HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-09-04, Page 357.7
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PICTURES
From past editions of the News -Record
Se each et 2125$
de biows
Agriculture has played a vital role in the into the water to pump the tank fu11. More
development and prosperity of the corn- than one such tank would be needed during a
munities. in Huron County. From the time daY•
that settlers cleared the land and planted "The steatniengine pushed ,the, separator
their first crops, the agricultural industry • into the barn. and a platform was made
took a stronghold and -has continued to pro- ready 'to drop the sheaves on for the man
vide a strong economic base. who fed them into a machine. The engine
In the Goderich Township History Book, would back down the gangway and the belt
Vol. 1:1984, editor and author Alison Lobb connecting the separator would be tighten-
presents an ' detailed look at farming ed. Beside the engine was a pile of Wood,
methods in the township through its 150 year ready to fire the steam engine. If the wood
history. was long, the thresher would cut it with his
The harvesting season was one of the most buzz saw. Each. farmer had to supply his
important times of the year for the farmers, own fuel for the threshing; but if woo
e�
from the days of the scythe and the sickle to wasn't available_the team and wagon would
the modern combines. have brought along a load of soft coal.
By the late 1800s, the advent of the horse- "Once the men had arrived and were
drawn reapers and then binders markedly threshing, the grain was carried in bushel
decreased the time needed to harvest a field boxes to the grain bin. Later it would run
and meant that larger acreages could be through pipes into the bin, and it took a good
grown. At first sheaves were dropped in- strong youngster or man to keep it shovelled
dividually but later sheaf -carriers were us- level. The straw from the separator would
ed and the sheaves were distributed in rows be taken on carriers and forked off. In later
around the field which meant less walking years a straw blower filed the mow or blew
for the stooker. Sheaves were hauled to the it outside into a stack. If there was smut or
barn where the threshing would be done: in much dirt or weeds in the straw, some men
the beginning, by hand, using a flail to beat would become quite sick - and all would get
the grain to separate the gra• 1 from the very dirty.
straw, or, in later days• by a custom "In the house the youngsters would have
thresher. According to the 1871 census, seen to it that the reservoir on the big cook-
Goderich Township had 43 threshing stove was filled with soft water to heat for
machines. washing the dishes. They would be responsi-
The advent of the threshing machine and ble for re -filling the wood -box beside the
steam engine brought a new stage in the stove and bringing in fresh water from the
development of agriculture. Crews of men pump. Besides the home cooked food, there
were able to move from farm to farm on would be plates of sliced tomatoes, crocks of
schedule to thresh the wheat, and threshing apple sauce and homemade butter. When
days became community events. the meal was ready the iiiereing whistle of
A description of such an event was sup- the steacem engine en were be d, the women and
al.
plied by Mrs. Jean and
the Lobb - "It was children would eat. There would still 'be
pulling
lingn to he 'thresh and the steamthe road.engine was dishes and chores to be taken care of, and 7
hofrom the school and couldup cominge got a.m. tomorrow would come only too. soor�
homeob seeu itd - The thresher and his helper often stayer
probably it had a buzz saw mounted on the
rear of the engine - to cut the wood the overnight if they had a distance to go, and
farmer had to provide to fire the engine. It his signal for work to begin in the morning
was followed by a wooden water tank .wagon was that piercing whistle blow again."
with its driver and stout team of horses. He -printed with permission from The Goderich
would stop at the creek and let his hose down Township History Vol. 1: 1984.
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