Mama Atwood's World's Fair Cake

I found my grandmother's cook book yesterday.  This recipe was written inside the back page.

Mama Atwood made this light brown cake with a boiled white sugar frosting on special occasions.
Everybody in the Atwood family raved about it.  I don't think she ever wrote this recipe the same way twice.  She was such an experienced cook, she never put assembly instructions down.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs


Frosting

2 tablespoons chocolate or cocoa
2 tablespoons hot water (melt over double boiler)

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup milk
butter the size of a walnut

boil about six minutes. Needs to come to soft ball stage.

This always was garnished an sometimes filled with pecan halves.  They were usually arranged on the top of the cake.

There is a page on the web about a hundred-pound cake made for the 1939 World's Fair here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shookphotos/4251872771/  It seems to be a fruitcake made in California by the baker's association.
That is the only reference to a cake named World's Fair Cake that I could find online.

Mama reviews a serial from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

August 23rd, 1928

Mama Atwood only had a third grade education.  She made lots of spelling and grammar mistakes in her letters but it was her own way, and I feel like she should have this voice that is in her letter.  So, here is the original transcript of her letter:

Believe me I have sure been lonesome this week.  But I have kept pretty bussy  and when I was not so bussy I read something to keep from thinking.  There is a Serial by Warwick Deepening in the Star Telegram now.  Title The Three Generations.  So far I like it better than I did Sorrell and Son.  

It seems as though it will be something like Sorrell and Son only the bond of deep Love and respect will be between the Grandfather and Grandson, as much of it as I have read is worth reading.  Get it from the Liberry and read it, as I think you will like it.There is not even tolerance between the Grandfather and Son an Uncle abhorance but tolerance.  And the father is ashamed of the Grandfather and kept the son in ignorance.  But the Son knows and spends a lot of time with him.. 

"I am a good mind to knock you in the head with this mop handle"

(Mama Atwood had her grown children living with her from time to time when they were struggling to make a living after the Depression.  One day she tangled with her oldest son Edward who was already married to Laura Fischer.)

****You know for over a week he had been eating on me.  And I didn’t like that and was mad because he grumbeled at what I had to eat Sunday.  So he was fixing to take Bud to Sipe Springs and I got through in the kitchen and went into the room where he was & he was sitting on the side of the (bed) with his feet in Laura’s lap & she pollishing his shoes.  I said Well I’ll be durned & Sat down like I was exasperated to death.  And told him I had never pollished my shoes where Frank Thurston Harrold or Jack Rambo was and here he was having his wife pollish his now I am compairing you to Jack Rambo.  He didn’t say a thing.

Laura is doing Ruth's work including Washing & Ironing with mine thrown in for their board.  And the folering day after I told hiim the above I was down on my knees mopping the dust up under the radio and it was playing.  He was just getting up and told me twice to tell Laura to come there.  She was out in Ruth’s kitchen busy.  

I reached up and turned down the radio so I could hear him.  And said what he said never mind rough like and called her and told her to give him his pants.  and when he did I let out on him.  I said I am a good mind to knock you in the head with this mop handle.  The idea of a lazy man calling his wife away from her work to get anything within four steps of him.  and that he wasn’t reared to have anyone get his things for him.  He just looked up at me and said he didn’t know where they was.  

But I told him  he had an Idea where they was.  See he had just told me his old weak mother to get up off her knees and go tell her.  I said nothing about that though.  But if Frank or Thurston had heard him they would have told him to wait on himself.  Well anyway, he helped Laura that day dried dishes etc. and got out and worked in the yard and watered flowers etc . and has worked some every day since even to trying to saw down one of those big mesquite trees with a hand saw.

Edward quits going to school 1924

(Edward was the eldest child of Manning and Mama Atwood.  He was Mamie's half-brother.  He was a very successful businessman and lived in Comanche most of his life.  His business was the Atwood Hatchery.

Mama wrote her very often about her life with the rest of her brood.)

I can’t for the life of me see why I can’t make or get Son to go back to school.  He got mad because I wouldn’t let him go right that evening & get him a pair of trousers & I can’t get him to go back at all.  I have offered to get him pants and even told him to go & let Gille measure him for a suit & he won’t do it.   

I met one of his teachers yesterday & she said he was passing in every thing & is just simply brilliant in science or chemistry, one or the other I forgot which.  It absolutely is worrying me to death nearly.  Dad seems indifferent about it.  But if I was big & strong enough I wouldn’t worry one bit I would whip him & make him go or put him out to hustle his own grub one or the other.   Well I must close

Lots of love      Mother

a few days later:

I received your letter and check today and am now returning check as I Positively cant get or make him go to school . I dont know what is the matter with him he just gets right bull headed when I speak about it.  so I have about give up if he wants to dig ditches and the like all his life, I can’t help it. he is old enough he ought to realize the value of an education and he is too large for me to whip & make go.

