Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis January - February 1934

Miss Lottie M. Davis 

 Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis

January 1934 = Came in on Monday.

Page 97

  1 Jan 1934 - Checks received from Lawrence.

  1 Jan 1934 – Charles E. O. Rear funeral.

  1 Jan 1934 – Got hogs from Uncle Luther 170# $12.72.

  1 Jan 1934 – Harold got hogs from Uncle Luther 170#.

  2 Jan 1934 – Finished butchering.

  3 Jan 1934 – Mr. & Mrs. F. Leap , Stella, Maggie M. were here for dinner.

  2 Jan 1934 – Lewis Herndon went to Shenandoah to work.

  5 Jan 1934 – Womanless Wedding play over.

  6 Jan 1934 – Beulah Lewis and his mother went to Luray, Va. Saturday night.

     Jan 1934 – Buck Taliaferro sent to Walter Reed Hospital.

15 Jan 1934 – Mrs. Joe Black new baby girl 9 1/2 pounds.

  4 Jan 1934 – Started piecing Grace quilt. 

21 Jan 1934 – Mr. Hosa Shifflett died age [____?]

     Jan 1934 – Jail gang fix road.

26 Jan 1934 – Sent gold money back to bank. [Note: Can you imagine that it is now only 82 years since Miss Lottie sent her GOLD money to the Elkton bank??? I do not remember ever having gold money. Yes, I most certainly do remember having solid silver, but never actual gold.]

 24 Jan 1934 – Mrs. Cellie Leap get her work.

 25 Jan 1934 – Started Beulah quilt.

Page 98

January 1934

  26 Jan 1934 – Mrs. Sanford Windgard new boy 8 ½ #.

  28 Jan 1934 – Mrs. Herndon Lewis & Beulah went to Hagerstown, Md [Marylamd].

  28 Jan 1934 – Mr. & Mrs. Ruldolph B. Huffman new boy 6 ½#.

  30 Jan 1934 – Bill get heating stove for $400. [Note:  Still in Depression and $400.00 seems a bit high to me, but if you look at the entry for 16 Feb 1934, Mr. Lester Meadows bought home [farm] for what appears to be $16,000.]

  21 Jan 1934 – Harold let Bill have dining room suite.

 30 Jan 1934 – Bill first night in new home.

 30 Jan 1934 – Mrs. Lynnwood Flory new baby girl.

 30 Jan 1934 – Miss Mildred Louise Strickler to marry Claude Wyant  Mable’s girl.

 February 1934 came in on Thursday.

