Eleanor Ruth Swenson

Johannah, Emma and John Holmquist

Dad's mother's name was Johannah Erickson and she died in 1890 at 23 years old. Dad's mother died when he was only 4 years old, and already having three brothers, Ed and Bill who were twins and Val. She died from the flu and pneumonia. She is buried at Oakwoods Cemetery at 67th and Cottage Grove, Chicago. A girlfriend of his mother came and took care of the family, and later his father married her. Her name was Emma, and she lived until she was 89 years old at 6613 S. Green Street until a few days before she died at a rest home. At the home she thought she was in Heaven, everything was so nice. She loved to sing many of the old Swedish hymns. "Day by Day" "He the Pearly Gates Will Open" and many other Swedish hymns. A favorite was 'Tryggheten Kan Ingen Vara" "More Secure is no One Ever, than the Loved Ones of the Savior." She died in about 1943 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery along side Grandpa Holmquist who died on November 15th 1925.

We kids missed him. He went with us to Grovertown, Indiana to his summer house quite often. He always had bags of goodies for us kids. Bananas, apples or an orange and cookies, a special in our big family. He knew that I liked pickled herring, so both of us would enjoy this fish when I would come.

When I was about 14 Grandma gave to me her China Cocoa Set of dished, and also gave to me a Demitasse size cup and saucer, gold with a raised flower on it. I plan to give this to Kirsten my oldest granddaughter. Louise has the cocoa set I gave to her a long time ago.

Grandpa worked for an Iron Company. He worked on the iron for the Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue, Chicago which withstood the great fire in the later 1800's. I was told by my cousin Dick Holmquist that his dad and grandpa and he attended a special occasion at the Water Tower as guests many years ago. It would have had to be before 1925 the year before grandpa died. Grandpa made railroad rails where he worked.

Grandpa and Grandma Swanson

Grandpa Swanson worked as a carpenter and did the inlay trimming for the railroad passenger cars. I have a picture frame inlay of wood that he made. Grandpa and Grandma were always happy when we visited them, usually on a Sunday afternoon at 542 W 57th Place, along side a railroad track. We kids waved many times at the men on the train.

Grandma and Grandpa would let Alden or Russell play the phonograph or the Victrola as sometimes called. Grandma would quickly remove a pretty vase and scarf from the cover. (This vase John has. It has raised birds on it). LaVerne and I would crawl up on Grandpa's lap and he would tell us stories. Grandma would fix supper of macaroni salad with pink salmon and peas, sliced ham or cold cuts of meat. Grandma would serve the salad in a pretty China bowl that had green Shamrocks all around the edge and leaves. (Bob and Julie have this bowl that was so special to me, and so pretty.)

On November 22 Grandpa Swanson died. I will always remember that day, even though I was only 7 years old. Mother, LaVerne and I were read to go downtown to buy winter coats for us. Grandma phoned and said that Grandpa was very sick and the doctor was on his way. Grandpa was never sick. Grandma said to go shopping and stop by on the way home, which we did. Grandpa died that morning. A neighbor met us in front of the house and told us. Mother always said, "why didn't we go over there before going downtown" when her mother needed her.

Mother allowed us to see him lying on the bed. This was the first time I faced death. Mother told us that Grandpa's Soul had gone to heaven. Too much for us little kids to understand. The Wakes were always held at the home, and a bouquet was always hung outside the door. A customary thing done. We kids didn't go to the funeral. We missed him very much. He died on November 22, 1920 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Grandpa Swanson was always very busy at church, Swedish Baptist Church of Englewood at 59th and Emerald Avenue. He acted as preacher when the pastor was away. He was Vice-chairman of the church for over 20 years. He and Grandma came into the church as members a year or so after the church was dedicated. They changed its name to Emerald Avenue Baptist, and when they moved to 99th and Claremont it was changed to Salem. The church moved again to 15400 and Claremont South just off of Harlem Avenue. The church celebrated its 100th anniversary in October 1985, and we were there for the celebration.

Getting back to Grandma Swanson, she always had a pretty flower garden. I remember the spider flowers, Nickitenna a white flower, cosmos, ping with ferrny leaf, and pansies too, and many other flowers. She took no active part at the church, and attended often with Grandpa.

After a couple of years, she sold her home and moved in with my folks. She spent some time with her daughter too, Almeda and Uncle Ruben Carlson. She also spent some time with her niece Ellen Bruen. She lived until she was 82 1/2. She died at Fridhem [translation from Swedish "Serenity Home"] old folks home where she was a summer guest. She died there on August 14, 1939 and is also buried at Oak Hill Cemetery near Grandpa.

