Karen Stops By For a Visit – But Not For Oysters

How many of you like seafood?  I like some – shrimp, crab and lobster but there are a couple that just make me sick (not only literally but just looking at them), one of those being oysters!  After writing genealogy columns (sometimes more than one at a time) for over 50 years, there are few topics I’ve not covered but when reading some old 1850-1900 newspaper advertisements, I found one of those  topics!  LOTS of ads for LOTS of places in our area selling “fresh” oysters although I never could figure where they would get “fresh” ones!  Don’t think Sugar Creek housed any!

Often, there would be several places selling them (Crawfordsville Review 15 Sept 1860).  In this year and before and beyond, Isaac Marks would often have oysters as the main point of an ad “Isaac A. Marks has received the agency of the sale of these delicious bivalves (oysters).  He will commence receiving them direct from Baltimore in a few days and will sell them at prices so low that everybody can afford to purchase.”  On the same page, Hay’s Eating Saloon was receiving “Fresh Baltimore Oysters, daily and served ‘em up in fine style!” 

When I was a young’un, there would be several oyster soup suppers (thank goodness they often had chili too and pie or I’d have left very hungry) given by one of the churches or clubs in town to raise money for some such project.  Don’t hear much of that anymore!

Oysters were a big draw even in the small communities.  Now, any of my long time readers will remember Hiram Pratt, Waveland’s local barber for more than five decades.  Although he wrote in a journal every day of each of those years, only about 15 have been preserved.  I typed them all for the Montgomery County GenWeb page (originals in the Crawfordsville District Public Library) and many have fallen in love with the man.  Definitely an interesting good fellow!  So keep on topic, here, Karen.  He absolutely craved oysters.  Dec 8, 1870 is the first I believe where he wrote about oysters.  Paid Irwin for a can of oysters 75 cents.  Fairly sure there wasn’t a diary where he didn’t write about having the seafood for a meal and sometimes just a snack.  This oyster lover was still writing about having them in 1907 one of the most up to date diaries we have of his. This time the price (for a pint) on Nov. 26 was 30 cents. 

On the GenWeb page, there is a great article (written by a Chicago newspaper correspondent visiting Crawfordsville) featuring author Maurice Thompson (and his brother) shooting his arrow and oysters are even in this tale: “We then threw apples, oranges and oyster cans up in the air and the brothers shot at them on the wing.  It was no trouble for either one to wing an oyster can, but occasionally an apple or orange would get away!”

Guess you can only stomach so much about oysters so I’ll conclude this with one story.  When hubs was in the National Guards a couple of the wives and about six soldiers were in Michigan and we all went to a nice smorgasbord restaurant for an evening meal.  There was literally everything there and of course, you have guessed, Oysters!  Several internet sites say that 4-12 oysters is all you should eat.  Well, this restaurant had lots of oysters!  One of the Guardsman just kept going back for more, probably starting off with 20 and he went for more at least four times.  Take warning, ya’ may love your oyster like Hi Pratt but do not continue to oyster dive or you may end-up like the Guard –-  sick for two days, missing his drill time! 

For years, Karen Zach was the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appeared every Friday in The Paper of Montgomery County. Karen retired from all that a few years ago but sent us this gem to share with you. You can reach her at karen.zach@sbcglobal.net.