Calendars roll to August and the back to school preparations begin. Parents check that students have coats and shoes that fit, sturdy backpacks, and review the list of items needed on school supply lists. Back to school sales are everywhere we look, and in Transylvania County, these sales date back more than 80 years.

One 1941 Belk’s advertisement in the Transylvania Times announced a “School Needs Sale,” pricing clothing like Shirley Temple frocks, boys’ “longies”, loose leaf binders and school bags. Water-repellant Zelan jackets and corduroy coats, as well as girls’ and “subteen” dresses were promoted on such Back to School specials. One 1960 Bower’s dress ad said, “she will be so cute in these bright plaids with elastic waistline for perfect fit.” Images of children in the yearbooks housed in the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room show children dressed their best for school. Some ensembles made children appear much older than their ages. Dress codes and expectations were more formal then. Additionally, Anne’s Beauty Bar listed special prices for “Back to School Permanents” in 1955.

School supplies were also available at these sales. Crest Store on South Broad (often referred to as the five-and-dime) listed Crayola crayons and Tuck tape for 17 cents each in 1962, as well as a “binder special” that included filler paper and an index for only 88 cents. Even furniture stores offered sales on desks and other items for back to school. A 1966 Pearlman’s ad said to “give your student the tools to work with…a roomy, quality constructed, well organized study center.” Coleman Tire Company held a “Firestone Back-to-School Jubilee” in 1963 for items like alarm clocks, wastebaskets, hairdryers, wristwatches, and bicycles.

Finally, the start of school days changed how families fed themselves. Preparing healthy breakfasts, bag lunches, and evening dinners became even more important when feeding hungry students. In 1958, Winn Dixie marketed the importance of buying high quality foods, “many of them vitamin enriched to supply extra vitamins needed for growing bodies.” Recipes like “Quick Breakfast Puffs” were also shared in the newspapers for quick, easy-to-prepare morning meals. The breakfast puffs, specifically, used 6 slices of day-old bread, American cheese, milk, and eggs, all readily available at the nearest grocer’s back to school sales.

As caregivers navigate the seemingly endless options to clothe and supply their students, it is comforting to know there are generations before that had similar retail experiences. The prices may have increased but sending students to their first day of school feeling confident, prepared, and well-fed has not changed.

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Local History Associate Erin Weber Boss. Sources available upon request. For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or 828-884-1820.