While trying to come up with material for this editorial, I asked several friends to tell me what Thanksgiving was like for them, when they were children. After listening to their stories, I came to one conclusion. For the most part, what many people seem to remember about Thanksgiving is either the preparation of the food or the company the meal was shared with.

Katharine Hepburn’s childhood, in her own words.

“Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus.

Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me.

There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean.

Wrigley Field 1950

Contributed by:

Carol Avro

This article was sent in by a reader. What a great tribute to her Grandmother. She did not send in her Grandmothers name. Her memories are from the 1950s.

A house is a house unless its your Grandmas house then its special.

The early 1900s watched families grow whether you lived on a rural farm or in the ethnic neighborhoods of booming cities. Brothers and sisters often paint different pictures of the same family events. Birth order and whether male or female sex determined the responsibilities in the family.
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By Jennifer Thompson

It becomes clear how drastically the lifestyle of Americans have changed when asking folks to reminisce about old Route 66. It was a time when so many were becoming mobile and moving into cities across the country. Yet memories revealed a slow pace of life, with family trips and plenty of time to stop at an old diner or spend the night in a roadside motel.

US Legacies Magazine

November 2002

Flag Chair

Hi, What a great story on Paul Revere. I don't have anyone famous to contribute, but I would like to know what a flag chair was in 1751.

They were listed in my ancestor's inventory. I checked with Google com and they weren't there or under antique furniture. Any suggestions as to where I could find a picture of flag chairs from the 18th Century would be appreciated. Thanks,

Marian Murphy,California

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By Franklin T Wike, Jr.

Thanksgiving

As November peeks it’s head around the corner, I automatically think of the Thanksgiving holiday. Yet my thoughts do not turn to images of the first Thanksgiving in this country, but rather the words “Thanks” and “Giving.”

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

By Joan McNulty Pulver

By Ruthann Held Wike

I have a quilt on my bed that my mother (bless her heart) pieced together, probably at least 50 if not 60 years ago, or longer. It is so special to me, not only because my mother, God rest her soul, pieced it together, but because of what it is made from.

A little background. My mother grew up during the Great Depression. The family didn’t have a lot of material things but they had lots of love and the important things in life, enough so they didn’t miss material things.

By Polly Mazariegos

Photograph of the Bielock farm in Holton, Michigan

written by Donna Sundblad as told by her mother Grace Stephenson

Before the war, Mom regularly trekked from Chicago to Holton, Michigan, to help on my grandparents farm. Grandma lost her first husband, Andrew Prickett, in May of 1922, when mom was young. Things were tough, and she worked odd jobs to hold her family together. She married Grandpa Mike (Bielock) while mom was still young.

Paul Harvey's Letter To His Grandchildren

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse.

For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand-me-down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches.. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

Basketball: For Fun And Pain

By: Joe Mayfield

Almost everyone enjoys good athletic competition; it brings out the best in athletes, and enables families to share in whatever the sport may be. You’ll witness siblings or moms and dads cheering on a loved one, perhaps grandparents and neighbors too. As Americans were attracted to football, baseball, basketball, and let’s not forget track.

By Linda Clark

When I read your story in the Legacies titled Log Cabin and its Colorful Ancestors, it reminded me of my Aunt Dora and the summer I spent with her. I’ll call it, Doras Cabin in the Mountains.

by Lynn Ruth Miller

One cannot think well or move fast without a hearty breakfast. My Mother

In General

1. Never take a beer to an interview.

2. Always identify people in your yard before shooting them.

3. Its considered tacky to take a cooler to church.

4. If you have to vacuum the bed, its time to change the sheets.

5. Even if you are certain that you are included in the will, its rude to drive a U-Haul to the funeral.

Dining Out

Getty Images

What The World Was Like When Your Grandparents Were Born?

Independent since 1776, the United States of America is 243 years old. With the average life expectancy now hovering around 80 years, that means the entire history of the country—from powdered wigs to the Internet of Things—spans a little more than just three back-to-back modern human lifetimes. Historically, America is a young country.

Comments Made in the year 1957

• I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.00.

• “I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying ‘damn’ in ‘Gone With The Wind,’ it seems every new movie has either ‘hell’ or ‘damn’ in it.”

• “Have you seen the new card coming out next year? It won’t be long before $5,000 will only buy a used one.”

Elderly

They call us ”The Elderly”

We were born in the 40-50-60’s.

We grew up in the 50-60-70's.

We studied in the 60-70-80's.

We were dating in the 70-80-90's.

We got married and discovered the world in the 70-80-90's.

We venture into the 80-90’s.

We stabilize in the 2000’s.

We got wiser in the 2010’s.

And we are going firmly through and beyond 2020.

Turns out we've lived through EIGHT different decades...

TWO different centuries...

TWO different millennia...

Sometimes it amazes me to realize how quickly the years have passed. It also saddens me to think about all of the priceless stories and memories that have been lost as a result of individuals passing away without having their memories preserved.

By: Dr. Zoë L. Simmons

Trick or treat! Watch out for the wacky wizards, flying witches, and goblins galore! Two thousand years later and the tradition of the Celtics thrive in America.

Tales From the "COUGHIN"

If you ask a group of children what their favorite holiday is, the response from many would be Halloween! Of course, why shouldn’t it be? A day to dress up as spooky ghosts and witches, favorite cartoon characters or superheroes, and to play games, have parties, and go door to door collecting candy.

U.S. Legacies Magazine

by Franklin T. Wike, Jr.

As a child, I can remember going on hayrides around Halloween time. We would get a group of children together. Many times it would be a group that went to church together. Some neighborly farmer would hook his horse up to a wagon that was loaded down with hay for us to sit on, and take us for a nice long ride. And there was always some hot Apple Cider waiting back at the farm to warm us up when the ride was over.

(Continued from 10/4/22) Childhood Memories, Part I

By Ella Goethe Henry

When working in the cotton fields, we sometimes felt the need to relax for a few minutes. Well, Daddy took care of this earlier in the season by planting a few watermelon seeds between the rows of cotton.

FINK

Hi, I have been trying for quite some time to find something on EVE FINK who married George Bower(s). I have absolutely nothing else besides her name. She had 3 known children with George. Does this name fit into your family?

A chronology of key events in the life of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), lawyer, representative from Illinois, and sixteenth president of the United States. For a more detailed chronology, consult The Lincoln Log External or the three-volume Lincoln Da2089y by Day: A Chronology, 1809-1865, edited by Earl Schenck Miers (Washington, D.C., 1960) and available online through HathiTrust External.

Fox Photos // Getty Images

From shaving machines to yodel meters: 26 bizarre inventions from throughout history

Wartime Comments

I was with Patton in Sicily in July 1943. We landed at Gela, and started due north. We went through many small villages. They were making tomato paste. The crushed tomatoes were placed on boards in front of the houses, in the steaming, hot sun.. Also, in the very hot weather, were millions of flies all over the crushed tomatoes. Enjoy your spaghetti and meat balls. Hot dogs tomorrow for sure.

Bernie

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1. There's one "sport" in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends. What is it?

Boxing.

2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
 

Niagara Falls. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.