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Biographies for Secondary Webquest

Plourde Family (Family 4)

It is September 1948. You are the Plourde family. You live in a one-and-a-half-storey wooden house on a small farm near the village of Notre-Dame-du-Lac in the valley of Temiscouata, Quebec, near the New Brunswick border. Notre Dame du Lac has a population of 1200 and you travel by horse and buggy to the train station there to pick up your catalogue order. You have about $33 to spend on a catalogue order, one of two you will make this year.

Income Table

Year

Income

1936
1948
1956

$554
$1,100
$2,964


Disposable Income Table

Year

Income

1936
1948
1956

$17
$33
$89


Alice (Mother)

Hello.

My name is Alice Plourde. I am 37 years old and manage the house and children.

It is my task to prepare all the jams and jellies to eat during the winter. I take the children with me and they help me pick berries.

I need a new preserving kettle because the old one is starting to wear thin. I would love to have a pretty new dress but we have little money to spend and practical shoes are more important. I would like to buy a small gift for each child.

We don't have a telephone or electricity, and I must mail my order to Monsieur Eaton and wait two weeks before the parcel arrives.

Go to these catalogue pages and choose a few things to order:

  • Preserving kettle (Page 552)
  • Dress (Pages 49 or 63)
  • Shoes (Pages 212 and 217)
  • Toys (Pages 511 and 512)

Joseph (Father)

Hello.

My name is Joseph Plourde. I am 38 years old and work hard on my farm to support my wife and children.

I'll earn about $1100 this year from our wheat and oats, our cows, pigs and chickens. In addition to our farm, I will spend some of my winter away from my family working as a lumberjack and at a lumber mill. When I'm away, my brothers help take care of the animals.

I would like a warm winter coat, wool socks, and new suspenders, and I would like to buy a gift for Alice, maybe a nice pair of gloves.

Go to these catalogue pages and choose a few things to order:

  • Winter coat (Page 257)
  • Wool socks (Page 107)
  • Suspenders (Page 264)
  • Women's gloves (Page 105)

Gemma (Child 1)

Hi.

My name is Gemma and I am 11 years old and hearing impaired.

I did go to school for a short while with my sister Madeleine, but the teacher did not have enough time to spend with me so I left school and stayed at home to help my mother. This is where the priest and doctor said I would be most useful.

I would like to have a pair of figure skates and a new dress, and I need a winter jacket and gloves.

Here are my favourite catalogue pages:

  • Figure skates (Pages 490 and 491)
  • Dress (Page 175)
  • Winter jacket (Page 69)
  • Gloves (Page 112)

Madeleine (Child 2)

Hi.

My name is Madeleine and I am 10 years old.

I walk a mile to attend Grade 5 at the local school.

I help out at home with chores and help my mother pick berries for our winter preserves. I am also learning how to iron clothes and keep house.

I wish for a doll and high chair, and a pretend purse of my own, and mother says I need new winter boots.

Here are my favourite catalogue pages:

  • Doll (Pages 508 and 509)
  • Toy high chair (Page 518)
  • Toy purse (Page 505)
  • Boots (Page 224)

Maurice (Child 3)

Hi.

My name is Maurice and I am 7 years old and walk to school with my sister Madeleine.

I go with my dad around the farm when he takes care of the animals and other farm work and help out a little, but I am still learning.

I would like to have a bicycle and a toy tractor or truck to play with, and mother says I need new mittens.

Here are my favourite catalogue pages:

  • Bicycle (Page 518)
  • Toy tractor (Page 512)
  • Toy truck (Page 511)
  • Mittens (Page 112)

 

   
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