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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-09-04, Page 38Don't miss the News -Record's PIONEER THRESHER & HOBBY ASSOC. REUNION SPECIAL 3. days only Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 6-7-8 ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION New or Renewal' Regriar 19.75 SENIOR CITIZENS RATE Regular 16.75 year for Only 115.90 for Only 13.40 THESE SPECIALS PRESENT A 20 % SAVINGS Get a Valuable bonus too... With each new subscription, or renewal you receive 3 coupons each good for one personal, 20 word, News -Record classified. BUY NOW and SAVE TWICE because Oct. 1 there will be a rate increase —14.754 tof iI OO 16.75gto13.00 1164 THRESHING SEASON iercin ' whistle biows Agriculture has played a vital role in the development and prosperity of the corn- urunties in Huron County. Front the time that "settlers cleared the land and planted their 'first crops, theagricultural industry took a stronghold and has continued to pro- vide a strong economic base. In the Goderich Township History Book, Vol: 1:1984, editor and author Alison Lobb presents an detailed look .'t fanning methods in the township through its 150 year history. The harvesting season was one of the most important times of the year for the farmers, from the dyys of•the scythe and the sickle to • the modern combines. By the late 1800s, the advent of .the horse- drawn reapers and then binders markedly decreased • the time needed to harvest a field and meant that larger acreages could be grown. At first sheaves were dropped in- dividually but later sheaf -carriers were us- ed and the sheaves were distributed in. rows around the field which meant less walking for the stooker. Sheaves' were hauled to the barn where the threshing would be done: in the beginning, by hand, using a flail to beat the grain to separate the • gnr frozn the straw, or, in later days by a .custom thresher. According to the 1871 census, od'erich - Township had 43 threshing -machines. The advent of the threshing .machine and steam engine brought a new stage in the development of agriculture., Crews of -nen were able to move from farm to.faiim an'_ schedule to thresh the wheat,'and threshing days became community events. A description of such an event was sup- plied by Mrs. Jean ( Mervyn) Lobb - "It was our tarn to thresh and the steam engine was pulling the separator up the road.4We.- got home from, school and could see it -corning probably it had a buzz saw mounted on the rear. of the engine - to cut the %food the farmer had to provide to fire the engine. It was followed by a wooden water tank wagon with its driver and stout team of horses. He would stop at the creek and let his hose down into the water to pump the tank full. More than one such. tank would be needed during .i day. -The steam engine pushed the separator into the barn and a platform was made ready to drop the sheaves on for the roan who fed therm into a machine. The engine would back down the gangway and the belt connecting the separator would be tighten- ed. Beside the engine was a pile of wood; ready to fire the steam engine, If the wood was long, the thresher would cut it with his buzz saw. Each farmer had to supply 'his own fuel for the threshing, but if wood wasn't available the team and wagon would have brought along a load of soft coal. "Once the men gad arrived and were threshing, the grain was carried in bushel boxes to the grain bin. Later it would ruri through pipes into the bin, and it took a good strong youngster or man to keep it shovelled level. The straw from the separator would be talten on carriers and forked off. In later. years a straw blower filled the mow or blew it outside into a stack. If there was smut or much dirt or weeds in the straw, some -men would become quite sick and all would get very dirty. "In the house the youngsters would have seen to it that the reservoir on the big cook - stove was filled with soft water to heat for washing the dishes. They would be responsi- ble for re -filling the wood -box beside the stove and bringing in fresh water from the pump. Besides the home cooked food, there would be plates of sliced tomatoes, crocks of apple sauce and homemade butter. When . the meal was ready the piercing whistle of the steam engine would be used as a signal. "(ince the men were ted, the women and • children would" eat. There would still be dishes and chores to be taken care of, and 7 a.m.. tomorrow would come only too soon. The thresher' and his 'helper_often stayed ,overnight if they had a`'distance to go, and his signal for work to begin in the Morning was that piercing Whistle, blow again." =printed with permission from The Goderich Township History -3'o1: 1: 1984. • PLUS -THE EVER-POPULAR From paste Se each Of 2/25t Clinton News -Record I NA :Olt 14 /It ATI N(:•To l0.111.1'T11 sTANIIANII•T11 F IIA % FIELD BUGLE Our Beaf Wishes to the' -2 -4th An�ual Thresher', R Allways a good selection of fully -reconditioned • USED CARS AND \TRUCKS • GENERAL REPAIRS Class 'A' mechanics on.staff sales523 4342 B1 f?N-Sertrice 523-95$1