Grandpa Swanson had a sister Tillie Johnson who died in 1934 and is buried at Oak Hill too. She had three daughters and one son, Ella, Emma and Edith, and Hugo. Emma and Edith would come over and play with us kids when we were little. Edith is still living and she visited cousin Edith and Eskal last summer, here in Michigan.

First Trip by Car in 1919

Our first long trip was to Sterling, Illinois to visit my Dad's Uncle John and wife, the Larsons. Their sons Charles and August, their daughter Ellen and husband Lesley Chapin lived at Tampico, Illinois about 20 miles southwest. They have 3 children, Harry, Margaret and Dick after 1923. It took us about 12 hours over unmarked dirt and gravel roads, called the Lincoln Highway. We went from town to town and asked our way to the next town.

In Tampico I celebrated my 6th birthday; I remember well. My brother Russell and Harry ganged up on me and spanked me each 6 times. Crying I went into the house, and the boys got the dickens and scolding for doing that. Mother was baking for me my birthday cake. I don't remember if it were my favorite white cake with the bananas between and coconut on top, or not. Mother always had a birthday cake for us kids on our birthdays.

Going back to Chicago from Tampico, we had to drive on wet mud roads because it had rained, and the car got stuck in the mud. A mule was looking over the fence and Hee Hawed at us. The roads were mud, some gravel and bumpy.

Another trip to Tampico and Sterling, Dad drove the car at 60 miles per. Mother didn't like for him to go that fast. The side curtains kept the wind and rain out. The windows were of ising glass (like clear plastic). While visiting the Chapins we took a trip to Starved Rock State Park. Grandpa and Grandma Holmquist were with us on this trip. Grandpa had a heart attack while at Starved Rock. After a while that day we all went back to Tampico, maybe 50 miles. Grandpa rested and felt better in a few days and we traveled back to Chicago. Grandpa lived a number of years later and died in November 1925.

We went to Grovertown to Grandpa's summer house in the summer. (My folks purchased the farm there in 1925 after grandpa died. There were a lot of blue berries and huckleberries on the farm, that we all picked each time we went to Grovertown.)

One of these trips with Grandpa with us, he remarked that he wished he could be alive when there were paved roads all the 75 miles to the farm. It was paved just past Gary at that time. The cement highway was being built in 1928. On one trip to the farm the car had 6 flat tires. Al and Dad had to mend them, pump them up again, and we would be on our way. Every trip was an adventure. We would always stop at Valpraso, Indiana at the railroad station to use their bathrooms, and their peanut and gum machines. Grandpa always had fruit and cookies with to treat us all as we traveled.

Another thought from Grandpa Swanson, that I should have mentioned was his wish was that he would be able to fly from Chicago and have breakfast there and fly to Sweden and have lunch there, and again get to Chicago and have supper there back at home. The airoplane were few and far between at that time. Little did he know that that is possible now. (He died in 1920).

Another trip as a family was to the Wisconsin Dells. Dad and Mother sewed canvas together and made a square tent. They should have waterproofed it. We got to Baraboo, Wisconsin and put up the tent somewhere I don't know, along the dirt or gravel road. Problem developed in the night. It started to rain. We all ended up sleeping in the car. The next morning Dad and the boys rolled the wet tent up and put it on the running board that had a wire carrier clamped on the running board. We got to the Dells that day and I am sure we enjoyed them. This was probably in 1922.

Another trip we, LaVerne, Bud and I were on with the folks was to St. Paul, Minnesota. We were on our way to Ashland, Wisconsin to visit friends of the folks, the Rev. C. I. Peterson. The place we stayed over night I don't remember, but the next morning we stopped at a restaurant for breakfast, which we never did. Dad said order whatever we wished to have for breakfast, and after we all ordered except Bud, he remarked, "I can order anything, I think I will have an 'Ice Cream Soda'" This got laughs and I don't remember if he got that or not, probably not. It was always a family joke. We got in front of Bethel College, and looked around a bit and headed north. This was on a Monday morning. We got as far as Rush City and then had problems. Something was wrong with the transmission. Dad was able to drive it to the garage while we all rested on a church lawn, walked all over Rush City, and when Dad found out that the car wouldn't be ready until the next day, he rented a large room for all of us at the Rush City Hotel. Planning to go to the State Fair that evening, we all rested across the bed after supper. Dad awakened sometime in the middle of the night, and suggested that we undress for bed, we overslept.

