Refreshing Recipes for Hot Summer Days: Mccall's Magazine July 1919

The hot summer days of July and August often lead one feeling the need for a refreshing meal or snack. Today this often means leaning towards a lighter fare such as a fresh salad or perhaps fruit when sitting down to dinner. Sometimes on these hot summer days, all one needs is a cool refreshing jello mold to feel content. The sweet light taste of cherry, lemon, and lime jello has long been a favorite summertime snack or dessert among many. However, can you imagine sitting down to a dinner of meatloaf encased in a lime jell?

To the modern viewer, this combination of lime Jiffy-Jell appears anything but pleasant. Despite this, in the July 1919 edition of Mccall’s Magazine, recipes such as the one aforementioned appear extremely popular. The recipe for Lime Jiffy-Jell Meat Loaf in Mccall’s July 1919 edition describes meats in aspic as a delightful way to serve cold meats in the summer. Aspic is a Jello-like substance set with meat stock in a mold and often encases pieces of meat. The recipe states that before your lime Jiffy-Jell sets, one should mix in scraps of meat. According to the 1919 recipe, the dish, when completed yields a lovely meatloaf in need of no further garnishment.

Snippets from the Past

The Following excerpt is from a small collection of postcards dated 1948. These postcards were sent between two women who we believe were apart of the Amish community during the 1940s and into the 50s. Mrs. Joe J. Miller a.k.a Katie Ann of Ragersville, Ohio wrote a series of brief letters to Mrs. Jacob M. Miller a.k.a Emma of Sugarcreek, Ohio in 1948.

Although we cannot be certain, we believe that these two women were apart of the Amish community due to a few factors. The first factor is Katie Ann mentions that the shaft broke and the harness tore when their horse fell. This indicates that they were traveling by wagon or horse and buggy. Keep in mind, the year this postcard was written is 1948 and the consumption and production of automobiles were at a high. Therefore it is likely that the average American family owned at least one automobile for transportation. Another important indicator is the nature of these postcards. The information that is given in this postcard, as well as others, is extremely condensed. There is little elaboration or detail provided and the letters resemble what one may include in a quick phone call. Carefully noting that the year these postcards were sent was 1948 reveals an important detail, most American families had telephones in their homes at this time. The absence of an automobile, as well as the perceived absence of a telephone, strongly indicate these women were apart of the Amish community during the time these postcards were written.

Without further due, please enjoy this snippet from Sugarcreek’s past written March 11, 1948.

Hello Emma,

Thursday, a few lines in a hurry, [I] am making breakfast. Say, I was down home yesterday and Owen [&] Mary said to them we and you shall come down there Sunday. Just thought I’d let you know that we’ll go and you shall come too, so she doesn’t bother for just us. [We] sold our hogs yesterday. They averaged 374 lbs each. [We] had bad luck on the way down home, Tony fell down and broke the shaft and tore the harness. I was lucky it wasn’t up or down a hill, it was at Lester Troyers. I was lucky to get the children off without anybody getting hurt. [I] will tell the rest on Sunday, be sure to come too.

- Katie Ann

PS: I have a little arthritus again in my arm and leg. We and you are to come to Owens

A Snapshot of World War II in Sugarcreek, Ohio

The year 1941 brought many eventful changes to the United States and other countries around the world. In December of 1941, the United States was attacked by the Japanese in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This tragic event propelled the United States forward and into the second world war. The effects of World War II in small towns such as Sugarcreek, Ohio may appear obscure, however, the consequences of such a large scale conflict were felt at all levels of society. A snapshot of World War II’s influence on daily life in small-town America is demonstrated by the effect it had on Godfrey Lengacher’s wholesale cheese business.

Despite the looming threat turned reality of war, in the little town of Sugarcreek, Godfrey Lengacher copyrighted his method of vacuum packing freshly made swiss cheese into cans. Mr. Lengacher’s journey with swiss cheese manufacturing began in 1938 when he purchased a former Bakery building on Maple Street in the little town of Sugarcreek.

