Early Columns Reveal Social Activities

Browsing through the “Personal Mention” column of early newspapers readers learn about the social lives of local residents.  Visits by out-of-town guests, business trips, trips to see friends and relatives elsewhere, dinner parties, and other entertainments were all regularly included.

Elizabeth Silversteen's Kitchen Diary.

Throughout the early and mid-1900s prominent families, like Joseph and Elizabeth Silversteen often hosted dinner parties, dances, bridge parties, and croquet, tennis and horseshoe matches on the lawn.

Elizabeth Silversteen’s “Kitchen Diary” reflects daily menus and occasionally names of dinner guests.  Dinner typically included soup, meat, two or three vegetables and a dessert.  Christmas dinner was turkey and oysters, dressing, steamed tomatoes, rice and gravy, sweet potatoes, pickles, cranberry sauce, celery, pineapple salad, coffee, mince pie and candy.  The diary appears to date from 1918 or 1919.

The Silversteen’s youngest daughter was a classically trained contralto with a love for folk music.  During her musical career Adelaide used the name Adelaide Van Wey.  She toured in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America.  She performed at famed locations such as Carnegie Hall and Radio City’s Rainbow Room, as well as on radio and television.  She also produced several albums. 

The Silversteen's dining room.

Adelaide claimed, “My first love is music.  My second is cooking and writing about the kitchen.”  For 15 years she wrote a weekly column about cooking and shared recipes.  Her first “Cook’s Corner” article was published in the Transylvania Times on March 5, 1953.  Her final column was published three days after her death on March 21, 1968.

Her final column included recipes for Strawberry Charlotte Russe, Rice Pudding, Bride’s Pudding, Banana Pudding and Apricot-Brandy Sauce.  She ended with, “Thought for Food from My Red Rocker:  Pudding seems to taste even better when served in an attractive container or in individual small containers.  Good appetite.”

Silvermont 2nd Floor House Museum is open (2-4 pm) the 3^rd Friday of each month or by special appointment.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library.  Visit the NC Room during regular library hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional photographs.  For more information, comments or suggestions contact Marcy at marcy.thompson@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-3151 X242.