
DATE: Thursday, September 11, 1997          TAG: 9709100174

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: COURTLAND                         LENGTH:  125 lines

PAST TIMES HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATES THE JOYS (AND HARD TIMES) OF THE GOOD OL' DAYS

REMEMBER THE cotton mopper? It was filled with molasses and arsenic. What was its use?

You'll find out when you visit the Southampton Agriculture and Forestry Museum Sept. 20 during the Sixth Annual Heritage Day.

The trip, though, will be worthwhile, and fun.

If you are old enough, there are memories; if you have not yet reached the half-century mark, you will learn something.

Last year, more than 1,000 people remembered and/or learned. This year, attendance of more than 1,500 is predicted, thanks to pumped up advertising and promotion.

``You get a sense of history that you can't get anywhere else,'' said Ernest Wrenn, one of the 40 volunteers working to make the day successful.

``You get to see how our forefathers lived,'' said Raymond Cobb.

Not to mention our women ancesters, for whom you will gain new respect.

Let's take the family laundry as an example.

Today, you stuff it in a washer, press a button, take it out, stuff it in a dryer, press a button, then moan, ``I've had a tough day - did the laundry.''

During Heritage Day, you'll see the attention clothes used to get on the washboard - one at a time, loads of rubbin' and scrubbin', with time out for brow-wiping.

Then, things got a tad easier.

Take a look at the 1912 copper tub washing machine, complete with callous-donating wringers, manufactured by - love this name - the Easy Washing Machine Co. of Syracuse, N.Y.

Outside, the man of the farmhouse was using horse-powered, people-powered plows - far from easy. Visit Heritage Day, and you'll see why.

``Ernest wouldn't want to see anyone walking behind a plow,'' Kello said, referring to the retired farm agent.

Those were tough times. As Francis Kello points out, ``you'll see how back-bending the work used to be.''

Still, there are things that have not been duplicated in this day and age.

``One thing I miss,'' Kello said, ``are the homemade biscuits made in a wood stove. They stayed hotter and tasted better.''

Speaking of food, pork barbecue will be available as well as hot dogs, homemade snacks, soft drinks, and tea.

June and John Fox will serve cider from their cider press; Bobby Cobb will do lard rendering to produce tasty - if your taste runs in that direction - cracklings.

The major Heritage Day attractions are the crafts.

``They're important,'' Kello said. ``We sold about everything we had last year.''

This year you will see such things as chair caning, country store crafts, decorated wreaths and baskets, wooden toys and puzzles, etc., etc.

If you have a craving for carving, you can see wood turn into likenesses of ducks and birds; if you give a darn, watch someone who does - a net darner; pull up a split oak basket. Watch tatting, and whittling.

The crafts are the biggest sellers, but the 1920s sawmill gets the most attention.

``It makes a lot of noise,'' Kello said. ``It's a big drawing card.

It is run by a wood-powered, water-filled steam tractor engine.

``Another big attraction is the water-powered fans,'' said William Howell. ``They hook up to the water system, you turn on the valve.''

Dr. James P. Broaddus, a retired Franklin dentist, used them umpteen years ago. They were manufactured in 1896 by the Indiana Fan Co.

``People are in awe of it,'' Wrenn said.

They will save some of their awe for the original Franklin Logger, donated by the Franklin Equipment Co.

Built in 1959, it was like hash - a little bit of this and that.

It had a V-8 flatbed engine, and axles, from a Ford truck, a grill and fuel tank from a bulldozer, and an Army surplus transfer case.

Most of the Heritage Day items are local. Some come from adjoining areas.

They will be shown by folks in period costumes who will also be making soap, sawing lumber, using a spinning wheel, and making flints.

Corn will be shucked and shelled, and peanuts will be picked.

There will be a grist mill and hammer mill producing food for humans and animals.

Betty Jean Everette will churn butter - and you can believe it IS butter. She'll give you a taste.

There will be antique cars and tractors and, with a bow to this era, a bear named Smokey.

Real animals include chicks, rabbits, bees, and petting zoo residents.

Mules will pull you around in miniature wagons, or your kids can ride a pony.

You can walk inside the museum building, and traipse outside where there is much to see including a one-room schoolhouse, a four-seat outhouse and a one-seat outhouse.

The one seater, with its half moon design, is for men, the other, with its star, is for women. Both are appropriate, when you think about it.

Nearby, is a country store which inspired one visitor to write, ``tears came to my eyes when I went through it. My dad used to run a country store.''

There are guides a-plenty to show you around and answer your questions, to help you enjoy learning about life in the turn-of-the-century and a few years beyond.

``Some people don't listen,'' said Helen Howell. ``They chime in with - my mom did this or that.''

Oh - that cotton mopper - the one filled with molasses and arsenic. It was used to kill boll weevils.

``It worked to a degree,'' Kello said, ``but it wasn't all that successful.''

Heritage Day has been successful - Heritage Day, where it's yesterday, once more. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos including color cover by MICHAEL KESTNER

Mary Kay Miller of Courtland uses a washing board to do laundry at

the Southampton Agriculture and Forestry Museum. She will be one of

many people giving demonstrations of turn-of-the-century farm and

household tasks at Heritage Day.

Francis Kello, left, and Ernest Wrenn check the blades on the old

sawmill that will be on exhibit at the Sixth Annual Heritage Day on

Sept. 20.

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