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Hern Auctions Box lunch!
2000
Ashern Pioneer Museum grounds

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Hern holds a decorated box lunch up for auction at the box social.

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The post office in the 50's was a place to visit with members of the community. The ladies could talk about important events in their lives and how their life changed as a result of participation in these events. From the very early times of the settlement of this area social gatherings have been important to the community. The 'box social' was the settlers' equivalent to a present day singles social. A young woman would put a lunch in a decorated box and a young gentleman would buy it an auction for some good cause at a social.
Let's hear a local lady Alice, tell her friends in front of the post office in the early 1950's about what a box lunch was like in the 30's and 40's.

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Alice arrives at the Post Office.
2000
Ashern Pioneer Museum grounds

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Alice tries to hear what the other women are talking about at the Post Office. This was a great place to visit and catch up on local news after getting the mail and showing off any letters that might have been received.

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Alice and her friends at the Post Office talking about Box Socials!
2000
In front of the Ashern Post Office now located Ashern Museum Grounds

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Alice: I met my Frank at a box social. He thought that I looked pretty and he found out which lunch I had made. I did a good job; I decorated it with purple and pink crepe paper and lots of bows. Frank had to bid high to get it. After we ate together, I knew he was the one. Now, that's my life - Frank, the family, no working out for me!