Bedroom of the Park Forest House Museum
 

The bedroom once again has heavy blond furniture-possibly limed oak again.
Here we have another set of large geometric drawer pulls.

Poodles were very popular reflecting an interest in anything Parisian as Paris was reopened after the war.
[First drawer bureau] -gloves and hats were worn on shopping excursions. To go downtown on the train required two pairs of gloves.
By the time a woman or girl got off the train, it was time to switch to a clean pair of gloves.
[Second drawer bureau] -added collars were popular.

Cotton diapers were used exclusively. Some lucky women had a diaper service. Babies were kept in with Mom and
Dad while older siblings shared the second bedroom.   We have put our master bedroom in the smaller room, although
parents usually took the large bedroom. 

Bassinets were used for babies to sleep in, and the bathinette was a common household item.
Ours doubles as a changing table.

The painting over the bed is of St. Anne's Catholic Church which stood where the racquet court is now.

In the vanity we have leg make-up worn when silk stockings were unavailable as silk was used in parachutes for the war
and nylons newly invented, were rare and expensive. We also have pancake makeup. The rubber belt-like item is a
"tummy wrapper" to maintain a thin waistline for the slim-line fashions of the day. The second drawer of the vanity has
hand-knit baby sweaters and baby clothes.

Our housewife is getting ready to go out for the night.

Babysitters were rare in the early days. There were few teenagers in the courts. The Teenage Club in
"Hi Neighbor Tips" lists only a handful.  Most courts formed babysitting cooperatives. A log was kept of how many
hours you sat for someone's kids. Later you could have your kids sat for that long. Also, neighbors knew each other well.
You could put your kids to bed and go out for the night. Your neighbors would look in on your sleeping kids for you.
The walls were thin enough to hear if a little one awoke.  -- Jane Nicoll

(Click on the "Closets" link below for more information about the bedroom closet.)