  1 Feb 1934 – Harold first day working for self.

  1 Feb 1934 – Jean Heatwole taken to hospital.

  2 Feb 1934 – Jean Heatwole operated on.

  6 Feb 1934 – Taken Mrs. Baugher to hospital.

  6 Feb 1934 – Dr. Miller brought my account up.

  9 Feb 1934 – Mrs. McGuire Class had supper.

    Page 99

    February 1934

   8 Feb 1934 – Mr. & Mrs. Willard Michael new boy in Mrs. Leaps house.

  10 Feb 1934 – Harold takes over grocery.

  10 Feb 1934 – Reese Cover had wreck.

  10 Feb 1934 – Lawrence finished striating the estate.

   6 Feb 1934 – Victor Greens house burned colored.

  12 Feb 1934 – Mrs. Amanda Baugher operated on Monday.

   7 Feb 1934 – Bob dog died 14 years old.

 13 Feb 1934 – Beulah and Marie goes to Marjie B.

 13 Feb 1934 – Started Eula work.

 13 Feb 1934 – Mr. Orey died Bill Father age 65.

 12 Feb 1934 – Henry Monger died age 90 years.

 12 Feb 1934 – Mrs. and Mr. Bowman new baby   Nina Monger.

   3 Feb 1934 – Beulah got new ring.

 16 Feb 1934 – Twins found in empty house.

 18 Feb 1934 – One of Mildred Davis children broke arm.

 18 Feb 1934 – Served lunch at Mrs. McGuires.

 16 Feb 1934 – [Line blank]

 Page 100

February 1934

  9 Feb 1934 – Miss Lucille Hanson & Mr.Robert E. Scammell married.

 21 Feb 1934 – Nellie Herring moved in Powell house.

   9 Feb 1934 – Mr. Harry Woodward limb taken off.

 16 Feb 1934 – Mrs. Wilmer Rinca came to Mrs. Baugher.

 23 Feb 1934 – Mr. Ben Good died age 68 years at McGaheysville.

 17 Feb 1934 – Lelia got [____?].

 16 Feb 1934 – Mr. Saul Hensley sold home to Mr. Lester Meadows $16000.

 23 Feb 1934 – Let Mrs. Nealie have books.

 21 Feb 1934 – Mr. Samuel Edward died age 83 years.  Mrs. Smith’s father.

 25 Feb 1934 – Nine inches of snow fell on Sunday.

 28 Feb 1934 – Fourteen degrees below zero.

 26 Feb 1934 – Bessie Field died.

 22 Feb 1934 – Mrs. O Brown spinted arm.

      Feb 1934 – Harry Robinson 5 & 10 store open.

      Feb 1934 – Ma [?] Eaton place sold to Deans.

ns.

Braddock's Campaign

Braddock’s Campaign

Major General Edward Braddock [Etching] The British Government decided to take the threat posed by the French and their Native American allies more seriously after appeals from the colonial governors, including that of Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia.  The King sent Major General Edward Braddock to North America with two regiments of infantry. Braddock, a career soldier, had risen through the ranks. After forty-five years of military service, he became commander-in-chief of all British forces in North America. The British plan for 1755 was to simultaneously attack many of the French forts in North America. Braddock was to lead the expedition against Fort Duquesne personally. That spring, he disembarked his army at Alexandria, Virginia. After adding colonial troops and a few Indians to his force, Braddock had about two thousand four hundred men. George Washington joined the campaign as a volunteer aide to General Braddock. In 1754, the Virginia Regiment was under the command of Colonel Joshua Frye when it left Williamsburg for the “Forks of the Ohio.”  Lieutenant Colonel George Washington was second in command.  The army assembled near Fort Cumberland, the present site of Cumberland, Maryland.  On the 31st of May 1754, Colonel Joshua Frye fell from his horse and died. Lieutenant Colonel George Washington received a field promotion to Colonel and assumed the command while at Willis Creek where the army had assembled. Braddock had previously decided to follow the road which Washington had blazed over the mountains on his way to Fort Necessity to speak with the French stationed in that area the previous year. Due to the fact that this trail was inadequate for the army's artillery and large wagons, it was widened to twelve feet, after great effort and expenditure of time.  The British force seemed to move at a snail's pace. Finally the army was split in two with Braddock moving ahead with the bulk of the men and a few pieces of artillery. The remainder was to follow under the command of Colonel Dunbar. In early July, the advance group approached the “Forks of the Ohio.” On July 9th, they made a second crossing of the Monongahela River.  From this point it was but a short march to Fort Duquesne. The woods in front of the British column exploded with musket fire and the whooping of Indians with their French allies as they collided, head-on, with the British soon after the river crossing. Adding to the confusion, the advance British units fell back upon the main body as the rear units continued to move forward, adding to the total confusion. Both fear and disorganization seized the British. Discipline all but ended as many British officers were killed early on in the battle. The Battle lasted three hours even though the smoke of the battle made it impossible to see the enemy. As Braddock was finally carried from the field severely wounded, the surviving British soldiers fled. Out of the one thousand four hundred British soldiers participating, a British loss of more than nine hundred casualties was horrendous. They were completely beaten by a force which they could not see in a wilderness where they did not want to be. Their retreat to the safety of Dunbar's camp was hasty and disorganized. Washington reported, "The shocking Scenes which presented themselves in this Nights March are not to be described.  The dead, the dying, the groans, lamentations, and crys ... of the wounded for help were enough to pierce a heart of adamant". On July 13th, the British camped about one mile west of the Great Meadows which was the site of Fort Necessity.  That evening, General Braddock died. Colonial Washington officiated at Braddock’s ceremony the next day. The General was buried in the road which his men had built. After his ceremony, the army marched over the General’s grave in order to obliterate any traces of it to keep his body from being mutilated by the Native Americans who were allied with the French. Washington with the remains of the British army continued to eastern Pennsylvania. It is impossible to imagine the horror that must have went through Braddock’s mind after the battle. He had commanded what was considered to be an invincible army which was not ambushed. How could disciple have broken down with just an unexpected encounter? This rout was a total disgrace. Doctors later reported that anxiety was more the cause of General Braddock’s  death than were his wounds. George Washington in his British Uniform Washington later wrote "...Thus died a man, whose good and bad qualities were intimately blended. He was brave even to a fault and in regular Service would have done honor to his profession. His attachments were warm, his enmities were strong, and having no disguise about him, both appeared in full force." The French used this British retreat to their advantage. Soon afterwards, French-inspired Indian attacks occurred throughout the entire frontier.  As war spread, terrorized settlers streamed eastward.  In the ensuing decade, France lost all her North America colonies. The removal of external threats to colonists and the increased cost of governing the British Empire set the stage for the American Revolution.

Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis - November - December 1933

Miss Lottie M. Davis 

November 1933
Page 94
   1 Nov 1933 - Mr Kyger starts new mail route.
   1 Nov 1933 - Mr. Eaton made punkin  [pumpkin] butter.
   2 Nov 1933 - Sold eggs to Funkhouser.
   4 Nov 1933 - Went to hospital and operated on.
   6 Nov 1933 - First M put in.
  11 Nov 1933 - Bill and Elaine married on Saturday.
  12 Nov 1933 - Mr. Sam Flick died age 65 years.
  14 Nov 1933 - Carl Brill and Lillian Gaynor married.
  15 Nov 1933 - Adel Scruggs and Taylor married.
  14 Nov 1933 - Second time M put in.
  19 Nov 1933 - Edna Stonebarger and Armentrout married.
  19 Nov 1933 - Mrs. Nellie Herring new baby.
  19 Nov 1933 - Mrs. Minnie Plum new baby 12 lbs.
  19 Nov 1933 - Margie Gooden operated on.
  23 Nov 1933 - Cleaned out wound Dr. Miller.
  26 Nov 1933 - Came home from hospital.
  28 Nov 1933 - Mr. McDonel died,
      Nov 1933 - Reu Bolin Hobson moved new home.
  25 Nov 1933 - Harold get cow.
Page 95
November 1933
       Nov 1933 - Mrs, Harold Workman came home.
  28 Nov 1933 - Had flu.
       Nov 1933 - Harold had door fix in hall.
  25 Nov 1933 - Put tire on truck.,
December 1933
     2 Dec 1933 - Mrs. Millard Monger House new baby.
     7 Dec 1933 - Mrs. Dewey Life new baby.
        Dec 1933 - Miss Margie Pence operated on.
     9 Dec 1933 - Grany went to Dr. Preston about eyes.
     8 Dec 1933 - Russell Life died 38 years old.
     5 Dec 1933 - Miss Meadows came home.
     8 Dec 1933 - Play at School House womenless Wed [Womanless Wedding].
   14 Dec 1933 - Mrs. Nellie Herring operated on.
   15 Dec 1933 - Taken first dose of medicine Clark got me. [Clark C. Monger was her brother-in-law.]
   13 Dec 1933 - Mr. Harry Blosser hurt by bull.
   16 Dec 1933 - Harold sold calf 49.30 on Saturday.
   21 Dec 1933 - C.C. Monger lost $48.00.
   24 Dec 1933 - Killed Turkey for Christmas.

