Mrs. T. M. Crouch, of Ledyard. Connecticut pouring some water over her twenty-pound turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
Photo Credit: Delano, Jack, photographer. Mrs. T. M. Crouch, of Ledyard. Connecticut pouring some water over her twenty-pound turkey on Thanksgiving Day. United States Connecticut Ledyard New London County, 1940. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017792777/.
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It started with this photo from 1940. Instantly I felt drawn to the charming old-fashioned range, the lovely woman with the floral dress and apron. I wondered what her Thanksgiving was like in 1940?
Thanksgiving Maskers
Photo Credit: Bain News Service, Publisher. Thanksgiving Maskers. , ca. 1910. [Between and Ca. 1915] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014689992/.
Have you ever heard of the old Thanksgiving tradition of masking and mumming? Me neither.
Mumming involves the act of wearing masks and costumes, often intricately designed to conceal one’s identity. These masked individuals, known as “mummers,” would visit homes and communities to perform short skits, dances, and other forms of entertainment. The essence of the tradition lay in the masks and disguises, which allowed the mummers to take on different personas and engage in whimsical and sometimes mischievous interactions.
Children would gather to collect strewn pennies and have their faces painted.
Thanksgiving Turkey
Photo Credit: Bain News Service, Publisher. Thanksgiving Turkey. , ca. 1910. [Between and Ca. 1915] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014691242/.
Save Your Wife For A Pet At Home!
Photo Credit: Wolcott, Marion Post, photographer. Sign on restaurant window during Thanksgiving week in South Boston, Virginia. United States Virginia South Boston, 1940. [?] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017755700/.
The painted sign says: “Eat your thanksgiving “Turk” here: And save your wife for a pet at home!”
I’m sure I have no idea what that means.
Painting a Thanksgiving Masker
Photo Credit: Bain News Service, Publisher. Painting a Thanksgiving Masker. , 1911. date created or published later by Bain. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014689990/.
Here children are gathered to have their faces painted for Thanksgiving masking activities.
The Thanksgiving Turkey
Photo Credit: Delano, Jack, photographer. The Thanksgiving turkey at the home of Timothy Levy Crouch. Ledyard, Connecticut. United States Connecticut Ledyard New London County, 1940. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017792782/.
I was struck by how different this turkey looks from we get today at the grocery stores. Heritage breeds are making a comeback and if you have never tried a pasture-raised heritage breed of turkey — I highly recommend it. The meat is more flavorful.
Photo Credit: Delano, Jack, photographer. The children’s table at the Crouch family Thanksgiving Day dinner. Ledyard, Connecticut. United States Connecticut Ledyard New London County, 1940. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017793114/.
Back when most people lived on farms and everyone knew where food came from and what it took to get it the plate. Look at how happy and proud this boy looks.
Pumpkin Pies
Photo Credit: Delano, Jack, photographer. At the Crouch family Thanksgiving Day dinner. Pumpkin pies. Ledyard, Connecticut. United States Connecticut Ledyard New London County, 1940. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017792789/.
Thanksgiving pies, cakes, pastries and desserts have always been a big deal.
Photo Credit: Delano, Jack, photographer. At the Crouch family on Thanksgiving Day preparing the dinner. Ledyard, Connecticut. United States Connecticut Ledyard New London County, 1940. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017792787/.
Scramble For Pennies
Photo Credit: Bain News Service, Publisher. Scramble for pennies – Thanksgiving. , ca. 1910. [Between and Ca. 1915] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014689991/.
This handsome young boy really stood out to me from all the photos I found. He’s described as a “beggar boy” but was this part of the mumming and masking? I doubt we’ll ever know.
Taking Home Turkies from Raffle
Photo Credit: Thanksgiving – Taking Home Turkies from Raffle. , 1912. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003655401/.
Taking home turkeys won by raffle — but you’ll have to do the plucking, gutting, and butchering yourself!
The Butcher & The Turkey
Photo Credit: Delano, Jack, photographer. Mr. Metzendorf, Jewish poultry farmer of Ledyard, Connecticut, picking turkeys to get them ready for Thanksgiving market. United States Connecticut Ledyard New London County, 1940. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017792772/.
Thanksgiving Day lesson at Whittier
Photo Credit: Johnston, Frances Benjamin, photographer. Thanksgiving Day lesson at Whittier. Hampton Virginia, 1899. [or 1900] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/97507246/.
A Thanksgiving Day lesson is the title of this photo. I love seeing children dressed up in suits and dresses.
Thanksgiving Dinner At The House Of Earle Landis
Collins, Marjory, photographer. Neffsville, Pennsylvania. Thanksgiving dinner at the house of Earle Landis. Pennsylvania Lancaster County Neffsville United States, 1942. Nov. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017840721/.
Plucking The Bird
Photo Credit: Campbell, Alfred S. The Thanksgiving turkey / Alfcamp, Elizabeth, N.J. , ca. 1900. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/90710727/.
A woman hard at work plucking the Thanksgiving bird.
I’ve been there! My first turkey took me ages to properly clean.
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![African American children learning about Thanksgiving, with model log cabin on table, Whittier Primary School, Hampton, Virginia].](https://thepeasantsdaughter.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/8-2.jpg)