The canned swiss cheese had a valve in the top that permitted natural gases produced by the cheese to escape and simultaneously kept air from entering the can. This method of storage kept the swiss cheese in pristine condition for an indefinite amount of time. Roughly 7,000 pounds of swiss cheese per month was cut into two and four-pound blocks. These blocks were then sliced and packaged using the method developed and patented by Godfrey Lengacher. Most of the swiss cheese produced by Godfrey Lengacher was sold to grocery suppliers at a wholesale price. Thus the commercialization and large scale retail of swiss cheese commenced for Mr. Lengacher in the Little town of Sugarcreek.

As was aforementioned, Mr. Lengacher patented his method of packaging swiss cheese in 1941, however, the looming threat of the second world war became an unfortunate reality for the United States as well as the people of Sugarcreek. When the United States officially entered World War II on December 8, 1941, young men from all over the country joined the armed forces to serve and protect their homes. Community members from Sugarcreek and the surrounding areas sent many of their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons to protect and defend the nation. However, the effects of World War II were not only present in the absence of immediate family members and friends, but also presented themselves economically. As a result of the second world war, Godfrey Lengacher’s wholesale cheese business ceased during the coarse of conflict starting in 1941, shortly after receiving his patent for packaging swiss cheese in a can. Despite the stifling halt on the retail of wholesale swiss cheese in 1941, Godfrey Lengacher commenced with his production and sale of canned swiss cheese at the end of World War II around 1945.

There is your snapshot of one of the many effects of World War II on the little town of Sugarcreek.

English or German?

Imagine traveling back in time, you walk into a Christian church service on a bright Sunday morning. Wearing your “Sunday best”, you walk in through a set of large double oak doors with the rest of your family. Your polished leather shoes click along the creaking wood floors as you walk up the center aisle and sit down in the large oak pews among your friends and neighbors. Idle chatter and small talk swirl around the room while everyone waits for the church service to begin. Suddenly, the choir floods into the sanctuary with their songbooks and hymnals in hand to raise a mighty song to the Lord. As they raise their voices in song and praise, your friends and neighbors join the choir. From the great ensemble of friends and neighbors, a gleeful sound of joyful praise dances around the church sanctuary for all to hear. But wait! You can’t quite understand the words being sung and then you notice the books under the pew in front of you have a strange looking font, from what you are used to. You continue to observe the service from your pew and after some time a mature bearded man, wearing a stiff black suit somberly walks to the front of the sanctuary with a black book in hand. You notice that the book he carries with him also has a foreign title like some of the books sitting in front of you. As the gentleman reaches the pulpit, he opens the black book and begins reading aloud from the text, however, what you hear does not register. The language this man is preaching in is certainly not English, so what is it?

If you walked into a church service in the Sugarcreek, Ohio area over 100 years ago, the scenario above may be what you would experience. Surprisingly, in the early 1900s Churches in and around the Sugarcreek area held all or some of their services in German. It is well known that the areas in and around Sugarcreek, Ohio were settled largely by Swiss and German immigrants. In addition to this and perhaps unsurprisingly, many families spoke both German and English. There are many pamphlets, schedules, and booklets from churches in the Sugarcreek area dating from the late 1800s to the early 1900s that are written in German. A schedule of the church services from The First Reformed Church in Shanesville, Ohio (present-day Sugarcreek) dating to the year 1908, indicates the largely bilingual culture of the area. Located near the top of the page, the church states prominently that all evening services are in English and it appears that the morning services switched between English and German.

Presently, this immersive bilingual culture may seem foreign to some; however, it was not long ago that speaking both English and German was widely practiced.

