I mentioned that our one room school house has been torn down. It remained as a community center for the area for a long time, but now it is even gone.
I will try to describe the school house and what it was like to have all eight grades in one room.
The school was a square building and when you came in the front door, the girls cloak room was to the right and the boys to the left. Double doors led into the school room. A huge round furnace sat in the corner of the room. Fire had to be built by the teacher or her father before the children arrived. Desks of all sizes were in the room. Blackboards, maps, a bench for each class to come forward to sit on when the teacher was teaching that particular class was all that was in the room besides the teachers desk and a small cubboard to house the school library. Most homes have more books today in the home than our school had for all grades. There was a stile that was made of concrete to get over the fence of the school yard. (I suppose this was made so animals couldn't get into the school yard). Girls and boys outhouses and a coal house , a well was the only things in the school yard. Much later when money was available there were playground equipment.
Most of my teachers were excellent, but the odds of trying to teach all levels everything that todays school requires, was impossible. My daughter teaches kindergarten and her class room is so pretty and so "State of the Arts" that I often comment if we only had 1,000th of the tools and "fun" things she has to work with, I would have thought I was in heaven. Both my granddaughter and daughter has overhead projectors, computers and every tool imaginable to work with.
Depending on the year you were born, you might take 8th grade work before 7th grade work.
My sister was always in the odd year and studied one grade before she took the previous year.
So the teacher had 4 grades to teach all subjects. It was divided up by First & second, 3rd & fourth, 5th & Sixth, 7th and eighth grades. These groups would come up and sit on the bench as she taught that subject. Can you imagine the first grade getting the attention that children of that age gets today, when the teacher has so many others to teach.
We would start off with the Pledge of Allegience to the flag and a prayer. Well, that sure isn't politically correct in school today! (at least the prayer part) Somethings were better left alone, and other things improved on.
More about school days at another time.
Today's wisdom--Thank a teacher today, as they have your best interest at heart!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
BUILDINGS ON THE FARM WHERE I GREW UP!.
First of all, I have a correction to make about James Bradley book. The title of that book is "Flag of our Fathers", not Battle of Iwo Jima. This book is not for the weak of heart but will make you more patriotic than ever before, after you read it.
Beside the house we had the infamous out house, milk house (that stored the cold trough I spoke of earlier), tool shed/garage, large barn, corn crib, implement shed, chicken house, brooder house, Wash house, corn/coal house. We had a windmill by the milk house. I think that was it basicly. This was a typical of the farms in our area.
A few weeks ago we were going to visit my cousin and took a side trip by the farm where I grew up. All the buildings are no longer there and instead of a gravel road, it is a black top road. The home and farm of my grandparents is no longer there, as well as a number of farm homes & buildings around on that road are gone. Even the school house had been torn down. Just memories of all of this remain vivid in my head. I guess, this is why I am trying to preserve a few of these for future generations.
Today's wisdom--God's highest Gift awakens our deepest gratitude.
Beside the house we had the infamous out house, milk house (that stored the cold trough I spoke of earlier), tool shed/garage, large barn, corn crib, implement shed, chicken house, brooder house, Wash house, corn/coal house. We had a windmill by the milk house. I think that was it basicly. This was a typical of the farms in our area.
A few weeks ago we were going to visit my cousin and took a side trip by the farm where I grew up. All the buildings are no longer there and instead of a gravel road, it is a black top road. The home and farm of my grandparents is no longer there, as well as a number of farm homes & buildings around on that road are gone. Even the school house had been torn down. Just memories of all of this remain vivid in my head. I guess, this is why I am trying to preserve a few of these for future generations.
Today's wisdom--God's highest Gift awakens our deepest gratitude.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
DATES IN HISTORY TO REMEMBER!
Do you remember what happened 67 years ago on December 7, 1941? I know, some of you weren't born yet, but you have read about it in history books that Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was bombed (about 8 AM). I was 15 years old and didn't learn of it until dad turned on Gabriel Heater (News commentator) about 6 o'clock Central time. Dad jumped up from his chair and said, "We are in WAR!!!". I thought we would be bombed in our country. I think some of the people on the West coast did wonder if they would strike again on the Pacific side of the US soon after. Four years was a long, long black era in our history.