On that Tuesday we headed north toward Duluth and East to Ashland Wisconsin. There was a lot of roadwork on those gravel roads and in one area Dad had to drive over on the shoulder of the road, and the ground gave way and the car tipped over on its side. This was near Bruel, Wisconsin near President Hoover's summer home. We all had to crawl out of the front left window. The back window would only roll down half way. The road crew were able to get the car on its wheels and pulled it up on the road again. Because of the running board rack and luggage on the running board, we couldn't open the door. We finally go to Ashland and for a good visit with the Petersons. I don't remember our trip back to Chicago.

School Days

While we lived at 7725 South Park Avenue in 1919 until about 1924, we kids, Alden, Russell and I attended the Park Manor branch portable school at 77th and Calumet Avenue one block west of where we lived. It was grades 1st through 6th grades. Seven portable buildings, the middle one was the rest rooms. There was a lot of vacant land all about, new homes were being built in this area.

I remember my first grade teacher, Miss Gimble, a very stern person. I don't think she ever smiled. I was afraid of her. That first day of school I think I shall always remember. Being out in this area there were a lot of bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, many bugs and I was afraid of all of them. While at my desk a grasshopper jumped up on my desk and on my arm and up my sleeve, and started to bite me. I was afraid to let Miss Gimble know and to remove the bug. It soon was recess time, and guess what I did? I ran home to Mom in tears. She removed the big grasshopper and she calmed me down and went with me back to school and explained to Miss Gimble why I had left. I don't remember what she said or thought.

I remember my 3rd grade teacher who I dearly loved, Miss Norris. She was a Christian teacher and was kind and helpful to all of us kids. When I took sick with no one knew what, (that ended to be an infected appendix) she would send school work home with Russell or Mom would pick it up at school, and she would home teach me with reading, writing and math. At the age of 12 I was feeling better and returned to school. Miss Moran had me in her room of 4th graders, and gave me extra help during recess time and I moved on to 5th and 6th grades. That teacher Miss Morris seemed to be a crab, very firm. With a Holmquist name, she knew that I was Alden's sister. She sort of shunned me. I was a good student so it wasn't that I had problems. When Alden had her years before, Alden was playing with a rubber band over the cover of his ink well on the desk. (Each desk had a ink well). The rubber band slipped off and flew up on to Miss Norris' desk. She accused Al of doing it on purpose, which he didn't. She gave Russell a rough time too, I guess she thinking all Holmquist are like that.

By the time I was in the 6th grade a new school was built down the street to the south a couple of blocks, at 79th and Prairie and Calumet at 79th Street South. Mr. Herney was the principle. A wonderful person, who would even come out at recess time to play with the kids, in ball or whatever. (He use to go to the same school Mother used to go to years before). This school grades went through 6th grades. While I was in the sixth grade our room put on a play. It was about America. I was the Statue of Liberty, telling everyone what America stood for. That's about all I remember. There were many kids in the play.

From Hirsch School I went to the year old school in Junior High, Hirsch Junior High, 79 and Eggleston Avenue, about 1 1/2 miles or more east of where we lived. (No one rode school buses). If I was slow to get on to school, I could take the 79th street car to Eggleston. The day before I graduated from Junior High my sister was born, Elaine on June 25, 1930.

At Hirsch I took a Commercial Course that included typing and filing, which I continued with in High School the following year. That was at Calumet High at 81st and May. I added to my course, Contomiter operations. I didn't continue on with this business course. I had hoped to go on to business school but it was Depression days and the folks couldn't afford to send me on to business school. I always wished I could have gone on. I got work clerking at Kreskes dime store for a while, and then to Sears Roebuck marking room. Then I started working for my cousin at his curtain laundry, making more money. I worked until I got married and for 1 year later.

My Christian Faith and Swedish Prayers Learned and Memory Work

I became a Christian on March 11th 1924 with Rev. David Anderson and Evangelist as guest speaker. I was baptized on April 4th 1926. I remembered it snowed that Easter Sunday. Rev. Lindon baptized me (in broken Swedish). I guess I understood what he said tho. I joined the Swedish Baptist Church of Englewood at 59th and Emerald Avenue.

The Communion, Lord's Supper, was served to me and others who were baptized. At that time everyone drank from the two communion silver glasses, and wiped the rim before passing it to the next person with a linen napkin. Years later separate glasses were used. A loaf of bread was broken and passed, now small wafers are broken and served.