The Prohibition

It is 2020! Many of you are acutely aware of this seemingly trivial fact. What is perhaps not completely obvious is that the year 2020 marks the 100 Year Anniversary of the Prohibition in the United States. This movement sought to prohibit the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States. The call for prohibition began primarily as a religious movement in the early 19th century. Although it was not initially popular among all States in America, the state of Maine passed the first prohibition law in 1846; perhaps a byproduct of Puritanism and New England’s early days.  Years after Maine passed its prohibition laws, in 1869 the Prohibition Party was established. However, it was not until the year 1920 that a Nationwide Prohibition law was enacted! The laws in the United States changed majorly during the years of prohibition, circa 1920-1933, however, this does not mean that the production and sale of alcohol ceased to exist. The Effects of Prohibition created a vast illegal market for the production, trafficking, and sale of alcohol, much to the dismay of the movement’s supporters. 

 Many have heard of or seen, the classic films, plays, and books set during the Prohibition Era and a majority of these only touches on life in and around large cities or towns. However, history did not only occur in major cities. So, what kinds of events occurred in small towns across America during the Prohibition? As was aforementioned, the Prohibition lawfully eliminated the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcohol; however, these regulations only created a considerable illegal market for alcoholic beverages. Small agrarian communities, although seemingly insignificant to such a major topic, had persons who were involved in these underground alcohol markets. Places such as Sugarcreek, OH; Baltic, OH; Ragersville, OH; and Dundee, OH were not left unaffected by the Prohibition’s underground market demand.

On January 9, 1923, the Sugarcreek Independent published a small, but interesting story about an incident that occurred near Baltic, OH during the Prohibition. The article states

Henry Goeded, Baltic farmer, on whose property Sheriff Geo Stuckey found an 80-gallon capacity still last week, pleaded guilty before Judge W.V. Wright in common pleas court Monday afternoon and was fined $500 and costs of which $200 was remitted. 

Those who broke Prohibition laws during the twenties and early thirties could expect a similar punishment to the case mentioned above. 7 U.S. Code § 96. Punishment for violation of the prohibition states, “Any person willfully violating any provision of section 95 of this title shall, on conviction, be punished for each offense by a fine not exceeding $5,000 or by imprisonment for not exceeding one year, or both.”

Although prison time was a possibility for those who violated the Prohibition, it was likely more common for smaller violators to be required to pay a fine, such as the local farmer did in the case mentioned previously.

 Small agrarian communities, although seemingly insignificant to such a major topic, had persons who were involved in these underground alcohol markets. Places such as Sugarcreek, OH; Baltic, OH; Ragersville, OH; and Dundee, OH were not left unaffected by the Prohibition’s illegal underground sales. However, the Prohibition did not last for long in the United States and due to various factors, the Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

“The increase of the illegal production and sale of liquor (known as “bootlegging”), the proliferation of speakeasies (illegal drinking spots) and the accompanying rise in gang violence and other crimes led to waning support for Prohibition by the end of the 1920s. In early 1933, Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution that would repeal the 18th. The 21st Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, ending Prohibition.”

Dr. Noah Webster Yoder

The history of Sugarcreek is entwined with that of Shanesville. Shanesville was founded in 1814 by Abraham Shane at the intersection of two Indian trails (present-day State Rt. 39 and 93). Sugarcreek emerged from the town of Shanesville around the mid to late nineteenth century. A great deal of Sugarcreek’s background and history is rooted in Shanesville’s history. The following account is the remarkable story of a former Shanesville resident, who lead a fascinating and inspiring life. 

The history of small towns is often filled with unexpected and interesting characters. American legends, with their big names and epic stories, span decades in the American mind. Perhaps some of the most interesting stories are those that inspire; the stories where an unlikely candidate rises above expectation to live an extraordinary life. 

Dr. Noah Webster Yoder’s story is particularly captivating. This man taught school, studied medicine and practiced the latter with great expertise. Noah’s story begins in Berlin, Ohio on October 10, 1837, when he was born to parents Yost and Nancy Yoder. Noah’s modest beginning is seemingly the set for a relatively normal life; however, Noah went on to excel in his education. During the summer months, Noah attended school in Shanesville, Ohio, while during the winter he educated young students in the East Holmes area. Noah’s voracious appetite for learning reared its head during his time as both a student and a teacher.

