Lois Brock by Kelsey Saake

Lois Brock by Kelsey Saake

Written to Kelsey by Lois Brock

Kelsey, I want to tell you about my grandparents in Iowa during the early 1930s. I especially remember the winter, even though I was only six or seven years old — a good age to be during those Depression days. I was unaware of the hardships as I fully enjoyed every day.

After the crops were harvested in the fall and the root vegetables were stored and the canned fruits and veggies were lined up on the shelves, life was slower for the grownups. The animals needed to be fed every day. They had chickens for eggs and food, pigs for meat, cows for meat, and milk and horses for plowing and for transportation.

Grandpa had a neat 1926 Chevrolet, but we had to ride horses—and the kids would ride for hours many days. Grandma was very Victorian—long dresses, high top shoes, black hose. She only washed her hair once a year, which was in May. She always sat in front of the open oven door to dry it so she wouldn’t get a chill. My grandparents lived in a big square house on a hill with no electricity and no running water — that meant kerosene lamps and an outside toilet. We prayed we would not have to go to the bathroom after dark—it was a long, cold, dark walk with owls hooting, and as a child—who knew what was lurking behind the trees!

Since there was no running water, Grandpa brought in buckets full from the well. Just inside the door there was a wash stand with a bucket of water with a ladle in it that we called a “dipper,” and there was a wash basin to wash our hands. Everyone used the same water (ugh!) and the same towel. We must have shared a lot of germs, but we were a healthy bunch since we hardly ever got sick. There was a big black wood-burning cooking stove in the kitchen. Grandpa cut wood and we all helped carry it in to keep the fire going. The dining table was huge—probably seated 15 or 20 people, and very often did when uncles, aunts and cousins came for a feast about five or six times a year. Every Sunday was a big meal day, too, with everyone present—actually three meals a day were cooked every single day.

I have seen many changes during my life time, but I feel most fortunate growing up humble with solid values.

Lois Brock by Kelsey Saake
Written to Kelsey by Lois Brock
	Kelsey, I want to tell you about my grandparents in Iowa during the early 1930s. I especially remember the winter, even though I was only six or seven years old — a good age to be during those Depression days. I was unaware of the hardships as I fully enjoyed every day. After the crops were harvested in the fall and the root vegetables were stored and the canned fruits and veggies were lined up on the shelves, life was slower for the grownups. The animals needed to be fed every day. They had chickens for eggs and food, pigs for meat, cows for meat, and milk and horses for plowing and for transportation. Grandpa had a neat 1926 Chevrolet, but we had to ride horses—and the kids would ride for hours many days. Grandma was very Victorian—long dresses, high top shoes, black hose. She only washed her hair once a year, which was in May. She always sat in front of the open oven door to dry it so she wouldn’t get a chill. My grandparents lived in a big square house on a hill with no electricity and no running water — that meant kerosene lamps and an outside toilet. We prayed we would not have to go to the bathroom after dark—it was a long, cold, dark walk with owls hooting, and as a child—who knew what was lurking behind the trees! Since there was no running water, Grandpa brought in buckets full from the well. Just inside the door there was a wash stand with a bucket of water with a ladle in it that we called a “dipper,” and there was a wash basin to wash our hands. Everyone used the same water (ugh!) and the same towel. We must have shared a lot of germs, but we were a healthy bunch since we hardly ever got sick. There was a big black wood-burning cooking stove in the kitchen. Grandpa cut wood and we all helped carry it in to keep the fire going. The dining table was huge—probably seated 15 or 20 people, and very often did when uncles, aunts and cousins came for a feast about five or six times a year. Every Sunday was a big meal day, too, with everyone present—actually three meals a day were cooked every single day. I have seen many changes during my life time, but I feel most fortunate growing up humble with solid values.