Hi Frank; For sure our ancestors looked forward to receiving these barrels of clothing as it was hard hard times back then here in Newfoundland. Although I can never recall our little town on the Great Northern Peninsula ever receiving any barrels of clothing, maybe due to the long distance by boat, but I sure can remember the flyer from a Company/organization called "Economic", not sure if it came from the US or Canada. My Mom would order a beautiful coat, dress etc. but when it arrived the items were so old fashioned for us younger children, everything was substituted and she did have to pay for it so it must have been a type of thrift store. Most of the time it would fit other children that were a little less fortunate than we were and the clothes were very cheap, but disappointing when none of it would fit the children, e.g. an old lady's raglan with a belt that tied into a big knot certainly didn't suit a child of 10-12 years of age and the stinch of moth balls <big grin> phew!!! but we did wear Seal skin coats and mittens made by our Mom and moose hyde slippers with rabbit fur sewed around the tops, as my Dad was an avid hunter and nothing was wasted, even the brains of the moose was cooked and prepared for head cheese <yuk> liked it back then though.!! Cheers Evelyn ----- Original Message ----- From: <MrBabbbs@aol.com> To: <NFLD-LAB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 1:15 PM Subject: [NFLD-LAB] Barrels (off topic) > I am wondering if there are any people out there, who remember back into the > forties or before, when Newfoundlanders living in the states, sent barrels > filled with clothes, to their families down "home".It was a ritual in Lynn, > Mass, when I was growing up, that my Aunts and Uncles, Cousins etc would save all > their used clothes throughout the year and send it all down "home" in a > barrel. They would sew the clothes up, make sure it was clean and sometimes > intermingle non-perishable food into these barrels. I think it was my Father who > supplied the two or three barrels that would be shipped full to Nfld. He bought > them from the G.E. in Lynn where he worked and they cost him about a quarter > each. Sometime in early November, my folks and others, would gather at one of > the homes in Lynn and pack the barrel for shipping. Whoever was "hosting" this > event would feed the crew while the women ironed and folded the clothes and > packed it neatly.The men would seal up the barrels, put them in a small truck, > and take them to the railroad station to ship. This shipment was distributed to > all those in need, whether they were family or not. It's funny, after all > these years in between, around the first of November, I remember not only the > good time the family had packing the barrels but the thank you notes that came > from all those who benefited from these barrels.Usually those barrels arrived > at their destination a few days before Christmas so it was a real treat to > many. Didn't mean to be so long winded with this, but I am hoping some of you out > there remember anything about the "barrels" and if so please write me. I'm > saving this kind of thing to pass on to my kids etc. You can write me directly or > via the list, whatever. > Frank Strugnell, Derry, N.H. USA. > > > ==== NFLD-LAB Mailing List ==== > Roll Call Page for Nfld-Lab Mail List > http://amoose4.tripod.com/ > > >