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NIAGARA, Wis. -- Having been born in 1951, I came of age in the 1960s. While I spent most of that decade with my nose in books studying well into the evening hours, I generally came downstairs and visited with my mother in front of Johnny Carson before I went to bed.
Once I was in college, I walked home down the hill from the dorm in which I was living, and our custom continued. Years later, I recall a conversation in which she commented on how difficult it was to live through the 1960s. That was quite a statement coming from someone of her generation, since she could also remember living through the Great Depression as a child on the family farm and World War II. I recently found a very interesting article about life in 1960s America, so today let's take a closer look at that time in our country's history.
I can remember some of the unrest; certain memories are more vivid than others. I was in grade school when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and I remember Walter Cronkite making the announcement at the exact time of his death. My mother was so upset, and our family watched his televised funeral. Other assassinations of political leaders followed: Martin Luther King, Jr., and I was a junior in high school when I heard the announcement of Robert Kennedy's death. The Vietnam war was ongoing, and boys in my class graduated with a high school diploma followed shortly thereafter by a draft notice. Students on college campuses across America demonstrated against that war, and cries of "Hell no, I won't go" echoed across the country. The tension at those colleges further escalated after the shooting of students on the campus of Ohio State University during one of the many demonstrations against the war in Vietnam.
This decade's most historic and consequential moments were widely covered, and have taken their places in the annals of our country's history. But not every moment of this decade was defined by turbulence. While that tumultuous history was being made, many people were still living normal, everyday lives in homes across the country. Following is a snapshot of day-to-day life in 1960s America.
-- 42% of adults were smokers: Smoking was still widespread in the middle of the 20th century. The smoking rate in the country reached a peak of 47% of adults by the end of 1952. This included 50% of doctors. I can remember one of our family physicians smoking during our office visit with him; he blew smoke right into my face! Though cigarette sales declined somewhat in 1953 and 1954 amid growing health concerns, the introduction of the filtered cigarette created a rebound. Through the early years of the 1960s, the smoking rate held steady at 42% of adults. On Jan. 11, 1964, the Surgeon General published the first report of the Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health. This was a landmark event that brought the link between smoking and disease front and center in the minds of Americans. Smoking has been on an overall downward trend ever since, dropping to 11.5% of adults.
-- Average price of a haircut was $2.05: In 1966, the national average for the price of a man's haircut was $1.95, which is $19.03 in today's currency. For women, it was $2.16, or $20.79 today. A permanent wave, however, cost an average of $12.15, which is $118.57 in today's dollars. The "perm" was a multi-step process that required additional materials and could take between six to eight hours to complete. So, the higher price was justified. Not surprising, Chicago was the most expensive city for men to get a haircut; the average price there was $2.48, or $24.20 today, while Dallas was the least expensive. But interestingly, Chicago was the cheapest city for women: $2.08 ($20.30 today) for a conventional cut, and $11.27 ($109.98) for the permanent wave. The most expensive city for women was Washington D.C. at $3.31 and $18.19 ($32.30 and $177.51, in today's dollars respectively).
-- 72% of adults were married: In the early 1960s, marriage was still viewed as a fairly unquestioned rite of passage into adulthood. The median age for brides in 1960 was 20.1, while the median age for grooms was 24.2, and the percentage of adults who were married was a large majority: 72% in 1960. My husband and I fit those statistics, for we were married in 1971, when I was 20 and he was 21. But the decade of the '60s brought about sweeping social changes in attitudes toward divorce, sexuality and parenthood, creating a downward trend in marriage that persisted into the 21st century. Data collected in 2023 shows that the current median age at first marriage is 28 for women and 30 for men, and just 53% of American adults are married.
-- Average price for most groceries was less than $1: A single dollar bill had a lot of buying power throughout most of the 20th century. The national average price for most grocery staples in the 1960s was less than $1 -- a 5-pound bag of flour was 61 cents, a dozen eggs cost 66 cents, a pound of ground beef was 55 cents and a box of generic corn flakes was 32 cents. In today's dollars, these prices equate to $5.95, $6.44, $5.37 and $3.12, respectively. I can attest to the truth of these statistics. I can still remember the cost of groceries in our first year of marriage: hamburger was 59 cents per pound, chicken was 29 cents per pound, a dozen eggs cost 29 cents and I could get a loaf of bread for a quarter. Despite those cheap prices, my husband and I took full advantage of the free pizza received as employees at the Pizza Hut, and we ate a lot of canned Dinty More stew.
