OK, dangerous question for a family history buff, but you asked.
My paternal grandparents emmigrated to Mass. from Nova Scotia. He was born in 1909, she in 1910. They were from fishing villages on opposite ends of the province, but ended up in the same town here. Their families moved here for better employment opportunities. My grandfather only completed the 8th grade. He spent most of his adult life working in the local shoe factory, as did his BIL and my own father. My grandparents were naturalized during the 40s I believe.
My grandmother wasn't really a grandmotherly type in the traditional sense. I always thought that had she lived in a different era, she would have been best suited for a career and not a family. But in her day she had no choice of course. I had the great fortune of growing up doors away from them so they were like second parents.
When I was younger, I often asked my grandmother to take me on trips to "Novy," which they did annually, but she would always tell me I'd just be bored. She always went back to see her relatives, but she seemed really glad she didn't have to live there. She was an unbelievable clothes horse, and rather high maintenance. Definitely NOT a country girl. Never drove a car and never rode a bike.
My grandparents and all their siblings are gone.
My maternal grandmother emigrated from Liverpool, England to Boston around 1905. She was born in 1893 or 1894, and my grandfather, who descended from a long line of New Englanders, was born in 1895. He was a WWI vet; his grandfather was a Civil War vet. I have copies of his Civil War records in my collection. He was at a number of the famous battles and apparently shook Lincoln's hand on the battle field. My grandmother was naturalized with her family not too long after their arrival. She was one of 11 children. My grandfather was also a working musician who performed at local venues.
My maternal grandfather died when I was almost 4, so I don't really have memories of him. I never met my grandmother. But their stories as told by my mother always interested me.
My grandfather raised chickens and pigs, in a suburb of Boston, in the early 40s, which blows my mind. (His day job was at the post office.) My grandmother made all sorts of things at home like laundry soap. They didn't waste anything. She made clothes and dance costumes for the kids, including skirts for my mother and her sister out of grain (feed) bags. They had a very large vegetable garden and many fruit trees, and all the produce was eaten fresh or canned. They pretty much only purchased what couldn't be grown or made at home. My mother remembers Saturday night baths in the old tub before they had hot running water.
Here's something interesting I learned during my genealogy research. An ancestor of my maternal grandfather served in Mass Bay Colony militia including service in Nova Scotia during the British expulsion of the Acadians in 1755. As cac succinctly put it, "your mother's ancestor went up there to kick your father's ancerstors out!" After his service, he was awarded land in Nova Scotia and became a grantee of the town where he settled with his family and remained after the Revolutionary War. Yes, he was a loyalist. My great-great grandfather was born in N.S. but eventually settled in MA, thus returning the branch to New England.
