{"product_id":"dust-storms-and-half-dugouts-a-living-history-of-the-texas-panhandle-9780979919985","title":"Dust Storms and Half Dugouts  A Living History of the Texas Panhandle","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn January of 2009  old-timers in the Texas Panhandle were asked to share their memories of the good old days. They were invited to write letters describing interesting  humorous  unusual  exciting (and even romantic) happenings from the past. Most of them were born prior to 1940 and the majority grew up in Texas. They were not selected from any particular group or social class  nor were they expected to have any special writing ability or talent. From their responses  257 were chosen to be included in this book. Their stories arent history in the usual sense. Rather  they entertainingly describe a way of life that will never again be seen. You may be at first baffled by the tales of two-holer outhouses  half dugouts  castor oil  feed sack dresses and party line phones. But all of these things  and many others once common to your parents or grandparents are discussed in this book. Yes  youll be entertained by these tales from the good old days. But theres a more compelling reason for the books existence. The 20th century saw more change than any other period in human history. This change began slowly. Up until around the 1940s  even into the 1950s in many areas  everyday life for most rural Texas residents was very nearly the same as it had been for many decades previously. The use of draft animals  outdoor plumbing and doing laundry by hand was the accepted way. In 1945  even city dwellers couldnt begin to imagine what life would be like just 20 years in the future. This book is an effort to preserve the remarkable data locked in peoples collective memories.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44935000686645,"sku":"ByrdShop_0979919983","price":242.42,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780979919985.jpg?v=1787606856","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/dust-storms-and-half-dugouts-a-living-history-of-the-texas-panhandle-9780979919985","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}