10 Years Ago
Week of November 21, 2013
SUGAR GROVE
Feather Quilts Make One Feel like Royalty
The warmth has seeped from the day, and night arranges herself around the community. Cooler weather has reigned supreme, lately. Allowing one’s mind to revert to the turn of the 19th century to see how residents in the community dealt with warmth during the winter months, has one truly blessed in the present state of affairs. Most folk were perhaps poor in some ways; however, they never felt that way at night. Everyone had goose feather quilts on their beds. Snuggled beneath them, they knew they were right up there with kings and queens!
These quilts were a treasure! They were handmade, mostly out of muslin or scraps of cloth pieced and sewn together. Like many things in life, the outside really didn’t matter. It was what was inside of each quilt that mattered—genuine, authentic, non-artificial goose and duck feathers—that gave it its great worth. Folk raised their own geese and ducks, and so they had the “pick” of the feathers. The quilts were thick—a generous half a foot or even more. Still, they were light as a bunch of feathers. Most importantly, they were unfailingly warm—even on the coldest night when the last chunk of coal or wood had burned itself out.
Since no one wanted to get poked at night with a sharp quill, it made dequilling the feathers a necessary first step in the quilt making process. There were “dequilling bees” where neighborhood ladies would meet at someone’s house. In the middle of the dining room table would be placed a bowl where, after painstakingly plucking the feathers, they would be placed in the bowl. Naturally, it took a long time to accumulate the sufficient amount of feathers needed to fashion a cozy soft-as-air quilt for the family’s bed. Along with the chore, would be hours of sitting side by side, having neighborly chats and enjoying each other’s company.
Goose down is thicker and fluffier than duck down. The down pieces hold together better because of their larger size, providing more thermal warmth. The colder the climate of origin of the goose, the warmer the down will be. The down feathers are plucked from under the breast of the adult duck or goose. These feathers are used to line their nests.
Anyone having a down quilt will surely attest to its warmth on a chilly, windy night. Snuggling under those covers to a comforting position, allows one to sleep with ease, and dream sweet dreams!
20 Years Ago
Week of November 20, 2003
A Sign of New Business
A Subway restaurant, the largest fast-food sandwich chain in the world, as well as the largest fast-food franchise in the U.S., is coming to Franklin, owners Barry Glover and Jeff Bowers have announced.
The Subway will occupy the former premises of the 7-11 convenience store north of the stoplight at the intersection of Rts. 33 and 220 in Franklin.
Although Franklin’s population apparently is less than what Subway usually looks for in a town, there are, Glover noted, “other factors,” one of which almost certainly is that Rt. 33/220 from the stoplight to the intersection near Thompson’s Motel and The Pantry is one of the most heavily trafficked roadways in the tri-county area.
Subway is famous for its made-to-order 12-inch and six-inch sub sandwiches, served on Italian, wheat and gourmet-seasoned breads.
Those breads are baked fresh throughout the day.
What’s more, Subway fare is popular not only because it’s tasty but because it’s not as hard on one’s waistline as other fast foods.
Health-conscious consumers love the fact that seven six-inch subs, seven salads and three deli-style sandwiches all have six grams of fat or less.
President Fred DeLuca founded the Subway chain in 1965. Then a 17-year-old college student, he received a $1,000 loan from a family friend to start the venture as a way to finance his college education.
Flue Liners Help Reduce Fires, Carbon Monoxide Poisonings
The threat of chimney fires or carbon monoxide poisonings from deteriorating masonry chimneys can be reduced with the installation of a stainless steel chimney liner.
This recommendation applies to masonry chimneys that vent gas or woodburning fireplaces, freestanding stoves and fireplace inserts, as well as gas or oil burning furnaces. The proper installation of a stainless steel liner can create a safer chimney within a deteriorated structure.
Chimneys that look good on the outside can often have problems inside that are potentially dangerous. “A liner can help a chimney perform as it was designed.”
Most masonry chimneys are built with clay tile liners that can deteriorate over time or incur damage from weather, undetected chimney fires or foundation settling. This deterioration or damage can cause missing or cracked clay tiles that leave the chimney unsafe.
50 Years Ago
Week of November 22, 1973
Bucks Shed and Grow New Set of Antlers
Every Year
Whose Woods Are These . . .
(A Weekly column of Wilderness Lore by The Woodlands and Whitewater Institute Staff, Spruce Knob Mountain)
During autumn the rutting season for the white-tailed deer begins. The first sign of the rut usually occurs in late September when the bucks lose the velvet from their antlers. Velvet is a very fine hair which covers the soft new antlers as they grow. Many people believe a buck grows only one set of antlers during his lifetime. This is not so. Each year the old set is lost and a new set grows in. The size of this new set of antlers is more a function of nourishment than of age. A very old buck in poor health will most probably be a spike buck while a much younger, well nourished deer will carry the trophy rack.
As the new set of antlers begins to harden up in September, the bucks find small trees, called “buck rubs” and rub this hair or velvet off. A buck will often pick out one particular tree for removing all the velvet from his antlers. When this occurs a considerable amount of bark will be removed from the tree by the scraping of the antlers and the ground all around the base of the tree will be noticeably trampled and kicked up.
The hardening of the antlers is caused by various physiological changes which occur in the buck’s system. These same physiological changes cause a slight swelling of the neck which complements the bucks fine physical condition at this time of year.
