Nicklas details fascinating aspects of her 106-year life
Bernice Nicklas turned 106 on Dec. 23, and the spry centagenarian continues to greatly enjoy her life while sporting her ever-present lipstick, earrings and hair done just so.
Nicklas is now a resident of White Rock Court, a senior living facility in Dallas, to be near her daughter and son-in-law.
Nicklas was born in 1917 in Adrian, Pa., and lived in Butler from 1942 to 2015. Most of those years were spent with her late husband, Brownie, who died in 1979.
The Butler Eagle asked Nicklas’ daughter, Carolyn Johnson, to share a list of 10 questions with her mother regarding her life and memories upon the occasion of her 106th birthday.
Nicklas and Johnson were kind enough to oblige, and the following offers a fascinating glimpse into the past of a woman who has seen so much.
1. Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born at home, with a doctor, not a midwife, the youngest of 12 children (six boys/six girls) in Adrian, Pa. I grew up there on our farm and as a freshman, moved to Kittanning to live with my sisters, Blanche and Mary, who were married. I was the first (in my family) to graduate high school.
2. What was elementary/grammar school like when you were young compared to today? What school did you attend?
I attended Hickory School, and it was a one-room schoolhouse that went from first to eighth grades. I walked to school and sometimes Mrs. Lasher stopped me to help her fold sheets from the line on the way. I was always afraid I would be late to school.
3. What mode of transportation did your family use to get to town or go to church or visiting when you were a young child?
Mom and Dad rode in a buggy pulled by our horse. My sisters Ada and Blanche and I walked to church.
4. How was laundry done when you were a young girl at home?
The laundry was put in a large pot outside with water, and soap was added. It was set over a fire, and the clothes were stirred. Sometimes washboards were used for stains.
5. Did you ever meet an old Civil War veteran or see one in a parade?
I met a couple who lived in our district.
6. What is the most important invention you've seen in your lifetime?
The automobile. (While the automobile was invented in the late 1800s, it did not become common among American families until the 1920s and ’30s, when 60% of families owned a car.)
7. Who was your favorite president and why?
Dwight D. Eisenhower. He didn't pussyfoot around!
8. What advice would you give people who want to live as long as you?
Keep moving and stay busy.
9. Who was your favorite movie star when you were a teenager or young woman?
Toss up between Vivien Leigh and Lucille Ball.
10. What is your favorite saying or something you are known for saying?
Where's the party and what do I need to bring?
