Early Americana

Here is wishing each and every true blooded American, a happy 4th of July weekend. This says it all...our flag we so love, wrapped in God's promising rainbow. I have taken many flag photos but this one taken across my field,

3 summers ago, remains my favorite. It speaks volumes to me.

I have not been around home much this past week. I have been helping our neighbors organize, clean and move things around a bit, so they could more easily sell some of Ted's many items of the past. His Dad was quite the collector, as you will see by the tons of things in this storage building.

This open seat Army saddle had a bird's nest in it way up in the rafters. Can you imagine riding a saddle with no seat? It reminds me of riding the bony back of an old mare at the farm, Old Babe, was her name. You might just as well ride bareback.
Betty and I washed the eons of dust and dirt from what we could, so treasures at least could be recognized. Most of the smaller items went for a song...like these hand pumps.
The carriages, sleighs, cutters, wagons, buggies, were cleaned and waxed until they began to tell stories of old.

I went online to find reasonable unrestored prices for them to tag their items.

This old stagecoach was made by a local fella many years ago, for Ted's Dad. Old Ted used to drive his horses pulling several of these horsedrawn modes of transportation in many a 4th of July, Flambeau Rama and Pioneer Days Parades in our local towns, Park Falls and Butternut. The Ol' Fella Loved to show off his horses.
Wouldn't you just love a ride in this buggy. I remember this one from high school years when a fringe was dressed around the front of the canapy and it was used in the play, "Oklahoma." It is not a surrey but it passed for one that year.
The red wagon is an authentic supply wagon that was used to carry supplies to and from the hardware store before automobiles were used. Behind the seat, is a stand for an umbrella 'just in case of rain.', Ol' Ted used to tell me. The front is reversible, he'd say, for either one horse or two, depending on how heavy the load was expected to be or how badly the roads were broken up. On the back of the supply wagon, are two steps. This was the easiest of all of the wagons, buggies, etc, to enter, other than the cutter (sleigh).
The two seated buggy was the family car back then, having room enough for the folks and all the children, or, I wonder if there was such a thing as 'double-dating? I suppose it was more likely, an elderly escort was required, or a driver?

I couldn't help but wonder what these wagons had to say as I was sitting in the seats or shining its wheels.
Here's another buggy, but a single seat. The seats were made of wire springs, tightly covered with straw, then leather. The seat of this one was missing and replaced with a fancy carpet remnant, certainly not of its era. Notice the round step behind the wheel. All of the wagons and buggies have them. They are tricky to use unless you are spry as a junebug.
I haven't had time to research this yet, but it sure interests me. The advertisement for the hardware store has a 3 digit number. I am wondering if it is from the crank telephone days...does anyone know?
No matter, it sure looked cool shading this buckboard. Get this, and I cringed, Ted sold it for $10. I sure wish I had known he was going to sell it separate from the buggy. Oh, well, I have pictures.
The wagon wheel full of oil lanterns is being left in tact. Phew...one saved.
One quarter of this wall was filled with horse hames. They are the sections that lay over the horses leather collar, that the reins thread through. The collars keep the reins from rubbing and irritating the neck of your faithful leader, your horse.
Another section was filled with gardening tools, logging tools and barn and yard equipment. Bill bought the wide close-toothed fork for rock-picking. Quite useful and he says it works like a charm. The huge loppers on the far right are for dehorning a cow or bull. Anyone need one? It weighs a ton and can cut 3 feet away so you don't get horned in the process. It works quick and with centrifical force of 3oo lbs. Ouch! NOT a toy.
You cannot have a community without a hearse. This one also was made for Ol' Ted for his museum that he opened for School Children Tours. He loved to tell stories of old to the kids. He was quite the educator. It was so much fun for my grandson to hear some of the same stories from Ol' Ted's son, Teddy. He hung on every word.
The far end of the building is full of eveners that were attached to the front of the horsedrawn carriages, buggies, wagons, cutters, etc., to assist in keeping the team of horses or a single horse pulling the wagons even, thus the name 'evener.'
So, hop on, like I had the privilege of doing over and over this past week. Take a step back in time and imagine what life must have been like in the ' horse and buggy ' days. Imagine life without paved roads or headlights. Eat a little dust on your ride, and you will truly realize how fortunate we are today.
Bless America and Thank God for Your Independence.

Have a Sparkling, Explosive 4th of July Everyone and Stay Safe.