(From The Marietta Times // by Janelle Patterson)

Stepping back in time for a taste of history Monday, 40 local residents enjoyed foods that were popular post-World War II courtesy of The Castle’s food history program: The Nifty Fifties.

“You can see through this cookbook how Marietta was influenced by what was going on in the world post-war as industry began booming again,” said Kyle Yoho, education director for The Castle.

The program featured recipes from the “Norwood Methodist Church Favorite Recipes of 1959”cookbook in three courses, with five recipes from previous Norwood residents.

“My grandmother was a good cook, she made wonderful cookies and great pies,” said Bill Jacoby, 75, of Devola, whose grandmother Bertha Jacoby contributed the recipe for the night’s dessert, Lemon Sponge Pie, and the main course, John Marzetti Stuffed Peppers. “Everything she made was good.”

Also featured was Golden Puff Cauliflower, provided by Icyl Berg, who lived on Hadley Lane, Sour Milk Corn Bread from Lola Horner’s recipe and Effie Fulmer’s Slaw Dressing Salad.

“The food is so interesting and I love to cook so this gives me ideas,” said Barbara MacHaffie, who attended the event with three close friends. “The cauliflower was fantastic.”

Along with the meal, attendees also were given a history of cuisine from the 1950s by Cook Shop owner Dagmar Kupsche, and a lecture on the evolution of the modern woman by Marietta College professor Katie McDaniel.

“None of these recipes have been altered,” said Kupsche, who catered the night. 

“Salt in food was alive and well and you know why? Because 42 percent of the population at that time smoked, so they couldn’t taste anything without the salt.”

– Dagmar Kupsche

McDaniel explained how the Norwood cookbook was in line with a time-honored tradition of women joining together to put their names to a creative work and impart moral influence in their communities.

“Women were seen at this time to be the moral cornerstone and they did not stay in their spheres. Many of these charity cookbooks were used to further the temperance, sanitation and women’s suffrage movements,” explained McDaniel. “Even amid all of the pressures to return home in the 1950s, women were still able to find fulfillment by finding time for themselves and expressions of their creativity.”

The next installment of The Castle’s food history series will take place on Sept. 18 at the First Congregational Church on Front Street at 6 p.m. and will feature the visit of President Howard Taft, who visited Marietta in 1910.

“We’re saying well Washington slept here, but Taft ate here,” said Yoho.