Why do you visit A Hundred Years Ago?

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Monday, November 30, 1914: <<no entry>>

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

A few weeks ago Dirndl Skirt made the following comment:

. . . For all the work you put into this, it might be nice to get personal feedback as to why people connected with it. And a bit of introspection on the part of your readers’ would probably reveal some interesting observations as well, for you and for us.

And, I’ve been really curious ever since.

So since Grandma didn’t write anything a hundred years ago today, I’d like ask you a question:

What brought you to A Hundred Years Ago? . . . and why have you kept coming back?

Took Photo of Sister and her Friend

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Sunday, November 29, 1914: Rufus had company today. Took their pictures over on the new bridge.

Recent photo of a small bridge near the Muffly farm

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma—Do tell, was your sister Ruth’s company male or female? (It’s been a long time since you’ve called her Rufus. Are you just a little bit jealous?)

And, did you take their picture on the bridge that goes over the creek that flows by your family’s farm? I can picture a really old bridge. Maybe it was new a hundred years ago–though I suppose that it’s been replaced several times over the course of the last hundred years.

Hundred-Year-old Soy Milk Description

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Saturday, November 28, 1914: <<no entry>>

Source: National Food Magazine (November, 1910)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

I recently came across this hundred-year-old description of soy milk. Since Grandma didn’t write anything a hundred years ago today, I thought you might enjoy reading it.

A Hundred-Year-Old Thanksgiving Picture Story: The Turkey and her Haughty Cousins

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Friday, November 27, 1914: <<no entry>>

Source: Good Housekeeping (November, 1911) — Source: *Good Housekeeping* (November, 1911)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Thanksgiving, 1914 has already come and gone; but, since this is Thanksgiving Day in 2014, I thought that you might enjoy this hundred-year-old picture story.

The Turkey and her Haughty Cousins

(Good Housekeeping, November, 1911)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Carried a Sassy Goose Home from Town

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Thursday, November 26, 1914: Thanksgiving. Have been having quite a long vacation. We had a Thanksgiving dinner for one thing. My taster was lacking due to a cold and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I might have. Carried a sassy goose down from town last Monday. The remains are in the pantry awaiting further digestion for the morrow. Wonder if that goose will keep me awake tonight.

Source of photo: The Livestock Conservancy

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Happy Thanksgiving, Grandma—

You carried a sassy (live?) goose home from town?

How the heck did you do that? A goose must weigh at least 10 or 12 pounds—and a cage would make it even heavier.

I’m not sure where you got it, but you live a mile and a half or so from both McEwensville and Watsontown. That’s a long walk.

And, then I suppose you had to help butcher it –and then cook it. And, you probably also had to make some other foods for the big meal—maybe mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pies. . . .

Whew, I’m tired just thinking about all you needed to do to prepare for Thanksgiving.

I hope that you feel better soon, and that your “taster” is back by tomorrow. After all your hard work you deserve to enjoy at least some of the goose’s “remains.”

Advertisement for Carving Sets for the Thanksgiving Turkey

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Wednesday, November 25, 1914: <<no entry>>

Adversitement for Carving Sets for Thanksgiving turkey — Source: Milton Evening Standard (November 23, 1914)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Since Grandma didn’t write anything a hundred years ago today, I thought you might enjoy this advertisement for carving sets. It appeared in Grandma’s local newspaper, the Milton Evening Standard.

Are you prepared for Thanksgiving? You won’t want your guests to think that your turkey was tough just because you don’t have a good carving set. 🙂

Farmer Delivering Milk Hit by Trolley Car

19-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:

Tuesday, November 24, 1914: <<no entry>>

Source: Milton (PA) Evening Standard (November 23, 1914)

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Sometimes when Grandma didn’t write anything, I wish that she’d told us mundane things– like what her family discussed over the dinner table that day.

Maybe a hundred-years-ago today,the Muffly’s were talking about the recent accident in the nearby town of Watsontown.

What excitement! Thank goodness the accident wasn’t any worse than it was.