With Love From the Low Country

THE PAST REVISITED IN THE LOW-COUNTRY

Throughout my entire lifetime, I have always been keenly, fascinated, about my very own surroundings, in addition to my past – experiences. Personal questions, have been instilled in my mind for a very long time, Finally, this is my time to recapture my own moments from the past.

Right now, as I sit here at my computer, I have this vivid imagination of the wood stove, in our kitchen. This particular stove was most essential, and did serve, at least two main purposes, in the good or olden days.

The first, and foremost purpose was to heat the room, and the second important function, was to cook food. In later years, we were fortunate enough to get another wood stove.

This helped, and greatly, improved, the overall heat climate for long periods of time. In one corner of the room, we stacked adequate dry wood daily, to keep the house warm. This firewood was arranged in specific designs and patterns to preserve the heat for consistency and sturdiness.

Furthermore, it was essential for all of the cracks in the walls to be covered, to block out as much cold air from the outside as possible. We also had a clay chimney built with a fireplace. Our family often sat in the front or living room for long hours and talked about many things in the good old days.

The thought of comfort, and contentment always come to my mind. Also, on a chilly night, we listened quietly, with the rain beating, mysteriously, on the old tin roof. We listened for the quiet tap, tap, until finally, we fell asleep, in the comfort, of our warm coverings.

WATER:

Water for the home, was retrieved from a hand pump or deep well. The water from a well was a frightening experience, because the system was dangerous. It was necessary, to put a rope on a pail, down in the well, fill it up, and pull the pail upward.

I loved the hand pump, and did not regret pumping pails of water. Mother always made sure that we kept, the pump serviced, and working. In later years, we placed another pump, in the stables to provide water for the farm animals.

ELECTRICITY

Electricity was non-existent, and seldom used by most of the families, in the community. The kerosene lamp, was perhaps quite, common and used by most of the households, in our district.

Since electricity was not widespread, farmers had to be creative and good planners, in order to live consistent and productive lives.

Almost each and everything that we needed, had to be hand produced, inside the home. Kerosene lamps, candles, flashlights, and lanterns, were used to light up the home after dark.

It would often, take more than, one lamp to, light up an entire room. On a hot summer evening, it was pleasant, to sit in a swing, on the front porch, with your, date and talk.

The minute dark came along, mom started lighting, those kerosene lamps, lanterns, and other lights. The visiting was over around nine, and you had to say good night to your date. The next step, was to go inside the house, on a Sunday night, and prepare for the next long week.

The summer months, May, June, July, August, and September were long and hot months. We were, without the luxury of air conditioners, and refrigerators, and fans. We had the repeated urge, to want cold glasses of water, lemonade, cool aid/penny drink. It was a treat to purchase, a large block of ice from the ice- man.

The block of ice, cost about twenty-five cents, for a forty- pound block. There was a great, sense of comfort, after the ice- man made a delivery. This large block, was stored in the icebox, wrapped in bags, newspaper, or old fabric. I do not know, for sure, if the ice was preserved any longer, but we had the enjoyment of cold, ice for about a week.

There were times, near the end of the week, when we took the mile long, walk to the ice- house. The purchase was important, especially for the weekend, and company. Once the ice was bought, it was important to walk fast to get away from the heat, and store the dripping block of ice in the icebox.

The beds we slept in, were constructed of heavy, iron materials. It was quite, a struggle, to move those heavy iron beds, around the room, once they were organized. The head, of the bed, was placed in front, or, before a window, to enjoy the cool summer breeze.