At our family “git-to-gether” a few (20) years ago my 96 year old Grandmother gathered all of her Great and Great – Great Grand kids around and asked each what they thought the greatest invention in “Her” life time was. Answers ranged from T.V. to satellites to cell phones and computers. She looked at them very thoughtfully and said that she thought it was electricity with out which none of their ideas would have come to be. You should have seen the stunned looks on their faces.
Aside from electricity, another “early” invention/discovery which our entire civilization depends on today is petroleum as a fuel and lubricant.
Before that became common, whale oil was used for both. If we tried depending on that with today’s population, all whales would long since have gone extinct, and machinery as the basis of our culture might not exist, as it wouldn’t be able to function.
I remember when I was a little girl, my grandmother had a wringer washer in the basement that she sometimes still used. This was in the early 70’s. My brother was a baby then and she washed his cloth diapers in that washer when we visited.
I also used cloth diapers, a wringer machine, and a clothes line; my girls were born in 1962 and 1966. We do have an electric dryer here, but Hubby and I both prefer to hang the cloths on the line. I’ll put most things in the dryer in the winter, but bedsheets always go on the line, even if I have to put them in the freezer until it stops snowing.
Oh Holly, you’re grandma got you back and good.I wished we could hang our clothes outside online. House yard not set up for and if we did be the only one.
My buddy’s parents were both born on the prairies. His Mom [will be 100 next month] was from the upper class — born in a log cabin. His Dad was born in a sod house.
I’m in my mid-60s. When I was young, my parents had a four-room house and six kids. No city water, meaning we had to pump what we wanted, heat water on a (bottled) gas stove, and use an outhouse or chamber pot for what those are used for. Mom used a wringer washer and hung out clothes weather permitting, otherwise, Dad took the damp laundry to the local coin laundry to dry. When I was around 15 they finally had an addition built on the house and we got hooked up to the water line. The small utility room (where Dad dragged in the metal bathtub once a week) was converted to a bathroom and the old kitchen became a bedroom. Sometimes I wonder what modern social services and welfare would make of our living situation.
My grandmother didn’t see (not ate) her first banana until she was 11 years old and went to Oklahoma in a horse drawn wagon. Most of my grandparents were born to the 1880’s, great grandparents died from about 1917 to the 1930’s, and I’m only 63.
Templo S.U.D. over 5 years ago
quit mocking the elderly, Holly
in.amongst over 5 years ago
Boy – did Gramma jump into the Wiley’s Bear Hole from a couple of days ago…
taz1313 over 5 years ago
At our family “git-to-gether” a few (20) years ago my 96 year old Grandmother gathered all of her Great and Great – Great Grand kids around and asked each what they thought the greatest invention in “Her” life time was. Answers ranged from T.V. to satellites to cell phones and computers. She looked at them very thoughtfully and said that she thought it was electricity with out which none of their ideas would have come to be. You should have seen the stunned looks on their faces.
gammaguy over 5 years ago
Aside from electricity, another “early” invention/discovery which our entire civilization depends on today is petroleum as a fuel and lubricant.
Before that became common, whale oil was used for both. If we tried depending on that with today’s population, all whales would long since have gone extinct, and machinery as the basis of our culture might not exist, as it wouldn’t be able to function.
Omniman over 5 years ago
The Diesel engine was originally designed to run on hemp seed oil.
Yakety Sax over 5 years ago
It wasn’t always so fun. Sometimes it was hilarious! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de46acGp5qE
mysterysciencefreezer over 5 years ago
My family only got a dryer because we got tire of our laundry getting stolen off the line.
myrendal over 5 years ago
I remember when I was a little girl, my grandmother had a wringer washer in the basement that she sometimes still used. This was in the early 70’s. My brother was a baby then and she washed his cloth diapers in that washer when we visited.
And So It Goes over 5 years ago
Jan, thanks for the laugh!
David Rickard Premium Member over 5 years ago
Bear fat would never work as hair conditioner—you’d have to use elk fat!
Dani Rice over 5 years ago
I also used cloth diapers, a wringer machine, and a clothes line; my girls were born in 1962 and 1966. We do have an electric dryer here, but Hubby and I both prefer to hang the cloths on the line. I’ll put most things in the dryer in the winter, but bedsheets always go on the line, even if I have to put them in the freezer until it stops snowing.
kab2rb over 5 years ago
Oh Holly, you’re grandma got you back and good.I wished we could hang our clothes outside online. House yard not set up for and if we did be the only one.
bjballard1 over 5 years ago
Forget Grandma’s story. Holly called him “Arnold”. I thought his name was “Phil”.
JP Steve Premium Member over 5 years ago
My buddy’s parents were both born on the prairies. His Mom [will be 100 next month] was from the upper class — born in a log cabin. His Dad was born in a sod house.
Saucy1121 Premium Member over 5 years ago
I still hang clothes out if I can (not raining or freezing). I will use the dryer if the weather dictates.
Charlie Tuba over 5 years ago
And all the TVs were black & white.
adrianrune over 5 years ago
I’m in my mid-60s. When I was young, my parents had a four-room house and six kids. No city water, meaning we had to pump what we wanted, heat water on a (bottled) gas stove, and use an outhouse or chamber pot for what those are used for. Mom used a wringer washer and hung out clothes weather permitting, otherwise, Dad took the damp laundry to the local coin laundry to dry. When I was around 15 they finally had an addition built on the house and we got hooked up to the water line. The small utility room (where Dad dragged in the metal bathtub once a week) was converted to a bathroom and the old kitchen became a bedroom. Sometimes I wonder what modern social services and welfare would make of our living situation.
3cranes Premium Member over 5 years ago
My grandmother didn’t see (not ate) her first banana until she was 11 years old and went to Oklahoma in a horse drawn wagon. Most of my grandparents were born to the 1880’s, great grandparents died from about 1917 to the 1930’s, and I’m only 63.