As many of you may have noticed, NVHM has plants growing rapidly East of the canon on the Museum Grounds. These plants are luffa, grown and maintained by a group of youth volunteers who were intrigued by the mention of Luffa in a historical Clarinda Herald Journal article; the Luffa Project is further explained below.
Before WWII, most luffas were imported from Japan; however, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor ended the bulk importation of luffas to the United States. In 1893, Nell Cusack, a journalist, wrote, “They were in great demand!” referring to the widely spreading popularity of this beautiful luffa sponge that made your skin glow. The women, wanting their skin to appear as youthful as possible, often scrubbed with vigor and over-enthusiastically. Historic Luffa, is even mentioned in the Clarinda Herald Journal in the early 1900s as “The Gourd That Grows Dishrags” and referred to as a handy kitchen aid. The NVHM is proud to share the unique History of Luffa with our community. We encourage you to give the “HISTORIC LUFFA" a chance to make a comeback in Southwest Iowa Kitchens, Bathrooms, and across the Nation.
Thank you for your support of the NVHM!