MEMORIES OF RURAL LIFE IN THE 50s & 60s

Can you imagine life without indoor plumbing, running water, or electricity? Back in the 1950s and 60s life was simple and all people in the neighbourhood lived a similar daily pattern of life. Children had chores that had to be done and played simple games. Many families in rural areas lived in simple, small houses like the one in this vintage photo . People weren’t well off in those days and there wasn’t the same choice of consumer goods as there is now. The main source of meat and eggs came from the chickens people reared in their back yard. Gifts were mostly things you needed and were often homemade or limited if to one toy per child only at Christmas Time , Children ate whatever food adults had but in smaller quantities and always found ways to amuse themselves .Nothing went to waste that could be used to create games and general amusement . Corks and bottle tops were used to make zwills. A bicycle rim and a piece of stick kept children entertained for hours. Children’s playground was provided by nature itself . Trees to climb , vines to swing on , natural hiking trails , fishing in the river ,fresh air and sunlight .
Most people didn’t own many clothes. Hand-me-downs clothes were the norm with garments being let in and let out to make it wearable. The hair-cut was given at home or usually a neighbour who was handy with the scissors would call in and give every one of the males a trim. My father trimmed my two brothers and my mother trimmed my father’s hair using a barber scissors at home. Castor Oil, Cod Liver oil, Epsom salts, iodex , Milk of Magnesia, Gripe Water , Andrews Liver Salt were commonly found in most home in the place where medication was kept. A bottle of Detol would also be there for cuts and scrapes. All siblings slept together on a fibre mattress on one bed. At a young age children were taught a most valuable lesson in life “ BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE AND NOTHING COMES EASY WITHOUT SACRIFICE AND HARD WORK.”
Life in those days was no bed of roses. Walking or driving while talking on the telephone was the stuff of science-fiction movies. Yet people lived happy lives. Today life has changed drastically and a gimme, gimme syndrome has replaced spending wisely and smart on the things we really need the most . If we could readjust our expectations and live just a little more like the golden-age of the ‘50s we would better appreciate the many blessings life has to offer. (Source: Virtual Museum of T&T, Dec 25, 2021)