Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
An antique icebox is a special piece of modern history. Enthusiasts love, collect, repair, and showcase these iceboxes in their homes or businesses. At one time, most homes had an icebox.
Without ice, people died, left and right, from food poisoning due to spoilage. Readily available ice saved lives, reduced costs, and propelled global civilization. At first, ice was a novelty treat. This necessary and a widely accessible commodity made water ice relatively affordable. Thousands of years ago, ice was a social identity with the rich and powerful consumed as a treat, and on par with gold.
In all points of time, prepared food needed to stay cool to avoid rot and spoilage. In this area, ice blocks were collected from the river and stored in ice houses. There were ice houses in every community. From there, the ice was taken to spring houses and cellars to accommodate the coolness for the foods.
Generally average consumers used these natural ice blocks in what they called a refrigerator. Specially sized ice blocks fit snugly into a stylish, functional piece of furniture in the kitchen. This wooden, two compartment kitchen contraption used air to insulate ice and keep things cool as along as possible.
The icebox itself was hollow and lined with zinc or tin. This lining kept the internal temperature cooler longer. The previously mentioned ice blocks slid into a separate compartment near food that needed to stay cool. The design of the icebox and the humidity circulated the cold air in the device. That is pretty much the same thing a modern refrigerator does.
Several homes in the area still have the ice box as a historical specimen in their homes.
Life’s instructions for a better day include the following:
- When tired, take a nap.
- Learn to say “No.” A person will never have enough time if one says “Yes” to everything.
- Avoid negative people at all costs
- Pay off one’s credit cards every month.
- Today is special. Burn the candles.
Wednesday morning was quite nippy, with a 20 degrees temperature and a heavy frost. Saturday and Sunday found temperatures in the 30s. In this community, 1.25″ of rain fell last week, and although it was very much received, it did not raise the river.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“Food is better in November than any other time of the year.” — Cynthia Rylant
“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness.” — Susan Gale
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” — William Ellery Channing
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” — Albert Einstein
“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” — Yogi Berra
Sitting by the fireplace is where one can hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Shaun Bowers returned home today after spending eight days in Colorado elk hunting. There was more than 30” of snow when they arrived. It was a successful hunt. He got a bull elk. Congratulations, Shaun!
Eddie Rader visited with Willard and Judy Friday. Saturday visitors were Bob and Marti Fisher. Bob entertained Willard, Judy and Marti on a trip to the top of Reddish Knob to enjoy the beautiful views. Willard enjoyed telling the history of Reddish Knob on their trip.
Charles and “Pidge” Anderson went motoring on Sunday. Most of the places they hadn’t seen for 55 years. It was good to get out and see the sights. They couldn’t believe how things had changed.
The Crestmen sang Christmas carols at the St. Paul Lutheran Church’s morning worship service. Soup and sandwiches were enjoyed following the service.
Weekend guests of Phil Downs were Amelia Gibson and friend, Wilson. Amelia is attending Shenandoah University of Winchester, Virginia.
Helen and Rhonda Nash recently traveled to Culpeper, Virginia, to celebrate the marriage of granddaughter/niece, Virginia “Ginger” Nash, and Justin Keller, of Gordonsville, Virginia. Rhonda (Aunt Peachy) was delighted to officiate at the wedding held at Magnolia Way Farm. It was a beautiful sunny autumn day for celebrating and blessing love and new beginnings.
Tom and Paula Mitchell hosted a dinner Sunday with guests Bob and Sharon Diehl of Gray Neck, Virginia, Cynthia Hughes of Harrisonburg, Virginia, John Hughes of Mineral, Virginia, and Karen and Roger Meadows of Grottoes, Virginia.
Congratulations are in order for Martha and Carl Kimble who are celebrating their 62nd anniversary and for Grey and Mary Catherine Cassell who are celebrating their 63rd anniversary.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Standing at 151 feet, 1 inch tall, the Statue of Liberty would need size 879 shoes if she wanted to replace her sandals. Her hands are 16 feet, 5 inches long.
- In 1849, future United States President Abraham Lincoln was issued a patent for an invention to lift boats over obstacles in a river.
- Atacama, the oldest and driest desert in the world, is located in Chili. It is 50 times drier than California’s Death Valley.
- The American Red Cross was established in 1881 in Washington, DC, by nurse Clara Barton.
- Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a patent for blue jeans with copper rivets.
Concerns are as follows: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Roy Spencer Bowers, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Christian Dasher, Phil Downs, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Tim L. Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rick Linaburg, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Angie Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Andy Pond, the Steve Pope family, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, the Deyerle Rexrode family, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, the Jeanette Sponaugle family, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, individuals and families affected by the natural disasters and the people of Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine.
