Grandmothers...

 After writing four articles for the "Mama said" program, I have decided that I want to write down what little I know about my grandmothers, both of whom died before I was born.  

My father's mother came to his grandparents' home as a housekeeper and worked in that capacity for several years.  It was not unusual for teenage girls to 'go into service' in those days to help support their families.  She worked in their house for several years.  I'm not sure how it came about that she and my grandfather were married, propinquity perhaps, but I do know that she was older than he was.  When we were children my cousin and I used to take turns dressing up in the long black skirt that was part of her wedding dress.  A very practical dress that she probably wore on Sundays for years.  My father was born in 1916 and had two older sisters so I'm guessing that my paternal grandparents were married about 1910.

I'm fortunate to have a copy of their wedding picture.

My mother's mother grew up in the Laurel Mountains area of Pennsylvania.  She was a small town girl with bold dreams.  My grandfather came into her life as a young newly ordained pastor. He had worked for some years as a coal miner to earn enough money to attend seminary.  When my mother once asked her mother why she married my grandfather the answer was "I wanted to see what was on the other side of the mountain."  My mother was born in 1910 and had two older siblings so I'm guessing that her parents were married about 1905.  I was told that, in later years, this grandmother was revered as an excellent Sunday School teacher.

Again, I'm fortunate enough to have a copy of their wedding picture.

Interestingly, both of my grandmothers were 5 feet 10 inches tall (tall for a woman of that era) and each of them was six years older than her husband.  Sadly, both of my grandmothers died in their 50s, before I was born. I would have liked to have known them.