Early Appliances On Display

DAYTON-Take a tour of a new exhibit at the Dayton Historic Depot Museum, beginning on March 1, to see some gadgets that made the lives of women "easier" in the years from the early 1900s to the 1950s.

"We're looking at the intersection of consumerism, changing women's roles, and rural electrification," said Museum Director Tamara Fritze about the idea behind the exhibit.

Most of the appliances on loan to the museum are electric, with the exception of a display of hand tools for mixing, and some irons which had to be heated on a wood stove, Fritze said.

By 1910, alternating electrical current entered American homes at 120 volts, allowing for the standardization of appliances. Manufacturers began developing appliances based on the electric resistance coil, with the idea of profiting from the burden of household chores, which fell mainly upon homemakers, according to the exhibit pamphlet.

Rural electrification began in 1935, through the Rural Electric Administration and the Electric Home and Farm Authority. The mission of the EHFA was to stimulate the use of electrical power by making home appliances affordable. The idea was that increased electrical demand could lower prices for electricity.

By 1941, 79% of American homes had electric irons, 52% had electric refrigerators, and/or electric washing machines, and 47% had vacuum cleaners, according to research done by Fritze for the exhibit.

A brass transit on a tripod, an early electric meter, a lightning arrester, and a large insulator are some of the items on loan from Columbia REA, and those represent the efforts of rural electrification in the 1900s.

"They're kind of fun," said Fritze pointing to toasters, irons, coffee pots, clocks, radios and other electrified appliances, in use from the early 1900s up to the 1950s.

The items in the display are temporarily on loan from members throughout the community, and some are from the Boldman House Museum, Fritze said.

"A Better Home: Domestic Gadgetry and Rural Electrification" will be on display from March 1, through Nov. 15 at the Dayton Historic Depot, at 222 E. Commercial St.

For more information about the exhibit contact Museum Director Tamara Fritze at (509 382-2026.