Turkey Dinner for Christmas

Page 96
December 1933
   8 Dec 1933 - Elizabeth Dean and P.C. Hawkins married.
  27 Dec 1933 - Harold Grace Ray and Beulah went on trip.
  26 Dec 1933 - McGaheysville Bank closed and transferred to First National at Harrisonburg.
  27 Dec 1933 - Mr. Bob Huddle dies.
  26 Dec 1933 - Mr. Henry Blosser died eighty years old. Hurt by bull.
  20 Dec 1933 - Lucille Grimm and [James Frank] Lilly married.
    7 Dec 1933 - Carl Brill operated on.
  27 Dec 1933 - Mrs. G. [C.?] D. Sellars [Sellers] operated on.
  29 Dec 1933 - Harold Grace Ray and Beulah came home sixteen [16] bushels of oysters.
  29 Dec 1933 - Hangers takes care of Hammers Mument [Monument] for limb.
  19 Dec 1933 - Mrs. Ralph  Eppard left family.
  24 Dec 1933 - Mrs. Nellie Herring came home.
       Dec 1933 - Floyd Frey married.
  26 Dec 1933 - Turner [?] Filling Station at McGaheysville. [Note: Filling Station is a name for what we know of today as a gas station.]
  30 Dec 1933 - Charles E. O. Rear died eleven years two months eight days.
       Dec 1933 - M.M. Jarman Farm sold.

Flowers That Touch My Soul

Today's post at www.BillieJoMonger.com is a tad bit different and perhaps a bit more personal so please do bear with me as I've never met a flower that I did not like.

Goatsbeard

Forever and that proverbial day ago,  my maternal grandmother explained to me that each of us must create those things in  life which we find beautiful as beauty is very different for each one of us. 

  

Lady's Slipper 

Well, I happen to love trees.  I love flowers. I also love creeks and many other wonders of God's world which we all tend to overlook or perhaps take for granted as we hurry to live the days of our lives.

Dutchman's Breeches

Women being women,soon discovered plants that grew naturally in Virginia and moved them from the forest into their very own yards and gardens. Mr. Fred Becks was always fond of saying, "A man worked hard to clear the land and a women followed right along behind him,  dragging bushes and other things from the woods until it was worse than it had been before the man started clearing it." 

Dianthus or Pinks

Time passed and the Virginia Colony grew, until one day, it became a permanent settlement. 

Sea Holly

Soon, designed gardens were all the rage, especially in Williamsburg. Some exhibited plants from all over the world. 

Cherry Tomatoes 

Of course, vegetables were planted for the betterment of their health and the enjoyment they brought to their meals

Foxgloves

Good agricultural practices and technological advances have enriched our lives with beautiful plants of all descriptions.

Himalayan Blue Poppies

During the past year I was sent the web addresses for two different sites which have indeed brought joy to my soul. I hope that each of you will enjoy these two sites as much as I have.  Please note that the photographs in this post were taken from these two sites:

1. Earth Laughs In Flowers

2. The Gardens Of The Soul

Arrangement In Recycled Lamp Base

Pachira Aquatica

Albert Duer Rose 

Sorbet Delight Peony

The Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis for September - October 1933

Miss Lottie M. Davis

If you  remember when I first started printing the "Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis" on my website at www.BillieJoMonger.com I cited her family lineage in order  to verify that the entries were authentic based upon her personal ability to have known the individuals in her journal entries who lived in the eastern part of Rockingham County. At the time, it was frustrating not to positively be able to identify or document her "Dean" family connection as L.W. and I both have Dean families in each of our own lineages.

I also understand that many of you are most probably very tired of me "harping" on the different types of documentation used when establishing or proving a lineage... Death Certificates are considered secondary evidence because they are written or compiled upon evidence provided after a person's death...meaning the evidence was given by someone who may not have been in a position to fully understand all of the facts [grandchild, etc.].  A Marriage Certificate or Marriage License is considered a primary document or evidence because it was written or compiled upon facts given by an individual person regarding his or her own self. Also please note that in many families called names were used by family and close friends [Polly is a called name for Mary and Sally is a called name for Sarah. Harry is also a called name for Henry, etc.]; however, in some cultures they are used as given names.  What all this "boils down to" is that no one should ever assume anything about anyone.

This week I received a note from Mr. David Davis, a collateral descendant of Miss Lottie, which follows: "I have made a recent discovery that provides new information on Lottie Davis's ancestry. As you have listed, [and] for many years I supported the idea that Cora's mother was Mary A. Dean. This was supported by Cora's death certificate. This week, I located Cora and Frank's marriage license which lists her mother as Polly Breeden. I believe that this Polly Breeden is the daughter of Sanford and Elizabeth Samuels Breeden. All of whom appear on the 1850 and 1860 census living in Page County."

