Historic Hood River
Making Mattresses
4-19-2022
Notes
It’s easy to forget the early 1940s were still part of the Great Depression. This image is part of a series documenting a program which helped these women make their own mattresses out of cotton and cloth. This appears to be a joint program between the Depression-era Farm Services Administration and the Oregon State College Extension Services to make 240 mattresses.
The caption says, “A completed bat. One lady in picture made a mattress 23 years ago. (rear). Miss Lutz O.S.C helps to place cover for more beating of bats together.” O.S.C would be Oregon State College.
I thought the word “beating” might be a typo, but some of the images show the class beating the mattresses with sticks.
L.E.
I know it is common practice to take a mattress out in the sun and beat it, to get rid of dust mites and other yukkies. I wonder if this beating had something to with shaping the cotton batting?
Arlen L Sheldrake
any idea on the location? appears some have masks. yet another learning….mattress beating……Arlen
ArthurB
I believe this was up in Odell. I did a little research on beating cotton mattresses. Apparently beating the cotton fluffs it up. Maybe it separates the fibers?
nels
Everybody wearing dresses. Wonder what would happen if a woman showed up
in pants?! And some wearing hats – to keep off the flying cotton?
Probably not advisable in modern days. But can you imagine sleeping on
compressed cottonballs?
kmb
I think that must have been the mattress in my dorm room when I attended OSU in the late 70’s.