By Staff
Were you as a youngster ever told that bad boys go to reform school?
I was told recently by an old-time reader of mine that you had to lift up the seat on a 1919 Model T Ford to fill the gas tank, which was under the seat.
Did you know a rug that people put in front of a door in the winter to keep the cold out is called a "chink rag?"
I can remember when I was a small boy and lived at 501 Orchard St., our seven-room house was heated by one large coal-burning stove in the living room and a smaller one in the dining room.
We could keep a fire in the big stove all night, but the little devil was always cold in the morning.
Sometimes it was so cold some of our windows were covered with a half-inch of hoar frost and you couldn't see out of the window.
Remember the old days when Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward, and don't forget Spiegel's, used to have a spring and fall catalog and a special Christmastime small one?
These were always delivered to your house by mail or parcel post, as I recall.
Also, I remember red tissue bells that folded in two and became a nice red bell when unfolded.
The first credit card I ever had was one called Town and Country.
I got it through First National Bank here in Dowagiac.
At the time the bank was where the old "Chief Theatre" used to be.
Dick Coyne was the manager and, of course, you had to pay an annual fee.
How many can remember when as a little boy and your mother would see a little dirt spot on your face, she would take her handkerchief and give you a quick "spit bath?"
Do new mothers still refer to Dr. Spock's baby books like in years past?
I used to be able to walk up and down our front porch steps with the stilts my dad made for us.
The blocks on the stilts were at least 18 inches off the ground.
As I recall, we kids got pretty good on them.
In my previous article abut Clare Flanders, I was told that it was Clare's brother Don who drove the wagon that caught fire.
I recall Don used to have riding horses on old M-40 North about where Pizza Hut is now.
What a change from 1951.
When I left Heddon's and started my 33 1/2-year career with the State Liquor Control, my first paycheck stub, which I still have, was gross pay $87.36 for two weeks. My take-home was $76.69.
They took out $4.37 for retirement and $6.30 for income tax. It was three or four years later that state employees joined federal Social Security – about when farmers also joined.
Our pension fund was mandated by the state to put into it the same as we did.
How many remember before the "Lazy Boy" chair there was the "Barca Lounger" recliner about 1951?
It could go into different positions without touching a knob or lever.
They used to put "Bumper Banners" on your car.
They were wired to our car bumper and were put on while you were visiting different attractions on your travels.