Author: Jeannine Brummett

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History in the Making

Behind the Doors of the Grocery Store: INEVITABLE CHANGE Part 2

History in the making

CHANGE —A Spark for Writers Seeking an Innovative Angle for Their stories.

Change can bring new life or dread to an unfolding plot, and it can affect characters in both positive and negative ways.

The grocery store setting can be such a catalyst, having experienced numerous changes throughout the 20th century.

  • 1930s-The rise of the all-in-one market. Excited shopper: The butcher, the baker, and the produce grower are all under one roof! Dejected business owner: My mom-and-pop shop can’t sustain itself any longer
  • 1937-The shopping cart arrived. Empowered shopper: I can choose products myself. Perplexed proprietor: Where do I fit?
  • 1950s-The “International Aisle” appeared. Inconvenience shopper: What are oriental noodles and refried beans? And what happened to my peanut butter and jelly? Controversial shopper: This looks like racial bias to me.
  • 1960s-Trading Stamps went wild. Grumpy shopper: Why does my favorite store offer green stamps when I want blue chips? Smiling shopper: My little girl wants a doll I can get with green stamps.
  • 1952-Bar code patented. Curious Shopper: What are these stickers with unique bars and numbers? Do I need to know? Do I even care?
  • 1960s-In-Store pharmacy. Recovering shopper: The pharmacist helped my husband find the best cold medicine for me. Pharmacist: It’s great to offer another convenience for customers.
  • 1972-The 24/7 grocery stores open. Tired shopper: I may have just put in a night’s work, but the quiet, uncrowded aisles are wonderful. Weary clerk: These overnight hours are hard on my body.
  • 1974-Price scanners. Delighted cashier: I don’t have to punch register keys anymore. I just slide the bar code across the glass plate. Disgruntled customer: The cashier made good money for accuracy in punching keys, now a child could do their job.

As the decades marched forward, stores designated seasonal space for specialty wares to celebrate New Years, Super Bowl, Valentines Day, Easter and Spring, and Thanksgiving.

Halloween grew in popularity and now holds second place in holiday sales. Fall shopper: In addition to the baker’s pumpkin goodies, I can find decorative squash, greeting cards, paper goods, knickknacks, and sometimes costumes. Wide-eyed child: Mom, look at all the candy.

Then there’s Christmas…everywhere you look…arriving as early as October. Even the grocery store climbs on board the marketing sleigh. Beyond celebratory meals and dessert items, the Plan-ahead shopper can choose Christmas cards, themed paper goods, and wrapping paper. For the Last-minute shopper, ribboned boxes of holiday candies and goodies, stuffed animals, and small toys fill the shelves.

Oops-don’t forget the poinsettias.

For the creative writer, change at the grocery store, good or bad, can enhance a scene. Or, if those creative juices are unleashed, the writer could employ market changes to unfold plot or subplots or reveal characters.

So, what plots and profiles might one bring to life at the grocery store?

Plots and Subplots: A kidnapped child or gun-toting robbers; pilfered green stamps or shoplifters; manager’s first store or the struggling mom’s second job. Romance on aisle 10. Characters: Store owner/manager, security guards, delivery men, cranky or curious children, harried shoppers, overwhelmed clerks, student baggers, late night shelf stockers.

So, creative writers, why not explore how the CHANGES behind the door of the grocery store might help you craft an atypical, entertaining story?

Click here for part one, Behind the Doors of the Grocery Store: The Early American Era.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry

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History in the Making

Behind the Doors of the Grocery Store: The Early American Era

History in the making

For writers, opportunities wait behind the doors of the grocery store!

A plethora of plots. Character reveals. Centuries of setting choices.

Plots or sub-plots—romance, thievery, espionage, even murder—hope to be chosen for a writer’s next work. Love blooms on Aisle 4.  A desperate mother shoplifts. Dollar bills go missing from the money box. Who poisoned the produce?

Character reveals or characters revealed? There’s a place for both in the grocery store. The helpful or bitter proprietor. The responsible cashier. The jerk of a clerk. Or the unexpected, welcome or dreaded, encounter at the meat counter.  

Along with plots and characters, a variety of grocery store settings are available for the picking. From as far back as the infant years of the United States, shops afforded goods to consumers: Trading Posts. General Stores. Mom-and-Pop shops. Full-service grocery stores.

Spanning four centuries, 17th through the early 20th, customers could make purchases at the TRADING POST, GENERAL STORE or a MOM-AND-POP shop. Demographics, architecture and technology might change, but the overall model of these establishments remained during this era.

TRADING POSTS arose and scattered across the United States as adventurous folks moved westward to explore the land. Initially, the trappers who operated the posts traded guns, ammunition, cloth and trims, and cookware to the local Indian tribes in exchange for furs and food. Bartering was common as opposed to a fixed-price system. Extending credit was common, luring customers to return.

Over the decades the face of the Trading Post morphed according to the increase in population and the changing landscape as more people moved west to settle in communities. Farmers, ranchers, travelers by stagecoach or rail, Pony Express riders, along with the Indian tribes might do business at the Trading Post. The proprietor would keep busy stocking shelves, bartering and selling, and cultivating working relationships and friendships with customers.

GENERAL STORES

The locale of the store would determine much of the product offered to the customer. For example, if the General Store is the only shop in a tiny town, though they provide mostly dry goods, at times they might have eggs, fresh fruit or vegetables brought in by a local farmer in exchange for credit or product. They may also stock items that are unique to the needs of those area residents. Specialty items were likely ordered and took a long time to receive. The post office might deliver mail to their facility and the customer would pick it up when they came by.

If the General Store is located in a large town or city where numerous specialty businesses operate, dry goods would be their main stock,  

 A day in the life of the proprietor might include unloading a shipment of goods or stocking shelves. Customers, both men and women, would hand him a list, or simply tell him what they needed. The requested items would be placed on the counter. After calculating the cost, the owner would load them in the customer’s sack or wagon to take home.

By 1883, proprietors might have set aside their pencil and paper and used a cash register which was invented by James and John Ritter circa 1878.

MOM AND POP shops are distinguished from General Stores in that they are usually family-owned and often a specialty store such as butchers, bakers, pharmacists, or shoemakers, etc.  

Mom and Pop stores were likely flanked on either side by other stores in a string of buildings on the main street of town. Owners often lived on the second floor.

Progressing into the 20TH CENTURY

In 1916, Piggly Wiggly opened the first self-service establishment. Customers could walk along the aisles and pick out what they wanted to purchase, then take them to check-out for tabulation and bagging. Regional chain stores, as late as the 1920s, continued counter-service for procurement of dry goods.

Shoppers still needed to visit the specialty shops for meat and produce.

Circa 1937, King Kullen opened the first grocery store featuring an onsite baker, butcher and a large produce department.

Shortly after King Kullen’s opening, the shopping cart was introduced. This made shopping easier for the customers, but also, the sale of more merchandise increased profits for the owner.

These early 20th century advancements in grocery services paved the way for the shopping experiences enjoyed by 20th and 21st century consumers. But that’s a story for another day.

As for creative writers, fodder for meaningful and exciting stories waits behind the doors of any Trading Post, General Store, Mom and Pop shop, or Full-service Grocery Store.

One just needs to look to find them.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

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History in the Making

The Coffee Bean Grinder

History in the making

Ahhh! Breathe it in—the aroma of fresh ground coffee beans. What a delightful detail to enhance the scene in a writer’s story.