-- A three-minute, cross-country phone call cost $2: Though many aspects of daily life are more expensive today than they were in the past, phone service is one item that's actually more affordable today than it was in the 1960s. During most of the landline era, phone calls to different regions incurred long-distance charges, based on the duration and distance of the call. In 1960, the cost for a three-minute call from New York to San Francisco was $2.25; it dropped to $1.75 by the end of 1967. With inflation, the $2 average for that three-minute call would be the equivalent of $19.89 today. A lengthier conversation could easily incur enough long-distance charges to surpass the cost of an entire month of cellphone service today. Consequently, my husband and I wrote each other letters every week throughout our dating years.
-- 75% of typewriters sold were IBM Selectrics: For most of the 20th century, the typewriter was the quintessential office item. In 1946, leading manufacturer IBM set out to improve the typewriter design that had been standard since the late 19th century. For years, manual typewriters had been equipped with a basket of individual typebars. As the typewriter's keys were pressed, the bar corresponding to the selected letter lifted, passing against an inked carbon ribbon. If these keys were pressed in too rapid a succession, the typebars jammed. IBM engineer Horace Beattie developed a golf ball-shaped printer head that allowed for a pivoting motion that made the page more stable and less prone to the small shifts that could result in unwanted slanted text. Additionally, the type sphere was designed to be easily replaceable, allowing for switching out typefaces, thus giving the machine its name: Selectric. The Selectric was capable of printing 186 words per minute and accommodating keystrokes as quick as 20 milliseconds apart with no risk of jamming. I can remember when my mother was provided with the new IBM Selectric in her office at the college; her fingers could just fly across the keyboard as she typed more than 150 words per minute!
While the 1960s will be remembered as an intense era of war and political violence, we can also remember that decade in a more positive light. The '60s brought some of the most significant social change in our nation's history: the Civil Rights Movement and a rising counterculture that made room for individual differences and encouraged creativity.
Source: History Facts
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NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES
Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community
Kingsford
906-774-1530
The center welcomes anyone who would like to entertain the residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities. The third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. has a Memory Cafe. For more information, contact Jaime Hathaway at jlhathaway@protonmail.com. The program runs on donations.
Sunday: Strong Tower Church, 2 p.m.; Packers game, 4:25 p.m.
Monday: Movie, 10 a.m.; Roll to Play, 2 p.m.
Tuesday: Nail/spa, 10 a.m.; Communion, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.
Wednesday: Church, 10 a.m.; coffee and trivia, 11:30 a.m.; Uno, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday: Baking group -- vanilla cupcakes, 10 a.m.; making leaf bowls, 1:30 p.m.
Friday: Karaoke, 10 a.m.; Golden K bingo with drinks and cheese, 2 p.m.
Saturday: Puzzles in the Lounge; games in the dining room
Iron County Medical Care Facility
Crystal Falls
906-874-1501
Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; trivia, 9:45 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.
Monday: Memory Books, 9:45 a.m.; resident council, 10:30 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 3 p.m.; reminisce, 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Just friends, 9 a.m.; Amasa Senior Center, 9 a.m.; library open house, 10 a.m.; balloon toss, 10:45 a.m.; throw away bingo, 2 p.m.
Wednesday: Coffee social/Christ United, 10 a.m.; veteran's program, 1 p.m.; room visits, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6:15 p.m.
Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour with Gayle, 2 p.m.
Friday: Hunting Day/big buck bingo, 9:45 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; deer hunting challenge, 2 p.m.; classic movie, 6 p.m.
Saturday: "Price Is Right"/"Name That Tune," 9:45 a.m.; geri gym, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; social hour, 2 p.m.
Optalis Healthcare
Kingsford
906-774-4805
Sunday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Yahtzee, 1:30 p.m.
Monday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; dice games, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; word search in the lobby, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; Dr. Pol show, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Thanksgiving craft, 2 p.m.