Do I need to tell any one how very thrilled I was to receive this fantastic piece of information from David???  Words are inadequate to "Thank" David for sharing this wonderful document with all of us who have so enjoyed the "doings" in the Elkton and surrounding area as found in the Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis.

Gravestone of Miss Lottie M. Davis

September 1933
Page 91
  4 Sep 1933 - One of Clint Shifflett's twins died.
  7 Sep 1933 - Earl and Mabel goes to Richmond.
  3 Sep 1933 - Mr. H. Naylor operated on.
 11 Sep 1933 -  Mrs. Frank Thomas died age 68 years.
      Sep 1933 - Mrs Homer Thomas goes to Dr. about eyes.
 12 Sep 1933 - Mrs. M.V. Leap Sale.
 13 Sep  1933 - Started Mrs. C.C. Leap work.
 12 Sep 1933 - Mr. Charles Orey killed self and shot wife age 33.
 17 Sep 1933 - Aunt Mary Samuel funeral 84 years 5 months.
      Sep 1933 - Ms. Nellie Herringg left McGuire.
*11 Sep 1933 - Lewis Workman tonsils taken out.
 6 Sep 1933 - Mrs. Ralph Eppard operated on.
*18 Sep 1933 - Louis  Workman goes back to hospital.
  15 Sep 1933 - Miss Lelia Merica tonsils taken  out.
  16 Sep 1933 - Mrs. Almond dies age 82 years.
Page 92
  19 Sep 1933 - Miss Ruth Workman goes to Hospital.
  11 Sep 1933 - Mr. Good taken sick.
  17 Sep 1933 - Mr. A S. Bader died 85 years old.
  20 Sep 1933 - Ruth Workman operated on.
*21 Sep 1933 - Lewise Workman came home.
  19 Sep 1933 - Mrs. Rouderbush died.
  23 Sep 1933 - Anna Powell new baby.
  26 Sep 1933 - Homer Eppard child died.
      Sep 1933 - Mr. Will Shifflett moved.
  [Note:The variant spelling of Mr. Workman's first or given name is indicated by the three asterisk's [*] above.  Spelling did not become unified in our area until basically after WW II. In 1933 it was still normal to spell words as they sounded to the person doing the writing.]
October 1933
Page 92
 1 Oct 1933 - Miss Maggie Blose died 71 years 10 months.
 2 Oct 1933 - Frankie Hammer wreck.
 2 Oct 1933 - Kenneth Simmons killed age 19 years Harry Simmons boy.
 2 Oct 1933 - Mrs. Richard Morris operated on.
6 Oct 1933 - Miss Carter Cover married in New York City.
Page 93
 6 Oct 1933 - Mrs. Effie Leap new phone.
 8 Oct 1933 - Went to Lelia for dinner.
 7 Oct 1933 - Richard Morris had wreck at Jackson home colored.
 11 Oct 1933 - Mr. Will Shifflett home sold.$190060  to Merchant Groc.[Grocery]. [Note:Most probably this amount was meant to be $1,900.60, but she may have also meant it to be $1960.00 - we must remember that this was during the depression.]
13 Oct 1933 - Grace and Ray went to her Grandma.
12 Oct 1933 - Lelia made applebutter 18 gal [gallons].
    Oct 1933 - Beulah got stove from Harold.
12 Oct 1933 - Harold had ceiling fixed.
19 Oct 1933 - Lucil [Lucille] Harrison operated on.
14 Oct 1933 - Painter started coming.
21 Oct 1933 - Mr. Harry Reed killed him self.
24 Oct 1933 - Brownie Flick and Helen Hutton married.
23 Oct 1933 - Harold new paper. [Note: Evidently Harold had the room re-papered after he had the ceiling repaired.
22 Oct 1933 - Jack Morris new baby.
27 Oct 1933 - Frankie Hammers goes to pen.
30 Oct - 1933 Mr. Calvin Blose died.
[To be continued...]

Yeast, Emptyings, and Rivels

Homemade Light Bread.

