USA > Virginia > Frederick County > Frederick County > Our heritage : history of the Frederick County, Virginia, Extension Homemakers 1916-1976 > Part 2
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There were 14 agricultural and home economics clubs for boys and girls. The aim of club work with the young people was not only to teach them the best and most scientific ways of farming and homemaking but to so develop the standards of work and the standards of the youth that work on the farm and in the farm home would not seem to be monotonous and uninteresting. The club motto was: to make the best better. The members learned how to conduct meetings and there were usually games and a good time after the business and instruction periods.
Twenty-nine girls in the canning club put up 3,347 containers of vegetables, fruits, pickles, preserves and jellies. The value of the canned goods, together with receipts for vegetables sold from their gardens, was $734.15.
There were 38 boys and girls in the Poultry Club. They raised 630 chickens and the value of the birds together with the receipts from selling eggs and chickens was $844.65.
The twelve girls doing cooking club work had demonstrations and practical work in simple cookery. They were asked a number of times to prepare and serve luncheons for various meetings. Through the summer months a club of younger girls on Highland Avenue had cooking lessons once a week at the Mission House.
There were 77 girls enrolled in the Sewing Club. They had lessons and practical work in sewing and making work bags, aprons, nightgowns. cooking caps and dresses. The total cost of materials used was $104.05, the total value of the finished products was $352.75 at a low estimate.
The club members of the Sewing club, canning club, poultry club and cooking club sent representatives to State, District and County short courses, and many of them exhibited at the Winches- ter Fair.
The Home Demonstration Agent had 160 consultations in re- gard to Home Economics; 3,857 bulletins were distributed; 2.335 letters were written in regard to the work: 150 schools and clubs were visited; 123 meetings were held with attendance of 2,736; 192 club members were visited; 186 visits to people other than club members; 2,712 miles were travelled by auto; 980 miles were travelled by rail.
The canning clubs of Frederick County were the champions of Virginia. The 29 girls canned 5,196 containers. Henrico County placed second with 40 girls putting up 4,004 containers.
Some 1920 prices were: sugar 12¢ a pound in October, bread 8¢ for a 12 ounce loaf, eggs 45¢ a dozen, hens 28¢ a pound, roosters 18¢, ham 35¢, country butter 35 to 45¢ a pound, beefsteak was 25 to 30¢ a pound, roast beef 20 to 25¢, boiling beef 18 to 20¢, veal steak 40¢ a pound, pork chops 25e a pound, raw sugar 4¢ a pound.
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On January 3, 1921 Frederick County took a backward step when the Board of Supervisors turned down a plea, presented by the Advisory Board on Home Demonstration work, for an appro- priation to supplement private contributions for a home demon- stration agent for 1921.
This work had been growing rapidly under the excellent sup- ervision of Miss Mabel Haynes, who became Mrs. Allen B. Bond in November 1920. She resigned as home demonstration agent, af- ter her marriage, to participate in community activities and raise a family of four children. As home agent, she taught canning with tin cans, new recipes in cooking, a better way to pipe water to the house, built-in ironing boards instead of a board propped on two chairs, and other improved methods of home life.
Two new items appeared this year: A new half-barrel with a larger head to prevent bruising was put on the market. It would contain 521/2 quarts, had a 151/2 inch head, 18 inch staves and a 54 inch outside circumference at the bilge.
Milk was being sold in bottles made of paraffin. Dairymen were abolishing the old-time glass jar or bottle as the dust-proof cartons were absolutely clean, and sterilized, and could be thrown away when empty. Milk was always delivered in a new bottle.
In 1923, Countv Agent J. R. DuShane urged boys and girls to become active in club work as there would be splendid support from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the Virginia State Bankers' Association, the State Dairymen's Association, the Club Depart- ment of the Virginia State Fair. the Winchester Fair and local organizations and business men. Boys and girls 10 to 15 years of age, could join poultry, pig, baby beef, or corn club projects.
County Agent DuShane made a strong appeal to fruit growers of the county to cut down cedar trees in proximity to their orchards to protect their orchards from the many fungus and insect pests. The cedars scatter spores to the apple leave and later causes cedar rust on the apples.
The Virginia Poultry Producers Cooperative Association was organized to get better results in the marketing of their eggs. The organization had the unqualified endorsement and backing of the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the Virginia division of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union; also, that of the State Division of Markets, the USDA and the Virginia Agricultural Col- lege. Mr. A. L. Dean, well-known poultry specialist from Blacks- burg, held several meetings in Frederick County. The meetings were for women as well as men, to help them solve their poultry problems.