I've read a number of books written on World War II and there was nothing even remotely pretty about war. Among the books I've read were D Day, Wild Blue Yonder, Citizen Soldiers, all written by Stephen E. Ambrose. Also, Battle of Iwo Jima by James Bradley (son of the flag raiser). Some of the language isn't very pretty, but pales compared to the magnitude and horror
of the battles that took place in the war and what our Service Men experienced!!! Any one of those books are worth the read, if you haven't read them. One really appreciates the freedom that these men fought for and a lot gave their lives for. Hats off to all our Service Men and Women who fight and preserve our freedom!!!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart if you were among those people.
Later in my writings I will tell you more about this era in our history.
Do you know what happened 96 years ago December 7, 1912? Well, I didn't think you would know the answer to this one, so I will tell you. My mother and dad were married on this day in 1912. Dad had a sense of humor and when December 7th was the day World War II broke out, he said, "All great wars start on December 7." He was only joking, because they both got along really well. I don't remember them even in a heated argument of any nature.
Long after dad had passed away, my mother needed proof of her age for some legal work, and I had to go to the court house to look up this information. They were married by the Justice of the Peace. When I went to get the copy of this, the thought came to my mind, wouldn't it be funny if I found out something I never knew about them. The clerk at the courthouse looked at the copy and started to smile. I didn't look at it until I got home. There in black and white was that my dad had married 2 women on the same day!!
I gave mom the papers and told her that Dad had really gotten around that day they were married and married 2 women. Her reply was, "Well I don't know how he could have done that since we were together the entire day." I think what had happened was that the Justice of the Peace had filled the top of the paper out and had them sign it and then later after he collected a number of these, filled out the bottom part of the same sheet. He picked up another persons name and wrote it on the same sheet by mistake. They were happily married for 42 years when he died in 1954 (one month before my 2nd daughter was born).
Wisdom of the day--Thank a Service Man today for protecting our freedom. They deserve our respect!!!!
I've read a number of books written on World War II and there was nothing even remotely pretty about war. Among the books I've read were D Day, Wild Blue Yonder, Citizen Soldiers, all written by Stephen E. Ambrose. Also, Battle of Iwo Jima by James Bradley (son of the flag raiser). Some of the language isn't very pretty, but pales compared to the magnitude and horror
of the battles that took place in the war and what our Service Men experienced!!! Any one of those books are worth the read, if you haven't read them. One really appreciates the freedom that these men fought for and a lot gave their lives for. Hats off to all our Service Men and Women who fight and preserve our freedom!!!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart if you were among those people.
Later in my writings I will tell you more about this era in our history.
Do you know what happened 96 years ago December 7, 1912? Well, I didn't think you would know the answer to this one, so I will tell you. My mother and dad were married on this day in 1912. Dad had a sense of humor and when December 7th was the day World War II broke out, he said, "All great wars start on December 7." He was only joking, because they both got along really well. I don't remember them even in a heated argument of any nature.
Long after dad had passed away, my mother needed proof of her age for some legal work, and I had to go to the court house to look up this information. They were married by the Justice of the Peace. When I went to get the copy of this, the thought came to my mind, wouldn't it be funny if I found out something I never knew about them. The clerk at the courthouse looked at the copy and started to smile. I didn't look at it until I got home. There in black and white was that my dad had married 2 women on the same day!!
I gave mom the papers and told her that Dad had really gotten around that day they were married and married 2 women. Her reply was, "Well I don't know how he could have done that since we were together the entire day." I think what had happened was that the Justice of the Peace had filled the top of the paper out and had them sign it and then later after he collected a number of these, filled out the bottom part of the same sheet. He picked up another persons name and wrote it on the same sheet by mistake. They were happily married for 42 years when he died in 1954 (one month before my 2nd daughter was born).
Wisdom of the day--Thank a Service Man today for protecting our freedom. They deserve our respect!!!!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
MY HOME--WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP!
I will try to tell you about our home as I was growing up.
It was a 2 story farm house. There were 4 rooms down stairs and 4 rooms upstairs.It looked rather like a saltbox structure, with a lean out kitchen in the back, with a screened in backporch and a front porch. It was surrounded by a large yard.
Downstairs consisted of--
Kitchen--Old fashioned woodburning cookstove
large square table
Cubboard
work table
kitchen cabinet
Pantry------This consisted of shelves, cream seperator, Storage for Pots & pans, supplies, Etc.
