Clabe and Leora Wilson’s older sons joined the US Navy in early 1934. For Christmas that year, their mother mailed them a package, “so you’d have just a little from home for Christmas. Doris and I made some–I guess you can tell which kind–the divinity fudge I used to make and you boys used to like so well.” Leora didn’t have a candy thermometer nor electricity.
Clipping of the recipe in Leora’s small Memorandum book:
Divinity fudge is also called “heavenly bliss,” either name is fitting.
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup chopped nut meats (almonds, filberts or walnuts)
whites of two eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Boil the sugar, water and syrup together until a drop of the mixture becomes crisp when dropped in cold water. Beat the whites of eggs until stiff, Add the not mixture, beating all the time. When fairly stuff, add nuts and vanilla, continue beating until very stuff, then pour into a buttered tin. When cool, cut in squares.
The Wilsons gathered a lot of black walnuts in local wooded areas. Leora chopped some for her divinity fudge.
By the Christmas of 1934, Clabe had sold their Model T “roadster” (the one on the cover of Leora’s Dexter Stories). In fact, they had no automobile of any kind until they moved to Minburn five years later.
It was always a treat when Leora’s brother, Clarence Goff, came from Omaha. Their mother, Laura Goff, lived near the Wilsons, in a house that had electricity. That Christmas of 1934, Clarence brought his mother a dandy electric mixer, a box of candy, and an already-dressed turkey. He also brought a box of ‘kerchiefs for each of the “the girls,” a football for his nephew Merrill, a pound of Prince Albert and some “cough medicine” (alcohol) for Clabe and brothers Jennings and Merl, along with candy and nuts for everyone.
Clarence Goff, a 1923 graduate of Guthrie Center High School, had his own heating and cooling business in Omaha.
Neighbors O. S. and Nellie Neal gave the Wilsons a nice fat hen, which Leora served for Christmas dinner, along with potatoes and gravy, dressing, celery, Danny’s favorite cranberry sauce, pickles, fruitcake, and Clabe’s favorite lemon pie.
The Christmas of 1934, their Navy boys were blessed with plenty to eat (even without their mother’s divinity fudge), visits with aunts and uncles and cousins on the West Coast while their ship (USS Chicago) was in port there, and they were able to send a little money home. The younger five siblings–Doris, Darlene, Dale, Danny, and Junior–were thriving, doing well in school, enjoying winter activities.
Both Clabe and Leora came down with grippe, but all in all, things felt more hopeful that Christmas.
You may find more Depression Era stories about the family in Leora’s Dexter Stories: The Scarcity Years of the Great Depression.
Families stuck together and friends and neighbors shared what they could. It was a rough era, but in many ways, it is better than what we have now.
More of a need for family and community, huh!
You got it!
Lovely festive post Joy and that recipe sounds delicious… a timely reminder of how much we have these days from utilities to material belongings, and yet it feels often we have moved away from this simple family celebration of this festival.. ♥
Mom was a child of those years, so she made sure our childhood Christmases included decorating (even last year’s Christmas cards strung on yard in a doorway) and dolls, which she longed for! Thank you, Sally.
Absolutely enchanting, Joy! ❤️ Especially the memory of divinity fudge…my Nanny’s favorite…and “cough medicine”. Too funny…I remember! 🥰
Goosebumps. Thank you, Vicki!
Xo! 🥰
Makes me crave fudge–but I’m trying to be good in following my diet!
I was surprised that fudge was part of the name. I remember it as just divinity. Mom was surprised that it was my favorite since she thought of it as Depression era candy, mostly egg whites and sugar.
I’m so glad you included her recipe! My grandma Mamie Kennedy used to make it but her recipe was long lost to the ages!!!!
Thank you, Lori. I’m thankful Grandma saved that homely little Memorandum book!
I’ve eaten this. I had an aunt that used to make it just that way. Thanks for the memory.
Thanks, Rich!
It sounds as though the Wilsons had a good Christmas that year (except for Clabe and Leora coming down with the grippe).
You are so right!
A lot of generosity in this post. I think hard times can sometimes bring out the best in people.
I think you’re right, Eilene.
What a wonderful family! 💖
Bless you, Tim!
That fudge recipe sounds good! I have a niece who always makes fudge for everyone at Christmastime. It is a wonderful tradition!
We just called this version (no chocolate) just divinity. I think Mom considered it candy from the Depression years.
I commend you, and your family. You have a rich heritage.
Thank you. I’m working on a book about the rich heritage of my motherline and of what I inherited through women who were nurturers even while living with so many terrible losses. I’m humbled and grateful for it all.
Thanks for sharing. I wish you well with your book
Leora sure knew how to make do back in the day without electricity-and no marshmallow creme! I enjoyed your account of Christmas in 1934. Thank you, Joy. 🙂
And no marshmallow creme. Thanks, Nancy!
[…] had mailed them a package of homemade divinity fudge, just like she had the Christmas before. The nuts in the candy were from “down on Jim Creek, […]
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