Today, for the fun of it, I asked Jim if we still had any old cookbooks. So far, he has located one that actually came with an electric stove that was in this old house since it has been in our possession. The range was given as a Christmas gift by the husband and son of the woman who formerly lived here. The cookbook is signed in pencil, “Christmas 1948 from Eric and Albert.” As Jim said, “They were probably hoping to get some good meals.” (They probably did.)
That old General Electric Automatic Electric Range served us faithfully for years. I don’t remember the year we replaced it, but it was a case of necessity as the wires in the back kept sparking. Since then, within about ten years, we have had to buy two other (new) stoves.
I began thinking about the old stove and what it represents. It would have been a luxury to get a stove, especially one that nice, in 1948, not long after the war years, at which time there would have been a limitation order on any new production of metal household goods. Resources then were redirected toward making airplanes and their components, bombs, etc.
During World War II, cookbooks featured some revolting recipes such as one for calves feet jelly. In contrast, the recipes in the cookbook that came with the deluxe 1947 model stove has more tasty sounding fare such as Pineapple Pork Chops, Chocolate Date Pudding, and Tomato Rarebit.
Indeed, the war did get America out of the Great Depression and into a time of great prosperity, a time to think about making babies…thus, all of us “baby-boomers.” What a time of celebration! New pots and pans, no more food rationing, and sewing machines, for home use, in production again.
We, as a country, are truly lucky. We came through the fire. We risked all, fought together for a cause, and triumphantly won the victory sought. There will never be another war like “The War.”
Lately, I have been revisiting the songs of the era, songs that I’ve heard before but had just not made the association as to the time period from which they emanated.
In terms of understanding any era, it is necessary to look at ALL the artifacts from the time period, and all of the cultural influences present then. Sometimes, just sometimes, looking back can teach us just how far we have come.
Pat