But when and how can a writer introduce a coffee bean grinder?

There are four (4) distinct periods in the life of coffee grinders:

  • Stone Mortar and Pestle:

The exact date of the discovery of coffee beans is unknown, however, it can be tracked back to Ethiopia as early as 800 A.D..  As folks explored how to include the coffee bean in their lifestyles, the concept of grinding them naturally followed. The mortar and pestle got the job done and was utilized from that time and into the 15th century.

  • Manual Grinder:

In the 15th century, innovative minds used the blueprints for operating grain mills to develop smaller-sized mills, or grinders, which were then used to grind spices. Subsequently, the grain mills and spice grinders proved useful to grind coffee beans also.

In its early stages of development, manual coffee bean grinders were often built with wood, in a box shape, with a turning handle on top. The user would pour the beans into the top of the grinder, turn the handle, and the grounds would fall into a removable drawer at the bottom.

Over the next couple centuries, coffee grinders morphed with such changes as:  grinders specifically for coffee beans; mechanics using burrs instead of blades; and a wall-mounted coffee grinder. The late nineteenth century brought about mass production of cast iron grinders for use in households, cafes, and grocery stores.

  • Electric Grinders:

By the early 20th Century, electric grinders became popular. In the next years, various inventors and companies presented design modifications, experimented with different materials for construction, and added features like measuring weights. 

  • Technology-Enhanced Grinders:

At the turn of the 21st Century modern technology wowed the public with features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and touch-less. From coarse to fine, the beans could be ground to fit one’s taste buds. Add temperature control, anti-clumping and even the ability to measure density, and one can brew that perfect cup of coffee for the need of the moment without leaving their home.

Coffee grinders weren’t only about the mechanics to produce the perfect cup of coffee. Throughout changing eras and cultures, artisans left their marks. Those plain, boxy, practical devices became canvases for paint, etchings, and engravings.  Beautiful devices were fashioned, bringing delight into homes then and joy into the hands of collectors now.

There are several ways a writer can utilize a coffee grinder in a story:

  1. The grinder can be a strong focus or a minor detail thread throughout the story.
  2. Just about any place a character might gather, coffee (and the grinder) can play a part: breakfast, business meetings, casual or formal gatherings, dates, holidays, wedding celebrations or funerals.
  3. Manual grinders open the door to four hundred years of design and artistry available to enhance a story—plots, scenes, or characters.  
  4. Depending on the era and the type of coffee grinder chosen for the story, a writer can reveal “old-fashioned or quirky” characters. They can show patience (or impatience) of the character learning how to use that new electric grinder, or frustration when approaching high-tech Wi-Fi technology. Share family history—Gramma’s precious hand-me-down.
  5. No matter what the setting or period, a tense conversation might be amplified by the force a character uses to grind those coffee beans. Or perhaps an edgy conversation could use a little levity, and a discussion about dark beans and light beans and just the right ratio of the two might fit the need. Teasing an aficionado may provide the perfect injection of humor.

And there’s so much more for the writer’s creative mind to ponder.

Ahhh! Breathe it in—whiffs of aromatic possibilities.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

Just Toast, Please Perfecting Breakfast Toast

History in the making

Otto Frederick Rohwedder (1980-1960) and Charles Perkins Strite (1978-1956)—not exactly celebrities. Though, perhaps they should be. Their combined ingenuity brought quick and easy toast to the breakfast table.

Quick because Mr. Rohwedder—frustrated with the time it took to hand-carve a loaf of bread only to have the slices uneven with ragged edges—invented the bread slicer.

Easy because Mr. Strite—disappointed with the frequent delivery of burnt toast on his breakfast plate—developed a toaster that simultaneously crisped both sides of the bread then automatically popped it up.

When these two innovations crossed paths in 1928, busy cooks, whether restaurant or household, could open a wrapper, pull out pre-sliced bread, and drop it in a toaster knowing it would pop up automatically when done.

These men and their inventions changed the way we do breakfast toast for a lifetime.  

Writers might ask, “Why should I care about toast?”

A scene where a character makes toast can speak to the period of the story based on the contraption used to accomplish the task. Making toast can provide action to weave between dialogue: dropping the bread between the slots, waiting for it to pop up, slathering butter and watching it melt. Crunching and savoring each bite.

Toast can reveal personality quirks or add tension. The cook might dance a jig because the toast came out perfect. A businessman might hurry out the door with harsh words on his tongue because the toast burned. Cooking lessons for an older child might set up a happy morning. Sweeping toast crumbs on the floor beneath the highchair could add to stress. Might the perfectionist cook wonder if he’ll ever get it right, or the mother lament her lack of culinary skills?

WRITERS OF CONTEMPORARY PIECES would have multiple well-known options for using toast or a toaster in a scene. A simple 2-slice or fancy 4-slice toaster could sit on the kitchen counter. It would be a seamless jump from toast to Pop Tarts, waffles, or French toast sticks being slid between the wired slots.

As is often the case, WRITERS OF HISTORICAL WORKS might need to research the nature of toast before using it in a scene. A skeletal timeline set out below would likely need fleshing out but might serve as a jumping off spot for research.

Prior to the early 1900s, bread may have been browned in an oven broiler, or in a frying pan, to achieve a toasty texture. For stories set before ovens were prevalent, tearing off chunks of untoasted bread and coating them in home-churned butter would be a believable choice for the scene.

But a big shift in breakfast toast began in 1909, first in browning apparatuses and then in bread slicing machines:

  • 1909–The first commercially available toaster allowed one-sided toasting. This required a person to watch over it, turn the bread when ready, and then manually cause it to pop up.
  • 1915–A toaster with an automatic turning mechanism was introduced.
  • 1919-The 2-sided automatic pop-up toaster became available commercially.
  • 1926-The pop-up toaster arrived in households.
  • 1928-Pre-sliced bread was introduced.
  • 1930-Pre-sliced bread arrived on most grocery shelves.
  • 1933-Sale of sliced bread exceeded unsliced.

WRITERS OF SUSPENSE might consider a plot to sabotage toaster prototypes. Or instead of a sinister plot, a friendly competition might be more palatable — who can bring the invention to market first?

Perhaps a tense scene needs some comedic relief. Picture the boy and his dog staring at mommy’s new pop-up toaster, waiting for the bread to fly toward the ceiling.

Who would have thought breakfast toast could add such details to a story?

Who would have thought two inspired men, and two simple appliances would make such a difference in how we make toast?

So maybe these men really do deserve a measure of celebrity recognition: Strite engraved on pop-up toasters. Rohwedder etched into the bread box.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

Nancy Drew: Girl Detective

History in the making

Searching for some fun details or a bit of drama to slip into your next fictional piece? Well, pull out the spy glass and consider…

Nancy Drew—Girl Detective.

Nancy debuted on the pages of The Secret of the Old Clock in 1930. Prone to stumbling upon suspicious happenings and endowed with a knack for unraveling the mysteries surrounding them.

Nancy leaped into the hearts and dreams of many young girls. Bess and George, Nancy’s best female friends, tagged along, often to keep their friend out of trouble. The trios’ boyfriends, Ned, Dave and Bert, embraced their supporting roles of protectors, but only as needed. Because, of course, Nancy was the bold and courageous leader of this clean-cut band of teens.

What a popular character!

And that’s what she was. A character…in a book. Not a real person, though Carolyn Keene does a wonderful job crafting Nancy’s personality so that she becomes very real to readers.