 In the years following, Noah Webster Yoder began medical training under the supervision of Dr. Joel Pomerene, one of the pioneering Doctors in the area. After studying medicine alongside Dr. Joel Pomerene, Noah began practicing the trade in Berlin by his early twenties. 

However, an intrinsic force like no other propelled itself into the lives of many in the area, including the life of Dr. Noah Webster Yoder. The American Civil war was a chasmic force that altered the lives of many as well as the future of the United States. Around 1861, Dr. Noah Webster Yoder joined the army as Lieut, of Co. G 51 Ohio Vol. Inf. Yoder served in the army until he was wounded in the Stones River battle, fought in middle Tennesse from December 31. 1862 to January 2, 1863. Stones River is on record for the highest percentage of casualties on both the Union and Confederate sides. During the battle, Noah was shot an astonishing eight times, but due to his medical training, Noah was able to stop the bleeding, which ultimately saved his life. The effects of this Stone River followed Noah for the remainder of his life. Notably, the injuries Yoder received at Stone River included severe nerve damage. Following the battle one of the wounds located on Noah’s legs became infected, likely with gangrene, and as a result, the infected leg was amputated leaving Yoder with a wooden prosthetic in its place. 

In the following years, Dr. Noah Webster Yoder returned to his medical practice in Berlin. Thereafter, a medical practice became available in Shanesville, Ohio and upon learning this, Yoder purchased the practice and relocated. Noah’s medical practice served many in Shanesville as well as the surrounding areas. A common practice in the nineteenth century, house calls were a regular part of Yoder’s medical career. It is unlikely that Dr. Yoder knew that a particular house call on March 9, 1877, would end tragically for him. On that day, Noah made his way to a nearby town, Barsmills, to help an ailing patient. While traveling there, Dr. Yoder’s carriage upset over a flooded bridge. Yoder was thrown from the carriage into the water and due to the injuries sustained during Stones River, he was easily swept up in the flood currents. No one will ever know the ensuing thoughts that flushed Noah’s mind as he was carried away by floodwaters to his ultimate demise. One can only imagine that his last thoughts were full of terror and fright. Dr. Noah Webster Yoder died at age 39 on March 9, 1877, and although his life was short, it was nonetheless remarkable.     

The Domestic Life: Housewives of the Nineteenth Century

Imagine what life was like for women in the nineteenth century. Everyday tasks and chores such as cooking dinner or cleaning up multiply in complexity when compared to the standard of modern-day-living. From dawn until dusk, the time and energy it took to run a house in the nineteenth century is truly fascinating.

Housework in the nineteenth century was relatively complex and labor-intensive. Preparing even a simple meal was often time-consuming and physically draining. Although some upper-middle-class women were able to employ the services of a maid or a cook for these tedious chores, a large percentage of women did not. This meant that a relatively large number of women were doing every household chore herself or sometimes with the help of her daughters.

Prior to the invention of the electric and gas stoves, meals were prepared on either a wood-burning or coal stove. Unlike their modern counterparts, stoves in the late nineteenth century had to be monitored the entire time they were being used. The temperature of these stoves often fluctuated and therefore housewives needed to continually stoke the fire to maintain a relatively even heat source for cooking and baking. At least twice a day, the ash box was emptied, a task that required a woman to gather ashes and cinders in a grate and then dump them into a pan below. On average, a housewife spent four hours or more every day sifting ashes, adjusting dampers, lighting fires, carrying coal or wood, and rubbing the stove with thick black wax to keep it from rusting. In comparison, many modern ovens have a self-clean option that can be used on occasion. Furthermore, most modern stoves only require flipping a nob to the desired temperature.