Wednesday: Hope Church, 9:30 a.m.; acknowledging our veterans with doughnuts, 11 a.m.; patriotic music by Bob Larson, 2 p.m.; coloring sheets, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; crossword puzzles, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Golden K bingo, 2 p.m.
Friday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; mini mysteries, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; ice cream sundaes, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; game -- pass left and right, 1:30 p.m.
Maryhill Manor Nursing Home
Niagara, Wis.
715-251-3172
Families are allowed to attend activities and are encouraged to join in.
Sunday: Tongue twisters, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 10:15 a.m.; Packers tailgate, 1:30 p.m.; church service, 2:45 p.m.; Packers vs. Patriots, 3:25 p.m.
Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; fly swatter balloon, 2 p.m.
Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; crafting: tart tin snowmen, 10 a.m.; music with Bob Larson, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.
Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Protestant service, 10 a.m.; Veterans' Day trivia/baking bread, 10:15 a.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.
Thursday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; short stories, 10 a.m.; Pictionary, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.
Friday: The Breakfast Club, 7 a.m.; tic tac trivia, 10 a.m.; happy hour with Ray and Mindy, 2 p.m.
Saturday: Uno, 10 a.m.; prize bingo, 2 p.m.; call a friend!
Northshore Healthcare
Florence, Wis.
715-528-4833
No information was available.
Victorian Pines
Iron Mountain
906-774-5158
Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.
Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.
Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.
Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.
Pinecrest Medical Care Facility
Powers
906-497-5244
Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Bunco, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:30 a.m.; church service, 1:30 p.m.; tech time; coloring pages; daily chronicles.
Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; "You be the Judge," 11 a.m.; manicure Monday, 2 p.m.; Bible studies, 3 p.m.; book club, 4 p. m.; movie, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles.
Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; juice hour/who-what-where, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; rummy, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.
Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; Pictionary, 11 a.m.; Bible stories, 11 a.m.; red, white and focused with mock shots (U.P. hospice), 2 p.m.; Yahtzee, 4 p.m.
Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation; bingo/fact of the day, 10:30 a.m.; "Family Feud," 2 p.m.; table talk, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.
Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; yarn club with Sue, 11 a.m.; "What's Your Verdict?", 11:15 a.m.; FOOF -- Fans of Old Films, 1:30 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; game night, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles.
Saturday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Fall Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; activity packets; daily chronicles.
SENIOR CENTERS
Amasa Center
906-822-7284
Menu for the week --
Tuesday: Beef broccoli soup, ham slicers, salad.
Wednesday: Pulled pork sandwich, cheesy ranch potatoes.
Thursday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, vegetable, garlic bread.
Breen Center
Kingsford
906-774-5110
Dine-in eating at noon Monday through Thursday. Carryout meals, soup and salad bar are also available. Menu for the week --
Monday: Liver or substitute, roasted garlic potatoes, biscuit, pudding
Tuesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, acorn, Jell-O with fruit.
Wednesday: Lemon chicken and rice, broccoli, applesauce.
Thursday: Beef stroganoff over noodles, mixed vegetables, croissant.
Crystal Falls Center
906-875-6709
The center serves meals for dine-in or takeout -- call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or to place an order. All food is purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea, or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. -- call ahead and leave a message with a phone number. A volunteer will deliver meals to homebound citizens only. Menu for the week --
Monday: Pizza - pepperoni, cheese, sausage.
Tuesday: Lasagna, cheesy garlic bread.
Wednesday: Open-face pork sandwich, mashed potatoes and gravy.
Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency
DICSA
Iron Mountain
906-774-2256, ext. 244
This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only -- call to make arrangements. Menu for the week --
Monday: Sloppy Joe on a bun, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato fries.
Tuesday: Farmers casserole, sausage, mini-croissant, berry and granola yogurt parfait.
Wednesday: Lasagna, green beans, garlic bread.
Thursday: Chicken and dressing sandwich, California vegetables, birthday dessert.
Friday: Taco salad with tortilla, fiesta corn, refried beans, salsa/sour cream.
Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage
For more information, call Sarah VanMarter at 906-774-2256 ext. 244
Crystal Lake Center
Iron Mountain
906-828-1776
Monday: Les Artistes Art Club, noon to 2:30 p.m., all artists are welcome at anytime.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.
