[APG Public List] RESULTS: Origin of a homemaker's habit

[Debbie Parker Wayne]

  I promised I would post a summary of responses to my question about 
glass storage and whether it was caused by the Dust Bowl. The full 
discussion is at 
<http://debsdelvings.blogspot.com/2010/09/results-glasses-in-cupboard-rim-up-or.html>. 
Here is the summary:

Thirty families are represented in this informal, unscientific survey. 
Twenty-six store glasses rim-side down, two rim-side up, two alternate 
glasses up and down.

Of those who store glasses rim-side down, eight blamed bugs and 
critters. Most of those were located on the east coast (New York, 
Maryland), the south (Kentucky, Georgia, Texas, unspecified), Hawaii, 
and multiple areas for a family who made frequent moves to different 
Army posts. Three responders from New York and central Canada blamed 
both critters and dust. Five responders from Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, 
and New England blamed dust. Four families placed the glasses upside 
down to dry completely. Four did not specify. One person pointed out it 
is easier to dry dust off the outside of a glass than to clean the 
inside if you have big hands. Another pointed out that stability often 
determines how we stack and store dishes. (A very interesting analysis I 
would bet comes from someone with an engineering frame of mind. Thanks.)

Thanks for sharing your stories. This was a fascinating discussion.

Regards, Debbie

Debbie Parker Wayne, East Texas

Wayne Research -- http://debbiewayne.com/
Blog -- Deb's Delvings http://debsdelvings.blogspot.com/
DNA Project Admin -- Texas State GS
Director -- First Families of Texas


Debbie Parker Wayne wrote on 9/8/2010 10:20 AM:
>   ... My question is whether the practice of storing glasses and cups upside
> down in the kitchen cabinet really originated during the Dust Bowl of
> the 1930s. I don't think it did. A statement during a genealogy
> presentation a while back made me question the origin of this habit.
...
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <../attachments/20100914/eaeefd3e/attachment.htm>