The 54th annual Winchester Fair, four days and nights, began August 28, 1923. Prizes were offered for the best square and round buttonholes; best birdhouse; best doll house; best ten ears of pop-
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corn; best three pumpkins; best peck of potatoes; best tomatoes; best drawn map, crayon drawing, water color; best map of Fred- erick County; best single basket; best display of baskets. Special prizes were offered in poultry. A silver cup was offered by Shen- andoah Valley Shorthorn and polled Shorthorn Breeders Associa- tion for the best Shorthorn calf herd, to be won three times before title to the cup be given.
A bulletin on the evaporation of fruits was available from the USDA in Washington, D.C.
On March 4, 1926 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company renewed for the fifth year its offer of a scholarship of $100.00 to the boy or girl living in counties traversed by the B & O, who did the best club work for the club year. The counties affected were: Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, Augusta, Rockingham, and Rock- bridge. The winner of the scholarship had the alternative of using it for scholastic purposes at one of the colleges or universities in Virginia or in defraying expenses of an educational trip to the Boys and Girls Club Congress in Chicago in the fall, to be held simul- taneously with the International Livestock Exposition.
The scholarship went to the Club boy or girl who made the best club record in poultry, corn, canning, baby beef, pig, or dairy work. The winner was determined at the Virginia State Fair in the fall, according to a scorecard as follows: Exhibit at State Fair 40 points; Profit, 20 points; Story, 20 points; Statement by County Agent, 20 points. Outlines were furnished for their Stories, the County Agent's Statement showed how much effort the club member put forth, interest shown, amount of work done person- ally, condition of record books and other factors showing quality of work done by the club member.
The B & O had awarded 50 scholarships to date, 33 of which the winners chose to use for educational purposes at their respec- tive State University, while 17 chose the educational trip. Of the 33 club members who elected the scholarship for educational pur- poses, 18 were in colleges in the States of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois or Indiana. Virginia farm boys and girls who had won B & O scholarships to date were: Kathryn Funkhauser, Clarke County; Templeton Elliott, Rock- bridge County; Richard Reynolds, Shenandoah County; Naomi B. Miller, Rockingham County; Arbutus Sanger, Augusta County. (We could find no record of the 1926 winner.)
New State apple laws in 1929 affected many of our Extension homemakers who had apples to sell as the laws required that apples had to be graded as to size and color.
Miss Elizabeth Farrar came to Frederick County in June 1930 to develop home demonstration work. She was sent by the Vir- ginia Agricultural Extension Service of V.P.I. in Blacksburg, Vir- ginia. The first year and a half was spent getting acquainted and
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giving food preservation demonstrations on canning and drying of foods.
Groups were organized at Gainesboro, Clearbrook, Stephens City, Inlet, Gore and Middletown. 4-H Clubs were organized in the schools of the county and the girls were taught sewing, can- ning and food preparation. Special activities consisted of sponsor- ing movies to raise money, featuring parades and floats in the Ap- ple Blossom Festival and others. Reverend Nelson loaned the Epis- copal Church for all county-wide activities like Achievement Day, clothing shows, etc. He was the main speaker for many of these oc- casions.
Miss Farrar received her education at Longwood College in Farmville, Virginia which was known as Virginia State Teachers College. After graduation she taught in elementary schools in North Carolina and Virginia. She gave up teaching in 1927 and decided to go into Extension work. She took a course in Home Economics at V.P.I. and left in 1930. She worked in Bedford Coun- ty before going to Frederick County in June.
Miss Farrar taught that vegetables are much needed in the daily diet, particularly green ones which contain iron and calcium needed to build bones and teeth and keep the blood in good condi- tion. They contain vitamins so necessary for promoting growth, preventing diseases and regulating body processes. The root vege- tables furnish fuel for energy and also are stored as fat. Vegetables add color and variety to the meal. Vegetables should be used raw whenever possible, just steamed or use little water if boiled. All liquid from cooked vegetables should be saved and used in soups or sauces. Vegetables should never be left standing in water; vege- tables should be cooked in their skins whenever possible; fried vegetables may be used occasionally for variety but they are hard- er to digest.
Women were urged to use plenty of eggs as they were cheap. Egg yolk is the best source of vitamin D with the exception of fish oils, and is valuable for protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Egg yolk resembles butter in its percentage of vitamin A.
A sanitary drive was started through the schools in the county with Leslie D. Kline, Supt. of Schools. Mr. D. F. Kern, Gore, pre- sided over the organization meeting. Fly traps were made, homes were properly screened, safe drinking water and sewage disposal were some projects carried out in the drive.
