Ninety years ago this week, the world was just getting to know a character named Donald Duck, Jackie Wilson of “Higher and Higher” fame was born, the Great Smokey Mountains National Park was dedicated, and Adolf Hitler was well on his way to becoming one of the deadliest power trippers on the planet. Closer to home, residents of Pulaski County were still finding ways to try to stay afloat in the middle of the Great Depression. Omitted from this week’s piece due to space constraints, the June 20, 1934, issue of The Commonwealth contained details about some work being done by local women in an effort to repurpose clothing.
The women were dismantling and re-sewing used men’s pants to turn them in to pants for children. We sometimes joke about the older generations’ tendencies to hold on to material objects and to make the best use of their possessions, but when we read details about the Depression era, we understand better why they did these things. One lesson from the past that we might be better off not understanding, however, is the “professional” cleaning solution recommended in the week’s “Hints for the Home” piece.
A mix of ammonia, alcohol, chloroform, ether, borax and gasoline must have been brutal on the respiratory system. A reminder: As you read these words from the past, please keep in mind that certain terms were used during those days which would now be considered inappropriate. I have copied these articles as they appeared in that timeframe.
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