The Country Homemaker Hop #41

Welcome back friends.  I hope you've had another productive week on the homefront.  

We took a trip up to see our kids and enjoyed a tour of their little farm town.  While there, we stumbled upon a little jewel, The R. C. Baker Museum.  This museum showcases some wonderful homemaking tools from the past.  

Walking through the rooms was bittersweet.  I remember watching my Grandma use some of these pieces in her own home and those memories made me smile.  Though, as I read the clever write ups for each item it became clear that I would have struggled to maintain my household doing so many back breaking chores on my own.  

I tip my hat to the ladies of that bygone era.  They really were more woman than I.  

Here's a few pictures of the homemaking tools we found at the museum...

 Ye olde clothesline...  I'm still trying to get the hubby to make me one.

An old wringer washing machine.  This one was much fancier than any I've seen before.  It has a spot for a crank on the top of the lid that attaches to an agitator inside.  There used to be a firebox below at one time to keep the water HOT.  I've been told that this washing machine was an important improvement for women, and was much better than an old washtub and board.  It  was faster and easier to use, and much easier on the back and shoulders too. 

 An ironing mangle.  My Mother was trained by her aunt (a laundress) to use one like this to press clothes as a teen in the shop.  The shop received 15 cents per shirt for washing and pressing.  What a deal.  

 This is an old grain separator.  Homemakers used to have to shuck/crimp/grind grain for animal feed all by themselves.

 Cream separators...

 A hundred years ago, no kitchen was complete without one of these, a hoosier.  I drooled when I saw this one.

 A stove top wood stove was a must have too.

 Can you see the water pump at the sink?  My Grandma grew up without indoor plumbing and electricity.  My Mom spent much of her early childhood without indoor plumbing too.  I was awed by the attention the volunteers spent sewing these demonstration rooms together.  Each room was something special to see.

 This little museum was full of surprises.  I like how they mixed and matched so many things from so many eras... The appliances in this kitchen appear to be from the 1940s and 1950s according to the tags.

 I remember visiting my Aunt Dale in Southern Texas for a few hot summers as a child.  I can still see her pulling a giant watermelon from an ice box like this one in the mid seventies...  

I hope you enjoyed seeing these images.  Perhaps they even jogged a few happy memories for you as they did for me. 

Please feel free to link up and share your homemaking posts below.  Have a wonderful week ahead.