Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Long ago, before electricity was brought to these mountains, people were faced with the age-old problem of preserving their food. Many methods were used. Meats were salted, smoked or dried. Fruits and vegetables were either dried, pickled in brine, or canned.
There was still the problem of keeping butter, milk, and cheese cool. They solved this problem by building springhouses. These houses were constructed near or over springs. Cold water runs through them, serving the same function as present day refrigerators.
Not all springhouses were alike. They were built basically of three types…rock, wood, and wood/rock. Even though wood could be constructed quickly, the buildings were more vulnerable to the weather, and did not last long. These mountains supplied a huge amount of wood and rocks.
Troughs were built in the springhouse. They were about 1 foot wide and seven feet long. The water would fall about three feet from the pipe into the trough and drain out through a small hole in the trough outside of the springhouse. The springhouse was good all year round. The water would never freeze because it traveled from a deep spring. These springs which would remain cool all summer long.
In the top of the springhouse is an air vent allowing air to enter the house. Were it not for the air vent, water would drip all day long. In addition to the air vent, there was also a window for light, an entrance door, as well as an inner door, to keep out the animals. There were also some shelves on which canned fruits and vegetables were stored.
There remain several springhouses in the county. Perhaps the best known one is on the Annanias Pitsenbarger farm.
Life’s little lessons to get one through the day include the following:
- Keep noise down.
- Get regular checkups.
- Remember that the early bird gets the worm.
- Do neck rubs.
- Hold a baby kitten.
Although there has been no rain to fall in these parts, the weather has been just lovely. The weatherman calls for warmer temperatures…warmer than last week’s 39 and 40 degree chilly mornings. Flowers seem to be showing off their beauty whilst the hummingbirds are taking their fill of the sweet juice found in the feeders. Before long, they will be winging their way to the south, many miles away.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“If bees only gathered nectar from perfect flowers, they wouldn’t be able to make even a single drop of honey.” — Matshona Dhliwayo
“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.” — Chinese Proverb
“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.” — Sylvia Plath
“In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.” — Mignon McLaughlin
“Nobody has ever measured, even poets, how much a heart can hold.” — Zelda Fitzgerald
Sitting on the front porch, fanning one’s self, is the best place to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Many family members and friends of Jordan Hevener (daughter of Cary and George) motored this past weekend to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to attend the lovely wedding of Jordan to Quinn Ronek. The weather encouraged them all to see the sights of the city before the nuptials took place Saturday evening.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- There are more than 60 different types of kangaroos. A baby kangaroo when born is only 2 centimeters long.
- During the Civil War, Chattanooga, Tennessee, was an important area. The Battle of Chattanooga was made up of three different conflicts: the Battle of Orchard Knob, the Battle of Lookout Mountain, and the Battle of Missionary Ridge.
- A group of parrots is a “pandemonium.”
- More hit songs have the word ‘September’ in the title than any other month.
- On the average, people get 120 emails each day.
Concerns include the following: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, “Bo” Boggs, Marie Cole, Christian Dasher, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Missy Harrison, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Donna K. Hoover, 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, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, the John O. Propst family, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Greg Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Judy Waggy, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Norman Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer and Margaret Wimer.
