“Omaha, Nebr. Mar. 14, 1940
“Dear Folks, [Laura Goff to Clabe and Leora at Minburn]
“How are you? We are all well and ready for 3 square meals a day. Do you cook in the basement and did the landlord put the sink in the kitchen? [The house at the Minburn farm didn’t have running water.] We had another big snow 6 in. Tues., all day snow, and snowed some yesterday. Bernadine [Jennings Goff’s wife], baby [Ronnie], and Maxine were here Tues. and J.B. [Jennings] came for dinner. Maxine stayed till this eve and she gave me a Marcel yesterday and trimmed my air also, so it looks quite nice today.”
What a sweet connection between Maxine Goff and her grandmother. After their own mother died when they were children, Maxine and Merrill (along with their father Jennings) lived with their grandparents, first at the Victorian house in Guthrie Center, then the house along White Pole Road in Dexter.
After Laura was widowed and they lost the house in Dexter during the Depression, they all moved in with Clarence Goff in Omaha, where Merrill and Maxine attended high school. Then Maxine decided to become a beautician. Her grandmother became her model for practice and for taking the practical tests in Lincoln.
Marcel waves were the rage during the 1920s, but evidently they were still popular years later and beautician needed to know how to do it properly.
It’s so terrific having letters from the past.
Frankly, I never knew what they called that style hair.
Thanks, Joy.
Thanks, GP. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with their hair that way.
Just in the movies.
Someone just mentioned she’d seen the hairstyle in “The Little Rascals,” maybe on their teacher!
I can see that. It was mostly in the ’20’s, so it was probably in the silent movies too.
Oh my gosh! Delightful! Thank you, Joy! 🥰
It must not have been Laura’s favorite. I have no photo with her hair done that way, unless they’re ones where she’s wearing a hat!
Ahh! Could be! 😉❤️😉
This is yet another example of how research on one historical topic leads to more–and more, and more! Never heard of a Marcel, but I love the research that you did to learn about it and inform the rest of us!
Can’t help myself. I bet you can relate! (Laura gets more personable with each postcard.)
I remember my mother had some of the metal clips to make marcel waves. (They had been her mother’s.) Lucky Laura to have them done by a professional!
Oh, I remember those clips!
😊
I remember that hairstyle from “The Little Rascals” series. Maybe their teacher Miss Crabtree had a Marcel wave. The personal accounts of the daily lives of your relatives from long ago are quite interesting. Thanks, Joy. 🙂
Thank you, Nancy.
That is an interesting letter. I love the Marcel hairdo. My daughter’s name is Marcelle!
Was it a family name?
This post made me smile!
Thank you, Luanne. I think I’d only let a granddaughter to it for me as well. ha
I’d let my grandson do anything!
Yes!
Cool, Joy! It’s interesting how that beautiful hairstyle was made.
Thanks, Tim!