Tuesday: Cards -- Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.
Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cents, with 10 games played.
Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; board games, 1 to 3 p.m.
Friday: Cards -- Smear, noon to 4 p.m.; chess, noon.
Felch Center
906-246-3559
Head cook: Joan Wickman, 906-246-3559
Program president: Lisa Casey, 906-282-7899.
Salad bar opens at 11 a.m., with the meal at 11:30 a.m. and dessert to follow. Evening meal is served every third Wednesday of the month, with sponsored activities. Takeout meals are available. Delivery offered to homebound residents within Felch, West Branch and Breen townships.
Menu for the week -
Monday: Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, soup.
Tuesday: Baked pork cutlets, mashed potatoes and gravy.
Wednesday: Pastie pie, salad.
Aging and Disability Resource Center
Florence County, Wis.
715-528-4890
Menu for the week --
Monday: Fall chicken salad, bread sticks, warm fruit compote.
Tuesday: Ham and bean soup, egg salad sandwich, fruit.
Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, candied carrots, pumpkin poke cake.
Thursday: Hot turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie.
Friday: Enchilada bake with lettuce, olives, onions, rice and salsa, corn bread, fruit.
All meals are served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.
Aurora-Hillcrest Dining Center
Serving on site Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.
Florence Community Center
Serving on site Monday through Thursday at 11:30 a.m. For reservations, call 715-528-4261
Fence Town Hall
Serving on Wednesdays only at noon. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.
Tipler Town Hall
Serving at noon on the second Thursday of the month only. For reservations, call 715-674-2320.
Hermansville Center
Coordinator: Barb Peters
906-498-7735
Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals-On-Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.
Monday: Chicken stroganoff, California vegetables, peas, diced pears.
Tuesday: Million-dollar tortellini bake, Brussel sprouts, five-way mixed vegetables, whole wheat breadstick, applesauce.
Wednesday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, green and wax beans, fruited Jell-O, whole wheat bread.
Thursday: Broccoli cheese soup, chicken salad spread, whole wheat bread, copper penny salad, fruit cup.
Iron River Center
906-265-6134
Lunch served Tuesday and Wednesday at noon, salad bar at 11:30 a.m. Thursday's meal is at 5 p.m., salad bar at 4:30 p.m. Meals include salad, juice or milk, and dessert.
Tuesday: Green chili, baked burritos.
Wednesday: Barbecue and cheese.
Thursday: Roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetable, dinner roll.
Niagara Senior Center/Cafe
715-251-1603
Dinner is served at noon Tuesday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation for the meal is $6 for those older than 60 and $11 for 60 and younger. Transportation to the meal site is available.
Bingo on Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday: Bacon-wrapped pork filet, mashed sweet potatoes, broccoli, applesauce, wheat bread.
Wednesday: Tuna noodles casserole, peas and carrots, garden side salad, apple torte.
Thursday: Baked fish, German potato salad, mixed vegetables, cole slaw, rye bread.
Norway Center
Director: Alicia Rochon
906-563-8716
Dine-in eating beginning at 11:30 a.m. Salad bar available from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. -- those attending should let staff know in advance if planning to dine in or pick up the meal. Menu for the week --
Monday: Spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, cauliflower.
Tuesday: Philly cheesesteak sandwich, fries, baked beans.
Wednesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots.
Thursday: Pork tenderloin with gravy, oven-roasted potatoes, mixed vegetables.
Center activity schedule --
Mondays and Thursdays: Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.
Monday through Thursday: Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. -- call Joe at 563-5587 for information.
Tuesdays: Quilting and sewing.
Wednesdays: Ceramics and crocheting.
Last Monday of each month: Book club at 9 a.m.
Sagola Center
906-542-3273
Dine-in meals served. Salad bar opens at 11 a.m. and meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals are also available. Dine-in meal is $6 and takeout meal is $7. Reservations are required and should specify if dining in or taking out. Come and enjoy a meal with us -- all are welcome, at any age. Menu for the week --
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes, chips, vegetables.
Wednesday: Chicken stuffing bake. Bingo after meal.
Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy. Celebrate November birthdays.