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August 18, 1994 - A Day on the Farm Like It Use d To BeAugust 18, 1994 • The Suffolk Times • 7A A Day on the Farm Like It Use d To Be By Paul Stoutenburgh Saturday was Farm Day at Hal- lockville. We always like to support those colorful times at the Museum Farm whenever special events take place. Saturday they were to have farm animals and show what it was like in the daily life of a farm at the turn of the century. When we got there, Gary Brown from Aquebogue had just pulled out after de- livering his cow to FOCUS On the barn. A huge pair of white Nature Percheron horses, typical of the farm of 100 years ago, were munching hay in the stalls. John Andresen had left them, as well as some sheep. There were five or six Rhode Island Red chickens as well as some geese busy exploring their new tempo- rary quarters near the site of the original hen house (soon to be replaced) that goes back to the late 1800s. The scene was being set for the day by Estelle Evans and her daughter -in -law, who were making soap in a huge bowl that looked to me like the fixings of pumpkin pie. Some of the ingredients I was told were lye and fat and a lot of hard work. I thought as I watched the laborious process how busy the house- wife of those early times must have been. Then on top of the chores that fell upon her, she still raised a large family so necessary to the farm in those days. In the kitchen we immediately felt the heat of the old wood stove that had been fired up so cookies and tea cakes could be made by Donna Berry and Liz Wines for the public to sample. It was hot but not as hot as it could have been if Farm Day had come during the previous hot days when the temperature hovered in the 90s. As we walked through this au- thentic, old farmhouse I couldn't help but feel the past history of its life sinking into me. Everything puts you back to the turn of the century before so- called "progress" took over. Holidays on the Farm We toured through the old farmhouse, stopping now and then to comment on a new addition or reminiscing over a fa- vorite part of memorabilia. As we passed Photo by Barbaraellen Koch MINI PULL — Darren Hinerlider of Mattituck got his tractor pulling under the watchful eye of Bruce Young, president of the Long Island Antique Power Association, at Hallockville Museum Farm Saturday. through the big room of this historic old house I couldn't help but remember our past visits at Christmastime when the house was decorated and glowed in the true, old- fashioned Christmas spirit. There was the native -cut cedar tree with all its period trimmings, presents of the era under the tree and, of course, ever- greens decorating all the rooms. There was even a live fiddler and piano player to heighten your imagination and bring back the tingle of that age of innocence. Then, to top off your visit, you'd pass through the warm, snug kitchen where hot cider and mincemeat tarts were being prepared and served. It's a special time for Hallockville. Back to Farm Day: A group of weavers and quilters were setting up their work place and displaying their art work that once again jolted the mind with their intricate handwork. Long win- ter days produced some beautiful quilts and woven pieces and from those early get - togethers the news and gossip of the area spread. Today, the telephone has short- circuited that old and fluid means i__w69w i wwV nwwu 82 Years Ago August 17, 1912 Auto Upsets Stage: A big Lozier car caused a lot of excitement on Shelter Island a few days ago. The chauf- feur cranked the car, while in gear, and she started right ahead. A stage loaded with people happened to be in its path. The stage was upset and the occupants scattered in every direction. Fortunately, nobody was hum Southold Residents Held Up: Two Southold residents were held up by three highwaymen and at the point of revolvers were robbed of $60 in cash. They closed their store for the night and were on their way to their bun- galow, when three men, all wearing masks, sprang out of the bushes. The next day the bloodhounds, owned by Long Island Railroad Company, were put on the trail. They traced the robbers as far as the creek, where the scent was lost. 50 Years Ago August 18, 1944 17- Year -Olds Can Enlist: Young men of 17 in the Greenport area who wish to serve their country in the air will soon be given the opportunity to volunteer for future training as aerial gunners, pilots, navigators, or bom- bardiers. To qualify, a young man must be 17 years of age, have 20/20 vision and normal color vision and the consent of communication. Of course, Ken Wells was there, peel- ing apples and potatoes on his automatic peeler. I was fascinated by this past "modern" invention that not only peeled your apple as you cranked the handle but also sliced the apple as well for sam- pling. We looked into the musty, deep root cellar right off the kitchen door where vegetables, like potatoes, beets, carrots, cabbage, fruits and other perish- ables, were kept from freezing. All these were practical innovations that made life on the farm a bit easier. Nearby, Ken's wife was working on refinishing an old oak frame that had been smothered by numerous coats of paint. Now these were being removed to recall the true color and beauty of the wood. Over by the barn that housed the ani- mals was a snack table where Barbara and I bought our morning coffee and doughnuts. Kathleen Rosenow, working behind the counter, was dressed like most of the volunteers in the clothes of that period. It seems to me I've seen some new versions of the old way just of his parents. Oyster Ponds Historical Society Founded: A meeting of those who had enrolled as members of an His- torical and Genealogical Society proposed to be formed in Orient was held at the Fire Hall. This meeting was called for the purpose of formally organizing such a Society. A suitable Constitution and By -laws were adopted. It was voted to call the organization "The Oyster Ponds Historical Society," Oyster Ponds having been the name of the village prior to its change to Orient about 1836. 25 Years Ago August 22, 1969 Beachcombers' Delight: Osgood, now showing at the Southold Gallery, recognizes the waste that collects on the beach after winter and gives it a new form, a new composition, fascinating to the most casual beachcomber. Le Petit Musee Maritime is just that--a "museum" of drift- wood, seaweed, weathered glass and a mussel shell neatly displayed in the compartments of a sewing machine. Playground Help: Financial aid to purchase play- ground equipment for the Third Street Park has already been announced by the Greenport Rotary Club and the North Fork Duplicate Bridge Club. At least eight or nine other service and business organizations have indicated they will announce financial support. recently. Even the high -laced shoes are coming back, my wife tells me. While we were looking at some baby chicks in a box, one of the old hens found a weak spot in the snow fence and got out. In no time the whole flock fol- lowed. Cathryn Schelp, one of the vol- unteers, was nearby to round them up and one by one the plump, squawking chickens were caught and put back into their now - repaired fence. All Hell Breaks Loose But then came the highlight of the day. The cow was looking for greener pastures than her 'straw stall and pushed out the snow fence. Now the real fun began. People scattered. Some brave souls ran after the cow, which made her run all the faster. Soon she was on the run. When she got ahead of her pursuers, she would stop to munch on whatever was nearby and then move on as the crowd got closer. Finally she pulled a maneuver no one could follow. She plunged into a thicket on the east side of the property and came out, still running, to head down Sound Avenue where she found the middle of the road ideal for her adventure. Of course, all traffic slowed down and pulled off to give her clear passage. She was queen of the road. At the rate she was going she would have been in Orient in about a half an hour if she hadn't been stopped. But one car knew what to do and placed itself across the road. There, she came to a halt in someone's front yard. She was busy munching away on the lawn when the pursuers arrived and again Cathryn came to the rescue and walked her back to her stall. This time she'd have a line tethered to her. Later we'd watch the Long Island Antique Power Association's exhibit in back of the barn. This time the event was for kids on 20- to 30- year -old antique garden tractors that were hitched to heavy weights for pulling. It reminded me of previous events where the dads had their big antique farm tractors and competed by pulling huge, heavy cement weights for the best pull. We had to leave early and so we missed some of the old carriages and other events that were scheduled for the afternoon but we did enjoy what time we had visiting Farm Day at Hallockville.