When you hear the word “yeast,” do aromatic loaves of fresh homemade light bread come to mind? It is hard to believe, but modern baker’s yeast, as we know it today, didn’t exist until 1868. Before then, bread and other baked goods were leavened by other types of wild yeast or with massive quantities of eggs. As crazy as it may seem, yeast is also the ingredient responsible for the tantalizing aroma that arises during the baking process.

In addition to the recipes for making yeast with hops or potatoes, many old recipes refer to using “emptins” as a leavening agent. These “emptins” or “emptyings” were just as their name implies, the emptyings of leftover batter and dough added to a crock or jar. In some areas they may also be referred to as “rivels.”

The main difference found in many of the older recipes is that some use milk instead of water.  Indeed, “emptyings” and may just be two different names for the same thing as descriptions of “emptyings” seem to be pretty similar to the flour-water mixture for sourdough starter with the addition of scraps of extra dough added to feed the starter.

Today, the most commonly used yeast is dried, but there are several other types. The recipes that follow show two different examples of ways to make yeast: dry yeast cakes made from hops and an everlasting yeast "starter."

Dry yeast cakes are made by boiling the blossoms of hops. These flowers contain a fragrant yellowish oil called lupulin. The use of this oil as a preservative in beer and as a narcotic for pain seems to have originated in Germany before the time of the Emperor Charlemagne.

Hops Vines

The hop vine is related to hemp and mulberry plants which are in the nettle family.  Many of you have been in my classes when we’ve talked about the Shenandoah Valley being the major hemp producing area of the colonies.  Hemp was grown to make ropes of all kinds in the colonial era. Even in Victorian times, our local ladies would gather wild hemp seed to feed to their canaries as it seemed to encourage their pet birds to sing more readily.  Of course, we now know that the “hemp plant” is also similar to marijuana.  In more recent years, the railroad tracks, etc. in the Elkton – McGaheysville area were sprayed to kill the hemp plants in the government’s war on drugs.

Hops Blossoms

As we return to a more complete investigation of hops plants, we learn that they grows best in a sandy type soil, however, most residents of the Shenandoah Valley have no problem growing hops in their backyards or along a fence row.

Recipes for making yeast cakes from hops has been passed down from generation to generation.

Hops Yeast Cakes

1 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup potato water
1 cup flour
1 cup dried hops
2 Tbsp. sugar
4 cups corn meal (approx.) - Either white or yellow cornmeal may be used.  The appearance is different, but bread making results are the same.
1 dried yeast cake (optional) – normally left from the last batch to be used as a booster.

Boil 3 or 4 peeled potatoes in unsalted water. When very tender, drain the potatoes and mash them well, saving the potato water to use later. Cover the hop blossoms with water and bring to a boil. Drain off the water and save it, too. Put flour in a pan and slowly stir in the potato water you saved. Be very careful not to use too much water. Mix slowly so that the flour won't be lumpy. If the mixture is too liquid it may be necessary to cook it until it forms a thick paste-like dough. Add mashed potatoes and sugar. Mix well and then slowly add the hops water until you have a medium soft dough. Let rise double. Then punch down and work in enough corn meal to make a stiff dough. Roll out the dough on a board to about 1/2 inch thick and cut into cakes. Let these cakes dry, turning them often so they will dry evenly. When they appear to be good and dry, hang them up in a muslin bag for a few days to make sure they won't mold. After this you can store them in fruit jars or however you wish. This recipe makes two large pans of yeast cakes. This amount is fine in a large family where bread is made often, but you might want to reduce it, especially the first time you make it.

Bread [made from Hop Yeast Cakes]

1 quart warm water
2 yeast cakes
1 Tbsp. sugar

about 10-12 cups flour

1 cup melted butter
1 Tbsp. salt
3 Tbsp. sugar

Crumble the yeast cakes into the warm water, add one tablespoon sugar and put in enough flour to make a soft sponge. Beat the mixture until it is very smooth. Let this rise over night. The next morning add butter, salt and remaining sugar. Work in enough flour to make a smooth dough that doesn't stick to your hands. Knead well. Many felt the dough should be worked or kneaded for about one hour. After kneading, put the dough in a warm place and let it rise double. Grease the bottoms and sides of the baking pans.

