#oldnewspapers

Discover innovative ways to repurpose old newspapers for effective house cleaning. From lining shelves to shining windows, learn how to utilize this common household item. Questions Explain four ways in which old newspapers may be used when cleaning a house. Answers Old newspapers can be quite useful when cleaning a house in various ways: Lining Shelves: Old newspapers can be used to line…

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week. Catherine's library find is a resource that you can most likely find at your own library: Newspapers.com, a repository of archives from all over the U.S. and six other countries. Find your great-grandparents' wedding announcement or read up on crimes like the Panama Hat Heist of 1904. ​ Terri's random recommendation this week is not one, but three books: Two she's recently finished, and one she's just starting. She finished (and loved) A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and enjoyed Jim O'Heir's memoir about Parks & Rec, Welcome to Pawnee--but suggests skipping the audiobook on this one. And as a dutiful English major, she's now reading Everybody Behaves Badly: The True Story Behind Hemingway's Masterpiece The Sun Also Rises by Lesley M. M. Blume. Mentioned: The TV adaption of A Gentleman in Moscow, which we watched and enjoyed last summer. ​​ In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019 on parenting best-sellers on Amazon. Guess what? Things haven't changed much in five years! Next week's lineup: 

Lost S2 E4, "Everybody Hates Hugo," on Tuesday, January 14

Shrinking S2 E11, "The Drugs Don't Work," on Wednesday, January 15

Weekly roundup on Thursday, January 16

By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director

What was Dumfries like in the late 1920s? Join us as we visit the social scene of Dumfries in February from 1928-1930. From hosting parties to making hot soup, the activities of our Dumfries residents provide a small glimpse of how communities remained united during tumultuous times.

02/16/1928:

Mrs. Eastman Keys entertained at a delightful Five Hundred party last Thursday afternoon at her home near Dumfries. A beautiful vase was filled with flowers the favor for the highest score, was presented by the hostess to Mrs. John Rainey. Mrs. Grover Abel, who made the lowest score, received a bud vase.

A delightful luncheon, consisting of chicken salad, crackers, pickles and coffee, was served. The Dumfries reporter sees that this game is destined to become a very popular amusement here. Those playing were: Mrs. John Rainey, Mrs. T.J. Young and Mrs. Buchanan, of Quantico, Mrs. Mamie Sisson, Mrs. Bell Rison, Mrs. Grover Abel, Mrs. Maye Crawford, Mrs. Eastman Keys, Miss Isobel Rison and Miss Delma Harris, of Dumfries.

Never heard of a Five Hundred party? The United States Playing Card Company invented this trick-taking card game in 1904, based on the popular Euchre. While auction and contract bridge eventually dominated the trick taking games in America, Dumfries hosted Five Hundred parties into the 1930s. The Manassas Journal continued to print the participants and results within their social news updates. (Sidenote: You can find more info, helpful tips, and instructions with Board Game Geek here!)

02/21/1929:

The Dumfries Community League held its regular meeting last week, with Mrs. Annie G. Cline, president presiding. Rev. Shumate gave the invocation.

Following the reading of the minutes, the roll call and the receipt of dues, new business was taken up and in this connection the bill for the meat used in making soup for the school during January was presented and ordered paid. Elmer Williams, secretary of the 4-H Club, repaid a loan of $4.60 which had been made for the purchase of shrubbery, at the same time expressing the thanks of his club to the League for the loan.

Among the activities of club members during January and February reported was the making of hot soup two days a week for the school, the members furnishing all of the ingredients except the meat. By saving nickels and dimes, members were able to contribute a good sum to the teachers of the school to apply on the purchase of cooking utensils.

The final payment of shades, of which the school is so proud, was made the purchase and installation of shades, having amounted to $56. It was also ordered that the League purchase 50 song books for the school.

The program at the school for April will be put on by the League and all are looking forward to a delightful entertainment with many surprises. The attendance at the meeting was exceptionally large, and many parents were present for the first time, indicating a growing interest in the activities of the League.

The focus on nourishment and supplying necessities is apparent in this club article. While historians give the start date of the Great Depression as 08/1929, it came after a series of economic and financial crises that led to the Stock Market Crash of 1929. As you can tell from the above 02/1929 article, Dumfries was already concerned about the cost of meat. The idea of having meatless meals as a way to show patriotism and deal with the economic realities in America came from WWI. Meatless Tuesdays and Wheatless Wednesdays even impacted Valentine cards with a shoutout to Hebert Hoover: “To My Valentine / I can Hooverize on dinners / And on lights and fuel too / But I’ll never learn to Hooverize / When it comes to loving you!” While not ideal, the Dumfries Community League focused on the importance of hot, nourishing, and comforting food in the best ways they could afford.

(”You’re Children is Their Food Safe?” Ad for General Electric All-Steel Refrigerator,  The Manassas Journal, 02/06/1930, Vol. XXXV, No. 38)

02/06/1930:

“The ladies of the Dumfries Methodist Church will give a Valentine Party on Friday, February 14, in the School House, beginning at 7 p.m. to which all people of the county are cordially invited. The supper will consist of hot waffles, made as only the Dumfries ladies can make them, maple syrup and coffee.

It is especially urged that those who come appear in costume for prizes will be given for the funniest costume, the prettiest costume, and for numerous other things. For the children there will be a grab bag, and for both the young and old a fortune telling booth will be installed.

The committee in charge of the Valentine Party is headed by Mrs. Magruder Keys, as chairman; Mrs. Nellie Brawner and Mrs. Myrtle Keys.”

Have you ever visited Dumfries? If you have walked the streets with us or looked at a pretty map, you will see the close proximity of Dumfries United Methodist Church to Dumfries Elementary School. While Valentine parties are not uncommon in 2023, Valentine costume contests and fortune-booths might not be part of your typical agenda. However, with a country entering the Great Depression, these thoughtful gestures probably provided levity and a sense of united community spirit as the town, state, and country navigated and responded to a new reality.

Note: Need more history & romance in your life? Join The Weems-Botts Bibliophiles as we discuss the genre of medieval romance, chivalric romance, on Saturday, 02/25 at 10:00am! This virtual program features tasty Ginger Jazz tea, classic medieval prose, and a discussion on the life & times of the people from a literary & historic perspective. More info here!