A Daunting Task: Inventory, Repair, and a New Look for the Smith Grocery Museum

One of my very favorite places to hang out and reminisce on a regular basis is our almost 100 year old grocery museum. . .It's hard to believe that the building is that old. . .Built in 1919 by my grandfather Earl Magers, the store was located on Second Street in Dell. Over the years, it was rented by several store owners. Granddaddy owned it until ca. 1956, when he deeded it over to my Mom, my brother, and myself. I have such fond memories of the C A Smith Grocery Store from my growing up years that when we moved the building to Duncan Farmstead, no other name for it was right. I was able to use an old photograph to get the sign as much like the original as possible. 

While the exterior of the building resembles C. A.'s store, the interior does not. We were so blessed to have had so many donations from local people that we wanted to incorporate them into a typical company store. Thanks to Marguerite Brownlee and Marcia Partin, we have wonderful store fixtures and glass displays from the Brownlee Store and one of the early Dell Post Offices down to the postal directory. I cannot thank them enough for allowing us to save this part of Dell history. One of the displays dates back to 1903 and was first used in an early Dell establishment.

To fill those displays, in the beginning, I relied on family items and my collections. . .Now, almost ten years later, we have had numerous donations from friends in the Dell area, as well as others who live further away but knew of our project. We are grateful for each and every donation and have assured the donors that these items will continue on here at the historic district in the future. 

Which brings me to the daunting task at hand. It's time to put things in order and inventory each and every item. While listing our inventory, we are also changing the items within the store to better display all the generous donations and less of the family possessions. . .and to reflect the early 20th century time period. 

When we begin to 'restock' the shelves, our plans are to restore the donated items to their original appearance, as much as possible.. Repair, paint, and polish is in the work ahead of us. But first comes the weeding out of personal collections and family items for an estate sale and the inventory of all that will stay with the Historic District. . .Yes, a daunting task. . .but a definite step forward in protecting our local heritage.

We have a LOT of work ahead of us. . .

and we have several changes to make. . .

but I'm excited about the project, 

 knowing it will all come together. . .one day. . .

Sneak Peek: The HISTORY IN POSTCARDS SERIES Coming Soon!

PICKING COTTON--EARLY 20TH CENTURY

It's February and I have no idea where the last two months have gone. . .

but I do know it's 'high time' I get back to BLOGGING!!!!

But. . .it IS Winter. . .which means indoor projects. 

This is one I've been working on for some time. . .with the dozens of POST CARDS that are connected to COTTON. . .I'll be sharing them with you soon. . .and the COTTON STORIES that go with them. . .

AN EARLY COTTON PRESS--VERY PRIMITIVE

It will be coming your way SOON. . .so BOOKMARK this site. . .

I'll be back with much to tell. . .

 

 

Our Sharecroppers Are Decorating for Christmas

 

Are your Christmas gifts wrapped and ready?

Have you put up your tree?

Our SHARECROPPERS are beginning to decorate their SHOTGUN HOUSES. . .

and MS. HER CROW is headed their way with a load of cypress, cedar and pine trees. . .

cut from the banks of the PEMISCOT BAYOU (Dell Ditch). . .

They don't have a lot of money to spend on STORE-BOUGHT decorations. . .

so they make-do with what they have. . .or what can be found. . .

I think Cowboy has done the most decorating, so far. . .

We won't ask whose pants those are. . .

They look large enough for Santa, don't they? But, they're the right Christmas colors. . .

Cowboy's neighbors. . . the Turners. . . 

are waiting for the Christmas trees to arrive before finishing with their decorations. . .

but  they have started with. . .

a WREATH at the door. . .

and one for their prize laying hen, Harriet. . .

 Won't be long until our Sharecroppers will be ready for SANTA. . .

He'll be visiting CHRISTMAS EVE. . .at MIDNIGHT

He stops at the DUNCAN FARMSTEAD every Christmas Eve. . .

to visit with the animals. . .and to rest a little. . .

John and I spied him one Christmas. . .

Read about it at:

 A CHRISTMAS STORY FROM THE FARM

Young or Old. . .Rich or Poor. . .Make-do or Store-bought. . .

We all look forward to another Christmas together with family and friends. . .

on our little DELTA FARM.

**************

We are also featured in the HOLIDAY ISSUE OF DELTA CROSSROADS. . .

with my Granddaddy's Christmas Letter from 1938. . .

and other stories about Christmases Past with our family.

Just CLICK HERE 

and turn to pages 31-36.

 HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY !!!!

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT THE FARM

 

FARM FRIDAY: Christmas Barn

Cotton In My Sack

I have a confession. . .I have never picked cotton long enough to fill a 'pick sack'. . .or even get enough to feel the weight of it as the bag is pulled behind me. . .Chop cotton--yes--I've done my share of that. . .No picking it, though. . .

When I was growing up, we still used cotton pickers in the fields, along with a small mechanical picker. . .Every Fall we had people come in to pick. . .many from Mexico and spoke little English. . .That vision of pickers in the field comes to mind every year about this time. . .

Once during my Senior year in High School, we went to several fields to pick cotton. . .The farmers had given us certain areas to pick so that we could raffle off a bale of cotton for class money. . .A bale back then weighed about 500 pounds. . .A lot of cotton. . .There were only a few girls in the class. . .more guys. . .so some of us females talked the guys into pulling the long heavy bag, while we all picked. . .It was still hard, back-breaking work. . .But ever since, I've intended to actually pick at least half of a pick sack. . .

 The morning came when I had to make a decision to try my hand at cotton picking with a six foot long bag. . .It was early dawn as I walked out to the field behind our home. . .Cloudy. . .Threatening rain. .  .

I have to admit, it was a little daunting as I looked out over the fields, trying to put myself in the place of the pickers and what they must have felt looking at those acres and acres of cotton before them. . .I was lucky. . .I had a back-up. . .I was doing it for fun, too. . .not as a matter of survival. . .

In the early light, I headed for the field. . .with visions of my all time favorite book by Lois Lenski. . .thinking about all those tenants and sharecroppers of the past. . .

This is proof positive that I actually did pick. . .but you'll note, I'm sure, that there's not much in the sack. . .or off the rows. . .And then. . .it began to sprinkle. . .Time for breakfast. . .

After that little shower (which was NOTHING). . .the skies cleared. . .I thought I'd give it another try. . .if nothing else than to get some good photos. . .With the cleared skies and warmer morning, the wind decided to pick up. . .I was spending more time holding onto my hat than picking cotton. . .

And those endless rows of white were getting no shorter. . .

I DID get the pick sack somewhat stuffed. . .

This is where I have a second confession. . .In the end,

I was cutting whole limbs of cotton. . .for my 'plain and simple farmhouse decor'. . .

A pick sack fills up quickly that way. . .

I certainly did not regret the experience. . .but by 10:00 I was tired. . .the wind was hard to stand up in. . .the bolls were cutting my fingers. . .my back was hurting from bending over. . .and I was hungry. . .

Time to call in the RECRUITS. . .

Mr. Roy Gaines made quick work of my endless rows of cotton with his John Deere. . .

As I sat in my rocker on the porch drinking coffee and watching. . .

I counted my blessings that my days of picking cotton by hand were over. . .(grin)