I remember Mother having and ice box and washing in the wash pot and rub board after we moved back to rural Arkansas after WWII. When we moved to town in 1950 Daddy bought her a wringer washer and tubs and a vacuum cleaner and a Gibson refrigerator (which still works) . I guess it was about 1957 when she got the automatic Maytag washer. I think she got her first dryer in 1965 or so. She is 91 now and still pretty alert and lives independently. So as someone else mentioned, that hard work made them strong. They dang sure didn't have to go to the gem or think about a diet. Thanks for the memories :>)