At the Institute of Rural Affairs held in June at V.P.I. in Blacksburg discussions were on Modern Youth, what should be done about our youth and other problems of family life. The goal was to train our boys and girls to be strong mentally, robust phy- sically, domestically true and vocationally correct, brave and spirit- ually deep.
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Demonstrations in 1930 were on: meal planning, culling poul- try, canning in glass and tin cans, packing school lunches, darning, remodeling of clothing, selection of eggs for hatching, Hong Kong grass-bottomed stools. Canning chicken for winter use was urged- use a pressure cooker and process for one hour at 15 pounds pres- sure.
During 1930 our H.D.C. members judged and helped at Fairs, helped at County Camps, cancer benefits, Mothers March on Polio, drives for Rescue Squad and for the Emergency Food Shelf.
On December 8, 1930 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad gave away a railroad-carload of apples - they were free for coming and getting them. Suggestions were made to try sweet potatoes and apples, apples and raisins, apples and sausage - cooked together.
In 1931, there were seven home demonstration clubs with 239 members enrolled; 110 vegetable gardens participated in the gar- dens campaign : 31,709 quarts were canned and hundreds of bushels were stored. There were 15 4-H clubs with 221 enrolled. Demon- strations were given on: rug making, patching, judging garments, table service, various stitches in hemming garments, selection of colors and styles for wash dresses. Club members were urged to use pit-storage for surplus fruits and vegetables, were taught how to make a pit-storage place and to use it as well as storage cellar.
A big highlight of 1931 was the Rolling Pin Contest held on September 8 as part of the Winchester Fair. Women competed to see who could throw their rolling pin the farthest. The contest was open to any woman in the State of Virginia. An ordinary rolling pin of the wooden type was used. Each contestant was given 5 chances of hitting "Henry." Prizes were: $10.00, $5.00 and $2.50. A real man was to be the target but they could not find a volunteer. Mrs. W. Wells and Mrs. C. E. Armel each scored 4 hits and so tied for first place. A throw-off resulted and Mrs. Wells won with 5 strikes out of 5 throws. Mrs. Armel won second with 4 hits out of 5 throws. There was no mention in the news article of the lady who won third place.
Drought and the great depression made people garden-con- scious. A garden was a necessity for both health and economic rea- sons, was a sound investment of time and money, a real health insurance policy, in the 1930s. Curb markets were organized to provide outlets for farm produce - flowers, chickens, bread, cakes, pies and other items. A committee was appointed in 1931 to de- velop a curb market in Winchester.
The first Home Demonstration Curb Market was held on March 26. 1932 at 29 East Boscawen Street, next to the Winchester Evening Star office, in Winchester, Virginia. This Homemakers' Market was organized under the supervision of Miss Elizabeth Far- rar, Frederick County Home Agent. Sixty-five women used it dur- ing the 7 months it operated that year. Their total sales were
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$4,513.76: The women used the largest percent of their profit for household expenses, food and clothing. Some spent it on improv- ing their home. One lady helped her son in college. Charter mem- bers were: Mrs. W. J. Muse, Mrs. Julian Larrick, Mrs. Lester Dailey, Mrs. Sadie Gruver, Mrs. C. C. Bowen, and Mrs. H. S. Funk, who was the first manager of the market.
The Market is still being operated. They have used various sites and under different managers. The managers were some- times called "Market Masters" but the manager in 1976 chose to be called "Market Coordinator." Other "managers," besides Mrs. Funk, have been Mrs. Walter Larrick, Mr. Clarence Fletcher, Mr. Grover Schack, and Gary Jedinak.
A 1935 report stated: "78 women had used its service since March 1932; 25 women sold $10,597.25; articles most in demand were chickens, eggs, baked goods, cheese, meats, vegetables and flowers. The women have learned salesmanship, better business methods, how to recognize better quality in foods, self-confidence, good grooming and many other things."
The market was discontinued in 1946 when they had to move and could not find a new location, but was resumed again in-1949; was active until 1970 and discontinued until 1976 when it was re- organized with Mr. M. J. Abe, President. The best record we have found was in 1945 when 8 members sold $16,882.64, the largest sales by any one member totalled $1612.89. There were 25 mem- bers in 1935. The market in 1976 was under joint sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce and the Extension Homemakers.
The market was very active in 1976 with 18 sellers selling baked goods, eggs, honey, herbs, canned goods, fresh garden pro- duce and fruits, fresh cut flowers and dried flowers, craft items, and a specialty this year was dietetic items sold by Gerry Van- Stronder, which included baked goods, jams, jellies, relishes, cat- sup, pickles, and apple butter.
