18 of 23

Write now Article Tools

Monday was washday. Tuesday was set aside for ironing and mending. The week's baking was done on Wednesday, and we cleaned the house on Thursday. Friday was spent finishing up the "loose ends" for the week. There was never a lack of work on the farm!

But Saturday brought a different routine to our houshold as we were growing up. Saturday was "bath day" in preparation for the weekends events. Our mother hauled out the big metal washtub and placed in in the middle of the kitchen floor. Water was heated to fill the tub and the ritual began with the smallest child being rubbed and scrubbed to cleanliness. The process continued upward through the children by age - same tub and same water with more hot water only being added as the water temperature dropped in the tub. Mom and then Dad followed, and everyone was "spit and polished" for the weekend.

After Saturday evening supper, the eggs and cream from the week were loaded, the kids piled into the car and the whole family was off to town. Saturday night in our home town was a big thing. All the stores stayed open until 9 p.m. and everyone came to town to sell their farm goods and to do their shopping. The men and women went their separate ways to tend to their respective errands and to visit with friends and neighbors. Children met up with friends and went off to play, with strict orders as to which parts of the town square they were allowed to visit and what time they were to report back to the car. Teenagers congregated at the soda fountain in the back of the drug store - a place where many romances began. We could look forward to a stop for ice cream cones if we all "behaved ourselves"!

Sunday mornings still brought chores - the animals had to be fed and cared for - but then everyone quickly donned their Sunday best and we were off to church. Prairie View Church had been the place of worship for three generations of our family before us. Grandma served the church over the years as Sunday School Superintendent, President of the Ladies Aide, and as a lay minister whenever it wasn't possible for the regular clergy to make the Sunday morning service.

Children who could be trusted not to "act up" during the service were allowed to sit in the front pews, followed by the women and smaller children in the middle of the church, and the men were seated in the rear. A noisy or unruly child was sure to be grabbed up and ushered outside by the closest parent, and seating status in the front rows promptly terminated!

A huge family

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about The good ol' days: Relishing unforgettable memories?
We want to hear your view. Write now!