We had no TV for entertainment back in the ’20s and ’30s. We had to find things to do for recreation. The farm folks in our neighborhood took turns having dances at each others’ houses on Saturday nights. When it was our turn, I remember how we moved furniture out of the way, rolled up the rugs in a couple of rooms, and sprinkled corn meal on the bare wood floors to make them nice and smooth to dance on. My mother’s uncle played the fiddle and our neighbor was the square dance caller. I can still hear him calling, “A dosie-do on the corners all, around your honey with a little more do, and promenade all. You know where and I don’t care.”
About 11:30 I would help my mother serve sandwiches and coffee. This was followed by a few waltzes or fox-trots and then “Home, Sweet Home.” A good time was had by all.
In the winter, our heating stoves complicated matters, so we’d have a card party instead. Everyone enjoyed playing Pedro, which was followed by a light lunch near midnight. The folks left for home soon after, for the farmers had to get up early the next morning to do the milking and other chores.
Marie Wyatt
Elyria, Ohio
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.