Wash Day on the Farm

My visits to the farm were usually in the summer; I only remember two winter visits. I remember the conversation around the dinner table about the summer weather; dire comments of family and friends that "if we don't get some rain soon the well will go dry." A dry well was a horrifying thought, so we had to take measures to prevent it. Needless to say I learned early on to conserve water both from the well and from rain barrels. Each of the two back corners of the house had its own rain barrel, the supply replenished by an occasional thunderstorm. This water, too, was used sparingly. .

Wash day, in times of drought, became a problem solved by using natural water sources. Across two large fields, a cultivated one and a meadow, was a stand of tree which we called "The Woods." In these woods was a natural spring. On wash day Oliver, the hired man, would go over early, unearth from the underbrush a big black cauldron, set up a tripod on which to hang the black kettle and proceed to fill it with water from the spring. He built a fire under the cauldron to heat the water. Also stashed away in the underbrush was a bench and two wooden wash tubs. One tub had a wringer fastened to it by large vise-like screws. The wringer had two hard rubber rolls through which the clothes were run pressing out the water. The rolls were turned by a handle. I do not recall a wash board but there must have been one.

The power for turning the wringer was furnished by eager young helpers--my sister and me. We could also help in keeping the fire going which qualified as a responsible job; not a play job but fun to do. Needless to say wash day was an all day excursion where we trekked across the field carrying washing supplies and our lunch. After Oliver got all our washing equipment set-up, he would return to his farm chores leaving us with grandmother, the collie, Nell, and the job. While the clothes dried we were happy to explore the woods, watch for animals, pick wildflowers or berries in season or just nap in the sun.

In retrospect I see and appreciate the difficulties faced by my grandmother. Laundry to be washed included the heavy farm clothing, the household sheets and towels, the red checkered tablecloths our pinafores panties and nightgowns. Most difficult of all were the heavy roller towels used to dry hands. We had no paper products or plastic then. I remember that on the back porch near the kitchen door was a bench which held the men's wash basin with a roller towel. A roller towel is a long piece of toweling made of either huck or linen sewed together to make a circle and placed over a roller, similar to the T.P. holders we have now. The person using it just pulled the towel to a clean unused spot. We always had 2-3 heavy roller towels in the wash. It must have been a labor saver but our hygiene today would not approve it.

Laundry Index