Washroom--The size of a small bathroom but without plumbing. It had a pump and sink for
pumping rainwater from the cistern into the house. It was used as a closet for coats
and it stored our washing machine when not in use.
Bedroom----This was our parents bedroom. Bed and chest of drawers. Place to hang clothes,
but no closet.
Family room--This room was used on a daily basis. It consisted of a Round Oak table,
Rolltop Desk, 2 rockers, couch, woodburning stove, library table, Sideboard (to hold
dishes), radio, straight chairs, square plant stand to hold house plants. Our landlord
gave each of their tenants a piece of furniture from their estate upon their death.
We received a marble slab cherry piece of furniture. (see note below about this)
It was a 2 story farm house. There were 4 rooms down stairs and 4 rooms upstairs.It looked rather like a saltbox structure, with a lean out kitchen in the back, with a screened in backporch and a front porch. It was surrounded by a large yard.
Downstairs consisted of--
Kitchen--Old fashioned woodburning cookstove
large square table
Cubboard
work table
kitchen cabinet
Pantry------This consisted of shelves, cream seperator, Storage for Pots & pans, supplies, Etc.
Washroom--The size of a small bathroom but without plumbing. It had a pump and sink for
pumping rainwater from the cistern into the house. It was used as a closet for coats
and it stored our washing machine when not in use.
Bedroom----This was our parents bedroom. Bed and chest of drawers. Place to hang clothes,
but no closet.
Family room--This room was used on a daily basis. It consisted of a Round Oak table,
Rolltop Desk, 2 rockers, couch, woodburning stove, library table, Sideboard (to hold
dishes), radio, straight chairs, square plant stand to hold house plants. Our landlord
gave each of their tenants a piece of furniture from their estate upon their death.
We received a marble slab cherry piece of furniture. (see note below about this)
Parlor-This room was off of the family room and used very seldom. It consisted of a davenport, overstuffed chair, end tables, coffee table, bookcase and was carpeted.
Downstairs closet. Only 1 closet downstairs
Four upstairs bedrooms, only one closet upstairs. One of the bedrooms was used as a closet or/ storage room. Each bedroom had a dresser, and bed and our bedroom had a chevarobe. (place to hang dresses). Probably a chair in each. We also, had a little skirted makeup table. My sister and I would choose the West bedroom in the summer time and the East bedroom in the winter time (this room had a register in the floor over the stove). The West bedroom had prevailing winds that brought in the breezes and was cooler.
Our house had an screened in back porch with a big door at the end of the porch that you lifted up and this was the entry to the cellar. The cellar was where we stored all the food that was canned for the winter months, plus potato bin, hams, bacon, sausage in large crock jars stored down there.
As I had stated prior, the home was not fancy, probably not insulated, wingscotting in the family room, but it was "Home". Structures doesn't make a "home". Love, security, respect produces a "home". I felt I was loved, I felt secure and there were plenty of respect in the home. So I felt it was about the "best place on earth".
Note: This piece of furniture was in our farm house and then was moved into town. When we cleared out the town house to rent it out, my brother had it in his home for quite awhile. My sister-in-law abhorred this piece of furniture. I kept telling them that it was an antique and not to sell it. Finally, after they had sold some other items, I offered to buy it, for fear that they would dispose of it. So today, I have this in my living room and it is the centerpiece. It holds lots of memories and I love it. Our landlord owned lots and lots of farm land and each tenant got a nice piece of furniture from their estate home when they passed away. The one who died was a Judge in the city he lived.
Todays Wisdom--"Be it ever so "humble" there is no place like home!"
Friday, December 5, 2008
CHRISTMAS--LONG, LONG AGO!
We always had a Christmas program at our school. This was always something that everyone participated in our one room school house. We had a white sheet to partition the stage off. Not much talent was evident in this event but we had fun.
No one had any money to spend on decorations, gifts, or what we think is essential, but we heard the real meaning of Christmas, which was Christ (God himself) came down and was born in a manger for the purpose to to die on a cross (our substitute) to save lost sinners.
My mother would make cookies, fudge with black walnuts, popcorn balls, etc. My mother did not believe that she wanted to tell us about Santa Claus, because she thought it was a lie. Lying was prohibited in any form or imagination with her. If we asked her a question, and she wouldn't answer the question, then you knew the answer, because she would never, never tell a "white lie" to appease a person. Black was black with her and white was white and the two didn't mix.
