Interview with Mary Braden Jackson, 1986 September 14 [audio](part 2)

Interview with Mary Braden Jackson, 1986 September 14 [audio](part 2)

9/14/86

Jackson's fourth interview describes the Stewart House, typical preparations for babies, christening celebrations, the girls' baseball team, how women curled and colored their hair, superstitions, transportation, and music lessons on the organ. She also describes who her friends were and various possessions in her house growing up.

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Additional note from transcript written by the interviewer, Peggy Bennett:"I spoke with Mrs. Mary Bradin Jackson on March 22, 1987 by telephone to get a more detailed description of the "doll coach" her Mother fashioned from shoe boxes for the girls at Christmastime. Mrs. Jackson thought shoe boxes seemed heavier than those of today. The lid of the box was placed on the bottom for extra support. The boxes might be covered with wallpaper or sometimes the older girls would create a design on the outside of the box with crayons--she mentioned red, yellow and green crayons. Her Mother would make a rope by plaiting knitting yarn. The rope was then attached to the box so that the girls could pull the coaches. Nothing was ever wasted in the household, so the mattress for the coach would probably be the remains from a worn tablecloth. The family tablecloths were always red-plaid. The mattress would be stuffed with saw-dust that Mr. Bradin brought home from the yards. Covers probably would be made from remains of the bleached flour bags, and might be made a little fancy.The Bradins had 9 children, but never had a Christmas tree. Most people in Squirrel Run did not have one Mrs. Jackson said. Christ Episcopal Church where the family attended always had a beautiful big tree and that all the children received a box of candy from underneath the tree.Christmas morning the children would find a black heavy-ribbed stocking hung at the stove--it was warmer there. The stocking would have an orange, walnuts and clear candy of different colors that was shaped like toys. She said they thought that oranges only grew at Christmas. Doll clothes would be made by the mothers from scraps of fabric. This might be a joint venture of some of the mothers. The dolls at least would get a new cape. Capes were more popular than shawls. Many times the dolls would have a new outfit. The mothers seemed to enjoy doing this.During the same conversation Mrs. Jackson mentioned her recent visit to the dentist. The dentist is always amazed at the condition of her teeth. He called in an associate to look at them. The assistant asked her secret. She told him nothing special, she just remembers going to the pump each day (Squirrel Run) with her brush, cup and baking soda in the palm of her hand. The dentist seemed to think the baking soda was the secret. I do not believe Mrs. Jackson mentioned this incident during my interviews with her."

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company

Children--Reminiscing

Reminiscing

Domestic life

Manners and customs

Houses

Dwellings

NJ/DE Digital Collective

sound

https://digital.hagley.org/1970370_9613_jackson_part7