Rush County Historical Society

10/16/2026

She pressed c***r alone every October, long after the rest of the family stopped coming. The kids had grown and moved away, but she still set out every jug just in case. 🍎

C***r day used to mean a crowd, uncles on the crank, cousins hauling baskets, a line of cups held out for the first pour. As the years passed, the crowd thinned until it was only her, the press, and the sound of c***r hitting the bucket. She never complained. She just kept the habit like a porch light left on.

One year, a pickup rolled up the lane with three grown grandchildren who had driven six hours without calling ahead. 🍂

Who kept a family tradition alive long after everyone else stopped showing up, and did you ever come back to join them?

***rDay

10/15/2026

Lingerie ad from 1920s catalog 💕
I love the illustrations on this one. I wish the artists who created these received more credit.

10/15/2026

Wallpaper may be making a comeback.

🪜 Wallpapering became easier when sisters and neighbors showed up.

The room smelled of paste and damp paper while long strips waited on a protected worktable. One woman measured, another matched the pattern, and the bravest climbed the ladder in sensible shoes to smooth the top edge.

Nobody pretended the job was graceful. Sleeves were rolled, hair was tied back, and someone always discovered too late that the flowers had shifted half an inch at the seam.

Working together made the frustration bearable. Advice crossed the room freely, as did teasing about crooked corners, stubborn bubbles, and the husband who had promised the job would be simple.

For many women, household projects were another form of shared knowledge. A sister knew how long the paste should rest; a neighbor knew how to trim around a doorway without tearing the paper.

By evening, the room looked transformed and every participant could point to the wall she had helped conquer. The tiny imperfections became part of the story.

Who helped with wallpapering or painting projects in your family, and did the work end in pride or an argument?

10/15/2026

Before central heat or electric blankets, staying warm on a freezing night could mean piling on four or five heavy handmade quilts until you could barely turn over.

Those quilts weren't just for warmth, either. Somebody in the family probably pieced them together from old clothes, worn-out shirts, and leftover scraps.

Who remembers sleeping under a mountain of heavy quilts?

Tell us what winter nights were like at your house. ❤️

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

💌 Christmas cards once turned ordinary rooms into galleries of friendship.

They arrived one by one through December—snowy villages, church bells, bright poinsettias, cheerful Santas, and handwritten wishes from people who lived near and far. Each envelope made the day feel more festive.

Families displayed the cards across mantels, tucked them around mirrors, fastened them to ribbons, or stood them along a shelf. The growing collection quietly showed how many lives touched the household.

Before quick messages and social media, choosing, addressing, stamping, and mailing Christmas cards was a yearly ritual. A few handwritten lines could carry family news across the country and keep old relationships alive.

Even after the decorations came down, some cards were saved in boxes because the handwriting belonged to someone precious and could not be thrown away.

How did your family display Christmas cards, and do you still save any of them?

10/15/2026

🪡 The last stitches often happened long after bedtime.

A child’s garment lay squarely across the worktable while the rest of the house slept beyond the lamplight. The sewing machine had gone quiet, but a needle still moved through one stubborn cuff.

The day had been too crowded for this work. There were meals to clear, baths to supervise, and school papers to sign before the fabric could finally be unfolded without interruption.

Mother checked the seam with tired fingers and held it toward the lamp. The dress or shirt needed to be ready by morning, and “almost finished” was not something a child could wear out the door.

Home sewing could be economical and creative, but it also demanded hours that came from somewhere. Many women found those hours after everyone else had claimed the day.

In the morning, a child would discover the garment pressed and waiting, perhaps never realizing that love had been awake long past midnight to finish it.

Who sewed for your family, and do you remember waiting for something special to be finished?

10/15/2026

Some of our favorite guests come on 4 legs! Here are a trio of gorgeous canines who patiently posed in front of the historic Dobbin House. They are part of the McAlister family. Their mom operates Bridget's Bow-wow Grooming in Newville, PA.
Gettysburg and the Dobbin House are ideal areas to bring your doggos. On fall weekends, the cooler weather is ideal for man and pets, and the Dobbin House outdoor Courtyard and Bar is lovely for enjoying lunch/dinner with a drink as your best friends munch on doggie treats (and occasional bites of Dobbin House food). Our furry, friendly guests love all the admiration they receive from our dog-loving staff and the other guests.
There are several Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts that accept dogs, and the 6,000-acre National Battlefield Park provides plenty of space for dog walking. Bone appetite!