At the age of 10 or 12 our Sunday School Superintendent, Oscar Ostling, challenged the Sunday School to memorize Philippians 3:13 and 14th verses. Those who learned the verses and said them to the Sunday School would receive a Bible Story Book from the Sunday School. I took the challenge and received the book. The verses are "I count not myself have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in God in Christ Jesus." (Apprehend meaning to grasp with understanding). This was the first verses I can remember to ever memorize at an early age.

Mother taught us Kids some Swedish prayers. At meal time we would say

I Jeje namm til bords ve goo, Vallsigna Gud den mot ve foo.

Ahmen

In English it is,

In Jesus name we bread partake, Bless it to us for Thy Name sake.

Thy Name to honor, us sustain, We bread receive in Jesus Name.

Amen

After eating we'd say,

Tack Gooda God for motten.

Ahmen

Or in English,

Thank you God for the food.

Amen

At night and bed time Mother taught us kids another Swedish Prayer.

Gud som hover bornen kär, Se till meg some leten ar.

Vort jog meg i Vartten vänder, Står min lgeks i Guds händer.

Lyekan kommer, Lychan gar, Den Gud Alska, Lychan fur.

Ahmen

In English this is:

God who hold children dear, watch after me little me.

Wherever in this world I wander. My happiness is in God's hands.

Happiness comes, happiness goes, Those who God loves, receive happiness.

Amen

Mother read the Bible to us each evening for many years. She was a wonderful reader and a wonderful Christian, training all of us kids to give our hearts to the Lord at an early age.

First Automobile

Dad bought their first car in 1919. Not many people had cars. It was a 1918 touring car with an enclosed top. A Dodge. The second car was a 1919 Buick touring car with side curtains. The third car was a Packard 1924 with side curtains. I learned to drive this big 7 passenger car out at Grovertown driving up the long lane to the road and back up to the house. That was in 1927.

Dad's next car was a Studebaker. On Sunday afternoons we would go for a ride. All of the family would go by car to church on Sunday evenings. On Sunday mornings we kids and Dad would take us on the 75th Street [street]car to Halsted Street, transfer to the Halsted street car to 59th Street, and to church a short block east. The fare was 03¢ for kids 12 and under and 07¢ for adults. Mother didn't go to Sunday School and church in the mornings, but had dinner ready for us when we got home.

I remember once I went across the street from church and spent my offering money for some candy. Someone told on me, and Dad gave me a good talking to telling me never, never spend God's offering money, that it to be given to God's work from the church. I got a spanking too to remember.

Many Christmases

In the years of 1918 or 1919 I remember that Christmas was always a big occasion. On a Christmas at 6613 Green Street we had candles on the tree. The candle holder was clamped to the branches and a candle inserted. Shortly after the tree was lit the candles were all snuffed out. It was a wonder that there were not more house fires at Christmas. This was part of the celebration to have the tree all lit.

In about 1921 or 1922 Dad acquired some telephone switch board lights and sockets and he soldered them to a wire and we had electric lights for the tree. I remember helping dad hold the wires as he soldered it together. The bad part of it was that if one light went out the whole string of lights went out.

In the years 1921 or 22 Mother and Dad invited either Dad's family or Mother invited her family for Christmas Day and gift exchange. I don't remember if it were pot luck dinner or not but it was a lot of people. Grandpa and Grandma Holmquist always were with us on these occasions. Grandma Swanson lived with us. I remember one Christmas. Uncle Hank and Aunt Belle gave me a beautiful highly polished set of doll furniture, table and 6 chairs 'Duncon Phyfe' style. Were for to play with, with my dolls I had. I put the box under the bed for safe keeping. One day I was going to play with them and to my surprise and sadness, they were all chewed up by our dog.

Aunt Almeda crocheted us girls a hat with a pompom on the top. We are wearing our hats in the picture of 7725 South Park.

Another Christmas I asked for a big doll I was happy when I got it. I called her Dorothy. Another year I got another doll I called Doris. I always named my dolls. Another Christmas Aunt Margaret and Uncle Dave gave me a pretty doll dressed in a lavender dress. I called her Margaret. I also remember one time that Aunt Margaret embroidered a pretty dress for us girls.

In 1921 or 1922 I received a set of china dishes, 21 pieces, from Dad and Mother. These I kept in Mother's china cabinet for safe keeping. LaVerne and I had many tea parties, using my dishes. (I gave these dishes to Louise and they are in her china cabinet). One day Kirsten and I had a tea party with them.

