Books

Dusting Off the Old Ones

Grandmothers' Picnic

Around the turn of the century four estimable local ladies made a practice of arranging a day for the grandmothers,--not the ones who had just "turned grandmother" but for those hair was turning white and whose faces wore deep lines indicating the hardships of the years. It took hours of planning to make the arrangements for, it must be remembered, that those precious elderly souls had to be transported by horse and buggy, and there were few conveyances at that time which would accomodate more than four occupants, for the most part two or three. The affair was called "Grandmothers' Picnic". It was usually held under the trees in that beautiful grove which once graced the Will Haynes place just east of town. This place might be easily identified by present day residents as the last house on the right-hand side of the road leading to the Elks' Country Club. There were usually thirty or forty grandmothers in attendance. They were customarily assembled at the picnic grounds by noon when a fitting repast was ready for them. They spent the entire afternoon visiting and renewing acquaintances, and along about four o'clock the farewells would be said, and the "rigs" would begin showing up to take the guests to their homes.

The ladies who usually made all the arrangements were Mrs. Will Haynes, Mrs. R. R. Clarke, Mrs. Joe Eichhorn and her sister, Mrs. Ras Haynes. It was an event eagerly looked forward to every summer, and these four hostesses received the everlasting blessing from each one of the participants. To tell the truth, the hostesses received as much pleasure from the gathering as their guests did.