Downtown Yanceyville, May 1940

Downtown Yanceyville, May 1940

Make Do and Build Your Own, 1935

“The Woman’s Touch,” by Jane S. McKimmon, Carolina Co-operator, May 1935

Making Over the Hand-Me-Downs

Hold on to all the old suits which your men folks are wont to give away and see if you can’t be as ingenious as a Richmond County woman who says, “My oldest brother, who is away from home, sent several old suits to our younger brother thinking he might get some use out of them in his work on the farm. One suit was a nice brown mixed material and in fairly good condition. He had two pairs of pants and I decided I would try to make a suit for myself out of them. I cleaned the suit, turned the pants upside down and with a four gore pattern cut a nice skirt for myself, using both pairs of pants. I made a few changes in the coat and behold! I had a lovely suit.

“I have received so many compliments on the costume and it has given me such good service that I feel I will never let any old suits go for farm work until I have looked them over and decided whether anything worthwhile can be made from them.”

Man’s Suit from Feed Sacks

Last summer at the Style Show held during Farm and Home Week, State College, the son of Mrs. P.G. Sturges, Franklin County, modeled a white suit which his mother made for him from heavy cotton feed sacks. The slacks has been bleached and looked like linen.

Farm Women Enjoy Their Club Houses

Sixty-five Home Demonstration Club Houses have been built in rural communities of North Carolina which were equipped by interested farm women of the neighborhood and are serving as meeting places for all kinds of community activities.

If you are passing through Lee County, stop and see the Dignus Community Club House, and observe another one in a beautiful setting among pines and dogwood which is now under construction. It is just opposite the attractive home on the hill of Mr. K.E. Seymour, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, who gave the land and building.

In addition to the new club houses, home demonstration women have furnished 70 club rooms in buildings where space was offered, and there are 117 new applications for club buildings from 21 counties.

Some houses are built of brick or stone, but usually they are fashioned of logs or lumber. The club house costs little in actual cash. Interested farmers in the community usually furnish the logs and stone for side walls and chimney; and the county ERA office has cooperated in furnishing men to do much of the construction.

The main room is long and narrow, sometimes 50 by 25 feet, and the logs furnish both an inside and outside wall of artistic appearance. There is a kitchen in the rear planned for the convenience of those who prepare and serve refreshments for community get-togethers, and practically all communities have planted or are planning to plant the grounds to give the house a proper setting.

Members of the North River Club in Carteret County have been promised logs for their club house and are baking bread or cakes to raise funds for other expenses.

At Waterlily an old house boat on Currituck Sound has been anchored, furnished, and made into a cool and attractive club house for the Waterlily community.

Rural women have taken great interest in making curtains, rugs, and cushions for their club houses and are doing over or painting old furniture which has been contributed.

Farmers Asked to Donate Scrap Metal, 1951

You probably knew that people collected scrap metal during World War II to help the war effort, but did you know that citizens also were asked to collect scrap metal in the early 1950s? Does anyone know what the NPA is/was? I thought it might be a mistake, that the author had intended to write NPB, but the National Production Board was dissolved in 1945 after Japan surrendered. The following article is from the May, 1951, issue of Extension Farm-News, published by N.C. State College, Raleigh.

North Carolina farmers are being asked once again to get in the scrap by salvaging scrap metal.

Iron and steel scrap is badly needed to keep the nation’s steel mills rolling at full capacity, says the National Production Authority of the U.S. department of Commerce. 

The NPA points out that about 67 million tons of scrap from all sources will be required to keep steel furnaces going in 1951. The all-time high of 61 million tons was attained last year. Therefore, steel mills will require 6 million more tons of scrap in 1951 than was used in 1950.

Extension Service officials at N.C. State College believe that spring clean-up offers farmers a good opportunity to salvage the scrap so urgently needed for military and civilian products.

Woodleaf Home Demonstration Club and HD Agent Adna Edwards, 1920s

Adna Edwards, Rowan County’s first full-time home demonstration agent, teaches the Woodleaf Home Demonstration Club how to use a steam pressure canner. Maggie Julian Canup began home demonstration work in 1912 on a part-time basis for $1 a year. The first adult program began in 1920, and Miss Edwards became the first full-time agent in 1921. Only four member of the audience have been identified. They are, fourth from the left in the front row, Daisy “Des” Fraley; first on the second row, Bertha Watson Wetmore; and third on the second row, Charlotte Fraley Bailey, holding her son, Jack. This photo was published May 6, 1989, in the Salisbury Post.

