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Across the Fence:  A Cookbook Mystery  |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
 Posted - May 29 2022 : 06:49:58 AM
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I'm a vintage cookbook collector though my collection is rather small. A couple of years ago I found one in a shop here in Paris. It's a pamphlet rather than a book, 85 pages. Title is simply "Cook Book" by Weslyan Service Guild - Roby, Texas which is in the Texas panhandle - but there was no date. So, that's the mystery I had no idea how old it was. Looking through the book I did find one clue all telephone numbers were only four digits. I remembered having four digits in the 1950's along with a party line. Up till yesterday it was all I knew about the age of the book. It had to be in the 1950's or before.
Yesterday I decided I wanted to know more about when the book was published, so I looked through it for more clues. On a page for sponsors I found an auto dealership in Sweetwater which is in the same county with Roby. I googled the dealership and lo & behold I found a newspaper dated 1954 and the dealership's advertisement. All the clues so far lead to the 1950's. One other clue I found was also another sponsor D & N Variety Store. Not sure when the name "variety store" was no longer being used but just guessing I would say not after the 1960's.
I find one of the fun things about collecting vintage cookbooks is finding out all I can about them. Church and social clubs' cookbooks are two of my favorites to collect.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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Wanda Sue
True Blue Farmgirl
1195 Posts
Wanda
Murrells Inlet
SC
USA
1195 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 06:55:02 AM
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Very interesting! I remember having a party line as a child, lol. That seems so crazy now!
A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.
Farm Girl #3677 |
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Dreamer42
True Blue Farmgirl
2692 Posts
April
Central
Oregon
USA
2692 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 10:29:39 AM
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Awe, the variety store! My folks moved up from California to a little logging town, Vernonia, Oregon when I was two. That town had a little variety store. It was called "the variety store". I remember loving to go in there and look at everything, so many different things, a little of everything. It lasted quite awhile, probably into the 90's. Such a sweet and nostalgic memory. And, Sara, I have found that many times those little unpublished, no name cookbooks often times have the best home cooked recipes!! Enjoy! Hope you can share a favorite recipe or two from it as you try them!
Dreamer42
Farmgirl Sister #7038 |
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Audra Rose
True Blue Farmgirl
2261 Posts
Vanessa
Brooksville
KY
USA
2261 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 12:40:29 PM
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I also like to collect cookbooks. In fact, let me make a plug for my swap, Book swap -non-fiction, which will soon be closed. I am considering a cookbook swap in a future mo th.
Vanessa
Farmgirl Sister #6754
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Blessed in Colorado
True Blue Farmgirl
6638 Posts
Debbie L.
Oregon
USA
6638 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 1:14:17 PM
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I too collect vintage cookbooks Sara from church’s, and military wives clubs from different post among others. They are just so fun and interesting. I have a 1940’s something White House cookbook with a President’s wife and other ladies of the White House adding their favorite recipe’s. It is by far my favorite. I do not have it unpacked yet but when I do I will tell you who the Presidents wife is!
Vanessa it would be fun to do an old cookbook swap.
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012 and February 2018
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple !!
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2313 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2313 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 2:21:53 PM
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I confess to being a cookbook slut; three shelves in the house and a box full in the garage. Mom gave me a White House cookbook she found at the flea market and I went to see which president but it must be in the box; however in the bookcase I found:
Pictorial Preview Standard Cookbook 1933
The Victory Binding American Woman's Cook Book (Dedicated to Douglas McArthur) 1943
Marion Harland's Complete Cook Book 1906
The Settlement Cookbook 1965 revision (originally 1901)
Now I will probably spend the day looking at cookbooks and no housework will be done. Oh well -- on no womans ever tombstone were the words "she had a clean house".
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21
I'm old and I do wear purple |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17161 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17161 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 3:55:27 PM
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Sara,, I too love vtg cook books...
and,,, Judith.. you are a Hoot! lol!
Party lines, yep, remember them,, we se to unscrew the mouth piece and then listen in.. One elderly lady use to tie up the lines yacking.. so Karen and I would ease drop.. and it would tick the lady off,, she would yell, "you kids get off the phone!"...
As for Variety stores,, I remember, Woolworths, back in Kansas,, as well as JJ Newberry and also Sprouse-Ritz
But only Woolworth sold, "Evening in Paris"...
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom and Glamping Diva!
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Edited by - katmom on May 29 2022 4:04:26 PM |
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Blessed in Colorado
True Blue Farmgirl
6638 Posts
Debbie L.
Oregon
USA
6638 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 4:01:40 PM
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It is Sunday Judith, so look at all the cookbooks you wish:-)
Big Hugs,
Debbie
#1582
Blessed in Oregon
With Colorado on My Mind
Farmgirl of the Month September 2012 and February 2018
“My altars are My Mountains
and the Ocean.” Lord Byron”
When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple !!
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Edited by - Blessed in Colorado on May 29 2022 4:02:20 PM |
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StitchinWitch
True Blue Farmgirl
2313 Posts
Judith
Galt
CA
USA
2313 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 4:59:37 PM
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I will spend time reading the cookbooks and someone else can cook dinner :-)
When we live in the Santa Cruz mountains we had to wait six months to get a phone and then it was an 8 party line. It was always busy.
Evening in Paris! Mom called it nightmare in Shanghai and told me I'd better not ever waste my allowance on it.
I grew up in Berkeley and we had Kress and Woolworth on Shattuck Ave. and Sprouse Ritz on the other side of town. I used to get embroidery stuff there.
Judith
7932 FGOTM 6/21
I'm old and I do wear purple |
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Dreamer42
True Blue Farmgirl
2692 Posts
April
Central
Oregon
USA
2692 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2022 : 6:25:57 PM
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Oh my, Sprouse Reitz was my first full time job out of high school, floor supervisor. That was fun until it closed down. Gosh, memory lane and it's already been an emotional week. Now, I have to face the fact that I'm actually aging. Sigggghhhhh. I've been 29 and holding for so long, I have to actually calculate my age when someone asks.
Nightmare in Shanghai - LOL!!! Oh, Judith!! Makes me think of my mom's nicknames for things... I'm sure she would of renamed Evening in Paris to something that had the name floozy in it! Evening with a floozy! Floozies night in Paris or Shanghai! LOL! Thanks for the giggles! Oh, and Judith, you have some specially aged cookbooks there, wow! What treasures!
Dreamer42
Farmgirl Sister #7038 |
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YellowRose
True Blue Farmgirl
6995 Posts
Sara
Paris
TX
USA
6995 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2022 : 03:51:38 AM
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Good to know there are so many of us that love our vintage cookbooks.
Speaking of variety stores I know the term was used when I was growing up but mostly, I knew them as 5 & Dime Stores. My sisters and I would catch the bus in far north Dallas and ride it into downtown Dallas. I remember sitting at the lunch counter at Woolworth.
Hugs, Sara "FarmGirl Sister" #6034 Aug 2014
FGOTM Sept 2015 & Feb 2019
Lord put your arm around my shoulders & your hand over my mouth.
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9384 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9384 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2022 : 11:16:32 AM
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Love vintage cookbooks. My favorite is the one I have of my mom's that she received when she got married in the 40s. I have found many at yardsales. I also have a White House one. Not sure which one though. Will have to look.
~Denise
Sister #43~1/18/2007
"I am a bookaholic and I have no desire to be cured." 
"Home is where we find comfort, security, memories, friendship, hospitality, and above all, family. It is the place that deserves our commitment and loyalty." William J. Bennett
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
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Across the Fence: A Cookbook Mystery |
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A Cookbook Mystery