The cow got her chain around it (water for the garden)

Mama Atwood had only a third grade education.  Her mother took her out of school to help with the chores at her boarding house.  Hence the colorful spelling and grammar in her letters.

August 6, 1932

About the trees that Son set out. One of the pecan trees is just fine and the other one I can’t tell if it has grown any at all since spring. One peach tree looks like it will die in spite of me. Though I forgot to water it at one time when I watered the other ones. Also one in the garden where the cow got her chain around it & peeled all the bark off is still living. ...Twice a week I have to carry 15 buckets of water out of the house around on the east side to the three that are around there. All the others I can reach with the hose, thank goodness.

I have already let a part of my garden die and about the water bill ....last month was a dollar and sixty-five cents over the minimum. And the month before it was fifty cents over, and it will go over again this month because I don't mean to let any more of my garden die. But I don't mean to pay any over a dollar and 75 cents either…... As long as I know others who has no meter. ....

A letter to Manning from Mama Atwood in California

August 8, 1927

Dear Dady,

We got back from Yosemite last night at 11:45 and found your letter.

…I have seen some wonderfully pretty things in the last two weeks.  And rode most to the top of several of the High Sierra mountains.  and got lots of thrills. And my ticket home calls for a ride on the Ocean from here to San Francisco. And on the S. P. R. R.over the High Sierra mountains past part of the country I was over last week.  Then down through Nevada and part of Kansas to Denver, Colorado to Oklahoma, and on to Fort Worth.

I will have to go miles and miles under a snow shed in the High Sierra Mountains.  I saw the train passing through sheds where I will go.  They were then higher than I was.  And I was looking down on the tree tops many, many feet below me….

Mama Atwood named her babies herself (she says)

March 20th 1958

Dear Mamie,

….If you think anyone named you but me you are mistaken.  No one named you but me.  No one name any of my babies but me..except poor little Sammie (passed away at age 12) She helped me to name Thurston  She was sick at the time & she  liked the name so that is what it is.

You was named Frances Mamie after my mother (Frances Stovall Smith) and Mamie after Mr. King's sister. (Mr. King was Mamie's father.) as she seemed to be his favorite sister.  He spoke of her more than Hattie.  He was proud & said I would name you Frances Mamie and call you Mamie.

Sawmill near Stryker in east Texas where Mr. King was employed.  Notice the steam train in the center of the picture.

You was borned at Stryker near Corigan in Trinity County.  then we moved to Diball near Lufkin.

letter from Mamie Hansen to her mother Margaret Atwood (mama) 1963

Dear Mama,

Didn't you think of me last Sunday night?  I went to the Billy Graham services.  When they sang all the old revival songs I thought of you.

My childhood and girlhood, especially the time when Dad brought a load of livestock to Fort Worth and instead of going to the Majestic (vaudeville show) I took him out to the Fat Stock Show Coliseum to hear Billy Sunday.

During the sermon he leaned down and whispered, "Couldn't you have taken me to a better show than this?"

Note to Mamie from Mama Atwood on the train 1927

August 28, 1927

Dearest Mamie,

I am feeling fine.  It is absolutely impossible to get in the observation car; it is so crowded.

I shall get in there early in the morning and camp out there hereafter.

I am feeling fine and I hope you are too.  Will write again tomorrow,  Love  Mother 

The Atwood clan at Christmas: 1962

An Atwood Christmas gathering at Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura's house in Comanche.  Back row:  Hipp Arthur, Joyce and Cecil Rambo, Cranford Lundy.  Second row:  Ed Atwood, Ann Atwood, Laura Atwood, Ruth Lundy, Alma Denny.  Seated:  Susan Lundy, TR Atwood, Ernestine Atwood, Harold Denny, Mama Atwood.  Mama passed in 1963 so this must have been 1962.

Below is a separate picture of my dad Thurston with my little brother Bob Atwood and mother with Mama Atwood in the center.  Same day of course.

Mama Atwood's raisin bread recipe

The Bread Frank likes best is made This way.:

Whole wheat Raisin bread:

One or two eggs

One cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon soda

salt to taste

1-1/2 cups of whole wheat flour and as much sugar as you can take up in one hand,

1 cup raisins

a little shortening.

This is a recipe of my own and Jack (Ernestine) and Frank is absolutely crazy about it. Jack will fill herself so full of it till she can't eat anything else.  I make it exactly like I do corn bread except I put raisins in it.

