by Bea Peterson
Henrietta Luke celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday, November 4, at the Danforth Adult Care Center in Hoosick Falls. Staff and residents, along with her lifelong friend Luceil Eddy and long time friends Marge and Norman Lane, joined in the party.
Henrietta was born in Eagle Bridge at Posts Corners. She lived in that area most of her life. She went to school and high school in Cambridge. She was born Henrietta Bullard and married Mr. Luke late in her life. He passed away in the early 1980s.
An independent woman, Henrietta lived in her own home until two years ago, feeding the wild birds and taking care of her lawn on a riding mower. Her friends said she was a wonderful seamstress and made her own clothes. She loved ice skating, dancing, bowling, flower gardening, reading and her pet cats.
She was very active with the Nuco Senior Citizens in Cambridge. An avid volunteer, Henrietta worked on Blood Drives and often collected door to door for the Cambridge Rescue Squad. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Cambridge.
Henrietta loves animals and particularly enjoys the pet visits at the Danforth.
100 Years Ago
The following are some of the statistics read at Henrietta’s party:
• In 1910 the average life expectancy for men was 47 years.
• Fuel for cars of the period was only sold in drug stores.
• Only 14 percent of the homes in the US had a bathtub and only eight percent had telephones.
• The average US worker earned between $200 and $400 per year.
• Ninety percent of all doctors had no college education. Instead they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as substandard.
• Eggs were 14 cents a dozen, sugar was four cents a pound and coffee was 15 cents a pound.
• Two out of every ten adults couldn’t read or write and only six percent of all Americans graduated from high school.
• Marijuana, heroin and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, the stomach and bowels and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health!’
• In 1910 the population of Las Vegas, NV, was 30.