Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
The outhouse, a structure that was once a common sight, is now becoming a relic of the past. Historians believe that the first outhouse was thought to have been built some 500 years ago. Since latrines were very unsanitary around the 1500s, a specific spot for doing personal business or “necessaries” made lots of sense.
The earliest outhouses were located about 50-100 yards away from the home. They were usually small huts that had a little hole in the floor. Inside the floor was a small tin or bucket that caught the waste that had to be emptied daily.
As the outhouses came into existence, a moon shape cut out of the outside door meant that it was a female-only outhouse. The sun represented that it was a men’s outhouse. Modern outhouses may or may not use this form although it was more of a decorative effect rather than a gender effect. Outhouses used to be popular in both the countryside and in cities. The outhouses in the countryside remained, and it is them that signify the typical outhouse that people think of today. They were constructed of wood and usually painted for durability. The interior hole was between three and six feet, and there may be more than one hole to accommodate the family.
During the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency, outhouse improvements took place with the effort supported by the First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The initiative was called the Work Projects Administration which replaced dilapidated outhouses in the rural section. Workers could construct a new outhouse in 20 hours. These new and improved outhouses included proper ventilation, privacy, and flooring. During its run, the WPA completed two million outhouses. The First Lady’s commitment to this course led to outhouses earning the nickname “The Eleanor.”
Believe it or not, there are standing outhouses still…just in case!
Life’s every day instructions include the following:
- Always respect the flag and country
- Be kind to animals and take care of them.
- Protect the weak and help them.
- Be courteous and polite.
- Study hard and learn all a person can.
The howling winds Saturday night ushered in 16° temperatures for early Sunday morning. Judy and Sam Waggy on Route 220 found a skiff of snow on the ground. One braced with warm coats when venturing out for church services. Even so, many Pendletonians motored to McDowell, Bluegrass, and Monterey in Virginia to enjoy the Maple Syrup Festival. Monday morning temperatures were 9°, with no snow! Br-r-r-rr!
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Crickets’ ears are located on the backs of their legs.
- The first pencil with an attached eraser was patented in 1858.
- Wheel-like stones weighing hundreds of pounds are used as money by the Yap Islanders.
- On land, a hippopotamus can run as fast as a man.
- About 42 gallons of fluid filter through the kidneys each day.
Definitely sitting by the fireplace is the place to sit when hearing the “Talk of the Grove.”
Willard and Judy Rader, along with Ed and Barbara Parker, enjoyed the Maple Festival Sunday afternoon at McDowell, Virginia.
Deputy Matthew Kontyko, Deputy Andrew Hinkle, and State Trooper David Trenton presented to the Sugar Grove Maple Leaves 4-H Club Sunday evening. Deputy Kontyko brought his dog, Dargo, to show club members how he is trained to find drugs. The 4-H’ers plan to participate in the Adopt-a-Highway project in April.
Helen and Rhonda Nash recently attended the two weekends of the Maple Festival in Highland County, Virginia. They enjoyed selling their candles and Brunswick stew from the Sugar Tree Country Store. The highlight was spending time with family and friends who came to visit and attend the festivities, including Candace Davis and Vickie Nash of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Helen James of Mineral, Virginia, Allen Hayden of Newburg, Maryland, and Calli and Gregory Fox and their children, Hannah, Madalyn, Nolan and Tucker of Bumpass, Virginia, who also managed bowling and milkshakes at the Rec Center in Franklin.
Evelyn Varner enjoyed a visit Friday evening from Chris Wood from Michigan. They enjoyed fellowship around the supper table. Also visiting were Judy Costello on Saturday and Joyce and Richard Marshall Sunday afternoon.
Visiting with Rosalee Grogg were Marleta Wimer, Terri Grogg and friend, Claude, and Lynn and Sherry Mathews of Luray, Virginia.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Kindness is doing what you can, where you can, with what you have.” — Raktivist
“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” — Mother Teresa
“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” — Steve Maraboli
“A kind word is like a spring day.” — Russian Proverb.
Concerns for this week are many, and they are as follows: Charles Anderson, Roger and Joan Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Vernon “Fuzzy” Baldwin, Nathan Beachler, Lynn Beatty, Debbie Beal, Jed Conrad, Jeff Craig, Grayson Andrew Eye, Jordan Eye, Mary Eye, Mia Felici, Donna Fleisher, Ron Gilkerson, Lola Graham, Jordan Greathouse, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Gary and Jackie Hills, Virgil Homan, Jr., Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, Anna Gae Hughes, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Dennis Kincaid, Kim Kline, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, the Sue Carol Laskey family, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Betty Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Neil McLaughlin, Gary Mitchell, Jamie Mitchell, Melvin Moats, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Don Nilsen, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Shirley Pratt, Alda Propst, the June Propst family, Kara Propst, Kathy Propst, Linda Propst, Mike Propst, Stanley Propst, Sheldon Propst, K.D. Puffenbarger, the Ona L. Puffenbarger family, Dick Rexrode, Gary Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Robbie Sites, Ona Smith, Sandra Vandevander, Pam Rexrode, Max Rodriguez, Donna Ruddle, Annie Simmons, Barry and Phyllis Simmons, Davey Simmons, Amy Vaus, Judy Williams, the Crystal Willis family, Margaret Wimer, people in Ukraine and Yemen, earthquake victims in Turkey, and victims of East Palestine, Ohio
Spring is here! With that, the writer would like to make a wish for each of her readers: “May God grant you always…a sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering angel so nothing can harm you, laughter to cheer you, faithful friends near you, and whenever you pray heaven to hear you.
