Grandma was a dancing machine

One thing I’ve learned from going through my grandmother’s scrapbook is that she loved to go out and she loved to dance!  Well, I’m not 100% sure that she loved to dance but I do know that she went to a lot of dances and fortunately for me, she kept a lot of mementos from those special events.

The invitations, bids, and dance cards just amaze me.  Now I realize that by today’s standards these items would be pretty boring but in 1912, these were amazing!  Look at the beautiful writing on this dance card.



Someone must have spent a lot of time putting this together.  It took me a minute but can you see the 1912 in the ‘block’ of green ink?  Here’s the inside that shows the dance program.



Some of these names, Carleton Best and M. Pugh, are familiar to me.  She danced with Carleton three times – wonder if she (or he) was smitten?  And here’s her description.



So we know the date was May 17, 1912 and we know she didn’t go with anyone.  But it looks like she danced the night away!

And then there’s this one.



These are hard to read but I can pick out Elbert (dance #3) who was the brother of her BFF, Hallie Hitchcock.  And again, a few dances with Carleton (#1 and #9) and even Howard (#2 and Extra #1).  What in the world would Extras and Extra Extras be? 



And here’s her description:



Ooooohhh, she went to the dance with Carleton.  I sure wish I knew the date of this dance – was it before May 17, 1912 or after?  And just what does “had a pretty good time considering” mean?  Did she not like Carleton after she got home?  Did he not pay enough attention to her?  Come on, Grandma, inquiring minds want to know!

And then there was this dance given at Eleanor Phelps’ house.



Now this one really took some time as the blue paper was cut out and glued to the front.  That’s a lot of detail and must have required a bunch of patience.  And the inside:



Oh boy, looks like Earl was penciled in a lot on this dance card and poor Carleton was only on there once.  But wait – what’s this?



What?  She didn’t go?  So how did this dance card get filled up?  And none of these names are in my grandmother’s handwriting so did she have them sign the card after the fact?

Grandma, just about the time I get you figured out you throw me a curveball!

Tidbits

The next pages of the scrapbook are what Grandma called Tidbits.  Just a little of this and that.

Loraine Gunzendorfer

I wrote about Grandma’s trip to the cannery before.  I’d like to think this photo was from an outing to the cannery but – gasp – maybe she was actually working there!  For the few reading who knew my grandmother, I’m sure you will agree that Loraine working in a cannery is about the last place I’d expect her to be working.  Actually, working anywhere is a bit of a stretch.

January 20, 1914 was Loraine Gunzendorfer’s 18th birthday.  This horoscope must have really struck a chord with her since she saved Cozette’s Horoscope.



I think it must have been the second to last paragraph that interested her.

Persons whose birthdate it is have a lucky anniversary.  They probably will benefit through the aid of their friends.  Young women have the omen of happy marriage.  Jupiter particularly benefits those who were born in 1866, 1878, 1890 and 1902.  Saturn may bring temporary trouble to those born on or near January 3.

While she wasn’t born in 1866, 1878, 1890 or 1902, we know from this scrapbook that Loraine had a lot of friends to aid her.  And since she was happily married to my grandfather for 49 years, I’d say that counts as a happy marriage.



This must have been from her visit to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915.  Interesting that cameras had to be licensed.

The wines and liquors were on special!  This was actually on the back of a clipping (my family always called them clippings) but I found it more interesting than the story she saved.  I have to chuckle reading about Zinfandel being invigorating to the invalids and that Riesling wine makes the dinner taste better.



Grandma writes about the Boat Club dance and the one thing she saved to help remember the event. 



I’m not sure this is what she was referring to but since it was on the same page, it must be.  Hard to tell since half of it is missing.



I wrote about the 1914 graduation here.  Here’s another reference to the stunt.



Friday night, Sept. 25, 14.  Mrs. Woolf gave a surprise for Helen.  We danced until nearly one o’clock.  A nice affair.  Elbert _____ (brought?) me home. 

The napkin with the flowers on it must have been a remembrance from the party.



Sounds like Helen Thompson fit right into her new school.  I even have her photo from the yearbook!

Helen Thompson

Uh oh, Grandma tore her dress!  And how cute that she put a piece of it in her memory book!



Here is Elbert taking her to a party again.  He was her classmate, John Elbert Hitchcock, and the brother of her BFF, Hallie Hitchcock.  I’ve been researching this family a bit as I’d love to connect with a descendant and share some of the photos with them.  No luck so far but I’m not giving up.

John Elbert Hitchcock

More tidbits coming up next time!