Nancy also radiates her own aura of mystery.

  • Nancy’s creator, Edward Stratemeyer, is not the author of the plethora of books which titles begin: The Case of ________.
  • The ascribed author of these books, Carolyn Keene, is no more real than Nancy Drew. The name is a pseudonym appearing on the front cover no matter who might be the ghostwriter.

The ghostwriters received ideas and followed outlines from Mr. Stratemeyer, editors, publishers or whoever held rights to Nancy Drew at the time, and then anonymously penned the girl detective’s adventures. In Nancy’s case, the ghostwriters’ imaginations influenced many of the controversial character updates that occurred over her lifetime. Yet, despite their contributions, ghostwriters fell prey to common industry contracts that included maintaining anonymity and surrendering rights to their work product.

  • Nancy keeps fans guessing. Over the decades, her persona, appearance, and habits underwent alterations to better reflect the era in which each book, film or TV drama was written.

Early Nancy Drew (1930 to late 1950) was likened to a super-hero:

Independent, confident, talented, innovative, and fearless, yet sparkling with kindness as she seeks to help people in trouble.

In the year 1959 Nancy became more gentle, less tomboyish and exhibited greater respect of the men around her.

By 1985, Nancy graduated from solving petty offenses and elementary intrigue and tackled more serious crimes such as espionage and murder…and sought more romance in her life.

Thereafter, Nancy’s passions seemed more important than the mystery, which helped build the bridge to the year 2005 when the first graphic novel, The Demon of River Heights (2005/2014) arrived on the scene.

Nancy’s metamorphoses, no matter when introduced, extracted differing opinions by authors, editors, and readers.

  • Which Nancy Drew will show up in the book, film, comics, or video game at hand?

Will one find sweet, wholesome Nancy, sleuth at work? Or will one discover the new Nancy, promiscuous and focused more on romance than mystery? Will she be 16 or 18? Driving a roadster, a convertible or hybrid? (All blue, of course.) Using a cell phone? The girl-next-door wardrobe or something more seductive? What shade of blonde or red hair? Will Bess and George still be her chums? What role will Ned have?  

Notwithstanding the drama stalking Nancy Drew, enthusiasts don’t really care who gave her life or who wrote her adventures or what color her hair is today—it only matters that Nancy’s star shines at the end.

Writers of historical or contemporary fiction might find a place for Nancy Drew in their own works:

  • A minimal approach might scatter mentions of Nancy’s books throughout the pages:

The Case of the Twin Teddy Bears (1993) lands under the Christmas tree, an antsy child waits for the newest release to arrive at the store, or searches shelves (stores or home) for an unread book.

An adult character confesses Nancy Drew influenced their decision to enter law enforcement.

  • Tension-riddled issues surrounding Nancy could include: the child whose birthday wish is to meet Carolyn Keene; mother and daughter watching a provocative film/television production; the dismay of a parent who discovers the portrayal of Nancy in the book just purchased for her child isn’t the same as the girl detective she grew up with.

There she is! Nancy Drew—Girl Detective

An icon wrapped in mystery, waiting to leap onto the pages of a writer’s next venture. Don’t miss out! The opportunities are as many as there are books entitled The Case of ________.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

Categories
History in the Making

Paltry Pickings in the Pantry: World War 2 Food Rationing

History in the making

Louise stared at the nearly empty sack of flour. Her eyes flitted to a canister tucked in the back of an upper shelf. She pulled it down, lifted the lid, and peeked inside. Assured the four cups of flour she’d set aside remained untouched, she sighed. But guilt jabbed her. If people knew she’d squirreled away portions of recent flour allotments, would they think her a hoarder? Truly, it wasn’t that much. She chewed her lip—would it be enough for Bobby’s birthday cake?  

Geez, Louise! What’s the story here?

The Office of Price Administration (OPA) could answer that question.

The troops serving in World War 2 needed provisions and the American people were called upon to sacrifice a portion of their personal supplies to make that happen. Therefore, beginning in 1942 and ending in 1945, OPA issued books of ration stamps for common staples. Families received about half the quantity of staples normally consumed. Thus, flour, sugar, butter, coffee, and fat were in short supply, along with meats, fruits, and vegetables. (Note: Gasoline and tires, along with other non-perishable items were also rationed.)

American households would tell you they turned rationing into patriotic support for the troops. “Victory gardens” became popular. Yard grown vegetables for family consumption meant more canned goods for the troops. A war time edition of a popular women’s cookbook encouraged creative cooking. It published recipes that utilized readily available foods and offered tips, including suggested substitutes. For example, molasses or honey were a few sweeteners that could be used instead of sugar.

Neighbors, friends, and family employed a bartering system.

And we’ll just whisper the word “black market” for ration stamps and stolen items.

Grocers might chime in with their thoughts on the matter of rationing.

On the positive side, the stamps allowed them to limit purchases. Shelves did not deplete as quickly, and the restricted goods landed in more households. This countered the problem of runs on foods, especially when rumors spread that a specific commodity was destined for the rationing list.

On the flip side, one wonders how many shop owners learned a nice way of saying “no” to friends and family who hoped for more food than the ration stamps allowed.

Restaurant Owners probably had some not-so-nice words to say about rationing—it threatened their livelihoods. OPA required owners to apply for ration books, and as part of the process, they needed to present their menus and pricing. If approved, they were awarded twenty to thirty per cent more ration coupons than households, but not enough to sustain their traditional offerings.

Menu adjustments according to stamp allotments and food availability became common. The frequency of changes prompted growing use of paper menus.

Many restaurants did not survive the war years. Not only was the flow of food adversely affected, but many owners and workers joined the military. Not all wives were prone to operate the understaffed eatery as well as tend to their families.

And what does Louise think of rationing?

She waits for the morning when she can visit with a friend, sip more than one cup of coffee sweetened with real sugar, and nibble on a plateful of cookies. She dreams of the evening when she doesn’t need to pull out boxed macaroni and cheese for supper—again. She longs for the day when she can bake her son’s favorite birthday cake without shorting her family on flour for bread or biscuits.

For Writers of Fiction Set in World War 2 Era

The world of food rationing can boil with plots or character driven stories, bake with drama and tension, yet bubble with joy from supporting the troops.

The pickings in the pantry may be paltry, but the writer’s mind would likely be full to the brim.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

Christmas Wishes: A Peek at the Sears Christmas Catalog

History in the making

Alice’s feet drag to the mailbox. She had waited until the mailman travelled a few houses beyond theirs. She can’t face chatting with the kind man, but overdue notices would be arriving soon, and her mood reflects it. The rusted gate latch on the white picket gate resists her effort to open it. Though its stubbornness keeps her children from wandering out of the grassy yard, today it simply raises her level of irritation. She lifts the lid of the metal box and pulls out the lone item.

A catalog. But not an everyday promotional.

The Sears Christmas catalog quivers in her hand.

Mailboxes across the nation began receiving the Sears Christmas catalog in 1933. Enticing children’s gifts such as dolls and trains, or grown-up gifts like Mickey mouse watches or chocolates appealed to consumers.

Convenient options made it easy to order: (1) By phone; (2) Through the post office; (3) At a Sears authorized merchant; or (4) Inside the local Sears retail store…if one had been built in the area.