At the Stem General Store, Granville County, May 1940

Inside the Stem general store in Granville County, May 1940. 

The young men have dressed up to cast their ballots in a primary election.

Voting

This photo was labeled "Mr. Coley's Store, Stem."

Interior of the store

General store and poolroom

Watching the pool game

If all the chairs are taken, take a seat on an old barrel.

I wish I had names for the people in these photos, but all I have is this general information from the photographer, Jack Delano. I can't be sure if all the photos were taken at the same general store and filling station, because the exterior is wood in some and brick in others. But perhaps there was a brick addition for the filling station. Jack Delano worked for the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression. Many of his photos have been digitized and placed on the internet by the Library of Congress. To see more of his photograpy, go to http://www.loc.gov/pictures/related/?fi=name&q=Delano%2C%20Jack.

Rural NC Women Starting Own Home Businesses, 1936

“Marketing Sidelines” by Cornelia C. Morris, Extension Economist in Food Conservation and Marketing at N.C. State College, as published in the May, 1936 issue of Carolina Co-operator

There are so many things that women can do to make money these days some one has said that it is almost a privilege to be out of a job. This may be true of the gifted woman who has many talents at her finger tips, but what I am asked are the chances of success for the woman who knows just a little about this and that and who has no special talent of any kind to recommend her.

It is from women like this that I get letters almost daily asking what they can do to earn money and still stay at home. My answer is that there are many enterprises to choose from and there are many demands for homemade articles provided that high standards are maintained.

The woman in the country is especially blessed as she has at her very door the means to satisfy this demand and at the same time can build up for herself an enterprise that will yield a steady income if she is willing to devote her time to it.

In selecting a business for herself, a woman turns naturally to the work she likes best and finds congenial employment in doing one thing well rather than giving half-hearted interest to a number of things for which she is unfitted. One woman likes to cook, another likes to sew. Then there is the woman who has a flair for growing flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

There is an increasing demand for crafts, and good baskets, rugs, and brooms made of native materials find ready sale in the gift shops. Buttons and buckles made of maple and applewood and buttons made of black walnuts and other nuts make lovely accessories for sweaters and knitted suits.

One ingenious girl in western North Carolina, Josephine Price of Rutherford County, uses rye straw for weaving table mats, hot dish mats, and fans. The bright golden color of the straw makes these articles very attractive and desirable.

Hooked rugs and braided rugs sell well if the colors are pleasing and the designs good. If they are made of wool, they bring better prices. Whether they are made of cotton or wool, the colors should be fast and the work so well done the rugs can stand frequent washings.

The woman who likes to cook can begin now to make strawberry jam for sale. Later in the season she can make blackberry and peach jam, tomato ketchup and chili sauce.

If she cannot leave home to sell her products on the curb market, she can establish a small roadside market near by if she lives on a well-traveled highway. Motorists like to stop at these roadside markets and buy fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and the woman who is keen enough to make good ginger bread and serve it with ice-cold buttermilk to her customers can soon have a substantial bank account. In apple season cider is a favorite beverage and motorists will take a jug or jar home with them. The pomace left from cider making can be used for apple jelly. The thrifty housewife wastes noting.

Honeysuckle and oak splits make beautiful baskets and who can resist a lovely basket? The old shapes are the best sellers—melon-shaped baskets and egg baskets like your grandmothers used.

North Carolina has a wealth of material at every farm house door and there is a growing tendency today to revert to the old handicrafts of Colonial days—wool, cotton, and flax are woven into exquisite coverlets, wall hangings, and rugs; and looms and spinning wheels are quite the vogue again!

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Farm News from Across North Carolina, May 1951

From the May, 1951, issue of Extension Farm-News, published at N.C. State College, Raleigh

JOHNSON COUNTY

Johnston County’s 900 home demonstration club women resort to all types of transportation in order to get to their meetings. When the family car was unavailable, two Pine Level members recently resorted to the tractor and trailer. Mrs. Ishnael Pittman recently climbed atop the family tractor and later picked up Mrs. Inez Phillips, who got in the trailer behind the tractor. They continued about six miles to the home of Mrs. Lewis Thompson. Later they all got in Mrs. Thomas Allen’s car and proceeded to the home of their hostess, Mrs. Herman Rollins. Callie C. Hardwicke, Johnston County’s Home Agent, insists that there are some very loyal club members in her county.