We would get oranges, apples, bananas, nuts, candy, and those infamous chocolate drops at Christmas. Remember money was scarce and times were hard in those days. These things were a real treat.
Esther and I got a doll one year I remember. One year I got a little baking set that I longed for so much. Any other gifts were so small that I can't remember. We were happy with what we got and didn't think we were cheated out of anything. Most children in those years were in the same boat, and did not expect much. Their parents were struggling to have enough daily food and shelter, not any big things at Christmas. I know this seems foreign to the average person today.
We did not have a tree. We did have colored lights at the window. One year I wanted a tree so bad that I had my dad cut a branch off of the evergreen tree and bring it in to decorate. I was so proud of that tree.
We were "happy campers" and was thankful for what we did get. No regrets of any kind on my part. I think it made me know what really is important in life, by such humble beginnings.
Today's Wisdom-- "Wise men still seek Christ!"
No one had any money to spend on decorations, gifts, or what we think is essential, but we heard the real meaning of Christmas, which was Christ (God himself) came down and was born in a manger for the purpose to to die on a cross (our substitute) to save lost sinners.
My mother would make cookies, fudge with black walnuts, popcorn balls, etc. My mother did not believe that she wanted to tell us about Santa Claus, because she thought it was a lie. Lying was prohibited in any form or imagination with her. If we asked her a question, and she wouldn't answer the question, then you knew the answer, because she would never, never tell a "white lie" to appease a person. Black was black with her and white was white and the two didn't mix.
We would get oranges, apples, bananas, nuts, candy, and those infamous chocolate drops at Christmas. Remember money was scarce and times were hard in those days. These things were a real treat.
Esther and I got a doll one year I remember. One year I got a little baking set that I longed for so much. Any other gifts were so small that I can't remember. We were happy with what we got and didn't think we were cheated out of anything. Most children in those years were in the same boat, and did not expect much. Their parents were struggling to have enough daily food and shelter, not any big things at Christmas. I know this seems foreign to the average person today.
We did not have a tree. We did have colored lights at the window. One year I wanted a tree so bad that I had my dad cut a branch off of the evergreen tree and bring it in to decorate. I was so proud of that tree.
We were "happy campers" and was thankful for what we did get. No regrets of any kind on my part. I think it made me know what really is important in life, by such humble beginnings.
Today's Wisdom-- "Wise men still seek Christ!"
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR!
We have been busy dragging things up from the basement to decorate our home for Christmas. It gets harder each year to do this. I'm so thankful for our grandson's wife and daughters that helped clear out the unused Christmas decorations, etc. this past year. It made it much easier. We got the tree up and today I will finish with the other things. Maybe, not as much, so there isn't as much work to take down.
We just finished the backyard leaves when the storm hit with a batch of snow. We ended up getting 81 containers (mostly bags) of leaves from our yard. Now we have snow to contend with. Hopefully, it won't be so deep. I was under the weather a tad Monday and my husband had to do this by himself.
Today I have cookies to bake. Tomorrow I plan to go to my bible study class, and we will have a Christmas party/breakfast and gift exchange. Tomorrow evening we will see a Christmas Musical performed by our daughter's church. It really has been spectacular in the past and am looking forward to hearing it this year.
More of my stories about how it was at Christmas when I was a child on another day. A tad different than today!!!
We just finished the backyard leaves when the storm hit with a batch of snow. We ended up getting 81 containers (mostly bags) of leaves from our yard. Now we have snow to contend with. Hopefully, it won't be so deep. I was under the weather a tad Monday and my husband had to do this by himself.
Today I have cookies to bake. Tomorrow I plan to go to my bible study class, and we will have a Christmas party/breakfast and gift exchange. Tomorrow evening we will see a Christmas Musical performed by our daughter's church. It really has been spectacular in the past and am looking forward to hearing it this year.
More of my stories about how it was at Christmas when I was a child on another day. A tad different than today!!!
Monday, December 1, 2008
PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES!
Another story I remember vividly about the privilege of using the family car, was between 1941--1943. It is as follows.
We had an end of the year all High School Picnic about 10 miles away from our home. Dad allowed me to drive myself to it and permission to pick up my best friends. They lived about 7 miles away in another direction and then we drove to the picnic. In those days, it was the exception that girls in the family learned to drive. My friends were glad that I was able to drive and pick them up.
