Pioneer Village

This is how water was carried from the wells to where it was needed.

This box was filled with charcoal (charred wood pieces) from the fires. It was left outside where rain water could run through the box. A bucket was put at the end to catch the water. This was how lye is made and lye is used to make soap.

Cutting wood was a chore!! And not an easy one. It took lots of strength and lots of time. Enough wood to last the whole winter would need to be cut during the summer. It was a big job. Interesting - they let the kids practice cutting to see how hard it is - this cut in the log was started over two years ago and it has yet to be cut through. Amazing since they have lots of school field trips to this place. Just shows how difficult cutting wood by hand is - we take all our power tools for granted. We should really be very appreciative that we don't have to work this hard.

Washing clothes

Even playing the piano was work. This one had foot pedals that had to be pumped to make the sound - it is almost like running while sitting down and still trying to play the correct notes with your hands. It truly was a workout!! It is hard to imagine anyone being 'fat' in the pioneer days. They literally got a workout in every activity they did!!!

He was showing the kids how the beds were not all that comfortable. It was a rope bed with a mattress stuffed with hay (very scratchy). The top quilt was beautiful though.

This was the General Store.

Here the kids got to learn about some of the equipment used on the farm.