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Sock Hops
Mar 9
You may not have attended a 'sock hop' but you have heard of them. They first began in 1944 sponsored by the Junior Red Cross to raise money for the relief war effort. For a small of charge, those attending had a night of good dancing but each person wearing just their socks since the dances were held in a school gymnasium and the gym floor didn't...
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Love Token Coins
Mar 3
It was a tradition of years ago, when someone would be away from their loved ones for any length of time, a coin token was given, as a reminder. Also for special occasions such as births and weddings, a token coin was given. Many of the coins were also engraved marking what the event or occasion was for the recipient. This special token was pri...
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Having Modern Mirrors
Mar 1
So many items we today take for granted. Our ancestors may not have some of the things we can hardly live without. One is, having a modern mirror, so when a man shaves or a lady does her hair or make-up, they each see themselves. The modern mirror was not invented until 1835. So any ancestors of the early 1800s and earlier didn't have not have ...
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Soda Shops
Feb 27
During the late 1880s, having a fizzy carbonated water drink became quite popular. When Coca-Cola began in 1886 by an Atlanta pharmacist, Dr. John S. Pemberton, he created a distinctive tasting soft drink sold in pharmacies (for one's health) and in apothecaries (a form of a drug store). By the beginning of the 1900s, a separate section in a pharm...
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Dance Cards
Feb 25
This is an activity once very acceptable and now long forgotten – using dance cards. Young people before there was acceptable individual dating, socialized in groups sponsored by older adult friends, family relatives or parents. Men and ladies were able to socialize at dances, to mingle, with everyone watching of course. It became acceptable for...
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What Were Newspapers Used for Besides Reading?
Feb 23
The daily print newspaper to the home has been popular for decades. But that is changing across the U. S. More people get the daily 'newspaper' as the digital edition on their smartphone, laptop or computer. When people did get a daily newspaper, it was read but it was also used around the house. Newspapers were used to wrap foods, especially l...
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Why Did Royal China Become Popular?
Feb 21
Most families have had nice dinnerware (dishes) used at Christmas time or guests for dinner. Long-time popular chinaware was 'Royal China'. It was manufactured in Sebring, Ohio. They featured quaint patterns with a nostalgic appeal to people in the 1930s well into the 1960s. In the 1930s most families could not afford large purchases of fine chin...
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‘Dutch’ Doors
Feb 19
The idea of this style of 'Dutch Doors' for a home had its beginning with the barns of farmers in the Netherlands in the 1600s, basically, it was a two-door system which seemed to work well to keep animals from passing through while also allowing some light and air to come into the barn. This idea was then used for the Dutch homes. The Dutch do...
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Glass Telephone Insulators
Feb 17
There just might be some glass telephone insulators that have been handed down as heirlooms or nicely displayed in a cabinet of a relative. But did you really know what you are looking at? With the telephone and poles with their wires across miles of areas for decades, they help provide telephone service. Up until the 1940s, the wires that carr...
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The Use of ‘Mother of Pearl’
Feb 15
Most everyone is familiar with pearls, those gems from nature (developed inside an oyster shell). However, 'Mother of Pearl' or Nacre (derived from the Arabic word for shell, “naqqarah”) is the organic, iridescent material that makes up the inside lining of various mollusks’ shells, such as oysters, mussels and abalone. The outer layer of a ...
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Advantages of Using the Telegraph
Feb 13
Communication over distances for our ancestors was not easy. Even sending a letter was not the easiest or quickest method. With the development of the electronic version of the telegraph and the code system created by Samuel Morse in 1838, a whole new world opened up for communication. It was a series of dots and dashes (the Morse Code) that could...
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Must Have Toys
Feb 11
It is interesting to look back at what toys were most popular with children. Not speaking of mass-manufactured toys like a Barbie doll, but homemade toys especially between 1820 and 1900, those favored by your grandparents, gr grandparents or gr gr grandparents. In the 1840s, marbles were very popular. They were also used as toys in the 1500s. ...
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Inventions of American Native Indians
Feb 9
What has made modern life a bit easier comes from inventions. Yet, you might not realize the variety of individuals who have contributed their ideas to make life easier. That includes American Natives, of which you just might have a percentage of Native DNA. One example is the 'kayak boats.' Made of wood these small boats have always made trave...
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Early Hospital Births were Cheap
Feb 7
If you found or had located hospital bills for the birth of children from decades ago. Examining them can be amazing. In a look years ago the hospital bills for births were much lower. An example, in the 1950s with birth and multiple days stay the cost after insurance was about $10.75 and that included oxygen and an incubator. An example from 1...
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Flame Glass
Feb 5
Over the decades there have been many different types of decorative glass pieces, many handed down in the families. One other type is known as 'Flame Glass.' They were tall vases in vibrant colors, oddly shaped ashtrays, and exotic-looking bottles and vases. Flame glass was popular in the 1960s with its unique designs. The pieces often blended ...
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