The catalog’s launch date, in the middle of a nationwide depression, might be considered risky timing to some. Expand business during an extreme economic crisis? Yet despite the pall of poorness hovering over most homes, the Sears Christmas catalog was a hit. And for the next 78 years, it was delivered in late August/early September to enthusiastic households.

As with many businesses, the Sears Christmas catalog encountered both opportunities and challenges. In the 1950s, the country enjoyed a period of affluence. Thus, the Christmas catalog offered more expensive items such as Kenmore sewing machines and Roy Rogers costumes. On the other hand, in the 1960s, Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target entered the marketplace. To combat the competition, Sears offered incentives to purchase—payment plans and the Discover credit card.

Celebratory highlights may also be of interest in the life of the Sears Christmas catalog:

Bow with solid fillThe Christmas Wish Book was unveiled in 1968—a new name to express its dreamy character. Amidst several hundred pages of gifts for all ages, eight dream gifts were introduced. Imagine a color TV, player piano or carousel horse hiding behind one’s first artificial Christmas tree. A beautifully wrapped mink coat or diamond pendant might be tucked under those fake branches. The log-cabin-like playhouse might wait in the backyard unless the one-horse open sleigh was the pick for that year. Hmmm, how to wrap the suit of armor…

Bow with solid fill In 1982 the Christmas Wish Book celebrated its 50th year of bringing wishes and hopes to American families.

Bow with solid fillAdvanced technology opened the door to on-line ordering in 1998. As the use of on-line ordering increased, the size of the paper catalog shrank, and eventually led to the last Sears Christmas catalog in 2011.

Writers might ask, “What does this matter to me?”

The Sears Christmas catalog offers a creative opportunity for writers to develop plots, reveal characters’ traits, or add some merry little details to a story.

Consider the scene depicted above. Alice, whether a major, minor, or notable character, is weary and glum. She’s been affected by the arrival of the Sears Christmas catalog. Does her hand quiver because she sinks lower into a pit of depression? Or does it shake with excitement as she envisions an escape to dreamland.

The Sears Christmas catalog could also reveal family dynamics. Picture Alice, hubby and kiddos hovered over the table, eager eyes—or maybe greedy eyes—perusing the colorful array of gifts.

What if Alice interacts with the mail carrier? Walking the route, he could express joy delivering the Wish Books or complain about the extra weight.  

Perhaps Alice lives in a different era. No problem. It’s an easy change from that 1933 house dress to a pair of sweats for a contemporary story. The white fence might be replaced with black wrought iron or the grass with a cement patio. The mailbox might be a slot in the door or a rack at the entrance to a subdivision.

Friends, merchants, town folks… the possible uses of this seasonal catalog are as many as the characters in the story.  

As for you, Alice—Happy dreaming! We hope the Sears Christmas catalog brightens your spirits and brings a cheerful ending to your day.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

The School Bus (Pt. 2) Riding Through Racial Tensions

History in the making

Public school buses (part 1- almostanauthor.com) hit the road in the 1920s, traveling the soon-to-be-familiar roads of segregation. But the developing “norm” did not necessarily reflect contentment in the populace. Troubled hearts couldn’t make sense of a Black child walking 6 blocks to catch the bus to a Black school while the White school was only 7 blocks from home.

Signs of racial tension magnified themselves in the filing of Brown v. Board of Education (1954). The infamous case uprooted racial segregation in schools, ordering 21 states to desegregate. However, Brown did not result in an “End of Road” sign because it lacked a timeline in which the feat of desegregation should be achieved. Little progress resulted in the 1955 Brown 2 ruling: Integrate!

The story of school buses and desegregation emerged—A long ride over rough, muddy, twisting roads of racial tension.

Protests erupted in major cities across the states while the murky road to desegregation snaked through the judicial system. From the mid-fifties to the mid-seventies, numerous issues were addressed by the Courts:

Good faith effort to comply

Racial imbalance v. academic performance

Extension of mandate to suburbs

Federal v. State jurisdictions

“Caution” signs loomed. Long bus rides wearied the children and shortened time for homework.

“Pit Stops” popped up. More buses on the road carrying precious children required additional safety standards. In the 1960s, roll-over preventions were added, and the early seventies supplemented safety with amber warning lamps, flashing lights on STOP arms, and the directive for yellow paint.

A 1971 U.S. Supreme Court ruling upheld busing to end segregation. Charlotte, North Carolina’s attempt to desegregate was deemed successful, and other school districts looked to them as an example.

Boston, on the other hand, didn’t shine in the desegregation test. A 1974 Court order triggered protests and violence—eggs, bricks and bottles were thrown at the school buses transporting Black children.

Over the next decade, more than 400 court orders were issued requiring schools to desegregate, an impressive indicator of the depth of discontent.

“Reduced Speed Ahead”: A twist in progress came with The General Education Provisions Act of 1974. It prohibited use of federally appropriated funds for busing. Money-poor school districts resorted to voluntary busing programs which continued into the 1980s.

The 1990s gave rise to a series of court orders that released many school districts from the requirement to desegregate. It was deemed no longer necessary.

Efforts to desegregate continued in some areas. However, in 2007, a court case limited the ways in which districts could promote desegregation and tamped down voluntary busing programs.

With the release of court orders, limited funds for busing, and resistance to voluntary busing, it is not too surprising that a 2019 report indicates many school districts across the states remain segregated.

Through years of legal challenges and changing orders, the school buses kept rolling—bumpy, muddy, twisting roads leading to roadblocks and dead ends. What a journey!

For writers of 20th century historical fiction, myriad provocative story lines involving desegregation wait the telling. A plethora of affected neighborhoods offers a variety of settings. A bus load of ethnically diverse children, along with parents, teachers, and bus drivers presents a deep pool of characters.

Buses and desegregation—friction-filled stories for a writer’s pen.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

The School Bus, Early Rides and Development

History in the making

Most folks are very familiar with big yellow buses boasting black-stenciled letters:

SCHOOL BUS

We can’t miss them.

We’re not supposed to.

But when did this this helpful, if not crucial, mode of transporting precious children show up on American roads?

For starters, the concept of carrying groups of children to school emerged as American educators became concerned that instruction offered in rural classrooms lacked quality. Their solution was to close those schoolhouses and build one large facility in a nearby city. That decision sparked the need to provide a way for children to travel the increased distance to the new learning sites.

If walking was not an option, farm wagons or sledges (a vehicle on runners pulled by horses) were engaged. Another mode was horse drawn school wagons built to allow the children to enter from the rear so as not to spook the horses. In the 1880s, though not widely used, a “kids hack” (re-purposed or specially built wagons with bench seats on the perimeter) provided rides.

The invention of the engine transformed the world of toting children.

By the 1920s, wood-slatted wagons were powered by a motor instead of horses. The benches were still built on the exterior of each side of the wagon bed, no weather protection was provided (just an overhead tarp), and entry remained through a back door. The “wagon” look disappeared in the 1930s when an all-steel body was adopted, and the entry door was moved to the front.

Though the engine brought about significant change, the defining moment in the life of a school bus likely came at an April 1939 conference organized by Dr. Frank Cyr. Representatives from forty-eight states, along with educators and bus manufacturers, met in Pennsylvania to hash out what resulted in forty-four uniform standards for school buses.

Detailed requirements as to construction of the buses incorporated sketches and measurements. A lengthy, itemized vehicle inspection report was developed for use by those maintaining the buses. An application for the bus driver was created. Qualifications for employment were established, including, in part, good character, reliability, familiarity with students and parents, and knowledge of first aid. And, of course, passing a test.

