Occupation - Keeping House

After a snowstorm in 1939, Vermont. (LOC)

 

I noticed an entry on the U.S. census from the year 1880. It was in Lowell, Massachusetts.  There were names of household members as well as some other details. In one particular home, the grandmother's occupation was "Keeping House." This same entry was repeated in other entries, in other households, throughout that street on the form.  

Entries for "Occupation" on the 1880 census. 

Other entries included "machinist" or working in the cotton or woolen mills. The listings noted whether someone was married or widowed. I noticed there were widowed women working as a music teacher or in the mills.  I loved reading how many generations were in each household. Often there was also a boarder in each house who had some type of employment as well.  

In one home there were three children (the youngest was five years old) whose occupation was "at school."  Their widowed mother was a music teacher and they all lived with the grandparents. There were three generations in that house. The grandmother in this household was from Vermont. They were the Pratt family. They also had a widowed boarder from Ireland (living with them) who worked in the cotton mill. It was fascinating to read.

An occupation of keeping house sounds wonderful to me.  I have been quietly occupied in the domestic duties of keeping my own house.  I have been busy cleaning, organizing, preparing meals, baking, sewing, and crocheting.

I am nearly finished making a hand-sewn doll quilt for one of my grandchildren. 

My doll quilt project. 

Our gardens and fruit trees have long been ignored the last several weeks since it is so cold here.  We had a great deal of snow the last couple of days.  This morning, I went outside to check on some of my tea roses that have not yet opened.

My tea rose plant in the snow. 

I was able to rescue 3 buds with their lush red and green leaves. I cut them from the vine and brought them into the front parlour. They will get warm by the fire of the wood pellet stove.

Tea Roses from our snowy front garden.

I hope the roses will warm up and open within the next several days. The leaves look pretty in the vase. It brightens and cheers the house!

I have a little project I am working on during my leisure hours. 

Mystery package.

The mystery package, in the above photograph, contains an antique book I recently came across. I am transcribing it into a new edition. It is a darling story about domestic life in the early 1900's. I am hoping it will be published soon. I will announce it as soon as it is ready. 

Soon I will be baking cinnamon cake and homemade bread. The sewing will be done by the fire, and I will enjoy some reading.  It will be a lovely and productive day at home.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

For detailed help in caring for the ill, from my Mother's example - A Comforting Sick Room.

Taking Care of a family of 4 generations in one house - Gracious Homemaking.

A Precious Lifetime of Duty at home at - The Mission House.  

 

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Now Available from The Legacy of Home Press:

Old Fashioned Homemaking: Essays and Encouragement from a New England Housewife by Mrs. White

176 pages, paperback

ISBN: 978-1-956616-38-5