Since purchasing the old Moon Post Office building, Jameson and Lauren Gregg have recovered many interesting artifacts by carefully and patiently going through what many people would call trash.
The Greggs also own the adjacent Callis house, and have developed a keen interest in one of its inhabitants, Dahlia Callis. She was widely known locally and usually called in respect, “Miss Dahlia.”
One of the most interesting artifacts recovered is a collection of Miss Dahlia’s family recipes, many of which are written by hand. The material that they are written on is a special treat, as well. Other collected items include ledger sheets of store sales, small paperback cookbooks, and recently a small Sears Roebuck catalog.
Dahlia Callis was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Callis and Mary Susie Callis. Her father owned the business where in 1902 he applied and received the post office. The application asked for a name. Jeff is first written in but scratched out and Moon is written above it. The old local story tells that Callis was sitting on the back porch of his home when he saw such a beautiful moonrise. The Greggs will attest to the fact “sitting back there does give a good sight of the moon.”
Dahlia’s parents died just a couple of months apart in 1932. She inherited the family compound and lived there faithfully serving the county until her death in 1986.
Miss Dahlia was head of Mathews Memorial Library (then located on the court green and now the Mathews County School Board office) from November 1946 until her retirement in June 1973. Although the library was her prime interest, Dahlia was active in many other areas. She was a charter member of the Mathews Historical Society and was instrumental in obtaining the Fort Nonsense property. During World War II she volunteered at the Office of Price Administration and for many years was Home Service officer for the American Red Cross. She served as president of the Mathews Woman’s Club and held a lifetime membership in the Parent-Teacher Association. Somewhere along the way Dahlia taught piano.
Jameson and Lauren, since buying the Callis home, have searched, researched and inquired about the Callis family and are including some of their finds with their house décor. They have graciously shared Dahlia’s recipes salvaged from what was once Moon Post Office and a mercantile business.
Also, during research, they found that Dahlia’s burial site does not have a permanent stone marker. True to their interest in the Callis family and knowing she had no close relatives when she died, they have established a memorial fund at GoFundMe (search for Dahlia Callis) to obtain one.
MOLASSES CAKE
Lauren has made this cake and says it is very good.
2 c. molasses
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. lard
2 c. hot water
4 c. flour
1 heaping tsp. soda
1 c. raisins
2 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. cloves
¼ tsp. nutmeg, grated
6 eggs, beaten
Chop raisins. Mix spices, raisins and soda with flour. Heap measures of flour lightening. Mix molasses, sugar, lard and water. Stir in the flour adding the beaten eggs last. Bake in a shallow dripless pan and sprinkle with powdered sugar just before putting icing over.
Written on the back of this recipe:
Moon P. O.
Virginia
Mar. 8,1927
Smith & Welton Inc.
Norfolk
Gentlemen
Please send me samples of materials suitable to make a spring coat. Something in a silk also a Kasha cloth. As to color let it be something in a rose tan or whatever shade of tan is most used. Let a few samples be priced around $2.50 Yd. as well as the better grades.
Thank you,
Respectfully,
Dahlia E. Callis
Moon,
Virginia
GRAPE JELLY
Select grapes that are not quite ripe. Clean & drain. Mash until all are broken, then boil about ten minutes. Drain through cheese cloth & flannel but don’t squeeze. Measure the juice and put in a granite kettle. Put equal measure sugar in a bowl with a lip. Boil the juice for ten minutes removing scum as it forms. Then pour the boiling juice into the sugar stirring quickly, remove froth and pour into glasses as soon as sugar dissolves. It will thicken immediately.
On the back of this recipe is an ad from Miller & Rhoads & Swartz, Inc., Norfolk, promoting Arcadian Lawn a Fine Writing Paper.
BAKED BANANAS
Peel bananas and slice in half. Place in greased shallow baking dish and cover each half with drained crushed pineapple. Dot with butter and bake in moderate oven 15 minutes. Serve with meats or as a dessert.
This recipe is written on the back of a mailing from The Bank of Mathews, Inc. 1932.
NO NAME CAKE
1½ c. butter
2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
½ c. milk
2 Tbs. grated lemon rind
1 Tbs. lemon juice
4 eggs
1/3 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
4 egg whites, beaten
Cream butter & sugar. Add lemon and milk. Beat 2 minutes. Add rest. Pour into loaf pan. Bake 1 hour in slow oven.
This recipe is written on the back of a small piece of a letter written May 23, 1926, starting off, “Dear Ethel.”