During this rutting season bucks are easily antagonized and itch for fights. This is the only time of year bucks have been known to charge people in unprovoked attacks. Usually however, their attacks are saved for other bucks also eager for combat. When two bucks engage in a duel the contest is usually one of brute strength rather than the backing off and ramming of heads characteristic of the Dall and Bighorn sheep. The bucks will usually meet head on and then push for all they are worth, each trying to get the other off balance and then gore with the tip of his antlers. These battles usually do not go to the death, however, if the antlers of the two deer become locked, it is nearly impossible for them to separate and the two deer will die a slow death of starvation.
Bucks enter the rut before the does. One of the first indications that the does are also entering the rut is the increased scent given off by the tarsal glands. These glands are found on the inside of both hind legs of bucks and does. These tarsal glands give off a scent at all seasons with the scent being markedly increased during rutting season which is very important in helping the buck locate the doe.
Both the buck and the doe are in the rut during November and December. These are the months when mating usually occurs; however, some does mate as late as February. The gestation period for the white-tailed deer is about seven months. The fawns resulting from the November matings are born in May or June. Those fawns produced by the February matings are born the following September and usually don’t live through their first winter.
This is the first of a series of articles on the life of the white-tailed deer.
60 Years Ago
Week of November 28, 1963
100 YEARS AGO
By LON K. SAVAGE
Editor’s Note—The following is one of a series of articles on the Civil War. Each weekly installment covers events which occurred exactly 100 years ago.
Grant Defeats Bragg
At Missionary Ridge
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant finally broke the back of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg’s Confederate army 100 years ago this week, but the way he did it was somewhat of a surprise even to himself.
Grant had planned his batte to destroy Bragg’s two flanks, but he won the battle by tearing through Bragg’s middle.
The Battle of Chattanooga—or Missionary Ridge—started as Grant had planned it. Gen. George H. Thomas’ Army of the Cumberland, acting under Grant’s orders, made a demonstration in the plain south of Chattanooga on November 23, capturing some territory. The attack was designed to cause Bragg to fortify his center.
Then, next day—a cloudy, drizzly day—the real battle began. To the east, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman smashed in with 8,000 men at the northern tip of Missionary Ridge on Bragg’s flank. To the west, Gen. Joseph Hooker, with 9,000 men, charged up Lookout Mountain attacking Bragg’s left flank. In the center, the Army of the Cumberland waited impatiently for action.
Grant’s plans did not succeed entirely. Sherman’s men successfully carried what they thought was a portion of Missionary Ridge, only to find it an isolated and almost useless hill. Hooker’s men whipped heavily out-numbered Confederates on Lookout Mountain in what was dubbed “The Battle Above the Clouds,” but the gain was not of great consequence. So the first day ended.
Next day was bright and sunny. Sherman renewed his attack on the left but was stopped by stiff Confederate resistance. Hooker, on the right, swept over Lookout Mountain and down into the valley toward Missionary Ridge, only to find a bridge across an important creek had been destroyed. It took him three hours to get his army across the creek.
Grant, who was watching all this with Thomas on a little hill, applied more pressure. He ordered Thomas to move his men out toward Missionary Ridge in a central attack, to divert Bragg from his flanks.
And in mid-afternoon, the Army of the Cumberland, which had been champing at the bit, went off into action and the history books. As if on parade, the 18,000 men swept out across the plain toward the ridge, flags flying and drums beating. Ahead, the bulk of Bragg’s Confederates waited in lines of trenches along the side of the ridge.
Artillery and musketry filled the air, and Federals fell by the score, but on they came toward the base of the ridge. Suddenly, the soldiers—avenging their defeat at Chickamauga—were at the base, driving Confederates from their trenches, then occupying those same trenches. There they were supposed to stop but they did not. Instead they clambored out the other side of the trenches and started up the ridge without orders.
Grant, watching the incredible feat, asked anxiously who had ordered the men up the ridge. “I did not,” answered Thomas.
The Cumberlanders now were scrambling up the hill hard on the heels of retreating Confederates. Southerners on top could not fire down without fear of hitting their own retreating men. Then, all at once, the three-mile long Federal line reached the crest, as Confederates scrambled down the other side. And with that, Bragg’s whole army collapsed.
The battle has cost nearly 6,000 casualties for Grant, nearly 7,000 for Bragg.
Next week: Knoxville Siege Ends.
Sugar Water Production Can Boost
Local Farm Income
There is a time in late February through March each year—a period when farm and woods work is slack, especially in the higher, cold elevations—when the sap of maple trees begins to flow at its best.
The sap is appropriately called sugar water. Sugar water is the raw material from which maple syrup is manufactured.
There are several market possibilities for the sugar water. It may be sold to small producers who wish to increase the output from the sugar house. In other places, going enterprises have been built simply by operating a central evaporating plant—the place where sugar water is boiled into maple syrup.
Sugar water is sold on a basis of sugar content by percentage, called brix. With good volume, delivery can be profitable for as high as 30 miles.
The collection of sap with plastic tubing and conduits is an innovation which is gaining acceptance. The closed tubing keeps the sap sanitary, reduces spillage by handling, and if properly hung, often results in a greater flow than with buckets. It reduces the amount of labor needed for gathering sap and at the same time, cuts down on costs of maintaining roadways and the equipment needed to haul sap through the sugar bush.