I can remember when one of these family gatherings took place. After dinner the ladies were washing the dishes and clearing away the food when some of the kids were playing hide and seek. A couple of them went under the kitchen table. Someone let the table leaf down and with a big crash Mother's new set of dishes came to the floor breaking many of them. She was heart sick, but what could she do. (Bud was one of the kids).

Christmas Morning we as a family would get up early and would drive to church for the 6 A.M. service. "Yulutta Christmas Early Service". It was all in Swedish and we kids couldn't understand any of it, but we might some day understand Swedish, so we were to go anyway. We would get home for breakfast of "Groen Corve" fried with lingon berries (barley cooked with liver and salt port). The meat was cooked and ground up and added to the barely and steamed all day before. I didn't like liver so this wasn't my favorite, but I ate it anyway, it was the tradition for Christmas breakfast. Mother always baked special rolls and fruit cake and cookies too for Christmas. She always made pickled herring too for Christmas eve supper with the potato sausage, Lute Fisk, brown sweeten beans, rice cooked cream potatoes and jello, Swedish meat balls, and sulta (cooked veal and flavored jelled and sliced), Mother's Swedish rye bread, and rice budding with a favorite jam on it. The Lute Fisk was a frozen and cooked like kind cod fish, served with a cream sauce and Allspice and salt and pepper. I always like it. Fruit soup made with many dried fruits and fruit cake. Does this menu make you hungry????

Mother or Dad would read the Christmas Story from Luke 2, from the Bible the story of Jesus' Birth. All these memories are precious of years past of childhood.

Sometimes Dad would play the part of Santa and dress up in the Red Santa suit and pass out the gifts. Sometimes it was a treasure hunt with notes to guide us from place to place until we found our gift. Sometimes it was a string attached to the gift and traveled all through the house. Christmas was a joyful time. Our stockings hung by the fire place and in the morning there would be an apple, an orange, a banana, and some nuts and candy in the socks.

In the Fall of the year the folks would buy a couple barrels of apples. I don't know where they would buy them. They would buy kegs of salt herring amounting to 2 gallons. Mother would make pickled herring for Christmas with them. She also bought 5 pound boxes of variety of cookies from Sears Grocery catalog department. We looked forward to Christmas.

Homes I Grew Up In

In about 1924 Dad sold the bungalow at 7725 South Park Avenue and built a two story apartment building on 79th and Eberhart, a few blocks away. A year or so later Dad sold the 2 story building and built a 3 apartment building a block away on 8041 Vernon Avenue. While that was being built we lived for about a year at 5500 Lowe Avenue, block.

This area where the three flat apartment was built was a newly developed area called Chatham Fields, bordered from South Park to Cottage Grove, Seventy-ninth to Eighty-third. New building apartments everywhere.

In 1930 Dad's manufacturing company went bankrupt during the depression days. These days were hard days for Dad and Mother. Being unemployed Dad got work selling refrigerators on credit. Buying on credit was something new. Dad did very well selling.

I worked part time at Kreskeys Dime to Dollar store at 63rd Halsted and later at Sears Roebuck and Co. I graduated from Calumet High School 2 year Commercial Course in June of 1932

Dad got a job in Ludington in January 1933 and we all moved to Ludington, Michigan. Dad lived for a short time there and we joined him in the early spring. I got a job at Montgomery Wards Co. In those days when I made a sale I would place the money and the sales slip into a basket and send it up to the balcony by pulling a cord.

One time while Dad was living alone in Ludington, Mother and we kids got an idea; let's send Dad a lemon cream pie. We did, covering it well and put into a flat covered tin and mailed it. The weather was cold in January so it didn't spoil. It was all mixed up when he got it, but he said it tasted like lemon pie. We also sent him potato sausage. That spoiled. We often laughed about that. He also received fresh cookies we girls made for him.

We attended the Washington Avenue Baptist Church. I sang in the choir. Rev. Alphin Conrad was the pastor, who was Milton's childhood friend. I baby-sat Jolyn Alphin (Shorty and Hazel's daughter) once in a while.

Before we moved to Ludington I was going steady with Milton Swenson. He came up to Ludington often. Sometimes he would drive and sometimes he would take the Car Ferry from Milwaukee to Ludington. He had a 1932 Chevrolet that had a rumble seat.

