I wrote about Poppy earning $2,700 per year. That amounts to $70,000 in 2021 dollars. Not bad for someone who dropped out of school after the 8th grade. There was no income tax or sales tax back then and little to spend money on. A toaster was one of the few modern conveniences. See the attached new model for that year. The toast had to be turned by hand and only one slice at a time. It was a big deal to be gifted one and newsworthy.
They probably lived comfortably with only two children, ages 6 and 8. Mom sometimes said that our Father was spoiled. I’m curious if Poppy grew up speaking French since both his parents were listed as French immigrants. I also wonder if Frank and Bob understood French spoken by their grandmother, aunts, and uncles. Did they learn French lullabies or fairy tales? The only clue I have is Dad singing:
Frère Jacques
Frère Jacques
Dormez vous?
Dormez vous?
I’m also curious about their family meals, who did the cooking, and what it was like to have so many relatives in a small town. Dad spoke so much about living in France, but I wish he had said more about our ancestors.
