SEWING

On this date in 1846, Elias Howe was awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent Office for a lock-stitch sewing machine. Eight years later, Isaac Singer started selling a similar machine. Howe sued Singer for patent infringement and won. Singer had to pay Howe royalties. No matter, they both ended up millionaires back when a million dollars meant something.

Its hard to imagine a world without machine sewn material. Clothes were relatively very expensive prior to the sewing machine. The ability to sew was necessary for every household. Long lasting clothes made out of hides were a staple.

This may seem strange and remote to you . . . such a long time ago, but that's about the time my great grandparents were born. To me, that not really that long ago.
:D