Saline County Homemakers: The last 100 years

Through the years, we have many members in chapters that were multi generational - mother, daughter, granddaughter, sisters, aunts, etc. Some were members at the same time, while others may have skipped a generation.

They had learned the value of HEA and Saline County Extension Service from their mothers, and several had been 4-H members as well.

Better Homes is an Eldorado area unit. The unit had several families that were all in the same family. One was Donna Lane, whose mother, Velma Behnke, and grandmother, Eloise Owens, were all members at the same time. And later, Donna's mother-in-law joined as well.

Velma was very active in county activities as well as her unit. She served on the HEA Board and also was a 4-H volunteer and leader. She loved crafts and went with the adviser to many training sessions for the 4-H program. She brought back information and shared it with other 4-H leaders or presented the lessons at her unit meetings.

Donna has carried on the tradition. She is president of her unit and serves as an HEA Board delegate.

In the 1961-62 HEA yearbook, other mother-daughter combinations included Pearl Heck and Louise Garrett, and later Louise Garrett and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Garrett; sisters-in-law Arzella Woolard and Pauline Woolard; Lorene Wiggins and daughter, Loretta Patton, and daughter-in-law, Velma Wiggins; Wilma Garner and daughter-in law, Jessie Garner; and Lucille Melton and daughter-in-law, Donna Melton.

For many years, it was a tradition that the unit met with Eloise Owens every April because that was her birthday month.

Happy birthday to Lucyella Foster, who will be 98 on July 16. Lucyella is our second-oldest member. She has been a member since the 1940s. She was a member of the Candlelight Unit in Harrisburg until it disbanded, and has continued as a mailbox member. Lucyella was an excellent cook, so I thought I would share a recipe that she had included in the 1986-87 Homemaker's Cookbook.

Recipe of the Month

This recipe is from Lucyella's grandmother. She said it is delicious, but it is a very heavy cake and has a tendency to fall. So don't be disappointed if your cake is not perfect. Lucyella does guarantee that it is still worth the effort.

Grandma Johnson's Blackberry Cake

1 cup margarine

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 tsp. cocoa

2 cups flour

1 cup grained blackberries (fresh, frozen but thawed, or canned)

Cream margarine, sugar, then add the whole eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly. Sift together all the dry ingredients. Add those alternately with the buttermilk. Gently stir in the cup of blackberries. Pour into a 9x13 inch pan, greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Top with caramel frosting.