When New is Old - Shopping Saturday

In recent years I've heard Kroger's advertising incentive, "Let's Go Krogering."  I thought it was new.  Not so.  When searching the August 14, 1958, edition of The Youngstown Vindicator online I noticed a Kroger ad.  And there, in the middle of the page, was the suggestion, "Let's Go Krogering."  Who knew!

The ad suggests to me that the 1950's were the days before prepared foods had become so popular.  Days when people usually used real, unadulterated food and made meals from scratch.  Oh, yum!

If only we could return to 1958 prices (without returning to 1958 incomes). 

White potatoes    25 lb. bag  79¢
Peaches    4 lbs.  49¢
Blueberries    pt. box  29¢

Ground Beef   lb. 49¢
Tenderay Round Steak   lb. 89¢
Tenderay Sirloin Steak   lb 89¢
Tenderay Porterhouse Steak   lb. 99¢
Tenderay Chuck Steaks   lb. 69¢

Campbell's Soup, your choice   6 for 99¢
   Cream of Mushroom
   Cream of Chicken
   Chicken w ith Rice
   Chicken Noodle
   Turkey Noodle
   Tomato
Vegetarian Soup   8 for 98¢

I guess there were some prepared foods available.  (In our family we most always cooked from scratch except for an occasional box cake.)
   Banquet Frozen Dinners   2 for $1
   Ballard or Pillsbury Biscuits  pkg. 10¢
   Macaroni and Cheese  6 for 88¢
   Peach Pie   49¢
   Grape Juice  5 for 88¢
   Spaghetti   4 for 89¢

More "real food."
Swiss Cheese   lb. 49¢
Sharp Cheese  lb. 59¢
Fresh Eggs, Grade A Small  doz. 41¢
Fresh Eggs, Grade A Medium  doz. 53¢




I don't remember a Kroger in the Niles/Youngstown area when I was growing up.  In fact, I don't remember when I first encountered a Kroger store.  These days they are prevalent primarily in Ohio and neighboring states.

This post was prompted by a pattern my grandmother cut from a newspaper which my aunt gave me.  There are some ads for cleaning supplies but since the date was cut away with the cutting of the pattern, I decided not to scan and post it.  The ad also has coupons for Top Value Stamps with the purchase of various items.  Businesses don't give stamps these days but so many stores have scannable customer cards which, if a customer registers and uses the cards, may offer them points for later use or discounts at the register.  Of course, it's a way for the store to track the spending habits of people who use the cards:  more invasive than those old paper stamps we licked and pasted into books to turn in.

I often stop by Kroger to pick up a few items these days but it's not my primary store for groceries.  What about you?  Do you go Krogering?

--Nancy.

Copyright © 2015 Nancy Messier. All Rights Reserved.

For Sale— Shopping Saturday

FOR SALE—Kitchen cabinet, $5;  porcelain sink, $2  Inquire Mrs. Robert Meinzen, Mineral Ridge.          11-1t
I'm not in the market for a new (or used) kitchen cabinet or porcelain sink at the moment but I perked up when I saw this advertisement in a local newspaper -- published nearly 74 years ago.  Maybe I've changed my mind.  I'd like to see the cabinet and I'm sure I would love the porcelain sink.  I think they are the best.
 
This advertisement was published in The Niles Standard on Friday, December 19, 1941.  I find it interesting that neither phone number nor address were included in the ad. 

Mrs. Robert Meinzen is my grandmother, Emma (Bickerstaff) Meinzen.  In 1941 she and my grandfather owned a triplex on Furnace Street.  They lived in one section and rented the other two.  Of their four daughters, two were married.  The ages of the two youngest still at home were 20 and nearly 14 (with a birthday on December 27).

A few other facts:

• Just 12 days before the publication of this ad, the U.S. had been drawn into World War II when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
• According to The Inflation Calculator in 1941, $5.00 was equal to about $80.00 and $2.00 was equal to about $32.00.  Some food prices from the same newspaper included turkeys at 37¢/pound; chicken for 35¢/pound; chuck roast at 23-29¢/pound; "hamburg" at 19¢/pound; cheese at 39¢/pound; medium eggs at 39¢/dozen; pecans at 19¢/pound; and oranges at 35¢/dozen.
• Emma's father, Edward Jesse, had been, and her brother, William H., was a carpenters and building contractor.  Her father was 70, her brother was 49.

And now, my questions. 

• Had Gramma purchased a new cabinet and sink and was she selling the used ones?
• Had her brother and/or father built and installed new cabinets?
• Had these items come from her own home or from one of the rental apartments?
• Was she selling them to have money for Christmas purchases? 

I doubt I'll learn answers to any of my questions but it is always fun to wonder and imagine -- especially when I'm imagining using my grandmother's cupboard and porcelain sink in my own home. 

--Nancy.

Copyright © 2015 Nancy Messier. All Rights Reserved.

Glasses on Shopping Saturday

When I look at these faces...

... is it any wonder that I'm attracted to these ads in old newspapers? 

Do you think maybe I spend too much time with my ancestors?

--Nancy.
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Shopping Saturday 1929

I love looking at the ads in old newspapers.  These are from the
January 6, 1929 issue of The Pittsburgh Press.  Do you happen
to need a new dress?  How about a permanent wave?  Or teeth,
or glasses?  The prices are great!

Happy Shopping!

--Nancy.
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Receipts - Shopping Saturday

Do you remember receiving hand-written receipts, usually given for rent or services purchased?  The blank receipts were often bound in a booklet, stapled on the left.  As the money was given, the recipient of the money wrote a receipt, filling in blanks for the name of the payer, date, amount, purpose of the payment, etc.

As I was searching Butler County, Pennsylvania, probate records at FamilySearch, I began to notice the beauty of some of the old receipts in the files.  Screenshots were easy enough to make so I could share them with you. (Unfortunately, none of these receipts were for purchases by or in behalf of any of my ancestors.)

I hope you enjoyed these beautiful illustrations. 

--Nancy.
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Go-Carts for Baby - Shopping Saturday

As I search newspapers for ancestors I sometimes find articles and ads that surprise or amuse me.  This was a surprise.  Who knew baby carriages were once called go-carts?!

This ad was on page 17 of the June 26, 1910 edition of The Pittsburgh Press.  Original prices for the go-carts ranged from $2.75 to $30.00, on sale for 50% off.  A great savings.  "Happy Baby!  Happy Mother!  Happy Pocketbook!"

Part of the ad you can't see says, "All this season's makes and styles!  One-motion Folders, Reed Go-Carts, Hood Go-Carts, Canopy Top Go-Carts, Auto Go-Carts, Storm-Front Go-Carts, English Cabs!  You'll find one of our immense floors packed with them!"

This ad brought home to me the difficulty of transporting an infant and toddler in times before automobiles made it easier.

Pickering's also sold furniture, refrigerators, curtains, China matting, rugs, framed pictures, Chinaware, kitchen utensils & cutlery, vases, and Bric-a-Brac, among other things.

Wouldn't you like to step back in time and visit the store?  I would!

--Nancy.
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