My Aunt Lena Berkheimer shared her memories of the Second World War with me. She and her husband and two sons lived north of town. When the government sent Mr. Peterson to urge people to plant vegetables in their gardens – especially navy beans for the war effort – she got really put out with his tirade and told him to go on down the road.
She had plenty to do already, planting a big garden every year and canning vegetables. One-third of the plot went to asparagus, which she shared with me and neighbors.
Dorothy Carmann
Riverdale, Nebraska
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.