The color of the bus was also addressed at this conference. Communities had been picking random colors—from blood-orange to blue to green to white to a patriotic display of red, white, and blue—and continuity seemed in the best interest of the children’s safety. After comparing a variety of colors, “National School Bus Chrome”, the bright yellow we’ve come to know so well, along with stenciled black lettering “School Bus”, were approved. This color seemed to register faster to the human eye, including peripheral vision, and had greater visibility in early morning and early evening light.

Writers might ask, “Why should school buses matter to me?”

They are rich in ideas for plots, settings, scenes, and character development.

Envision a school bus packed with children. Perhaps the hero bus driver has developed an eye for spotting abuse or hunger. Maybe one of the children is haunted by a secret—the twist that shifts the story. Or a minor character is a mechanic for the school district, allowing for an occasional scene at the maintenance yard.

The Corner Bus Stop might add interest to a plot. Picture the heroine as a neighborhood watch mother collecting tidbits as she waits for the bus to drop off her daughter. Or maybe the tomboy would rather be tossing a ball with the boys instead of giggling with the girls while waiting for that big yellow bus to haul her off to school.

Write thrillers? Search the internet for “Chowchilla, California School Bus Kidnapping.” Ignite the imagination with that high profile story—parents, children, police and bad guys!

Perhaps the school bus begs to keep a low profile.

A flashback to the friendship forged riding to and from school. Or something simple and sweet. Like that darling tyke whose inquisitive mind wants to know:

“Mommy, why is the school bus yellow?”

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

SWEET NOSTALGIA

History in the making
The drug store soda fountain

Ahhh, The drug store soda fountain in Small Town, America.

A hub for hungry patrons, the drug store soda fountain offered a pleasant diversion from the office, the house, or the hurry and scurry of running errands… and, perhaps, even inspiration for a writer’s heart.

Let’s sneak a peek at an early 20th century drug store soda fountain.

A grandmother delights in her grandchildren’s expressions of surprise—soda bubbles tingling their tongues. The writer might ask if this is a weekly outing or spurred by something unexpected at home.

What’s really on the minds of dark-suited businessmen devouring club sandwiches? A fight with the boss? The wife?

A young woman, tuna sandwich untouched, reads a magazine, although a closer look at her eyes reveals she’s more interested in the soda jerk.   

Speaking of the soda jerk, he does look a bit like a shining knight. Clothed head to toe in white, he flashes big smiles. He pours flavored drinks, builds sandwiches and monitors sizzling fries, the aroma of which waft throughout the store, inviting more customers.

Many writers might find themselves creating fictional stories around these folks. Perhaps the drug store soda fountain itself draws attention. Not too hard to showcase it if the imagined story surrounds the soda jerk. Or the soda fountain could simply be the setting for one or two scenes where key personalities converge now and then. 

No matter how a writer might choose to include the drug store soda fountain in a story, it is important to ask the question:

What is the history of drug store soda fountains in America?

Early Years

The concept of serving flavored beverages in a drug store goes back to the mid-1800s. At that time, pharmacists administered medicines (codeine, caffeine, plant derivatives and bromides) “over the counter” by adding it to a beverage. The upside? The flavored drink made the drug palatable. The downside? Some of these palliatives were habit forming, such that an unfavorable reputation developed. Eventually The Harrison Act of 1914 passed, making it illegal to dispense such drugs over the counter.

By the early 1900s, Dr. Jacob Bauer fabricated soda fountains. The contraption was marketed to soda jerk entrepreneurs and included recipes for beverages. To counteract the prevailing bad reputation, the drinks were promoted as not habit-forming, nor leading to intoxication.

The “golden age”

Drug store soda fountains spanned fifty years (1900s into the 1970s). As with most things in life, technology, fashion, and societal norms changed the atmosphere one might experience in the 1920s when compared with the 1950s or 1970s.

For example, in 1911, early fountains were constructed of oak and stained glass, and included zinc-lined ice boxes. By 1928, more ornate fountains were manufactured. 

When prohibition closed the bars in 1919, the popularity of the drug store soda fountain grew as folks drifted to them for their social needs. By the 1920s most towns boasted one.

The lunch counter at the drug store soda fountain also morphed over the years. As early as the 1910s, sandwiches became available, and by the 1920s, hot food and salads arrived. By 1938, toasted tuna and club sandwiches, meatloaf, fries and doughnuts might be available. A 1948 menu offered full dinners (pork, fish, steak or chicken stew), including dessert. Franks and beans were the special.

Downfall

By the 1970s the popularity of drug store soda fountains declined. Full-service drug stores appeared, adversely affecting the independent pharmacist. People moved to the suburbs at the expense of the business districts in the city. Ice cream and sodas became readily available at the grocers. Drive-in fast-food chains offered quick eating alternatives. 

Nevertheless, a few of these iconic businesses have survived. Scattered across the states, an adventurous writer might still sneak an in-person peek, taste the fries, and inhale the sweet nostalgia of the drug store soda fountain.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

A Snapshot of a Lifesaving Organization

History in the making

Consider this scene:

              “Another final notice.” She glared at her husband, slapped the paper bill with the back of her hand.

              “I get paid tomorrow.”

              “That’s too late! They’re turning off the electricity at 5:00.”

              “What do you want from me?” His face heated as frustration grew. Didn’t she know he was doing the best he could? He glanced at his wife then at his two children sitting at the kitchen table, heads ducked, pretending to do their homework.

He had soooo failed his family. That bottle—still haunting him.

He jerked open the back door. “I need a meeting.”

A “meeting” has become a well-known term for attending a gathering with fellow alcoholics. This organization, Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”), has become a saving grace for burdened people who want to engage with those who share a common goal of conquering their addictions. The promise of anonymity and promotion of accountability gives hope for victory to those beset with this crisis.

The prevalence of this problem invites the world of socially aware writers to weave the issue throughout the pages of their work. A poignant motivating question might be, “What if a fictional character who ‘needs a meeting’ might influence a ‘flesh and blood’ reader to say the same?”

 So, how might “a meeting” be utilized by fictional writers?

A character-driven story focusing on alcoholism might be a place to begin. The growth, regression, or stagnation of affected characters, addicted or not, can be demonstrated as they interface with each other. Building tension that explodes in a dynamic scene or unexpectedly eases in emotional relief can depict the challenges wrought by alcoholism. In keeping with real life, the end of the story may be joyful or heart-breaking.

How deep or detailed writers may wish to go would likely depend on the information available as to time and place of the story. For contemporary writers, the AA organization has matured, and meetings are widely available in the United States and throughout the world. Just pick a modern-day setting and the story would easily unfold. Certain phrases associated with AA—”One day at a time”, “24 hours”, “higher power”—have become well known, even among folks not affected by addiction. Scattered throughout a story, they would surely help bring it to life.

Help signs

But what if the story is historical? Perhaps this snapshot of AA’s history will help one evaluate how a character’s struggle with addiction might be incorporated in a piece.