I make lovely whole wheat raisin Light bread but this is as good and not nearly so hard to make.  Besides This flour contains every bit of the whole wheat, and the Light bread always has to have white flour.  If I fail to make this bread one day Frank says “Mama please make some more raisin wheat bread”.  But he does not care much for the Bread with out the raisins and sugar

notes from a letter: Mama to Mamie Feb. 19, 1931

After Papa Atwood died in June, 1929, Mama tried to work for a long time.  She sold books door to door and later on Avon, which took her from town to town in south Texas.  Finally the kids all pledged $5 a month to help her with expenses. Thurston, the youngest child, was still living with Mama and trying to finish high school.

"….I had only enough money to pay for water, lights, gas and butter, and paid a dollar and twenty five cents for the little Turkey I got for Xmas dinner. And one dollar to give Thurston for his dues for agriculture at school. Frank was the only one to give me any money for this month up to the fifteenth.

So far this month butter is the only food bill I have paid for January and knowing that the boys don't get too large a salary it makes me uneasy to be getting in debt."

"(Thurston) works at a creamery every Saturday all day.  Gets only $1.00. He bought a shirt for each day's work. He got down to only one shirt to his name, except those that was rags. One of them had split and been sewed up nine times in the back. Next Saturday he wants to get him a belt."

Thurston, Papa Atwood, Edward and Frank in 1928

Newspaper clipping from the Comanche Chief, March, 1933

From the Comanche Chief, enclosed in a letter from Mama to her eldest daughter, Mamie who lived in Los Angeles in 1933

Postmarked March 15, 1933

LOCAL BANKS TO RECEIVE GOLD

Gold and gold certificates that have been in hiding for years are being turned in at the two banks of Comanche. One person Thursday deposited a quantity of gold, some of which bore the date of 1850.

The exact amount which had been turned in could not be learned but it is understood to be relatively large. The Government is calling upon all banks to make a report at the close of business today of the amount which has been turned in.

The Government is expected to fix a penalty or make non-negotiable gold and gold certificates that are not turned into the banks, one banker stated.

response to Mama's letter from Patsy Reese

208 Winspear Ave.
Buffalo, NY
May 30, 1962

Dear Mama,

I can't tell you how glad we were to get your letter about Margaret. We think she has a fine name and are proud of it..and of her.  We wouldn't think of calling her "Mag"  just Margaret, or "Marget" as the other children say it.

We plan to have her christened in Dallas.  Mrs. Reese is making the arrangements; it will be in early June.

It is wonderful to hear that you are feeling good and strong…and that you think of us. We will be sure to bring all 3 of the children to see you while we are in Texas.

Much love,

Patsy

letter from Mama Atwood re: Margaret Ellen Reese

Dublin, Texas
May 14, 1962

Dear Patsy and husband,

I have no way of (unintelligible) my  hand correctly so can't write very Plane but will try to.

I was glad to hear from you, and so glad you think enough of me to name your Baby after me.

I like the name Margaret, or Maggie. But don't do like most of my people do and call me Mag.  Mama and Papa never Did. My oldest Sister was named Ellen so you see she is named after two of us.

I wish I could send you something for her.  But I have no money now. (Mama was in a nursing home in Dublin at the time.)

Honey I have (?) strength so please forgive me for not writing more.

Love to all of you,

Mama

A telegram for Mama Atwood 1935

I am sure this warmed her heart.  Mama Atwood really missed her boys when they left home.  And Thurston was the last to go.  He was working in east Texas selling appliances with her brother Watt when he sent her this telegram.  



Dearest Mother,

We are having a wonderful time and this sulphur water is plenty hard to drink.

Love,
Thurston


Boy scouts had a camp in Glen Rose,  where Thurston went as a teenager one summer.

postcard from Mama in California 1927



Los Angeles, CA
August 13, 1927

Dear Thurston,

Yes I certainly saw some big waves like these.  The tide was in both times I was down there  (more writing in pencil illegible)

Love

Mother

outdoorsmen, early 20th century

I really am not sure where these two photos came from, except they were in the collection of my Aunt Mamie King Hansen.

But before I leave this time period I wanted to include them because I think they are interesting.

The car in both photos appears to be the same.  It may belong to Cecil Bellah, Aunt Mamie's first husband.

A 1920's general store bill

Grocery bill for Mama Atwood from Higginbotham's, a general store in Comanche.

Higginbotham's is a store on the southwest corner of the square in Comanche.  It is still there today.

Mentioned at the bottom of the bill is a "Delineator" which was a magazine for home sewing enthusiasts.

Mama Atwood was definitely one of those.  She made clothes, quilts, and all manner of useful things for her family. She made the dress she is wearing in this picture in 1928.