Many pleasant memories of our one-room schoolhouse come to mind, but the most outstanding is the aroma of baked potatoes. We had an exceptionally understanding, kind and thoughtful teacher. Our mothers would send well scrubbed raw potatoes for lunch, and during first recess, which was in the morning, our teacher would climb up on a chair near the large furnace type old stove and arrange the potatoes on top so they could bake while we had our classes. About one-half hour or so later he would climb up again to turn the potatoes and by noon they would be baked just right. What a special treat we thought we had as we broke open the baked potato and let the homemade butter melt over it – ummm, delicious. We had no cafeteria with its many choices as the children have these days, but a delicious treat was made very special because of a caring teacher.
Floranna Krone
Westlake, 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.
