Our Memory Detecting Reminiscence Program has hundreds of vintage artifacts that we use to prompt memories. We have hundreds of metal artifacts from metal detecting but we also use hundreds of vintage bottles. All these artifacts are used to prompt senior memories. As a metal detectorist you often come across “bottle dumps.” As you are metal detecting an old home or farm site you may come across an old Out House where trash was often discarded. Other times you see a bit of trash on the surface which is a good indication that just below the surface is a bottle dump. Sometimes these bottle dumps can go down as much as 7 feet or more. Its very exciting to dig up these bottles because you never know what bottle you will find next. The vintage bottles found include ink bottles, liquor and beer bottles, common household bottles, sodas, milks, and many different types of medicine bottles. Embossed medicines and their history are some of my favorite items to find.
One medicine that your seniors will likely have a strong reaction too is CASTORIA. Charles Henry Fletcher started Dr Fletcher’s Castoria in 1872. It was a Laxative with a key ingredient being Senna a stimulant. It was a VERY Popular medicine during the 1930’s thru the 1950’s. Interestingly you can still see remnants of the old vintage CASTORIA advertisemnts on old buildings in and around New York City.
During our reminiscence program this medicine will always create an abundance of reactions from the seniors. The most common reaction is “Yuck”. Apparently Castoria did not taste very good. I have had more than one senior tell the group that their parents threatened any bad childhood behavior with, “If you don’t behave I will give you the Castoria!”
This is the beauty of using these artifacts to prompt various memories. Sometimes what happens is that one senior will share a story and then others will have a similar or shared experience that they will share. It is my goal to simply get out of the way, and let the group share these experiences and memories. I will often make notes of these interesting stories. After doing dozens of these programs I can honestly say that I have heard new and interesting stories on each and every program.
What medicines do your seniors recall? Who gave them the medicine? What common medicines did they give their children? Do they recall the taste or sometimes the smell? You never know where the conversation and memories will take you.
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