  • Founded by Bill Wilson and Robert Smith in 1935.
  • First meeting on June 10, 1935, in Akron, Ohio. Three to four people participated.
  • Fall 1935, Wilson began a group in Brooklyn, New York.
  • News of AA initially spread by word of mouth.
  • 1938: a fundraiser, along with publication of articles in several periodicals, increased public awareness.
  • May 1939, “Alcoholics Anonymous” published in book form.
  • 1941: experienced impressive growth spurt, from 2000 to 8000 members.
  • Between 1941 and 1949 groups had formed in many cities across the United States and spread internationally.
  • 1941: adopted Serenity Prayer
  • 1941: First all-women’s group, Cleveland, Ohio.
  • 1942: found its way to prisons.
  • June 1944, first issue of AA magazine Grapevine.
  • 1952: Al-Anon, a family support group, launched.
  • 1954: 130,000 members, in approximately 6,000 groups on five continents.
  • 1957: Alateen, a spin-off of Al-Anon.
  • Today, estimates over two million members.

If one’s story is set prior to 1935, an AA meeting would not have been available, but clergy, physicians, charitable societies, and state hospitals addressed the problem. Researching key phrases like “barbiturate and belladonna” or “purge and puke” should open a door of help.

Depending upon the plot and depth of character portrayal, further research might be required. The Internet can serve up an overflowing plate. The AA website abounds with information and includes a terrific timeline that would assist both contemporary and historical researchers.

Clearly the problem of alcoholism is both widespread and enduring—a compelling incentive for writers to weave the admission, “I need a meeting”, into their stories.

Jeannine

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

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History in the Making

The Tale of Two Celebrations

History in the making

Smell the churros? That cinnamon doughnutty aroma that draws you to the vendor’s stand? Or maybe your eyes are drawn to the rainbow-hued streamers dangling from tree limbs or encircling porch posts like an old barber shop pole. The sound of the mariachi band, shaking and strumming a catchy beat, drums in your ears while dancers twirl and swirl in colorful skirts.

Such a festive day.

But nothing like the first Cinco de Mayo.

May 5, 1862 was not marked by spirit-lifting dance moves or enticing aromas of tacos and burritos. Instead, it was defined by a battle. The colors were not expressing gaiety, but identity. France’s navy blue, white and red flag proudly preceded a regiment of French soldiers as they charged up the hill to the City of Puebla. Mexico’s red, white and green flag few high, declaring the loyalty of the Mexican soldiers who bravely met the enemy.

The battle raged, a flurry of fighting men carrying rifles and sabers, some on foot, some astride horses. Frenchmen’s dark navy and red uniforms tangled with Mexican’s pale blue ones as they clashed outside the fort’s walls. Soon, the blood of soldiers and horses seeped into the land. Moans of pain and screams of the dying tormented the ears of those who persevered, until finally… France surrendered.

Did cheers erupt from the conquerors? Probably. But how many minutes ticked by before the excitement of victory gave way to weeping and wailing as news of the injured and dead circulated? Did surviving Mexican soldiers dig 83 graves or just one to receive their dead?

Could they taste the post-battle meal?

This was the first Cinco de Mayo celebration.

In modern-day Puebla, its citizens memorialize the day with parades, festivals, re-enactments of the battle between Mexican and French soldiers, and local cuisine.

However, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is less about memorializing the victorious battle and more about celebrating the Mexican-American culture and heritage. As early as 1863, celebrations popped up in the State of California. By the 1980s, over a century later, Cinco de Mayo flourished across the United States, its popularity fueled by marketing ploys of beer and wine companies. The jubilant atmosphere and extensive menu of Mexican dishes still lure many folks to gather for a May party.

For writers, a Cinco de Mayo scene can add sparkle to a story. With the winter holidays over and summer fun yet to come, this mid-year festival paves the way for a social gathering. Whether family or friends, a big event, a small gathering, or a restaurant’s promotional event to increase patronage, things happen when people come together. A door opens to romance, tension builds in a relationship, or just plain old fun is the name of the game for the day.

The 5th of May gala has the potential of igniting a change of mood; shifting setting; deepening plots; and/or revealing personality or growth in characters. Such a scene might even add a boost to the “sagging middle” of a story.

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

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History in the Making

Corn Flakes, The Journey of a Favorite Cereal

History in the making
  • A health guru…
  • Stale wheat…
  • A tight budget…

This hodgepodge of events would lead to the creation of a long-time favorite cereal!

Corn Flakes’ journey began in 1877 when John Henry Kellogg (“John”) sought to provide a vegetarian diet to his patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. John combined wheat, oats and cornmeal, baked them at a high temperature, then smashed the mix into little pieces. After pouring the hard morsels in a bowl and covering them with milk (to soften them), John served this nutritious breakfast to the patients.

But the concoction wasn’t corn flakes…yet.

In 1898 the cereal’s journey took an unexpected turn. A pan of the wheat mixture was accidentally left out for too long. Faced with stale wheat and budget constraints, John couldn’t bring himself to toss the tray of grains into the trash. Instead, he donned his “creative cook” hat and rolled that stale mixture into thin sheets which crumbled into flakes. He toasted them in the oven, and when they emerged, the flakes were crispy and tasted good.

But John didn’t stop there. Experimenting with corn, he discovered those flakes came out of the oven crispier and crunchier than wheat.

Voilà−Corn Flakes!

But the journey of Corn Flakes didn’t end when those crispy flakes were pulled from the oven. Notable events followed, curiosities that might whet the appetite of fiction writers. The mystery, intrigue, drama or humor surrounding Corn Flakes could be injected into a story.

Mystery: Just who was in the kitchen making something good out of those stale flakes? John Kellogg? His brother, Will? John’s wife?

Envision a character (a young reporter?) snooping around the sanitarium grounds or chatting up a group of gossipy patrons lounging in the hot tub.

Industrial Espionage: C.J. Post (Post Cereal Co.) is said to have been a patient at the sanitarium who worked in the kitchen to help pay his way. Upon his return to Texas, toasted corn flakes (“Toasties”) became part of his cereal line. Did he steal the recipe from John? Add a telling tidbit: Post beat the Kellogg brothers to the patent office to register the rolling machine.

A character could be an employee at Post Cereal during this intriguing season.

Family Drama. Add sugar to those healthy corn flakes? Anathema! Market them? Not on my watch! John’s and Will’s differing aspirations resulted in a rift between the brothers. Ultimately, Will bought the rights to Corn Flakes and by 1906 he had formed the “Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flakes Company.”

Over a bowl of Corn Flakes, a story’s characters might discuss the newspaper’s coverage of the feud or engage in a discussion about the healthiness (or not) of sugar.

“Wink at your grocer and see what you get.”

A free box of Corn Flakes!

What a playful marketing scheme by Will Kellogg!

What a playful scene to add to a story!

Imagine a 1907 male character winking at a female cashier! LOL!

Or perhaps the main character is the cashier; at first it’s fun, but being winked at all day long can get old fast.

The Rooster: In 1957 Cornelius “Corny” Rooster appeared on boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

Picture a breakfast scene with young children enamored by the rooster.

 In the 1990’s, Cornelius received a makeover. Fiction in that time period could include a debate over breakfast: which Cornelius do you like best?

And there you have it−Corn Flakes!

From the mind of a health guru to Cornelius the Rooster−who’d have guessed Corn Flakes would give us so much to crow about?

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

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History in the Making

A Parade of Events

History in the making

Thanksgiving morning! Heroine’s day begins in the kitchen helping Mother stuff Tom Turkey. Task done, they lug the heavy roaster to the oven then hurry to the living room where the family has gathered. Hero has just arrived. Father turns on the television set and tunes into the Thanksgiving Day parade.

