A friend of mine posted a picture to Facebook and I was immediately taken back in time. This was a picture of a campaign give away. I recognized the names of the candidates but not the year it would have been. But I was taken back to high school by that picture. Campaign headquarters for both parties were on main street, just down the street from the high school. East Hampton being a small town Newtown and Main were the streets with all the business. During campaign season all the students from the high school, and that began with seventh and eighth grade in those days, would frequent those campaign headquarters for the give-a-ways.
I remember going there and stocking up on book covers, pencils, pens, note pads, and calendars. They had the bumper stickers and yard signs as well. I recall getting pot holders one year, and a hand towel. Yes, buttons as well. Those places were fully stocked that much is certain. We would hit the Republicans one day and the Democrats the next. I don't remember ever being turned away or told to not take what I wanted. I'm certain it must have happened but I don't know of anyone that took a great deal at one time. We just visited frequently. It was really quite something. Free stuff! Yes, it really was free, all we had to do was tell our parents to vote for whoever.
It has been many years since I have visited anyone's' campaign headquarters. I haven't stopped in for any yard signs or buttons. I'm assuming they still do all of that. I wonder though, do they still have all that other stuff? Was that tailored to us because of the closeness of the high school? A great deal of the give-a-way stuff was geared toward us kids. Stuff we could use or give to our parents. Or do the campaigns spend there money on advertising mediums like social media? I wonder how much stuff they buy to give away these days. I do see yard signs and banners so I'm guessing those things are available. What about pens and pencils? Rulers were quite popular as I recall.
Well it is a good memory anyway. It is the little things like that that make up our childhood memories. What we considered a common enough thing. I didn't wait for campaign season to come along but when it did, that was cool. Nowadays the kids would have to wait until after school as they are in lockdown most of the time. We went during lunch hour. Like I said, a good memory.
Thanks Lori, This is a sewing kit, I'd forgotten about that. Yeah, would get some cool stuff back then.
I remember going there and stocking up on book covers, pencils, pens, note pads, and calendars. They had the bumper stickers and yard signs as well. I recall getting pot holders one year, and a hand towel. Yes, buttons as well. Those places were fully stocked that much is certain. We would hit the Republicans one day and the Democrats the next. I don't remember ever being turned away or told to not take what I wanted. I'm certain it must have happened but I don't know of anyone that took a great deal at one time. We just visited frequently. It was really quite something. Free stuff! Yes, it really was free, all we had to do was tell our parents to vote for whoever.
It has been many years since I have visited anyone's' campaign headquarters. I haven't stopped in for any yard signs or buttons. I'm assuming they still do all of that. I wonder though, do they still have all that other stuff? Was that tailored to us because of the closeness of the high school? A great deal of the give-a-way stuff was geared toward us kids. Stuff we could use or give to our parents. Or do the campaigns spend there money on advertising mediums like social media? I wonder how much stuff they buy to give away these days. I do see yard signs and banners so I'm guessing those things are available. What about pens and pencils? Rulers were quite popular as I recall.
Well it is a good memory anyway. It is the little things like that that make up our childhood memories. What we considered a common enough thing. I didn't wait for campaign season to come along but when it did, that was cool. Nowadays the kids would have to wait until after school as they are in lockdown most of the time. We went during lunch hour. Like I said, a good memory.
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