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Household Essentials |
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Evaluations of Accomplishments |
THE STORY OF THE QUILT SQUARE, HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIALS, BY
THE PROGRESSIVE EXTENSION HOMEMAKERS CLUB FOR HARNETT COUNTY HISTORICAL
QUILT, 1989 Household Essentials Before
electricity was introduced into Harnett County, household essentials as
we know them today were very meager or unthought of. Wood
and coal was the source of heat and kerosene was used for lights. Some
had very pretty lamps with glass chimneys. Bottles filled with kerosene
with a small cloth protruding out the top, were used for outside lights
by many. Homes
were heated by fireplace or wood and coal heaters, usually the heated
room served as the main sitting room and bedroom for the parents. Cooking
was done on a wood or coal burning stove, outside on an open fire or in
the fireplace. Some baking was done on the fireplace hearth by putting
red coals on top and under a covered three legged skillet. Cakes and
bread were baked in this way; sweet potatoes were cooked in the hot
ashes. Water
was brought in the home in buckets from wells and springs that were dug
by hand. A small side table held the water bucket and dipper, and wash
pan and soap dish. A large towel always hung near for drying face and
hands. Baths
were done in a wood or tin tub with water often heated by the sun. Only
the affluent had the pitcher and bowl set used only by the guest. A
small bush or strips of paper pasted to a stick was used for fans to fan
flies from the dinner table; very few if any had screen doors and
windows. The
cow was the source of fresh milk and butter. Almost every family owned a
milk cow. The churn and dasher were very essential in producing butter.
Milk was put into the churn and set aside to clabber, then the dasher
was put into the churn and with an up and down movement the butter
separated from the milk, (This was called churning.) Then the butter was
removed from the churn and put into molds before storing. A
box with cover, filled with sawdust and placed into a hole in the ground
served as ice box for many. Some put food in jars and placed them into
the spring or let them down into the well in buckets. Ice could be
bought from the ice house or the iceman who delivered once each week for
15 or 20 cents a block. The
horse and buggy, wagon or ox cart and stage coach were the main modes of
travel. With
the coming of electricity came running water and electric lights. The
bathroom replaced the outside toilet; central heat, electric stove and
fans replaced the wood stove, heaters, and homemade fans. Refrigerators
replaced the icebox, the icehouse vanished.. Motor cars, trains, and
airplanes have replaced the oxcart, buggy and wagon. Now
we have entered the atomic age with microwave ovens, space ships and men
walking on the moon. Written by:
Lillian M. Ferrell, President Progressive Extension Homemakers Club Churn designed by: Mack McKay, Jr. Embroidered by:
Ethel McKay, Member Progressive Extension Homemakers Club Quilt Square:
Other objects designed by Evelyn Byrd Row
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