Saturday was not only a special day because it was a day of escape from school, but it held many other delights.
After our weekly bath in the wash tub, we were free to do as we pleased all afternoon. We came for our weekly allowance, “Mama, can we have our penny now?” Even the Sit and 101t stores are quickly disappearing now. In the days of my childhood, I loved to spend hours looking around our small-town dime store.
Oh, the good things you could buy for a penny! Our noses pressed hard against the glass of the candy counter, we debated whether to buy long suckers, chocolate, butterscotch, round suckers of all colors, or black and red licorice. There were red-hots that would burn your tongue, and bubble gum, and tiny celluloid dolls – before the day of plastic and balloons!
Winnie Krantwashl
Grand Junction, Colorado
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.