
Introduction
In April of 1916 the North Carolina Board of Health held a “Baby Week Exhibit” in Cliffside. Booths were set up in different buildings in town, where young mothers and mothers-to-be were taught the essentials of bearing and raising children. Doctors, nurses, dieticians, other pediatric specialists and probably local volunteers were on hand to impart and demonstrate the fine points of motherhood.
This event might have been lost to history had not Don Bailey, who lives near Brevard, done an online search for “Cliffside” in the N. C. State Archives web site. The search turned up brief descriptions of several photos in the “Cliffside, Rutherford County, N. C.” category. Don drove to Raleigh to view them, and, sensing they were historically important, had prints made from the negatives. We’re grateful to Don for his contribution.

The baby’s bath. Too bad we can’t read the signs. What can you say about bathing the baby, except be sure and do it, but don’t use lye soap? Our model baby seems to be having a good time in his galvanized tub.
Courtesy Don Bailey

Baby’s Clothing. Were diapers home-made in those days? Perhaps the nurse is instructing the mothers how to properly launder them (don’t use lye soap).
Courtesy Don Bailey

Dental. The windows at the upper left and right suggest this booth was set up in one of the churches. The women and children were dressed in their Sunday best for the occasion.
Courtesy Don Bailey

Seeing the Doctor. The baby needs a periodic going-over by the town physician.
Courtesy Don Bailey

The baby feeding class. Note the wooden “black board,” the brick wall, the black curtain and the little oil stove at lower right. Among other things written on the board is the recipe for “protein milk.” The only words we can make out are: “1 qt. of whole milk heated to blood heat. Add 4 teaspoons essence of pepsin and stir….until curd is formed. Pour through linen cloth…1 pt of fresh buttermilk”
This could have taken place either in the mill or the store building, at the time the only brick buildings of any size in Cliffside.
Courtesy Don Bailey

Baby’s Play. The mother at right gets instructions on the making and maintenance of toys for baby.
Courtesy Don Bailey

Care Before Birth. This booth had recommendations on maternity clothes, the mother’s daily regimen and other tips on coping with pregnancy. One of the signs cautioned that “Bathing each day is necessary for the health of the mother.” Another advised, “The husband should do the heavy work about the home.” The “Care at Birth” poster (lower left) shows two men with the baby! Where was the mother? Perhaps she was already out hoeing the garden.
Courtesy Don Bailey
BABY WEEK AT CLIFFSIDE
Prominent Physicians To Lecture On Health Topics
The Rutherfordton Sun March 30, 1916
Baby Week at Cliffside begins on Sunday, April 2, with special services at Methodist church at 11 o’clock conducted by Rev. H. L. Powell. On Monday there will be special meetings of all committees and details for the week outlined, and in the afternoon there will be food demonstrations and a lecture on “Baby Hygiene” by Mrs. S. N. Burts. At night Dr. Geo. M. Cooper of the State Department of Public Health will lecture at the Hall.
Tuesday morning there will be an inspection of exhibits and short talks to mothers by those in charge. In the afternoon there will be lectures by Mrs. Burts and Dr. Cooper, and at night Mr. Powell and Mr. Hunt will lecture.
Wednesday morning will be given over to food demonstrations an inspection of exhibits and the afternoon county health officers will give a symposium on baby diseases.
Thursday morning will be devoted to talks on community health and in the afternoon there will be an inspection of all exhibits and demonstrations in the preparation of baby foods by Mrs. Burts.
On Friday there will be talks on “How to keep our babies well.” and demonstrations in the preparation of baby foods.
On Saturday morning there will be another inspection of exhibits, and in the afternoon a baby contest will be conducted by Dr. D. L. Smith, of Spartanburg. Dr. Smith will lecture on “How to keep our babies well,” and Dr. B. M. Haynes will make an address on “The good of Mother’s Club.”
Mothers are especially notified that there will be a physical examination of babies under 2 years every afternoon from 1:30 to 5 o’clock.
Rev. D. J. Hunt will preach a special sermon on Sunday morning, April 9th at the Baptist church.
Don Bailey, who found and contributed this article, reports that only two editions of the weekly Sun exist for the year 1916. Lucky for us the article fell in one of those weeks.
- Introduction
- Bath
- Clothing
- Dental
- Doctor
- Feeding
- Play
- Prenatal
- News Item