By Jacquie Foote When Mom got dressed in the morning,…
By Jacquie Foote When Mom got dressed in the morning, an apron went on over her dress before she walked out of the bedroom. And,…
By Jacquie Foote
When Mom got dressed in the morning, an apron went on over her dress before she walked out of the bedroom. And, she wore that apron all day unless she had to go somewhere special like a store or church. She even wore it when she ran over to the neighbors.
Now, I wonder if our kids even know what an apron is.
Sure, Mom wore that apron to protect her dress, but it was good for more than that. It served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children’s tears and could be used for cleaning out dirty ears.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. When unexpected company drove up the street, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.
My aunt Jean lived in the country and her apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks and sometimes half-hatched eggs from the chicken coop to be finished in the warming oven. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.
For spring cleaning? Of course, what respectable housewife would do spring-cleaning without her apron?
Actually, it will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that old-time apron that served so many purposes.
As for the modern history of aprons
1900-1920 Long aprons were used to cover and protect clothing.
1920 Straight-line aprons were the style.
1930 Beautiful prints with bright sashes, along with crocheted aprons, made an appearance.
1940 Printed half-aprons tied around the waist and aprons made of handkerchiefs were popular.
1950 Full-skirted plastic aprons and ones with cross-stitch designs gained popularity.
1960 Half-aprons with attached hand towels were hits, along with aprons sewn with plastic hoops or valance material.
1970 to 2012 When one sees an apron that is not part of a uniform being worn by someone, it is likely to be a barbecue apron. Grilling is a popular design or theme for modern-day aprons.
2013 …. Some say that although aprons seem to have been made obsolete by the modern washing machine, the apron is undergoing a rebirth. I must confess, I havent seen it. … after all, why go though the trouble of buying and wearing an apron when its just as easy to throw the clothes into the washer. But, what fun if it were true.
For information on the events at the Geauga County Historical Society’s Burton Century Village Museum, call 440-834-1492 or visit our website at www.geaugahistorical.org.