Hops "Yeast" Cake

Air pockets form bubbles in the bread as it bakes so do try to knead the loaves well. Many women named each one of the loaves after a family member that they might be a tad bit frustrated with being sure to give an extra "spank" as an extra precaution to get rid of air pockets. Remember not to cut but to pinch off dough to form the loaves because metal reacts with the acid in both the yeast and bread dough to spoil the flavor. For this reason one should use wooden utensils and preferably a wooden bowl, but some type of non-metallic bowl will do.

After the loaves are formed, lay them in greased pans and turn them over to oil the tops of the loaves. Then let them rise once double again, baking at 350°F for about one hour or until the tops are golden brown.

A second type of yeast, “everlasting yeast starter” is a living yeast that has to be kept alive by regular feedings or use. This is one of the oldest known forms of yeasts, dating back to 4000 B.C., and must be stored in a cool place. Normally it was necessary to make bread as often as twice a week in order to keep this starter alive.

Everlasting Yeast Starter Recipe

1 medium potato (peeled)
4 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar

Boil potato in unsalted water until done. Drain, saving the water. Mash potato adding sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm. Add to mixture enough potato water to make one quart. Cover and set in a warm place to ferment. If you prefer, you may add a package of "store bought" yeast to speed up the fermentation process; however, it is just as good if it is allowed to ferment without the additional yeast. This recipe is about the right amount for a family requiring more than one loaf of bread at a baking. 

Many families enjoyed using left over or “stale” bread, cut into cubes, to make mouth watering bread puddings and those great tasting dishes of baked stewed tomatoes.

Another Everlasting Yeast Starter Recipe

1 potato (about the size of a large hen egg)
3/4 cup potato water
2 Tbsp. sugar
flour

Boil potato, drain and save the unsalted potato water. Mash potato well, and add potato water, sugar and enough flour to make a fairly stiff batter or a soft dough. Keep in a warm place until well fermented. Then, put it into a wide mouth jar and cover loosely as the odor will transfer to other foods, do not ever use a tight fitting lid. In approximately five or six days the starter should be ready for use…meaning the mixture should be nice and bubbly.  If it is not, the bread will flop and you might as well just start over. 

Use the sponge and the following ingredients to make yet another bread dough.

2 cups potato water or scalded milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. melted shortening
flour

To what remains in your bowl after taking out your starter, add unsalted potato water or milk, salt, sugar and cool, meaning not hot, melted shortening. Add enough flour to make dough that will handle well. Beat until the batter can't be beaten, then turn out on a well-floured board and knead until it is soft and smooth. Put in to a well-greased bowl, cover with some type of woven cloth and let set in a warm place until the dough has doubled in bulk. Punch the dough down and pinch off your loaves. Shape and put into pans. Let your loaves rise double or until they almost reach the rims of the pans. Bake in moderate (350°) oven for about 45 minutes. When done turn the loaves out of the pans at once and grease sides with butter or shortening. This recipe will make two small loaves or one medium size loaf and a pan of rolls.
  

Both of these yeasts are much slower working than commercial yeast. If you are use to using the store-bought variety of yeast, be sure to allow enough time for this dough to rise. 

Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis - July and August 1933

Journal of Miss Lottie M. Davis

Miss Lottie M. Davis

As we read Miss Lottie’s Journal, there are two major events which we need to take a brief look at in order to more fully appreciate the protection that our beautiful mountains have given to the families who have chosen to live in our Shenandoah Valley.

The first is the Great Depression [1929-1939] which was both the deepest and the longest-lasting downturn in the economic history of the Western industrialized world.   In the United States, The Great Depression started soon after the stock market crashed in October 1929.  This crash wiped out millions of investors sending Wall Street into a major panic, resulting in severe unemployment as failing companies all over America laid off workers. By 1933, some thirteen to fifteen million Americans were unemployed.  Almost one-half of all the banks in the United States failed and were forced to close their doors as they were unable to repay folk, like us, who had deposited money in their banks. In her unassuming manner, Miss Lottie mentions this in her entry for the 4^th of March 1933. She followed with the reopening on the 15^th of March which means banks in the Elkton area were closed for only eleven days while many banks in the rest of the United States were never able to reopen.  The American economy did not recover until after 1939, when the demands of WWII forced industry to produce the needed products.

