Document Type
Notes
Files
Download Full Text (868 KB)
Date
1950
Keywords
apple butter, butter bread, customs, Dauphin County, Millersburg, Pumpkin Hill
Description
A handwritten set of notes from an unknown source dating from 1905 entitled, "Rejecting Suitors", transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker. The notes document the practice of giving butter bread (or apple butter bread) to an unwanted lover. The practice is noted as being particular to the western portion of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in the 1860s.
Corresponds to:
Packet 54-3
Transcription
Rejecting Suitors April 28, 1905
A rather unique little custom which displaces the use of terms of dishonor and figures of speech by a simple final act is that of giving “butter bread”. This custom was in vogue in the western end of Dauphin County, Pa., during the ‘60s.
Strange to say the custom is not found at the opposite end of this county or other counties in eastern Pa.
About three miles east of the Susquehanna river, near Millersburg, is a well defined locality prop. known as Pumpkin Hill. In the vicinity of this unique hill with its rare history is found this equally unique custom of giving bread to get rid of an undesirable lover. To give the custom the best of local coloring the lady made it “apple butter bread”. She cut a thick slice half way across the loaf, buttered it well and then, as if to give the nut brown of ripeness and that rich flavor gained by a mature boiling, she touched it well with apple butter.
Christian R. Johns of Reinholds Station father of Dr. J. R. 64 born near New Holland married to Susanna Bitzer
Clayton of Rothsville
Mrs. Jonas Noer of near Murrell
Mrs. Jacob Heffly of Stevens
Newspaper?
Dr. Johns located at 2543 N 17th St. Phl
illness prevent - teacher prior to 1885
June 23, 1905: essigbaum sprouting at Fiant’s Mill on the Conestoga creek in Lancaster Co. an old landmark once a rude cane, or footman's cudgel
Language
English
Rights Statement
This item is available courtesy of the Ursinus College Library Special Collections Department. It is not to be copied or distributed for commercial use. For permissions which fall outside of educational use, please contact the Special Collections Department.
Recommended Citation
Shoemaker, Alfred L., "Rejecting Suitors, April 28, 1905" (1950). Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents. 93.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/shoemaker_documents/93
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American Material Culture Commons, Cultural History Commons, Folklore Commons, Linguistic Anthropology Commons, Social History Commons, United States History Commons
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