Forty-five years ago our neighbors had an unusual outhouse. One whole side of the woodshed was partitioned off for it. There were four hand-carved holes and each had a hand-made cover. On one cover was lettered: “You are next.”
There was a window at the far end, and a candle and matches and reading material on the shelf. Within easy reach was the Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs to be used for “tissue.”
Irma Thicke
LaCrescent, Minnesota
Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.
