed a lot of recipes, and helpful household hints to keep your man happy.
And when women went to "Club" they always dressed in their finery. See back in those days there was no wearing of the jeans, or slacks or anything except your house dress or your good dress or your church clothes. Hats were common and women did not go to church without a hat. They also wore gloves. They attended the whole service with hat on head and gloved hands folded in their lap. Men wore hats, but they were required to remove them when they entered. It was a sign of respect. Women showed respect by keeping them on and covering their hair which was their "crowning glory." Do not ask me to explain the difference because I can not and I am just here to report what was what.
When Mother took us to club, we were expected to set quietly through the whole time. No fidgeting and no wondering when we were going home and God help us if we had to pee. Our bladders were empty when we left and full when we got home. Club was held at a different ladies house every month. One woman took notes so they could remember what they did last month. I remember how excited mom was one time since a lady was going to come to our house and give all of us a haircut. Well, let me tell you, that was my introduction to the "bowl haircut" which was exactly what the name implied. She sorted through mother's bowl until she found just the right one. It was then placed upside down over each head and the hair that stuck out under the bowl was cut off with her scissors which were in bad need of a sharpening. That was a sad day and the next day we were ridiculed and laughed at during recess. Mother never called upon her for assistance again and I for one was damn glad of it.
On the note of the scissors needing sharpened, you should know that back in those days the "sharpener man" came around periodically to sharpen scissors, knives, axes and anything that needed a new edge. That was what he did and he was very good at it. And another regular visitor to the houses was the "tinker man". Mother saved all her pans that had "sprung a leak" due to a tiny hole for the tinker man. He had a wagon with a box on the back. It was pulled by an old sad looking horse and I am not sure, but it seemed like the horse had an old straw hat on his head. The sharpener man and the tinker man both had regular rounds, because they came about every 6 months and were always pretty close to the same time every 6 months.
The Watkins man and the Fuller Brush man also made regular visits to sell wares out the back of their wagons, and momma always had her list and her money in her hand. Sometimes the dry goods man came and he had fabric and needles and stuff like that. He was put out of business by Mrs. Warrington, who opened the dry goods store up on main. She also carried shoes and underwear and just about anything one could want. I recall Mr. Warrington was very quiet and she conducted all the business, but I might be getting them mixed up with the people who had the dry goods store on Little House on the Prairie. My mind tends to muddle a bit at my age.
Well, I just wanted to prattle on a while tonight. If my stories sometimes seem a bit discombobulated just take them with a grain of salt and remember that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
And with that I am off to dreamland.
On the note of the scissors needing sharpened, you should know that back in those days the "sharpener man" came around periodically to sharpen scissors, knives, axes and anything that needed a new edge. That was what he did and he was very good at it. And another regular visitor to the houses was the "tinker man". Mother saved all her pans that had "sprung a leak" due to a tiny hole for the tinker man. He had a wagon with a box on the back. It was pulled by an old sad looking horse and I am not sure, but it seemed like the horse had an old straw hat on his head. The sharpener man and the tinker man both had regular rounds, because they came about every 6 months and were always pretty close to the same time every 6 months.
The Watkins man and the Fuller Brush man also made regular visits to sell wares out the back of their wagons, and momma always had her list and her money in her hand. Sometimes the dry goods man came and he had fabric and needles and stuff like that. He was put out of business by Mrs. Warrington, who opened the dry goods store up on main. She also carried shoes and underwear and just about anything one could want. I recall Mr. Warrington was very quiet and she conducted all the business, but I might be getting them mixed up with the people who had the dry goods store on Little House on the Prairie. My mind tends to muddle a bit at my age.
Of course there were also men that made visits and set up on the corner in town and hawked their wares. Usually these guys were selling some sort of miracle cure for one thing or another. Those were known as "snake oil" salesman. One bottle of their product would cure almost any ailment you had and they guaranteed it. Only problem was that as soon as they sold the last bottle, they were gone and would never be seen again.
You know, I can remember way back when I found a book I wanted to buy and I wrote a letter to the company explaining what I wanted and then printed my name and address and put the money in the envelope (As I recall it was 15 cents.)and mailed it off to the address in another state. It took about 6 weeks, but finally here it came. I treasured that book, but more than that, I had faith in people I would never meet to send me what I wanted. Try that now! They do not want money only a debit card or credit card. I can order something today and have it tomorrow. If I took a leaky pan to get it fixed and I found someone that I thought would do it, they would laugh me out of the place. It is cheaper to buy new, then repair what we have. I used to stop at the shoe shop on my way home to get my sole put back on or the tongue stitched back in my shoe. Now I buy a new pair and the old ones are not even falling apart yet.
Well, I just wanted to prattle on a while tonight. If my stories sometimes seem a bit discombobulated just take them with a grain of salt and remember that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
And with that I am off to dreamland.
