Marion Co TOC

     The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) were entertained by Doretha Shipman of Yellville Jan. 9 at their monthly meeting at Church by the Lake Lutheran.
     A life-long resident of Marion County, Shipman has many artifacts and stories to share, which she incorporates into her program.
     Along with the storytelling she shows and explains old tools and articles of clothing.
     Shipman said, "All the older people enjoy the program and can relate to a lot of what I am saying, and it brings back memories."
     As an example, she said many remember playing with paper dolls as children. The paper dolls were cut out of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog. She said, "We made furniture for the dolls using sample wallpaper books."
     As an example, she said many remember playing with paper dolls as children. The paper dolls were cut out of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog. She said, "We made furniture for the dolls using sample wallpaper books."
     The Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) were entertained by Doretha Shipman of Yellville Jan. 9 at their monthly meeting at Church by the Lake Lutheran.
     A life-long resident of Marion County, Shipman has many artifacts and stories to share, which she incorporates into her program.
     Along with the storytelling she shows and explains old tools and articles of clothing.
     Shipman said, "All the older people enjoy the program and can relate to a lot of what I am saying, and it brings back memories."
     As an example, she said many remember playing with paper dolls as children. The paper dolls were cut out of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog. She said, "We made furniture for the dolls using sample wallpaper books."
     "We learned to coordinate colors, how to cut and how to take measurements when we built a piece of furniture," she said.
     She said she spoke at North Arkansas College in Harrison on growing up in the Ozarks and it was enjoyed by the younger adults in the community.
     Shipman said she takes along her "miniature museum" as she calls it, which includes plow blades and other tools. In her demonstration she tells how people had to be conservative and use what they had. "People didn't say 'I can't do that,' in stead they asked 'how can I do that?'."
     Tools were mended because one couldn't just go out and buy a new one She said new tools were most often made at the local black smith's shop.
     Shipman got started in this program when her children were in elementary school. She went to the school and told ghost stories to the students. The school invited her to come and talk about growing up in the Ozarks.
     She said the children enjoy the program very much and are fascinated with tales of keeping food in the spring house since there were no ice boxes, plowing with mules instead of tractors, and the
     fact that there were no televisions. She added that they ask lots of questions.
     Another aspect of her program is telling about plants and herbs of the area. She said a small berry that grew on the fence line had a large seed with a stretchy sub stance between the hull and seed. This substance resembled Silly Putty, a very popular item of the '50s which is still available today.
     She also describes walking along the path with her father who would cut a piece of a sweet anise plant that grew along the river for their enjoyment. The plant tasted like sweet licorice.
     Shipman adds that she enjoys presenting the program and believes it is important that we preserve our history for future generations. "Every time someone tells me about the past, I write it down," she said.
     Many of Shipman's stories and other information may be found in the weekly column, The Old Dillard Settlement, which she writes for the Mountain Echo.