At Home
The early homes were nearly all built from wood. The average country house was a story and half in height, with a narrow hall in the middle and two rooms on each aide. A high chimney with fireplaces heated the kitchen and sitting rooms. These fireplaces were huge, and in moderate weather provided adequate heat, but in zero weather one usually found oneself roasted on one side and almost frozen on the other.
All the cooking was done on the fireplace. Over the fire hung a swinging crane with hooks of various lengths hanging from it. On these hooks the pots were hung. Bread was baked in a bake kettle - a large covered flat pot, which was placed on the hearth, with live coals around it and piled on the cover.The fires were usually lit in two ways-by striking a spark from a flint, or with hot coals from another fire. Many a carless youth truged miles to the nearest farmhouse to bring home hot coals to restart a cold fire.
For light, when more than firelight was necessary, candles were used. These were usually made at home. There were two kinds, moulded and dipped. Both were made of tallow, the fat of animals killed on the form. The fat was placed in a large pot, heated slowly until it was thoroughly melted, and then strained. The dipped candles could be made quickly. Two kitchen chairs were used placed about five feet apart, two sticks were laid across the chairs, then small sticks each holding two wicks were laid across the long sticks so that the wicks bung down. Then the dipping began. The first of the short sticks was taken from its place, and the wicks were dipped into the hot tallow; then they were hung back in place on the line. this was repeated with each of the small sticks until the candles were large enough and could be left to harden.
The moulded candles took longer to make but were more regular. The moulds were made of tin, each holding four or six candles. The mould was open at the top, and a tiny hole at the bottom. A stick was laid across the top, and the wicks were laid over this stick, down through the moulds and out through the tiny holes at the tips. The two ends of the wick were tied in a knot close to the hole which kept the tallow from running out and also pulled the wick straight through the mould. The hot tallow was poured in and the moulds were left until the tallow hardened. The knots at the ends were clipped off, and the stick lifted bringing the moulded candles with it.
Later oil lamps came into use, these in turn were replaced by electric-lamp.
Gradually the old log houses gave way to newer framed houses. ay 1860 many fine substantial homes could be seen along the Ridge. Many were built with lumber provided by Daniel Jewett’s sawmill. The log houses first were demoted to barns and animal shelters, later the were replaced by new barns. Barn raisings were example of the neighbourly helpfulness and rural community spirit so often lacking in today’s society. Quick work was made of construction and often in one day a barn could be framed, raised and completed. The wives would pool their efforts to feed the hungry workers, and often after the work was done a dance would be held on the floor of the new building. Barn raisings and other bees were successful and satisfying social events in a time women pleasures were simple and good. A bee could be organized for most any task such as a quilting-to help a young girl soon to be married quilt the patchwork bedcoverings she had been diligently sewing since she was a young girl. Or an apple bee.