DAVIDSON COUNTY

Jeff F. Fritts, Tyro Township, Davidson County, won the first Farmer of the Month citation when he was named to that honor by the Davidson County Agricultural Workers Council and the Lexington Dispatch.

Each month the Council and the newspaper will cite a farmer whose work is considered most outstanding for the month. He will also be the subject for a feature story on the farm news page.

W.T. Moss of Youngsville won honorable mention with his sample of Atlas 50 wheat in the 10^th annual Phillip W. Pillsbury Award for Agricultural achievement. This marks the first time that a North Carolina Farmer has won an honor rating in a national wheat sample contest, according to officials of the Crop Improvement Association at State College. Moss’ sample was entered in the soft red winter wheat division with a test weight of 63.7 pounds.

PENDER COUNTY

Four hours after Marie Raynor of Burgaw won the Pender County speaking contest sponsored by the N.C. Bankers Association, she experienced an attack of appendicitis. Her operation was delayed, however, until she could participate in and win the Group Contest.

Miss Raynor was coached by the Burgaw agriculture teacher, W.C. Blackmore.

HAYWOOD COUNTY

Haywood County’s Community Development Program sponsored a bloodmobile drive recently, and 261 pints of blood were donated. County Agent Wayne Corpening reports that this is the largest amount of blood ever received in one day by the bank.

COLUMBUS COUNTY

Home demonstration club women in Columbus County have devised a point system which will be used this year in determining which local club wins the loving cup for achievement. Clubs desiring more information on the system may write to Mrs. Elaine N. Blake, Columbus County home agent, Whiteville.

ROBESON COUNTY

Scoring by points is getting to be quite popular among home demonstration clubs in North Carolina. Evelyn Caldwell, Robeson County home agent, announces that clubs in Robeson are now being scored on a point system for correct parliamentary procedure, observing National Home Demonstration Week, formal social functions, and outstanding community projects.

ORANGE COUNTY

The Duke Power Company is cooperating with the Oxford Experiment Station in experimenting with fluorescent light traps to catch adult tobacco hornworm moths. Orange County farm agent D.S. Matheson reveals that plans call for the installation of these traps adjoining tobacco fields near Cedar Grove in Orange County.

DAVIE COUNTY

F.E. Peebles, Davie County farm agent, recently has a letter from Leonhard Stadelmann, a county agent in Bavaria who visited North Carolina last fall. He reports that his friends, co-workers and fellow farmers have greatly enjoyed the picture of American rural life they were able to get from his more than 400 slides taken while here.

WARREN COUNTY

For the second straight year, Albert Seaman, Ridgeway farmer, has been named Corn Champion of Warren County. The award cannot be won twice in a row unless the second year produces an increased yield. Seaman’s yield increased from 117.3 bushels on one measured acre in 1949 to 131.5 bushels in 1950.

WILSON COUNTY

Wilson was the site of the annual meeting of the 22^nd District Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs, which featured talks by ECC Dean L.W. Jenkins, Mrs. P.P. Gregory, State Federation President, and music by Norman Cordon. An unusual feature of the session was the presentation of the annual report in panel discussion form, with Mrs. Jack Speight serving as moderator.

CALDWELL COUNTY

B.B. Hayes of Granite Falls won the Caldwell County 1950 corn growing championship with a yield of 94.22 bushels per acre. Gerald Bolick, senior 4-H Club member of the Happy Valley Club won the junior corn growing championship for the third straight year. He produced a total of 90.97 bushels per acre last.

Plans were announced for the 1951 contest by Forrest Jones, manager of the Lenoir Chamber of Commerce, the sponsoring group.

WOMAN’S COLLEGE OFFICERS 

New 4-H Club officers have been elected for Woman’s College as follows: Nancy Pritchett, Brown Summitt, president; Sue Nichols, Raleigh, vice-president; Mary Farmer, Marble, secretary; Kathryn Pritchett, Brown Summitt, publicity; and Doris Davis, Cornelius, historian. Retiring president is Carolyn Smith of Andrews.