Leola B. Hogge of Gloucester, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 21, remembers life before electricity, running water and movies with sound.

Hogge also shared memories of living through hurricanes, of working alongside her late husband Melvin at a roller rink for many years, and of quilting parties. Also, she was a plane spotter during World War II, referring to drawings to identify and report all airplanes that flew into a certain sector she was observing.

Many of Hogge’s fondest moments revolve around family functions, she said, as well as being active in church, first at Ebenezer Baptist and for many years at Newington Baptist, both in Gloucester. She was one of 11 children, of whom she and four others survive.

Hogge remembers always having enough to eat, but the family provided much of what it ate, including growing all types of vegetables, pickling peaches and beets, and raising chickens and other animals. Many hours were spent canning, pickling and quilting, she s...