Mrs. Frances Johnson, born in 1890, was a Cape Cod native with roots in Brewster. Her father, David Eldridge, hailed from Brewster, and her mother was Fanny Foster. Growing up in a large family of nine children, Frances spent her childhood in Boston but cherished summers on the Cape. In the 1920s, she made the permanent move to the Cape.  Her early responsibilities on the family farm included milking and making ice cream. Frances was also skilled in sewing and creating dresses, blouses, and sheets from unbleached cotton.  Married and settled on the Cape in 1921, Frances navigated through the challenges of the Depression. Her husband and son, both fishermen out of Rock Harbor, sold clams by the roadside for survival. Active in building their home and cottages, Frances and her family occasionally used driftwood for construction. 

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Mrs. Frances Johnson offers a vivid portrait of life on Cape Cod during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Growing up as one of nine children in Boston, Mrs. Johnson's childhood memories are intertwined with summers spent on the Cape. The narrative spans her relocation to the Cape in the 1920s, providing a detailed account of her experiences and the evolving landscape of the region. Highlighting unique anecdotes, Mrs. Johnson recounts a memorable 1902 train trip from Brewster to Boston, where a misunderstanding with the conductor led to an assumption that her mother was taking the children to an orphanage. She reflects on the transition from sand roads to the anticipated "macadamization" of routes, offering insights into the challenges of transportation during her early years. The interview delves into family trips, including a nostalgic journey from Brewster to Chatham, vividly describing the landscapes, foods, and the family's encounters with a livery stable. Mrs. Johnson shares the details of her childhood chores on the family farm, such as milking and making ice cream, and her skills in sewing, crafting dresses, blouses, and sheets from unbleached cotton. Beyond personal recollections, the interview explores community life, from walks to Orleans to collecting fish from weirs and attending silent movies. Mrs. Johnson provides glimpses into her relationships with affluent local families like the Nickersons and Crosbys, detailing their homes and lifestyles. The latter part of the interview focuses on Mrs. Johnson's life after moving to the Cape with her family in 1921. She candidly discusses the challenges of the Depression, including her husband and son selling clams by the roadside. Technological advancements, such as telephones, radios, and indoor plumbing, mark significant shifts in daily life. The narrative also encompasses Mrs. Johnson's active role in building her home and cottages, including the use of driftwood. Her husband and son's fishing endeavors out of Rock Harbor, described in detail, add a valuable perspective on the region's maritime history. The interview concludes with reflections on the later lives of notable local figures, Roland Nickerson and Uncle Herbert Crosby. Mrs. Frances Johnson's account provides a comprehensive and engaging narrative, enriching our understanding of Cape Cod's history and the resilience of its communities.