In addition to maintenance on the stove, a housewife in the nineteenth century cooked all meals with unprocessed foods. In a modern society where the words raw and unprocessed are associated with certain health trends, redefining the nineteenth-century context is vital. The definition of unprocessed in the nineteenth-century often referred to food that was not modified before being purchased. Unprocessed foods in the nineteenth century included things such as preparing poultry that was still alive, descaling a fish before one could cook it, pounding sugar or roasting and grinding green coffee.

Cleaning was another chore that was particularly daunting in the nineteenth century. Often soot from the everpresent fireplaces and stove blackened walls and left residue on drapes and carpets. As a result, the walls, floors, carpets, and drapes were frequently washed to prevent a buildup of soot. However, simply washing these things was also time-consuming and relatively labor-intensive. Today murphy’s oil soap and a bucket of warm water, conveniently obtained from a sink inside the house, go a long way. Consequently, any cleaning in the nineteenth century that required water was particularly labor-intensive before the invention of plumbing. All the water used for laundry, cleaning, and dishwashing was hauled from a nearby hydrant, well, pump, or stream.

Laundry was perhaps the most demanding task required of a nineteenth-century housewife. Clothing was soaked for hours in warm water and then was scrubbed with lye soap. Thereafter, the housewife proceeded to churn the clothing in boiling water with a wooden stick. After this, the clothing would be rinsed and hung out to dry. The final task in the laundry sequence was pressing the clothing with hot, heavy irons to rid the garments of wrinkles. It is highly probable that a nineteenth-century housewife took an entire day or more to complete the task of laundering clothes.

Although the world of the nineteenth-century housewife appears distant from the modern conveniences of the present day, one can still experience this fascinating world. The Alpine Hills Museum has an 1890s Amish Kitchen exhibit where history seems to come alive. This kitchen reflects many of the aspects of nineteenth-century domestic life including cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Artifacts from the time period are displayed with thoughtfulness and is reflective of the experiences of many housewives from the time period.

Swiss Heritage

Portions of Tuscarawas and Holmes county are renowned for the charming and timeless Amish and Mennonite cultures. The area, including places like Sugarcreek, Farmerstown, Walnut Creek, Mt. Hope, Kidron, Charm, and Berlin is often fondly referred to as “Amish Country”. These areas boast a large number of quaint shops with handmade Amish goods. Consequently, a founding group that is often omitted from the mainstream historical record of the area is the Swiss. Many of the Amish and Mennonite settlers came from regions of central Europe such as Switzerland and Germany; however, a great number of founding settlers who were not of the Anabaptist faith made their way to areas of Tuscarawas and Holmes County as well.

Around the 1830s and 1840s settlers originating from the Canton of Bern, Switzerland arrived in the area. Many of these early settlers were not Amish or Mennonite but rather adhered to Reformed Christianity.

“On a spectrum, Reformed Christianity lies between Lutherans and Anabaptists, closer to Anabaptists in many ways than to Luther.”

- The Reformation: Towards a New History, Lee Palmer Wandel

Although fundamentally Anabaptists and Reformed Christians are similar, there are crucial differences in their practices as well as in their lifestyles. In the 19th century these two cultural groups, the Swiss Reformed Christians and the Anabaptists, sought to commence a new business endeavor together.

Many of the Swiss Reformed Christians that came to the area were experienced cheese-makers and a large number of Anabaptists were involved in Agriculture. Together these two cultural groups allied themselves and began making cheese. Milk from the local farmers, many of whom were Anabaptists, was purchased by Swiss immigrants who transformed it into the finest quality swiss cheese. Most accounts indicate the first cheesemaker in the area was Jacob Steiner, an immigrant from Switzerland who made cheese near Ragersville (in Tuscarawas County) around 1833.

Swiss Culture and cheese-making have continued to flourish in areas of Tuscarawas and Holmes County. The legacy of Swiss immigrants can be seen in many of the cheese factories in existence today as well as in the unique Swiss-style architecture of Sugarcreek, Ohio.