Sunday, May 31, 2009

Ypsilantian J. H. Wortley's 1913 Grocery Tab: The Final Week

And here is the end of J. H. Wortley's tab for January, 1913--paid in full.

Transcription:

The month ends with the usual purchases of bread, more oranges and lemons, and oddly, butter AND oleo (bit of a mystery, there). Surprise, surprise: canned goods existed in 1913, which DD did not know: there's a can of rather pricey peas, and "2 corn (25 cents); 3 peas (50 cents)" a few days later, which also suggest canned goods.
Finally, a bit of cash and a new broom, for 50 cents, to sweep away this tab, leaving many questions, including:

Why in the Sam Hill did this individual/family purchase 24 units of celery in January, 1913?!

1 comment :

Unknown said...

I bet they were having company and were making a celery soup. I have an older version of the Fannie Farmer cookbook, and celery soup was considered a rather chi-chi, sophisticated first course.