It is 1945 and the Angola housewife needs groceries. More than likely she does not have a car, but living in town is a handy accommodation. She can walk to what is now Coachlight, what was Bob's Sports Shop, what was then Kroger's.
Here is her list and the prices of her groceries for her family:
Spotlight Coffee 3# bag for 59 cents
Gingerbread Mix 2 pkg. for 35 cents
Kidney Beans 3 18 oz. cans for 27 Cents
Sauer Kraut 2 jars for 35 cents
Navy Beans 1# for 11 cents
Rolled Oats 1 pkg. 11 cents
Potato Chips 1 bag 25 cents
Pack it all up and walk on home.
And that is The Voice of Angola, 1945
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
What could you buy at Penney's?
In February of 1945 there were wonderful ads for the local Penney's in the Steuben Republican.
It seems as if they were anxious for spring as well as spring blouses were advertised for women for $2.98. You could also get 'pretty blouses' for girls at $1.98.
Did you need a new blazer or jacket? $8.90.
What about an all-wool coat for a man? Just $12.75.
Penney's was located at 223 W. Maumee St. in Angola, Indiana. It is currently the Then and Now Antique Shop. Next time you go in, keep in mind the clicking of heels on the wooden floors from women shoppers.
And that is The Voice of Angola, 1945.
It seems as if they were anxious for spring as well as spring blouses were advertised for women for $2.98. You could also get 'pretty blouses' for girls at $1.98.
Did you need a new blazer or jacket? $8.90.
What about an all-wool coat for a man? Just $12.75.
Penney's was located at 223 W. Maumee St. in Angola, Indiana. It is currently the Then and Now Antique Shop. Next time you go in, keep in mind the clicking of heels on the wooden floors from women shoppers.
And that is The Voice of Angola, 1945.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Maurice McClue
This past Autumn a wonderful new book has been published by the McClue Nature Reserve Board of Directors.
The book is a historical collection of the journal of Maurice McClue. Marice was born May 5, 1878 and began this journal 40 years later. He continued this journal until his death in 1957.
The book is a treasure trove of nature, stories and history from Steuben County.
His notes were transcribed in a lovingly and patient manner by Terri Gorney.
Here is a snapshot from the journal:
11 January 1925
A most extremely cold and disagreeable day with a raw east wind and with a foot of snow overlaying a crust of ice. The past three weeks has been as bad a time for birds as I have ever know. For two weeks every thing including every week and every seed was covered with a thick layer of ice. Yet today I saw where quail had made tracks in a thicket last night and also in a corn field where they had gone to the shocks.
The diary is full of life and color and is available to the general public. For those of us in Steuben County, see Fred Wooley at the Nature Center at Pokagon. The book sells for $25 and is on my new wish list!
For those of you wishing to visit McClue's Woods, it is located on 400 North, just east of Wing Haven Nature Preserve .
And that is the Voice of Angola, 1925.
The book is a historical collection of the journal of Maurice McClue. Marice was born May 5, 1878 and began this journal 40 years later. He continued this journal until his death in 1957.
The book is a treasure trove of nature, stories and history from Steuben County.
His notes were transcribed in a lovingly and patient manner by Terri Gorney.
Here is a snapshot from the journal:
11 January 1925
A most extremely cold and disagreeable day with a raw east wind and with a foot of snow overlaying a crust of ice. The past three weeks has been as bad a time for birds as I have ever know. For two weeks every thing including every week and every seed was covered with a thick layer of ice. Yet today I saw where quail had made tracks in a thicket last night and also in a corn field where they had gone to the shocks.
The diary is full of life and color and is available to the general public. For those of us in Steuben County, see Fred Wooley at the Nature Center at Pokagon. The book sells for $25 and is on my new wish list!
For those of you wishing to visit McClue's Woods, it is located on 400 North, just east of Wing Haven Nature Preserve .
And that is the Voice of Angola, 1925.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Auditions
We unlocked the doors of Fabiana Theatre, turned on the lights and heat and waited for you to come to the auditions held by the Spoken Word Production. We were not disappointed. You came with bells and whistles, songs and dances and gave us enough material to finish writing up the show.
