"OUR WOMEN OF SANDWICH"
(2020 Summer Exhibit)
FERNE TILTON
1925-2014
Born on January 3, 1925, in Campbelltown, PA, Ferne was the daughter of Herman and Sara K. (Zeiger) Mountz. Ferne was raised in Campbelltown and graduated from the Hershey High School. Ferne furthered her education at Penn State University earning a bachelor’s degree of Science in Nutrition.
Ferne and her husband Howard F. Tilton, Sr had three successful children, Anne, Howard Jr (Tom) and Gwendolyn (Gwen).
Ferne Quote: Your body needs a little bit of everything in moderation to stay healthy, yes even chocolate.
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Ferne had an active working career where she held several jobs throughout her life. Locally she was a Dietician for the Sandwich Central School and a manager at The Sandwich Home Industries for 15 years. We used to love going and visiting, we would enjoy a picnic lunch and admire all the artwork. Mary Got shall was our favorite.
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Did you know….
Ferne was on a bowling league and won many trophies. We always loved going and bowling with her.
Her go to cookbook was Betty Crocker.
She had patience; she never yelled.
She loved to play the Old Maid, Go Fish and Checkers
Ferne was on a bowling league and won many trophies. We always loved going and bowling with her.
Her go to cookbook was Betty Crocker.
She had patience; she never yelled.
She loved to play the Old Maid, Go Fish and Checkers

Ferne was very active in the greater Sandwich community and volunteered her time with several local organizations including: Samuel H. Wentworth Library, Sandwich and Moultonborough School Libraries, Sandwich Fair, and the Moultonborough-Sandwich Senior Meals Program. She was a dedicated member of the Sandwich Historical Society, the Federated Church of Sandwich, the Mt. Israel Grange, the Ladies Aid Society, the Sandwich Woman's Club, and was an assistant Scout Leader with the Girl Scouts of America.
If you reference the Sandwich Historical Society's 66th Excursion Bulletin, Ferne came in 3rd (representing the Mt. Israel Grange) for the State Grange baking contest. Ferne won in 1985 award for her chocolate cake, but the contest was only at the local grange level (no more State competitions). Her recipe is included below!
If you reference the Sandwich Historical Society's 66th Excursion Bulletin, Ferne came in 3rd (representing the Mt. Israel Grange) for the State Grange baking contest. Ferne won in 1985 award for her chocolate cake, but the contest was only at the local grange level (no more State competitions). Her recipe is included below!
“You can do and succeed at anything you want if you put your mind to it” Ferne
Gram was ALWAYS baking! There were always cookies to eat. We would come over and Grampy Howard would say “do you want a cookie”? I am a baker; we always have fresh cookies and the kids usually are making them with me. I am hopeful one of them will carry on this tradition. Gram would always try to get down to the potluck dinners, we never went as there were a lot of us and would have most likely put on a good show (laughing). Jennifer Wright sent me a smile saying, at the church potlucks Ferne would almost always bring a plate with slices of fruit, cottage cheese decorated with maraschino cherries! So 1950s. This comes back to the “all in moderation” comment. If you have a cookie you also must have fruit! Aprons! Gram, like her mother wore aprons! When we get together to can or bake for the holidays, we will often break them out a wear them.
I posed the question to my mom, aunt and uncle: What would you say one of Gram’s accomplishments be?
Everyone agreed that moving away from her entire family in Hershey Pennsylvania to New Hampshire was a big accomplishment. Gram came from a city type environment to a rural environment in which she knew no one. Gram embraced this and became a respected woman in the community. Gram’s family was incredibly supportive and came to visit, and she went to visit them.
Gram grew up during the depression without a father (passed away) or any siblings. Gram learned a lot about being an independent woman. Her mother and a lot of her family worked for Hershey. I will divulge ... I have an obsession for Hershey (smile).
Without a doubt my mom, aunt and uncle knew how much they were loved and appreciated the life lesson and kindness given to them.
Everyone agreed that moving away from her entire family in Hershey Pennsylvania to New Hampshire was a big accomplishment. Gram came from a city type environment to a rural environment in which she knew no one. Gram embraced this and became a respected woman in the community. Gram’s family was incredibly supportive and came to visit, and she went to visit them.
Gram grew up during the depression without a father (passed away) or any siblings. Gram learned a lot about being an independent woman. Her mother and a lot of her family worked for Hershey. I will divulge ... I have an obsession for Hershey (smile).
Without a doubt my mom, aunt and uncle knew how much they were loved and appreciated the life lesson and kindness given to them.
Ferne was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She treasured time spent with her family and friends. Ferne’s great grandchildren would come after school and always rave about the best snacks ever. The kids always loved the song “Rain Rain Go Away”. Ferne gardened, we loved using her salad spinner. It was the coolest thing ever. They do still make them! Cosmos always needed to be planted! As soon as the buttercups came up we always got the “buttercup” check. Gram or Gramp would grab a buttercup and say come here hold this under your chin and if it shines yellow your sweet. It is those small things you never forget. Ferne loved traveling and enjoyed shopping.
Ferne's Chocolate Cake
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1-3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/3 cups water
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla; beat 1 minute at medium speed.
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add alternately with water to creamed mixture.
Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 8-inch cake pans.
Bake at 350 (F) for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1-3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/3 cups water
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla; beat 1 minute at medium speed.
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add alternately with water to creamed mixture.
Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 8-inch cake pans.
Bake at 350 (F) for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool
I hope you have enjoyed this short ride through time. I am honored to have called Ferne Tilton my grandmother. ~Amy Brown, 2020