Bits From the Past & Treasures

I know we all keep things and we all probably have certain items we collect.  I love OLD things - especially items from my family and anything that seems historical.
I have no idea what I will do with them someday - as none of the youngers in the family seem too interested.  I think they figure most of it is junk.
I know that info on family tree and maybe many other articles might go to a library, so that someone else can enjoy them.

I was cleaning books shelves and came across some items I would like to share,  I hope you enjoy the historical nature of them.

This belonged to my grandma - if you click on picture to enlarge - you will see the copyright date is 1898.  I am going to sit down and read it soon, it does appear to be a novel, but it does sound like something a young wife would be gifted.

The Poetical Works by John Greenleaf Whittier was gifted to my grandpa  in 1881 for attending 45 straight sessions of Sunday school.  It doesn't sound like something you would give a child, but he got it none the less.  He was 12 in 1881.

This is very hard to read - but it is a store ledger from 1867.  My great grandparents owned a store in Covington, KY.  Great grandma had her own "Confectionary" store as well.  I don't understand why grandpa didn't get in on any of this!!!!!!
The writing is difficult at best to read - it is so elegant looking.  It is amazing the prices of things.

Most every dated entry had tobacco listed  - from .10 to .50 depending on amount
2 lb. butter - .50
32 lb. peaches - 3.20
Thread - .10
10# nails - 2.00
1 - bridle - 3.25
Shoes - 2.50
Wool hat 1.50
3 lb. coffee - 1.11
2 3/4 lb. feathers - 1.65
10 lb. sugar - 1.80
2 1/2 yards ribbon - .38
15 yards cotton - 3.11
Castor oil - .20
6 1/2 doz. eggs - 1.30

This gives you some idea of prices.  WOW!  I did think that the price for shoes and the woolen hat were kind of pricey for back them.
Another thing I noticed was that by a few entries of name was the comment "of color",  Blacks were free at that point - but it is still an issue obviously.
Also there was only a handful of names that were women's names.  Women were still not considered heads of house or thought to have their own money.  YET - grandma owed her own store!

These are NOT 'treasures' so much - but have been passed down through the years in the family.  The black one is dated 1901 and the brown one was 1916.  Guess they were trying to be efficient even back then in the workplace.  That is one thing I NEVER learned (thankfully).

These are food ration books from 1942.  How cool.  Three are from 1942 - Mom, Dad, and an Uncle who was staying with them.  Fourth book has no date.  There are even a very few stamps left!
It is amazing to think everyone had these for all the necessities in life.

This is a receipt for the rent Mom & Dad paid on the house they were buying on contract.  1949 - 16.00 per month!  This is the house I grew up in.  I think the entire purchase price was $4,800.  That is some crazy stuff.

I absolutely love seeing things from the past and love learning about what my ancestors went through.  Life was so different then.

It is amazing to me that these items were kept and for many of them  - that the pieces of paper were never tossed away.
I have more goodies that I will post at some future date.  It is just fun to take a walk back in time and see what was going on.

Do you have any old treasures?  Did your family keep things from the past?
I hope you enjoyed this little journey back in time.

click on pictures to enlarge