You know, we have such great ideas for the show. We want your stories and photos and snapshots of life in the 40's of Angola, but we know this is an ongoing process, and we have just begun.
Our hope is that you begin to read the blog, jot down a story or two, give us a call or add a comment yourself.
Stories are the fabric of the lives we lead, and I think we all love the idea of collecting them. It seems as if the task is daunting, but step by step, story by story we will piece together a history to leave behind.
Please mark your calendar for the Voice of Angola, 1945 performance February 20 and 21. Tickets will soon be on sale, check back here on the blog site!
Thank you for the opportunity to share these thoughts.
Voice of Angola
You know, we have such great ideas for the show. We want your stories and photos and snapshots of life in the 40's of Angola, but we know this is an ongoing process, and we have just begun.
Our hope is that you begin to read the blog, jot down a story or two, give us a call or add a comment yourself.
Stories are the fabric of the lives we lead, and I think we all love the idea of collecting them. It seems as if the task is daunting, but step by step, story by story we will piece together a history to leave behind.
Please mark your calendar for the Voice of Angola, 1945 performance February 20 and 21. Tickets will soon be on sale, check back here on the blog site!
Thank you for the opportunity to share these thoughts.
Voice of Angola
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wanted: stories, photos, character sketches, historical tidbits
Do you have a good story to share that relates to Steuben County, Indiana? The Voice of Angola project would like to hear it.
Currently, we're especially interested in stories from the 1940s. But in coming years, we hope to focus on other time periods, so show us what you've got!
In addition to stories, we'd like to collect photos with explanatory notes, descriptions of interesting characters who lived in or near Angola, and any and all other tidbits of local history.
We're working in conjunction with the Steuben County Historical Society, so your memories will be treated well.
Part of the Voice of Angola's mission is to present historical material to the community. The project's first stage production will be held February 20 and 21. (See blog below.) We hope to present plays annually and find new and creative ways to keep Steuben County history alive.
To contact us, write a comment on this blog, or email Lou Ann Homan at homegrownstories@aol.com.
Currently, we're especially interested in stories from the 1940s. But in coming years, we hope to focus on other time periods, so show us what you've got!
In addition to stories, we'd like to collect photos with explanatory notes, descriptions of interesting characters who lived in or near Angola, and any and all other tidbits of local history.
We're working in conjunction with the Steuben County Historical Society, so your memories will be treated well.
Part of the Voice of Angola's mission is to present historical material to the community. The project's first stage production will be held February 20 and 21. (See blog below.) We hope to present plays annually and find new and creative ways to keep Steuben County history alive.
To contact us, write a comment on this blog, or email Lou Ann Homan at homegrownstories@aol.com.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Who, what, when and where
"Voice of Angola 1945" will be presented February 20 and 21, in Trine University's new Student Center theater, in Angola, IN. Set in a radio station, the play takes the audience back to 1945 with news, songs, a game show and talent acts.
Auditions for the talent acts and several acting roles will be held Sunday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 PM in the Trine University Student Center theater. Acts must be appropriate to the 1940's, but otherwise, anyone with talent is encouraged to attend. Actors who can recall the 1940's with style, sound or mannerisms are preferred.
For more information, contact Lou Ann Homan at homegrownstories@aol.com.
Lou Ann Homan is the driving force behind Spoken Word, a local theater group. She hopes to continue the Voice of Angola project annually by focusing on different years. The working mission statement for Voice of Angola is to collect and preserve Steuben County history and present it in creative ways to the community.
Auditions for the talent acts and several acting roles will be held Sunday, Jan. 16, from 4-6 PM in the Trine University Student Center theater. Acts must be appropriate to the 1940's, but otherwise, anyone with talent is encouraged to attend. Actors who can recall the 1940's with style, sound or mannerisms are preferred.
For more information, contact Lou Ann Homan at homegrownstories@aol.com.
Lou Ann Homan is the driving force behind Spoken Word, a local theater group. She hopes to continue the Voice of Angola project annually by focusing on different years. The working mission statement for Voice of Angola is to collect and preserve Steuben County history and present it in creative ways to the community.
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