When we got to the park where the picnic was being held, there were large rocks along the park road, so people didn't park on the grass of the pretty park. I was slowly driving along and looking for a place to park that was legal, when all of a sudden some guys from the high school saw us coming and they quickly jumped on the fenders of the car. (In those days cars still had fenders) This obstructed my view and I couldn't see the large rocks. I hit one of the rocks and the guy that was on that side went up in the air and landed back down on the fender. Well, there was a nice dent on top of the fender. I felt that I couldn't go home with a dented car, because then I feared I would never be trusted with the car again.
So my girlfriends and I went to the Chevrolet Garage to see if they could fix the dent in the fender for fifty cents (all the money I had with me and no more at home). He smiled and said that he thought he could fix it. As I left the garage with my friends, I told him that if need be, he should paint it. I was asking a lot from the garage repairman, even in those days.
The end of the day, we walked to pick up the car and they did such a beautiful job, that you couldn't tell it had been dented. Perfect!! I had covered my tracks!! I tried to be responsible! No need to tell dad about what was "Perfect"!
The next day my Dad asked, "Did I have a good time at the All School Picnic?"
I said, "Yes we did".
Dad said, "I was over in that town yesterday myself".
I said, "You WERE!! Where did you park?" (Dad had a truck in those days, also, and knew he surely would have looked around to see if I was driving around with the family car).
Dad said, "In front of the Chevy Garage."
I said, "YOU DID? You didn't happen to see our car in the Garage did you?"
Dad asked, "Was I suppose to see the car in the Garage?"
Then I broke down and told him about what happened. He didn't scold me or blame me for anything, but calmly listened.
Later I thought about it and came to the conclusion that the man at the garage probably phoned my dad and told him he was instructed to fix a dent in the car and fifty cents was not going to cover the cost and what did he want done? Dad never told me this, but even then, 50 cents was pretty cheap for repairing a dent. Dad had an even disposition and knew how to handle his children. We would never try to disappoint our Dad so we tried very hard to be responsible with the trust that he doled out.
Wisdom for the day--Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admoniton of the Lord.
We had an end of the year all High School Picnic about 10 miles away from our home. Dad allowed me to drive myself to it and permission to pick up my best friends. They lived about 7 miles away in another direction and then we drove to the picnic. In those days, it was the exception that girls in the family learned to drive. My friends were glad that I was able to drive and pick them up.
When we got to the park where the picnic was being held, there were large rocks along the park road, so people didn't park on the grass of the pretty park. I was slowly driving along and looking for a place to park that was legal, when all of a sudden some guys from the high school saw us coming and they quickly jumped on the fenders of the car. (In those days cars still had fenders) This obstructed my view and I couldn't see the large rocks. I hit one of the rocks and the guy that was on that side went up in the air and landed back down on the fender. Well, there was a nice dent on top of the fender. I felt that I couldn't go home with a dented car, because then I feared I would never be trusted with the car again.
So my girlfriends and I went to the Chevrolet Garage to see if they could fix the dent in the fender for fifty cents (all the money I had with me and no more at home). He smiled and said that he thought he could fix it. As I left the garage with my friends, I told him that if need be, he should paint it. I was asking a lot from the garage repairman, even in those days.
The end of the day, we walked to pick up the car and they did such a beautiful job, that you couldn't tell it had been dented. Perfect!! I had covered my tracks!! I tried to be responsible! No need to tell dad about what was "Perfect"!
The next day my Dad asked, "Did I have a good time at the All School Picnic?"
I said, "Yes we did".
Dad said, "I was over in that town yesterday myself".
I said, "You WERE!! Where did you park?" (Dad had a truck in those days, also, and knew he surely would have looked around to see if I was driving around with the family car).
Dad said, "In front of the Chevy Garage."
I said, "YOU DID? You didn't happen to see our car in the Garage did you?"
Dad asked, "Was I suppose to see the car in the Garage?"
Then I broke down and told him about what happened. He didn't scold me or blame me for anything, but calmly listened.
Later I thought about it and came to the conclusion that the man at the garage probably phoned my dad and told him he was instructed to fix a dent in the car and fifty cents was not going to cover the cost and what did he want done? Dad never told me this, but even then, 50 cents was pretty cheap for repairing a dent. Dad had an even disposition and knew how to handle his children. We would never try to disappoint our Dad so we tried very hard to be responsible with the trust that he doled out.
Wisdom for the day--Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admoniton of the Lord.
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