Senior Connections August 2018
Delano twins recall growing up in the 1930s
ALLISON SCHAUST
Correspondent
Fresh spring air blew in through an open nursery window of a little Delano farmhouse . Sleeping soundly side-by-side were newborn twins , George and Genevieve . It was a beautiful day March 3 , 1930 when the twins joined the growing family of Anthony and Elizabeth Schaust .
The family would eventually have 10 children , all of whom remained very close into adulthood , yet there ’ s no denying the special bond George and Genevieve “ Jean ” shared as twins .
Their family was like any other Delano family growing up in the countryside . Anthony was a farmer who met his wife , Elizabeth , while she was working at the Delano newspaper at the time , The Delano Eagle . George recalls that Betty , as she was fondly known , was “ the best writer in the county .”
Anthony and Betty passed onto their children a strong work ethic and included them in all the farm work . “ Everyone milked cows by hand , girls too ,” George added when he was asked what kind of chores they participated in .
Along with the family ’ s 50 cows , they had Percheron workhorses , pigs , chickens , dogs , cats , geese , and ducks . One time , George ’ s older brother-in-law was having troubles with one of his workhorses . He lived just down the road , so he asked George to bring over one of their Percherons . These horses weren ’ t for riding , yet George climbed on and road the gigantic horse several miles to his brother-in-law ’ s farm .
When the kids finished their chores and studies , they played many games like “ Annie , Annie over ,” tag , hopscotch , and horseshoes . The boys and girls played together , but Jean stated that “ Ma never let us play outside in the rain .”
Twins George and Genevieve “ Jean ” Schaust have remained close through their 88 years .
PHOTO BY ALLISON SCHAUST
Their family was among the first in the Delano countryside to install electricity , and with that came the first radio in their neighborhood . George and Jean recall that whenever Joe Lewis ’ boxing match came on the radio , the neighbors came over to listen together . While the parents gathered around the radio , the kids played tag outside . “ We were all close to each other ,” Jean added with a smile .
All of the Schaust kids attended the country school , where they laid the foundation for their education .
For a time , the schoolteacher boarded with their family for $ 1 per day , which included three meals a day . Betty delivered a hot lunch to the schoolteacher every day since she had to stay with the children .
The schoolteacher paid George 15 cents a day ( out of her own pocket ) to go to the schoolhouse early in the morning during the winter to start the wood stove so that it would be warm when everyone else arrived . She also paid him an additional 15 cents at the end of the day to sweep , wash the blackboards , and empty the trash .
Every morning , George would wake up before the crack of dawn to help milk the cows before he ran to the schoolhouse to start the woodstove , then ran back home for breakfast . He also helped his mother with the dishes before he left with the other kids for school .
George said his favorite subject was physical education , while Jean mentioned that she loved English .
In those days , it was uncommon in a farming community like Delano for boys to graduate from high school . Jean explained that , “ Ma wanted us [ the twins ] to graduate together .”
At first , George was hesitant , because he had expected to begin working on the farm , but he said , “ I did it for Ma .”
George and Jean shared many classes together , and worked hard at their studies .
“ George sat behind me in most classes ,” Jean recalled . Both George and Jean remember being one of three pairs of twins their age growing up . “ It was unusual for a pair of boy-girl twins in those days ,” George explained .
In 1947 , the twins were in their senior year of high school . It was also a momentous year in that it was the first year Delano had an 11-man football team . George was approached by the coach to play on the team as a running back , but he had to ask his parents ’ permission to play , since football would take time away from the farm , not to mention the risk of being injured . With his parents ’ blessing , George joined the team .
Although Jean didn ’ t play in any after-school sports , she did participate in choir . “ We didn ’ t live at school like nowadays ,” Jean explained .
After graduation , George and Jean both married and started their own families . In spite of this , they remained very close with each other and their other siblings .
Jean married Ambrose Farniok , and together they had 14 children ( none of which were twins ). George and his wife , Joan Hance , had seven children ( also , none of which were twins ).
Ambrose worked at the Granite Works in Delano and as a mechanic out of his garage , while Jean kept busy at home .
Twins George and Genevieve “ Jean ” Schaust are shown here in an early photo with their mother , Elizabeth Schaust .
SUBMITTED PHOTO
4
Senior Connections August 2018
SeniorConnectionsHJ H . COM