In 1932, membership in the seven home demonstration clubs had grown to 294 members. All seven clubs participated in the better homes campaign, 31 women entered canning contests, many of the clubs assisted the Winchester Chapter of the American Red Cross with its relief work and several clubs held canning bees for the Red Cross.
Some demonstrations during 1932 were: Milk desserts and beverages; simple wholesome, economical breakfasts; one-dish meals; wholesome supper dishes; uses of fruits and fruit drinks; selection of colors, styles and material for cotton dresses; make and fit dresses; culling and feeding for laying; selecting breeding stock.
In 1934, Frederick County had a county-wide campaign for more living from garden and pantry shelves. Contestants were to plant at least 17 vegetables - of which 3 or more were leafy veg-
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etables and 6 or more were fall vegetables. The garden was plan- ned so as to provide vegetables for every month of the year, either in fresh state or canned or stored. They were to can for each mem- ber of the family at least 10 quarts of tomatoes, 15 quarts of other vegetables, 15 quarts of fruits. They had to keep a garden and canning record so they could report at the end of the campaign; 116 women joined the home garden campaign. Mr. G. W. Morris of the Southern Chemical Company of Winchester gave a 5-pound bag of Chilean nitrate of soda to each contestant. Kerr Glass Cor- poration and Ball Brothers had contests and gave prizes for the best canning records for girls and women. Ober and Sons Fertilizer Company in Winchester cooperated with contestants in the garden campaign by donating a 5-pound sack of mixed fertilizer to each member who bought a 167-pound sack of fertilizer from their plant.
Homemakers and 4-H Clubs cooperated with Garden Clubs and other Clubs in a dogwood planting project and the Fairview Club planted rose bushes as a community project.
Demonstrations during 1934 included: use of home grown grains for breakfast cereals, egg omelets and egg custards, fruit dishes, vegetable loaf, meat and meat substitutes, bread making, yeast breads; color in the home, refinishing furniture, dustless dust cloths, windows and their treatment; ten rules of health in eating, how to stand and walk correctly, personal grooming includ- ing care of nails, hair, etc .; do's and don'ts at the table; recipes for floor wax and linoleum cleaner and wax; care of baby chicks and poultry problems.
Members were urged to grow small fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, dewberries and the like; to raise better chickens in- stead of more chickens; to trim and dock lambs for better prices, faster growth, better quality of meat.
Hilda Cather was awarded a medal by Chicago Mail Order Company for winning first prize in the county correct dress con- test for work, sport and dress clothes.
Hilda Orndorff won first place in the homemaking achieve- ment contest and got a medal of honor for Frederick County.
The Stephens City Club won the prize at Achievement Day for the best report, best accomplishments, best appearance and at- tendance. There were 7 Clubs with 265 women enrolled in 1934; 183 members refinished 419 pieces of furniture and made slipcov- ers for 41 pieces; 246 containers of soup mixture and tomatoes were canned for school hot lunches in addition to cocoa and .milk Drought hindered the garden program but 58,239 quarts were can- ned, 800 pounds were dried and 2,996 bushels were stored.
A demonstration by Miss Agnes Maupin, representative of Kerr Glass Corporation, with the assistance of Miss Elizabeth Far- rar, HD) Agent, was given on canning chicken, beef stock, fried and
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stewed guinea, back bone and a meat stew. They urged women to use a large selection of meats.
The first annual District meeting was held in Charlottesville on April 4, 1935. Virginia Homemakers were divided into 4 Districts just a year before. More than 500 delegates were in attendance. Delegates from Frederick County were: Mrs. Genevieve Stipe of Stephenson, who was County Chairman of Roadside Beautification; Mrs. Erle Edwards of Albin; Mrs. Effie Derflinger of Middletown; Miss Ruth Beatty and Mrs. R. R. Stickley of Middletown; and Miss Elizabeth Farrar, Home Agent.
The Adult Achievement Day for 1935 was held on November 13. Nine Clubs, under the supervision of Miss Elizabeth Farrar and her assistant, Mrs. Louise Cooley, presented a dress revue of 57 dresses dating from 1750 to the present date. Miss Maude E. Wallace State H. D. Agent, addressed the audience on "How to Keep the Family Happy" by economic stability, adequate space in the home, mechanical conveniences, attractive home surroundings, something to stimulate the mind and make one mentally alert, fam- ily council, recreation, spiritual development. Mrs. W. F. Boggs, of Stephenson, President of the Advisory Board, presided. Mrs. C. C. Bowen, of Middletown, county delegate to the State convention, gave a report. The North Frederick Club got the prize for the best annual report, largest amount of work accomplished and largest attendance.