My folks moved back to Chicago in 1933 and to their home at 8041 Vernon. Plans were being made for a June 12th wedding 1934. We were married at home. Rev. Fritz Hamlin married us. About 60 guests were there. Milton's friend Alphin Conrad was Best Man. His wife was my Bride's Maid and LaVerne my sister was Maid of Honor. My sister Elaine was my Flower Girl, at age 4. She still remembers the bouquet, it was roses with thorns uncovered, and they pricked her. She handed Milton her bouquet just before the wedding and someone covered the thorns for her. After she got up to where we were, she turned around and saw Mother and crawled up on her lap and fell asleep. A big day for her.

After the honeymoon to Niagara Fall, NY. we went on to New York City. The first few days we stayed at Grovertown and at the folks summer home. Then on to Cleveland Ohio and stayed at Almsteds Hotel. We stayed mostly at Tourist homes. One home advertised $2.00 and on up.

While we were in New York we visited the Riverside Baptist Church on a Monday. A very big church. As we came out of the church a man who had too much to drink, looked at us and said, "Brother and sister, eigh," then just walked away.

Coming back from our honeymoon we lived at 7300 Kenwood. Milton's mother and brother lived with us for a couple of years. Then Oliver rented and apartment and she kept house for him.

Milton worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau which was in the Old Post Office Building

the 13th floor.

Inventions in my Life Time

Ink wells in schools desks.

Fountain pens that hold ink

Ball point pens.

Clocks and watches with a key to wind or a stem to wind a watch.

Battery operated clocks or watches.

Digital and dated watches that have buzzers.

Quartz watches that need no hand winding. Need a tiny battery.

Permanent Wave Machines.

In about 1925 Dad manufactured the hardware for the permanent wave machines. Heating coils electrically, were attached to an overhead rack. Rods were inserted into the heaters with a wrapping of aluminum foil and a material called angle frizzy stringy stuff. The rods were about 6 inches long and the hair was wrapped on the rods, starting at the head and winding to the end of the rod. The foil and angle frizzy stuff kept the scalp from getting too hot or burning the head. Sometimes it got hot and a hand blower was blown between the rods to cool It took quite awhile for the permanent wave.

I have my first permanent wave in 1925. It took all day. Two weeks later the beauty operator washed my hair to test the curl on my fine hair and it didn't take. It was repeated in about six months, with no results.

Now one can get a permanent Wave in about two hours at a beauty shop. Also, Home Perms can be given to oneself, the Tony Wave is one of them.

Social Security for the Elderly 65 years and older.

Medicare for those 65 years and older.

Health Care:

Polio shots

Diphtheria shots

Whooping Cough shots

Measles shots

Tetanus shots

Pneumonia shots

Antibiotics

Sulfa

Penicillin

Surgery Implants for:

Heart valves

Artificial hearts

Adding Machine:

Victor adding machine my dad worked on it making correction in order to make it work. Dad received a good size bonus from Victor Co.

Then came the camtomitors

and the calculators

and the computers.

Electric fans and the central air condition in homes and businesses.

Coffee pots:

First heated on the coal cook stove.

Then of a gas or electric stove.

Electric percolators to the electric drip coffee makers.

Stoves:

Coal burning cook and heating stoves upright with ising glass of 3 sides

to electric stoves

to microwave ovens

Mixers:

Egg beaters beat by hand

Electric mixers in the early 1930's

Can Openers:

Hand screw around the can

to electric varieties.

Irons:

Flat irons that were heated on the cook stove. Later heated on the gas stove

then electric irons of various varieties.

Carpet Sweeper:

First by hand pushing or just with a broom

then electric vacuum cleaners of various brands.

Sewing Machines:

Singer Company had a treadle machine.

I had one which I received from Mother Swenson. I had a motor attached to my machine in about 1945. then the electric machines came on the market.

Lamps:

Oil kerosene lamps.

Out on the farms the farmers used these lamps. Electric lights were used in our home in the yearly years of my life.

Electricity #1 necessity. It powers everything. Lights water power sewer system, all home appliances; it is everywhere.

Street Lights:

I remember the gas lit lamp posts.

Then electric lighting.

Then the automatic timers.

Cameras:

Kodak box cameras.

Instomatic Polaroid and instant flash, built-in flash, and movie cameras.

Plastics:

Tupperware to table cloths, shower curtains, and much more.

Washing of Clothes:

The wash board. One rubbed bar soap on the board and rubbed the clothes up and down on it. American Family or Phelsnaptha Soap were the most popular on the wash board.

One would boil the clothes in a wash boiler to get them white. I had these when we were first married in 1934.

Washing Machines:

Wringer type attached to the machine. One cut up the soap and cooked it to melt it for washing. Then came flaked soap.

