Farming 1910 to 1930 – Delphos Herald

(Continued from last week)

Atrip of 10 miles one way with horse and buggy was about the limit for aSunday visit with relatives and friends. The first buggies had only atop with a reel of black canvas to shield against the weather.Protection on all sides and front, when needed was provided by curtainsof similar material. In winter blankets were used as a shield againstthe bitter cold. Later the cab was introduced which by means of glassprovided protection in front, rear and both sides. A family needed a 2seated surrey. (Note: My mother had and old horsehide blanket whichwas used as a cover in the winter. This family treasure

is still in the possession of my sister, Beth Metzger. It is a horse-hide on top with black wool for the backing).

Thefirst cars entered upon the scene about 1916. Most of these were Model TFords, which sold new at about $650.00. These first cars protectedagainst the weather by means of a windshield of glass in the front and ablack canvas-like cloth over the top and down the rear. Floppy curtainswere carried in the trunk for use in case of rain or cold weather. Whenthe first cars appeared about 1920 with glass protection on all sides,some far-sighted people proudly predicted that eventually all cars wouldbe such sedans. They also said many would be killed because of allglass closed cars. The astonishing velocity of 60 MPH, was the ultimatespeed imaginable. The first cars were a terror of many road horses. Inmany cases the driver of the horse had to jump out and hold the horse bythe bridle; he usually cursed thosenew fangled machines.

Whenthe first planes appeared in the sky about 1916, a pompous uncleproudly foretold: Some day air planes will become so common that thepeople wont even look up at them anymore. When the first milkingmachine in neighborhood was installed about 1915, the people flocked tosee the contraption actually at work and gave all kinds of reasons whyit would never succeed.

With the approach of the cool weather ofautumn farmers stored enough potatoes and fruit, some beets and cabbagein the basement or a cache in the garden for the long winter. (Note:Some farmers had an up-ground cellar for storage. This was usually a manmade hill and had a door.)

With the arrival of the cold weatherof winter, neighbors gathered to help one another slaughter enough hogsto last until the following spring. In addition to hams, shoulders andsides, nearly every part of the animal was used to make sausage, headcheese, blood pudding and similar delicacies. While the men were busyoutside slaughtering, bleeding, preparing the hot water for scalding anddressing the carcasses, the women inside, with the help of all grownchildren, were occupied with making sausages and puddings, with cuttingoff the fat to be rendered in a large kettle over and open fire outside,to make lard. Fat unfit for human consumption was rendered to be usedin the making of home-made soap. Hams, shoulders, sides and summersausage were smoked; the summer sausage was hung up in a dry cool place,the rest of the meat was stored in dry salt, and was salted down. Nowand then a steer was slaughtered for change of diet. (Note: Sausage wasoften friend down and preserved in lard, in a large crock and stored inthe basement. It was so good to come home from school and have asausage sandwich with homemade bread, covered with grape jam or jelly.Pon Hoss was a favorite of mine. It was made with head meat and oatmeal.Butchering was always a big time event).

In the 1920s ruralelectrification revolutionized farm life by permitting better readinglight in the home, illumination in the barns, electrically driven pumps,running cold and hot water in the home and refrigerators enabling thefamily to keep food for days. Later the freezing compartment was added.Some farmers didnt get electricity until 1946 (after World War II) sothey had to continue to use the ice box.

Dont forget the outhousebefore indoor plumbing and the Saturday night bath was taken in a washtub. Farm tractors came on the scent in the 1920s but many farmersdoubted that they could take the place or horses. Also during thedepression, which struck in 1929, most farmers couldnt afford atractor.

Father Mack continued: These people knew how tocelebrate and enjoy themselves. Relatives came from afar for eachwedding, which was always the occasion for great parties and leanded upwith a dance in the evening. During the winter months, there was atime in a home of the neighborhood nearly every week. The carpet wasrolled up from a room in the house, or a wooden floor of the barn wasswept clean; a violinist, a guitarist and a caller were recruited fromthe area and the people thoroughly enjoyed kicking up their heels. Kegsof beer flowed freely and at the proper time sandwiches were served. Asthe evening wore on most of the children fell asleep under theinfluence of the beer and music. Such a time was the tor of many a happyconversation for days before and after the event itself. Such was life on the farm back in the olden days.

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Farming 1910 to 1930 - Delphos Herald