Nylon hose were very precious items during the Second World War. Our pastor’s wife, who in later years became my mother-in-law, had the knack for repairing runs in nylons. She had a hooked instrument, similar to a very fine crochet hook. With this, she would start at the base of the run and weave the loose thread between the cross threads back up to the top of the run. She did such meticulous work, one could not detect there ever was a run. Needless to say, she kept busy mending nylons for church members and friends.
Our pastor conducted German-speaking services once a month. After the War broke out, congregation members opted to discontinue these services. Because of the animosity caused by the War, they feared destruction of church property by patriotic citizens.
My husband’s uncle owned and operated a filling station at the time. The family suspicion he was selling black market tires because he seemed to be increasing his bank roll. This was never proven.
Betty Wittig
Wayne, 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.