Automatic washers came next, and powdered soap and Clorox for bleaching.

Automatic dryers have been here for years now. I use to hang my wash outside or inside on the clothes line.

Stockings:

Silk stocking were what we young girls and ladies wore. It was a heartbreaking experience when on got a run in them. We had a special loop hook one could mend the run, but it took a lot of patience.

After World War 2 nylon was invented and nylon stockings came on the market and they are stronger

Music:

The piano I always remember. They also had the Player Roll piano that played automatic.

Pipe organs in churches.

Pump organs came out of the churches and got into the homes.

Louise has the one we had in Salt Lake.

Electronic organs. Louise has the one we had and Bob built it from a Heath Kit.

Out Houses:

In the country the toilets were in the yard in a small building which were called Out Houses. Many times the Sears Catalog was used for the toilet paper. Toilet paper was too expensive.

In the cities one had inside bathroom plumbing and running water. I remember the toilet Grandma had; it had a water box above the toilet and a pull chain emptied the water into the toilet. Wow!!

Water Pumps:

Before inside plumbing everyone had pumps outside and one would have to pump pails of water for drinking and washing anything such as dishes and hands.

Horses:

Horses plowed the farmer's fields. Now one can get an air condition cab tractor to run the farm equipment.

Horse-drawn wagons for the farms.

Horse-drawn buggies for people.

Horse-drawn fire trucks, the milk man, iceman and peddlers.

Trailers:

A covered flat roof trailer was owned by a man that Dad had working for him at Grovertown farm. The first house trailer I knew of and so neat. It was a box like trailer, and it contained a stove, a sink with a drain that water drained outside, a stove, table and cabinet and his bed. The man's name was Sven Duva. We thought an odd man, with whiskers. We thought this trailer house was neat. His horse would pull it to the different jobs and he would always have his house with him.

Now the trailer homes are anywhere from 13 1/2 feet to 35 feet in length and pulled with a car or truck.

Roads:

The roads were dirt or gravel until about 1926 or 1927.

Then cement or asphalt.

Then super highways to interstate the bypass cities and towns.

Airoplanes:

Lindbergh's flight to Paris

1 & 2 motor planes to jet planes

The Concord fast plane to Europe

Space ship to the moon.

Hose and Buggy:

Automobiles and trucks

Dad's 1st car was a Dodge 1919 year touring

2nd car was a Buick 1919 year touring.

3rd car was a Packard 7 passenger 1924 year touring

Milton and I had a 1933 Chevrolet with a rumble seat and many after that.

Ice Boxes:

Electric refrigerators about 1930

Electric freezers

Roller-skates and Ice Skates:

Wooden skates used on the wood side walks

Ball bearing metal wheels used on e cement sidewalks

Dad worked for Koler Company who made the roller sakes which clamped on to one's shoes, as well as the ice skates. Later came shoes skates.

Jumping Shoes:

Dad made the Kangaroo Jumping Shoes that clamped on to one's shoes. We kids liked. One would jump up and down on these large spring shoes. Lots of fun.

Milk Bottles:

First in glass. One could still buy fresh mild from a diary farmer if one know where one was. Later the milk was bottled in cardboard and plastic bottles in quarts and pints and gallon containers.

Foods:

Coffee use to be ground at home like vegetables, fruits, juice berries, and TV dinners ready for the microwave ovens.

Horse-drawn Wagons:

The vegetable man and his horse and wagon would come down the alley calling out his vegetables, green beans, potatoes, etc., berries, and fruit, "Red Ripe Watermeloooooon's. Most folks bought from him.

The Ice Man and his Wagon with Horse:

Everyone had an icebox. The ice man gave out square cards with the amount one wanted, and it was placed in a window where he could see it. He would deliver it to the box, 25 lbs., 50 lbs. 75 lbs., 100 lbs.

In about 1929 electric refrigerators were built an slowly people were buying them. That did away with the ice man. We kids would follow the ice man's wagon hoping for a chip of ice.

The Milk Man and Wagon and Horse:

Milk was delivered by horse and wagon. Borden's and Hunting were a few of the dairies. The wagon was a cab like wagon and milk in glass bottles were stacked in racks with pieced of ice about the bottles. From glass bottle in quarts it went to cardboard, to plastic bottles It could be bought in the grocery stores when the milk man was done away with. He delivered the bottled milk to the door of each customer. In the winter time the milk would freeze a bit and the milk would rise up above the bottles.

