By Mary Ellen Shaw A child isn’t usually very old before someone asks, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I think just about every young boy on our street wanted to be a fireman at one […]
Tag: mary ellen shaw
Looking Back
The days of cows and horses
By Mary Ellen Shaw When you have lived long enough in the City of Rutland to remember the days of cows and horses then you know that you have been around for awhile! Back in the 50s there was still […]
Looking Back
Friends from different generations
Conversations with friends always bring up interesting topics. A recent one led us to the subject of people in our lives, who, though much older than we were “back in the day”, later became our friends or coworkers as adults. […]
Looking Back
Playing outdoors in the 1950s
By Mary Ellen Shaw If you grew up in the 50s you probably spent a lot of time outdoors. There were no digital devices to keep your eyes glued to a screen. In fact, many homes in our area were […]
Uncategorized
Banking and passwords
By Mary Ellen Shaw Back “in the day” if you wanted to deposit a check or get some cash, you went to the bank, saw a teller, and left with your deposit receipt and cash in your wallet. You couldn’t […]
Looking Back
Decorating memories
By Mary Ellen Shaw The elements of decorating seem to come together so easily when you watch the process on HGTV. However, that hasn’t always been the case when I have changed the décor in my own home. My inability to […]
Looking Back
Seaweed?
By Mary Ellen Shaw You never know what you will find when you begin renovations. Our house was built in 1938. My parents bought it in 1944 and it has been home to me ever since, with the exception of […]
Looking Back
“Number, please?” No longer
By Mary Ellen Shaw Having grown up with party lines and phones without a dial, I am truly amazed by the way communication has changed. Dial phones were probably as welcome to my parents’ generation as cell phones are to […]
Looking Back
The era of lunch counters
By Mary Ellen Shaw Coffee shops seem to be the trend these days. People want a spot to sit and relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and have something light to eat. Back in my youth, during the 50s and […]
Looking Back
The days of factories
By Mary Ellen Shaw If you lived in the Rutland area back in “yesteryear,” you will remember the numerous jobs that were available in area factories. ”Yesteryear” from the point of view of my own early remembrances goes back to […]