1913 Welch’s Grape Juice Advertisement

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

Thursday, January 23, 1913: Bout the same as ever.

The

Healthful Beverage

Welch’s is the drink for youth and age. It tastes good, satisfies thirst and is healthful. It contains all the health-giving qualities of the finest Concord grapes. It is a splendid temperance beverage for the home. It adds a touch of cheerful hospitality to all formal and informal affairs.

Welch’s

“The National Drink”

To maintain the high quality of Welch’s we pay from $7 to $9 per ton over the market price, thus securing only the choicest of the luscious Concords grown in the Chautauqua Grape Belt.

Welch Punch

For a dainty, unfermented punch, take the juice of three lemons, juice of one orange, one pint Welch’s Grape Juice, one quart water and one cup of sugar. Add sliced oranges and a pineapple and serve cold. Order a case and have a supply in the house.

If unable to get Welch’s of your dealer we will ship a trial dozen pints, express prepaid east of Omaha, for $3. Sample 4-oz bottle, mailed 10¢. Write for our free booklet of recipes.

The Welch Grape Juice Co.

Westfield, New York

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

Since Grandma didn’t write much, I’ll share old ad I found in the February, 1913 issue of National Food Magazine.

Sister’s 21st Birthday Party

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

Wednesday, January 22, 1913: We had a surprise party tonight. Had quite a good time. It was a surprise for Ruth, and she didn’t know the least of it.

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

It probably was a birthday party for Grandma’s sister Ruth. I bet it was a really big surprise since Ruth turned 21 three days earlier on January 19.

What was a 21^st birthday party like a hundred years ago?

Did Grandma pull Ruth’s ears 21 times on her birthday? People used to pull the birthday person’s ear lobes one time for each year. On January 19, 1911 Grandma wrote:

Pulled Miss Muffly’s ears first thing this morning, whether she liked it or not. . .

And, on January 19, 1912, she wrote:

. . . I pulled Ruthie’s ears. I tell her she is getting to be an old maid but really don’t mean it. . . .

1913 Shredded Wheat Advertisement

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

Tuesday, January 21, 1913: Nothing to write.

Source: National Food Magazine (January, 1913)

Advertisement Text:

The Call of the Bell

It is music to Johnny’s ears if he starts the day with a warm, nourishing breakfast of Shredded Wheat

–and it’s so easy to get him off to school without fuss or worry because it’s ready-cooked and has in it everything he needs for study or play. It’s the whole wheat, cooked, shredded and baked to a crisp, golden brown.

Simply heat the biscuits in the oven a few moments to restore crispness, then pour hot milk over them adding a little cream and salt, or sweeten to suit the taste. A muscle-making, brain,-building food for children and grown-ups, for athletes and invalids, for outdoor men and indoor men, for workers with hand or brain.

The Only Breakfast Cereal Made in Biscuit Form.

Made only by

The Shredded Wheat Company

Niagara Fall, N.Y.

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

Since not much happened a hundred years ago today, I’ll share a 1913 advertisement I found for Shredded Wheat in National Food Magazine.

Back then you were supposed to heat the biscuits and then pour hot milk over them. Strange. . but I decided to try it.

The result—

I ended up with a hot, soft, mushy cereal. I had a difficult time getting past the texture—which was so very different from the crispiness of cold shredded wheat—but it warmed my tummy on a cold winter day.

Have a Part in the Class Play

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

Monday, January 20, 1913: Our class expects to have a swell blow-out one of these days. We’re going to give a play. I am Chloe the negro servant. That was the part I really wanted.

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

Hmm—I could go a lot of directions with this post, but I guess I’ll just leave it with this:

I’m glad Grandma got the part she wanted, but I wonder why she really wanted the role of Chloe. Was it a large part . . . or a relatively minor one? Did she think that it would be a challenging role . . . or an easy one?

Walked to Reunion in Turbotville

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

Sunday, January 19, 1913: A bright and beautiful dawn welcomed the approach of day. Ruth and I walked to Turbotville this morning to attend a family reunion. All of ‘em weren’t there. Had quite a pleasant time, but it would have been nicer if some more of the cousins had been there. We had our pictures taken out on the lawn. That walk home didn’t do me up, but I did get a terrific head-ache anyway.

Recent photo of road between McEwensville and Turbotville. — Recent photos of the road between McEwesnville and Turbotille. This picture was taken at the point where the road leaves McEwesnville.

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

Whew, it is probably about a five-mile walk—10 miles round trip– from the Muffly farm to Turbotville. Even on the nicest of days—in January or any other month– this sounds like a long, exhausting walk for Grandma and her sister Ruth.

This picture was taken This picture was taken midway between McEwensville and Turbotville. — This picture was taken midway between McEwensville and Turbotville.

Grandma’s maternal grandparents lived in Turbotville. Why didn’t Grandma’s mother go to the reunion to see her parents and siblings?

1913 Dresses

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

Saturday, January 18, 1913: Fixed some of my clothes today. Didn’t do much work because I didn’t feel very energetic.

Source: Ladies Home Journal (March, 1913)

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

I bet Grandma wasn’t very energetic fixing her clothes because she wished that she had new clothes. Did Grandma dream of having the outfits featured in Ladies Home Journal?

For more hundred-year-old fashions, see Fashion a Hundred Years Ago.

Patrons’ Day

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

Friday, January 17, 1913: We had patrons’ day at school this afternoon. Everything went off pretty good. We had quite a few visitors.

Recent photo of building that once housed McEwensville Schools.

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

A patron is someone who provides financial support. In 1912, the McEwensville Schools were public schools, so I’m not exactly sure who attended Patron’s Day.

The school often had financial difficulty, so perhaps community members made donations to help ensure that the students got an adequate education.

Thomas Kramm in The History of the McEwensville Schools included highlights from the school board minutes. The 1913 highlight was:

04-13: The Board borrowed money from the Watsontown Bank.

Hopefully, the school’s patrons were very generous. . .

Related previous posts that you might enjoy include:

School Had Financial Problems

State of Pennsylvania Responsible for the Provision of Public Education