At this point, a writer of historical fiction who wishes to accurately portray the era, might ask this question:

Did the Thanksgiving Day parade exist during the time period of this story, and if so, had it been broadcast on television?

If the story is set in 1959, this family would probably be eagerly waiting for the first national television broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day parade. Every year thereafter, with the exception of a few years during World War 2, the parade provided television entertainment on Thanksgiving morning.

Before television, as early as 1931, radio aired the event. So the family gathering described above could be tweaked so that the family huddles around the radio.

The first Thanksgiving Day parades marched down the streets of Detroit and Philadelphia in 1921. It wasn’t until 1924 that New York City’s Macy’s Parade trekked to Herald Square. Absent television and radio, enjoying these spectacular events would have been limited to curbside seating.

Participants included the stores’ employees, marching bands, floats and balloons. Macy’s used live animals from the Central Park Zoo until 1928, at which time balloons replaced zoo critters. The arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade kicked off the Christmas buying season, a marketing strategy designed by the local department stores who sponsored the parades.

If our Hero, Heroine and family live in, or near, one of these three cities, they may have bundled up against a brisk morning and traveled to the parade site. Aha! Perhaps Heroine is a department store employee planning to walk the parade route. Hero might be a clown. Oh my, picture Father playing Santa Claus.

But what if the time period or setting precludes a parade? What might Thanksgiving Day look like?

Football!

In 1867, the first collegiate Thanksgiving Day game played in Philadelphia. Thereafter, the holiday game grew in popularity at both college and high school levels.

Professional football offered a Thanksgiving Day game as early as the 1890’s. The National Football League’s first Turkey Day game played on November 25, 1920, and the first televised football game was in 1953.

So, following the parade, Hero, Heroine and family may have watched football on television or found a local game to attend.

Traveling even further back in time, prior to the days of parades and football, a family’s Thanksgiving celebration would likely have been limited to a special meal. If a writer were inclined, researching the local traditions of the time period and setting might glean some story-enhancing tidbits. However, in the absence of such information, the tradition of feasting with family and friends would be a safe choice that would maintain the integrity of the story.

Thanksgiving Evening! The parade is over; Hero, Heroine and the family have devoured the turkey; and the final touchdown has scored.

Time for another piece of pie!

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

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History in the Making

Thinking Inside the Icebox

History in the making

From the ingenuity of Thomas Moore, the icebox first appeared on the American scene in 1802. Like many new inventions, its production was limited and thus affordable only to the rich. However, by 1884, increased capacity for ice, improved insulation and mass production led to an icebox in most homes.

Constructed of wood, the icebox looked like an attractive piece of box-sized cabinetry with several doors and a large drawer on top which served to house the ice. The shelves were made of zinc or tin as were the walls which were insulated with a material such as straw, sawdust, cork, or even seaweed. A pan at the bottom caught the water as the ice melted, requiring someone to empty the pan before it overflowed on the floor. In more expensive models, a spigot allowed for easy draining of accumulated water.

Ice needed to be replenished every two to three days and was available from the local ice house. Some folks picked up the solid block of ice and transported it home themselves. Others availed themselves of the delivery service, whereby a driver arrived with his horse-drawn carriage, pulled a block of ice from the back of the truck with a two-pronged hook, hauled it inside the customer’s house and lifted it into the ice drawer of the icebox.

An exciting acquisition to anyone’s kitchen, the icebox offered conveniences not enjoyed by previous generations:

  1. It eliminated the need to trek out to an underground pit or brook house, or stoop at a hole dug in the cellar floor, which were common ways to keep foods cool in earlier time periods.
  2. Daily trips to the local market to purchase fresh food were replaced by excursions only a few times a week.
  3. Time and energy expended to preserve foods by smoking, salting or canning became more a cook’s choice than a necessity.

As thrilling as the icebox might have been, not everything about it was cause for celebration. It held odors. Whether a naturally odoriferous food or something that spoiled, the smell would not go away. And one food could take on the “aroma” of another. For example, the butter could smell like fish.

However, the benefits of being able to keep food fresh and fingertip close were huge, evidenced by the industry’s attention to continuing improvements of the appliance.

As writers, why should we care about old iceboxes?

Writers of historical fiction can utilize an icebox to add detail to a scene or enhance their stories:

(1) A character grabs a chunk of cheese to add to Sunday dinner and notices that the ice is getting low; (2) Perhaps a grandmother shares an “I remember when…” memory, giving a peek into long-ago day-to-day living; or (3) An overflowing water pan might reveal a character’s short-temperedness, or a nasty smell might add tension as the cooks sort out how to handle it.

Romance Writers, can you picture the growing attraction between the oldest daughter and the ice truck driver? Or perhaps the handsome town bachelor owns the ice house.

Contemporary writers are not left out of the possible uses of “iceboxes” in their works. A key character might be an antiques collector, or perhaps the CEO of an appliance store chain, having descended from a family involved in marketing early iceboxes. Mystery Writer, can you envision an unidentified body being discovered huddled against an ancient icebox in your heroine’s antique shop?

Whew! Who would have thought an icebox could reveal character traits, stimulate career choices or spark plot twists?

Well…probably not Mr. Moore.

But for writers? There are oodles of cool ideas inside the icebox.

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.

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History in the Making

Decoration Day: The Joy of Remembering Ancestors

History in the making

Decoration Day! It looks like an entry in a day planner, and visions of Christmas, a birthday, or a wedding might pop up in our minds. However, if we were to ask an older Southerner, “What is Decoration Day?” we would probably be regaled with childhood memories or stories heard from grannies and grampas about commemorating deceased ancestors.

Decoration Day.jpg

This celebratory event traces back to the southern United States at a time before the Civil War. A  family, white or black, would choose a Sunday after spring planting, but before the fields demanded heavier toil, to remember loved ones who had entered glory land.

The celebrants, laden with farm tools, hiked to the site of the host family’s burial site and spent the morning clearing weeds and overgrowth. Afterward, they laid fresh flowers on the graves. Often trees were planted−evergreen Cedars represented eternal life and flowering Dogwoods embodied the resurrection.

The patriarch shared lessons and blessings passed down by their ancestors. Folks joined their voices in wistful joy as they sang gospel music about being heaven bound. Then “dinner on the grounds” (a picnic lunch) filled their tummies, while fellowship encouraged their hearts.

Because Decoration Day was celebrated by individual families, folks might attend this special event with one family one Sunday and another in the coming weeks. Some communities held the event at the church, the pastor commemorating the lives of those who had gone to their reward.

Then came Change. On June 3, 1861, the first confederate soldier’s grave was decorated with flowers. It was as if a tree trunk sprang up, crowding a tender sapling, taking the focus away from deceased ancestors and moving it to military deaths. By 1868, the day to lay flowers on war graves had been designated as Decoration Day, and by 1882, Memorial Day emerged.

Nevertheless, the tender sapling survived. The tradition of honoring deceased family members continued, scheduled around the planting season. Over time, many families started melding their celebration with the 3-day Memorial Day weekend. However, some rural communities, especially Appalachia, might still be found celebrating Decoration Day (now sometimes called Cemetery Day).

For writers, such a commemorative congregation could provide a setting whereby characters are unveiled, plots and sub-plots unfolded, and social status displayed. Details, such as the condition and style of clothes, the good repair (or not) of gardening tools, the array of food, attitudes about hard work or people or life in general, budding romances, disagreements or a “knock-down drag-out” fight, can make for entertaining or gripping reading while moving the story forward. 