The second is the Dust Bowl which was the name given to the Great Plains region [one hundred fifty thousand square miles encompassing Oklahoma, the Texas panhandles, neighboring sections of Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico] which was devastated by a severe drought during the 1930’s.  Many members of Valley families had settled in these areas immediately following the War Between the States.  Massive dust clouds [one rose to ten thousand feet and reached as far as New York City] caused by high winds and poor agricultural practices proved to be a very destructive combination.   Cattle choked on the dust, dirt penetrated everything including homes.  The moaning winds caused many folk to lose everything including their sanity. The recurrence of these storms [commonly called black blizzards] wreaked havoc, resulting in driving sixty per cent of the population from the area.  Most folk in other parts of the United States were unable to help their own families which had settled this region due to the foreclosure of many banks during the Depression.  

The Elkton-McGaheysville area is located between the Peaked Mountain [blue
 and near the clouds in the background] and the Blue Ridge in the foreground.

We’ve all heard stories about the lack of jobs and of the many other problems which occurred during the 1930’s; but, Shenandoah Valley residents have normally always had enough food to live, clothing to wear and some form of shelter which provided protection. They have endured many difficulties including a war fought on their own property [military records of most Confederate POW’s cite,” to protect their own property/land” as the reason they joined the Confederate States Army] and living through a period of Marshall Law; however, few ever experienced the horror of starvation faced by many people including immigrants living in our nation’s major cities during the Great Depression.

[Note: New car purchased by Mr. Kyger and trips taken by both Mr. McGuire and Elmore Eula Leap.]

July 1933 – August 1933

July 1933

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     Jul 1933 – Mrs. John Hooks died age ninety-nine years.

     Jul 1933 – Mr. McCoy died.

16 Jul 1933 –Came home.

  8 Jul 1933 – Mable moved back to Elkton, Va.

17 Jul 1933 – Mrs. Williams died age twenty-one years.  Ruby [Mom] Cole.

17 Jul 1933 – Mr. Kyger new car.

16 Jul 1933 – William Eaton killed.

19 Jul 1933 – Mrs. M.V. Leap died age eighty-nine years.

21 Jul 1933 – Mrs. Leaps funeral at McGaheysville.

11 Jul 1933 – Mrs. Clinton Shifflett new baby.

     Jul 1933 – Pearl Ware new baby.

21 Jul 1933 – Mr. McGuire starts on trip.

14 Jul 1933 – Mrs. Grace Lam operated [on?].

  8 Jul 1933 – Mrs. Bane shot at Shenandoah, Va.

  9 Jul 1933 – Dr. Wright hurt.

22 Jul 1933 – Helen Shifflett and Sanford Winegard married on Saturday.

27 Jul 1933 – Mrs. C. Downs died.

Page 90

23 Jul 1933 – Mr. A. J. Koontz died fifty-seven years old.

18 Jul 1933 – Chus F. began to take lessons. Harmond. [Questions: 1. Was Chus written for Chas – meaning Charles? 2. Was this the same Mr. Harmon who was giving music lessons in the Elkton - McGaheysville area during the early 1950’s?]

24 Jul 1933 – Mr. Jinkins [Jenkins] died age eighty-six years.

26 Jul 1933 – Austin Downey lost job.

28 Jul 1933 – Got coal for winter. $22.98.

18 Jul 1933 – Lee Opal and Gale went over to Lelias. Tuesday.

10,11,12,13 Jul 1933 - Mrs. F.H. Leap visited us.

30 Jul 1933 – Mr. Sam Bontz died at hospital Eighty-two years old.

August 1933

  2 Aug 1933 – Knight girl died.

19 Aug 1933 – Fields Day.

20 Aug 1933 – Elmore Eula Leap take trip.

30 Aug 1933 – Mr. M.H. Harrison divorced.

30 Aug 1933 – Mr. Bernard Lam in hospital.

27 Aug 1933 – Mr. George Lam funeral.