Speaking of milk, it was not pasteurized. The cream came to the top the bottle. Dad invented a cream separator. A tube like cup about 4 inches long with a hole in at the bottom and a trap door operated by the handle. The cream would slowly flow into the tube and then one could empty the tube into a container. So the Swede's could have cream for their coffee. Dad sold many of these to the diary for years. I use to have one when I was first married.

The Junk Man and his Horse and Wagon:

A horse drawn wagon and the Junk Man came down the alley yelling "Rags and Ol Iron". He took newspapers and junk of all kinds, weighed it and gave you some money for it.

Horse Drawn Scoops:

When a new house or building was being built a horse pulled scoop, scooped the dirt for the foundation. Now a bulldozer power machinery does a quicker job. The cement used to be mixed by hand, now big cement mixing trucks are used and brought to the building site.

Our First Phonograph Record Player:

I remember the day Sears and Roebuck delivered a big box, which had a phonograph inside. One had to crank it on the right side of the cabinet. It was a cabinet style, the top opened up where the player was at, and the records were stored below. Many records came with the phonograph. Hymns, instrumental numbers and a few comedian "Cohen On the Telephone" and "Cohen the Car pen-ter". These records were funny. I believe I still have these 2 records. They hymns I remember were "Jesus Came Into My Heart" and "Onward Christian Soldiers".

Later electric records players in speakers, then tape players, and recorders.

Radio:

In about 1924, Dad and Alden wrapped a coil the size of an oatmeal box with wire. Somehow this wound coil with a moving wire across it to a crystal, one was able to receive radio sounds. The closest radio station was in Englewood, the Sough Town Economist News Paper Company, W.L.S. that announced the World's Largest Store (the call letters). Soon could get W.M.B.I. Moody Bible Institute station too. That was very exciting.

Dad manufactured many items for radio in those early days. He made the head phones, single or double ear phone holders. They fit over the head so one or two people could listen in. One walked over the floor as not to disturb the crystal, otherwise one could loose the station.

Later came the dial radios, push button type and others. Now they come in all sizes tiny and large.

The Telephone:

Black and White small screens.

Color T.V. in all sizes.

Automobiles:

Dad's first car was a 1919 Dodge with a permanent enclosed top. Second car was a 1919 Buick touring car with side curtains. Third car was a 1924 seven passenger Packard touring car. The side curtains were attached to the doors and opened with the door. I learned to drive this car. Dad's forth car was a Studebaker.

Hobbies

Dolls:

Pixey dolls. I made a couple hundred or more of these dolls. Many I sold or gave away as gifts. My Swedish doll hangs on the wall of my kitchen. As a child I sewed for my dolls making clothes and hats for them by hand, not by sewing machine. I dressed my dolls for Louise's dolls too.

Crocheting:

I learned to crochet in the early 1930's. A friend Margaret Olson showed me how, and we crocheted a blouse together, working on it often until we finished it. I wore it many times. I crocheted a dress for Louise too.

Table Cloth and Bed Spread:

I made, crocheted 2 Queen Ann lace table cloths (one wore out) and John and Sheila have the 2nd one now, 70x90 size. I also crocheted a bedspread Queen size. Louise has this one. Two round tablecloths, Bob and Julie have one and Jan has the other one.

Pillows:

I have made about 28 crocheted pillows. Each one my family have them and Leo's family have one too. I have given away many of them as gifts, wedding or birthday gifts.

Pot Holders too.

I have made many of them. I still have the pattern of the one that my mother-in-law Swenson made for me.

Doilies:

I have made many. My family have some of them.

Weave it Loom:

Many afghans, baby shawls. My family have, as well as baby shawls for their babies.

Quilts:

I have made many quilts. My first quilt was a piece Tulip Mountain Mist pattern quilt. This was for my hope chest in 1934. It was finished in time for my wedding day. As far as I can figure out I have made about 28 or 30 quilts in my life time. I have Louise a cross stitch one for a wedding gift. She also has a twin size one with dog faces on it. Also 2 puff quilts for the twin beds and shams to match. I made a pin wheel pattern quilt, King size for John and Sheila for a wedding gift. I also finished a different pinwheel quilt that my mother put the squares together and I finished and used on the twin bed when I use to stay with John. Bob and Julie have a Iris pattern quilt I made for them for a wedding gift. I have made quilts for all Leo's children and the married grandchildren and they all will get theirs when they get married. I finished 2 appliquéed quilts for us. An Iris one and a daffodil one. These are very pretty.