| Water was hauled from nearby streams to wash all clothes by hand with homemade soap. Filling a large pot with water, the women would heat it over a fire. When the water was boiling, lye soap would be added along with the dirty clothing. This was then stirred, by hand, like the motion of a washing machine. The clothes were wrung out and hung to dry. | |
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Boys wore shirts and pants made of cotton or buckskin, which is leather made from the skin of a deer. It is soft and strong, and yellow or gray in color. Girls wore skirts or dresses, usually made of brightly colored cotton called calico or gingham. It had stripes, checks or flowers in different colors.It was very important for a boy to have a hat with a wide brim and a girl to wear a bonnet to protect their eyes. There were no sunglasses then and the pioneers spent many hours in the hot and bright sun. Boys wore suspenders and girls wore aprons and pantalets. None of the clothing had zippers since they had not yet been invented. By 1839, there were 11 dry goods merchants in Sidney whereby residents could purchase or barter for material and/or sewing items. |