Undoubtedly, usage of Decoration Day would be relevant for historical or contemporary pieces set in the South. However, because many Southern folks packed up belongings and traditions and travelled away from the Civil War-torn South to settle in other states, the concept of people gathering to decorate graves easily spreads to other genres and settings.

Imaginative writers can look beyond Decoration Day as a date on the calendar or the focus on a fading tradition. The event can spruce up works in progress or provide rich soil for a compelling scene in a cemetery setting.

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

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History in the Making

Comic Relief: The Golden AGe of Comic Books Amidst Americans in Crisis

History in the making

Comics Book #1 landed on newsstands in June 1938, and from its pages Superman soared into the lives of weary Americans. A throng of superheroes quickly followed on the fringes of his red cape: Batman and Captain Marvel (1939), then Captain America, Green Lantern, and Flash (1940s). In 1941 Wonder Woman made her debut in All-Star Comics #8, followed by her 1942 first feature appearance in Sensation Comics #1.

By 1941, comic book creators had dreamed up the first team of superheroes−The Justice Society of America. Premiering in All Star Comics #3 (Winter 1940-41), the initial team−Doctor Fate, Hour-Man, Spectre, Sandman, Atom, Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman−added diverse out-of-this-world skill sets in the fight against injustice.

These popular superheroes unveiled themselves as the years of The Great Depression waned (1929-1939) and World War II loomed (1939-1945). People were digging themselves out of huge holes made in their lives by a long season of want and need−unemployment lines, empty bank accounts and cupboards, and bone-weariness.

For Americans, one set of challenges shifted to another. The men, previously pounding the pavement for work, now marched to war. Women traded personal kitchen gardens for community victory gardens, and found themselves in factories, laboring to feed their families while their men were away. Instead of no money, Americans’ greater focus became loved ones in harm’s way, gas rationing, and shortage of supplies such as tires and sugar.

In such times of despair and uncertainty, might these comic book heroes have transported their fans to another world…splashed some comic relief into their lives…even if only for a few moments? Perhaps Jobless Joe pictured Superman picking him up by his coat tails and delivering him to the door of an eager employer. Betty Button Maker may have envisioned Wonder Woman’s golden lasso easing the burdens imposed by a harsh taskmaster. And might Charlie Childheart, torn between fear and a salute, have imagined his daddy strutting alongside a tank in a faraway land with Captain America at his side?

Only ten cents a copy, comic books were new and colorful and offered escape to universes inhabited by bigger-than-life heroes. And oh how Americans must have welcomed such diversions! It should come as no surprise that this era became known as The Golden Age of Comic Books (1938-1956).

However, despite this decade of superhero fanaticism, by the late 1940s their popularity began to diminish. Some have opined those exciting characters had become boring. Maybe the crises in America had dissipated. Regardless of the cause, publishers slowly changed out superheroes for other genres. War, westerns, romance, crime, and even horror, drew comic book fans’ interest.

Yet−and not so surprising−by 1956, superheroes showed that they may have been rendered powerless for a short while, but they were not defeated. They emerged again, unleashing The Silver Age of Comic Books (1956-1970), with encores of the Bronze Age (1970-1984)  and Modern Age (mid-1980s to date). Nowadays, comic book stores, clubs, conventions, and successful full-length motion pictures, prove the timelessness of beloved superheroes.

For today’s writers, comic books and their superheroes have the power to zoom in with a flurry of creative ideas. Historical fiction writers might find that the plights of Americans during The Great Depression and World War II, teamed up with the popularity of comic book superheroes, provide much fodder for true-to-life plots colored by a comic-book-loving (or hating? Oh no!) character or two. Or maybe, for the sci-fi or fantasy writer, visions of the vast universe on display in comic books might birth new and glorious superheroes for their 21st century masterpieces.

Comic Relief− still swooping in to save the day.

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry. 

Categories
History in the Making

BOGGED DOWN IN CRANBERRY SAUCE: A condensed history of a Thanksgiving favorite

History in the making

Think cranberries!

From there, it’s not a long stretch to thoughts of Thanksgiving. And for a writer, creative juices might quickly stir up a Thanksgiving scene. Preparation of the feast provides a pantry full of opportunities to introduce characters and reveal personalities. Perhaps it creates tension, exposes secrets, or puts on an explosive display of the family dynamics.

Picture it:         The hero says something−maybe innocently, maybe not.

The heroine’s blood boils akin to the cranberries and sugar bubbling furiously in the pot.

Or not.

If this piece is contemporary, the character can confidently cook up a pot of homemade cranberry sauce. It might be the traditional recipe of cranberries, water and sugar, or a zesty rendition with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger.

But what if this piece is historical?

Was cranberry sauce readily available in the time period?

Consider the following:

The First Feast. Cranberries were native to northeast North America, thus they were likely not familiar to the settlers who had recently immigrated from Europe. Historians opine that the newcomers’ sugar supply had been depleted and they had no bread. Rising out of that and the influence of the local Indians, it has been suggested that raw cranberries and nuts might have been used to stuff the local fowl for that infamous meal.

Sweet and Saucy.

We may never know who concocted the first batch of cranberry sauce, or when. However, both German and Scandinavian immigrants are believed to have brought across the ocean the concept of cooking fruit. Further, John Josselyn, an English traveler  (c. 1671),  writes of boiling cranberries in water with sugar.

By the mid to late-nineteenth century, published cookbooks, which included recipes for cranberry sauce, appeared. The recipes reflected not only what has become traditional cranberry sauce (berries, water and sugar), but also the variations devised by pioneer cooks, such as sugar substitutes (honey, brown sugar, syrup, or molasses) and methods of preparation (mashing and straining, length of time to cook, and when to add sugar).

Availability of Cranberries. Early settlers in the New England region might have picked cranberries for their Thanksgiving table. However, folks living in other areas of America were likely dependent upon buying those celebratory berries in the marketplace…if the proprietors could acquire them.

The appearance of cranberry bogs in 1816 brought about an increase in the commercial distribution of cranberries. Nevertheless, markets would have remained limited to their seasonal nature (September to November), and to available modes of transportation from bog to market.

For example: Does the 19th century mid-west Mom and Pop general store boast a basket full of cranberries? Does the farmer’s wife have money to purchase a pound?

Canned Cranberry Sauce. In 1912, Marcus L. Urann explored canning cranberries. Success would expand the fruit’s availability from just the seasonal months to year round. By 1930, he joined with competing cranberry growers to form a cooperative which ultimately became Ocean Spray. Canned cranberry sauce arrived on market shelves in time for America’s 1941 Thanksgiving feast.

What can a writer glean from these tidbits to enhance a Thanksgiving scene?

For a basic historical setting, it may be enough to know that after 1890 the cook might open a cookbook or pull out a family recipe. After 1941, canned cranberry sauce might be the pick for the table.

However, if a main character is an aspiring and imaginative cook, or the plot is set in a cranberry growing community, getting bogged down in research on cranberry sauce might be a berry good experience.

Happy Feasting!

Jeannine Brummett lives in South Carolina with her husband of nineteen years, Don, who shares his three adult sons and three grandchildren with her. Reading is big on her list of things to do, but she also thrives on TV crime dramas, NBA basketball, and marvels at the critters and fowl life that live at the pond behind their house. She loves to sing praise songs, attend Bible Study, and help at a local food pantry.