school requirements. The Women’s Institute usually took their ice cream machines and ingredients to the butter factory where the factory workers provided the ice and muscle power needed to make the finished product. Ice cream for the Tryon Methodist Socials was made in Fred A. Leard’s milk room, after it was thoroughly scrubbed!
Church picnics held each summer were great occasions for the community to get together and for relatives and visitors from away to meet old friends. The annual Presbyterian picnic was held for several years in Wilfred Inman’s (now Clayton Thomas’) field. The location was moved to Heath Chisholm’s orchard for several years and finally the picnic was held on the church grounds. The horse shed was scrubbed in preparation for the big event and fresh sawdust was put on the floor before the tables were set for dinner. A wonderful meal consisting of cold chicken, ham, potato salads, bread, rolls, biscuits, pies and sweets was served by the church women. An adult could eat all he wanted for fifty cents, children’s tickets were twenty—five cents, and children who attended Sunday School were given tickets. Homemade ice cream, confectionery, fruit, soft drinks, and a special treat, bananas on a stalk, were all for sale at the booths. Races were held for the children’s amusement, and the horse powered chair swing was popular. Proceeds from the picnic went to the Sunday School and the manse fund. Many families also had summer shore picnics. The family went to the beach in the truck wagon where they enjoyed games, swimming; and a supper meal from the picnic basket.
Dressed For The Occasion. 1900 North Tryon Presbyterian Church Picnic. Ethel Thom- son collection.
Radios, when they arrived in the early 19005, were a source of wonder to the younger generation. Everyone enjoyed the Amos and Andy Show and Ma Perkins. One young girl, while visiting a neighbour, was surprised to see there was not a radio in the household. Curiously she asked why they did not have a radio. The reply from the lady of the
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