Projects chosen for the coming year were: room improvement, hobbies, parliamentary procedure, correct dress, growth work; demonstrations on gifts made from feed bags, automobile license plates, cigar boxes, clothes pins, etc. The campaign committee de- cided to feature house and furniture repair such as roofs, chimneys, windows, interior walls, floors and furniture.
Demonstrations given during 1935 were: home dyeing to re- new faded garments, soap making, outdoor cooking, reseating chairs with fibre or cane or splints. attractive kitchens, homemade labor-savers, iced drinks, congealed meat substitute, vegetable and plain fruit salads, jelly making, cheese making, carrot-apple-peach conserve, meat canning.
Eight of the Homemakers Clubs presented a Dress Revue at Stephens City on December 5 for the benefit of the Home Demon- stration Advisory Board. The costumes modeled were from 1695 through 1935.
A survey of rural electrification was started early in 1935 by an electric power company as part of a nation-wide program to lay groundwork for more general use of electricity and electrical ap- pliances for rural folks. The Rural Electrification Administration was created by Executive Order by President Franklin D. Roose- velt on May 11, 1935. It received statutory authority a year later with the Rural Electrification Act passed by Congress, and a whole
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new life-style was to be offered to hundreds of thousands of rural families.
The big headlines on March 18, 1936 were about the "Terrific Flood." The Shenandoah River was 15 feet above normal at Front Royal and 33 feet above the low water level at Berryville. Power plants were forced to shut down. Motor boats were used to reach the plants. There were no street lights. Plants depending upon electric power had to close. A house occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Har- ry Catlett and four children, located at Gore, Virginia, on Back Creek, was washed away. Two of the children, the oldest and the youngest, escaped.
The Gainesboro school children were unable to return to their homes as the Back Creek bridge on their bus route had been wash- ed out. They spent the night in the school house. Mrs. Lucy Mauck and Mrs. Walter Adams, HD women, provided food and blankets for all of them. James H. Adams, driver of the bus, and Mr. Fred C. Braithwaite, principal of the school, stayed with the children.
Home Demonstration members helped in the drive by the Red Cross to raise funds and other aids for the more than 38,000 people in the 11 States which were affected by the flood.
More than 500 women from 14 counties attended the second annual meeting of the Northern District of the Virginia Federation of Home Demonstration Clubs at Madison, April 8, 1936. Talks given were: "Milestones in the State Federation," and "What is a Satisfying Rural Life." Eighteen H.D. members from Frederick County attended the District meeting; twelve members attended the State meeting and twenty members attended the Associated Country Women of the World meeting in Washington, D.C.
Demonstrations during 1936 were: making the best use of commercial patterns, easy finishes for wash dresses, becoming hats for individuals, room improvement, deep fat frying, quick biscuits and variations, milky way to family health.
Miss Elizabeth Farrar, Home Agent, got a three months leave of absence, May 1936, to take a summer course at the University, of Tennessee. Miss Agnes Mason, who was stationed in Charlottes- ville, served as Assistant Home Agent during Miss Farrar's absence. Miss Mason was a native of Boydton, Mecklenburg County. She graduated from Harrisonburg State Teachers College with a B.S. degree in Home Economics, was a home economist for Virginia Public Service Company there, and was assistant agent in Amherst County for several months before coming to Frederick County:
The summary for the year 1936 showed: 9 HD Clubs with 243 members; 200 women were reached indirectly; work was done with one unorganized group; food was the major project; 20% of the families were serving better balanced meals and packing better balanced lunches; 107 individuals improved their health by weight
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control and posture; 42,738 quarts of food valued at $10,397.50 were canned, 586 pounds of fruit and vegetables were dried, and 1,558 bushels were stored for winter use - the decrease from last year was due to the summer drouth; 75 pounds of yellow cheese were made by 3 members; 22 made dressing tables; 137 women made canning budgets and 55 competed in the Ball and Kerr con- tests; one Club had a canning bee; 72 quarts of soup mixture was canned for the school hot lunch project during the winter; 12 pres- sure cookers were bought the past two years; 438 homes participat- ed in the Better Housing campaign, water systems were installed, painting was done inside and outside the homes, leaky roofs and defective chimneys were repaired, lawns and shrubbery and native trees were planted. Nine sewing machines were cleaned and re- paired. Two Homemakers were Flock Demonstrators. One had the honor of having her flock rank highest in egg production of any contestant in the State during the month of October. They kept ac- curate records on their flocks from month to month.
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