Hocking County Historical and Genealogical Society and Museum
Hocking County Historical and Genealogical Society and Museum
64 North Culver Street
Logan, OH 43138
ph: 740-385-6026
hockingh
About Us
ABOUT US:
PRESIDENT’S CORNER July 2020
By Judy Maniskas
Dear Members and Friends,
To say that this year has been an unusual one for the Society is an
Understatement!
The worldwide pandemic reared its ugly head here in Hocking County in March.
We were happy to comply with Governor DeWine’s measures for safety and good
health, and therefore the Museum has been closed to visitors since
that time. Unfortunately, our expenses keep rolling in for Kevin Canan, treasurer. Our
fundraisers, the Annual Flea Market, and the Ice Cream Social events will not be held in
2020.
That is not to say the Society Members have not been busy with various housekeeping
chores in the Schempp House and the Museum Building. Thanks to Nyla Vollmer, Ann
Cramer, and Tom Collins for mowing and trimming the lawn and grounds. Sarolin and
Don Griggs are using their Master Gardner skills to keep
the flower beds weedless. Chuck Eaton keeps our Web site interesting
with the Throwback Thursday feature and his other columns. Nyla Vollmer has hit the
jackpot with our Facebook page. There has been an excellent response, with as many
as 1,000 hits for exciting photos and information. Margaret Graham, vice president, is
always ready to advise our group in moving forward. If I have forgotten anyone who has
helped in any way, I apologize, but thanks to all.
The Board of Trustees is watching with interest the local school’s decision to open later
this month. It would be difficult to sanitize our collections as a whole because most of
our artifacts are either paper or textiles. I am praying that the country will once again be
safe, and folks from afar can visit the finest, little museum in Southeastern Ohio!
Remember, for your safety, follow the rules, and wear those masks
The Anthony Log Cabin was built around 1830 or 1831 on Loomis Road by the John Jacob Anthony family, the first generation of Anthony’s to live in the cabin. Hand hued logs used in the construction of the cabin and barn structure were harvested from the gigantic oak and walnut trees growing at the farm. My first real experience at the farm and cabin came in the year 1935 while living with Grandpa Charles and Grandma Dora Belle Anthony.
The first level had an exceptionally large living room on the West end while an equally large bedroom was located at the East. There was a pantry, long kitchen area and small separate dining room. The pantry had a cream separator often used to make butter. The upper level had a large bedroom on the East end with three moderate size bedrooms being located on the West.
Heat was supplied by two brick fireplaces, one at each end of the lower level as well as by a huge cast iron wood burning kitchen stove. There was a large hole cut thru the main floor ceiling permitting heat to rise. On real cold nights, bricks were placed beside the wood and coal burning fireplaces, then the warm bricks were used for warming the cold bed.
Early lighting in the cabin was provided by kerosene lamps. During the later years, two oil wells (on the farm) provided gas service to wall-hung gas light fixtures.
Water supply came from roof drainage that was piped thru sand, stone, and charcoal filter box, then draining into a large cistern. When the cistern ran dry, a deep water well filled the needs. Getting water from a deep well was a real chore, you needed to drop the bucket in such a way water could flow in. Then you hand cranked an old wooden handle attached to a round log in the center of well shaft, with a rope attached to the bucket. Making the chore a bit more difficult was the long distance from the cabin, especially in deep snow. A small cast iron pitcher pump was located adjacent kitchen sink for domestic use. To activate the pump, you needed to pour water into the top of the pump, commonly called priming.
There was no bathroom in the cabin, meaning when the urge called, you had to make a long walk (about 125 feet) to the “PRIVY” sometimes referred to as the “OUTHOUSE”. The outhouse was only used during the daylight hours, with a large porcelain “POTTY” being used after nightfall. For those of you who never had the distinct pleasure of visiting an outhouse, just visualize an old shed situated a far point from the cabin. Now visualize setting on a wide rough sawed board with two holes cut into the surface, this being commonly called a “TWO HOLER”.
Back then, there was no soft Charmin tissue, you used old newspapers, discarded Sears and Roebuck catalogues and or a corn cob for clean-up purposes. Now envision a trip in wintertime, brushing snow away, a cold seat and wind blowing all around. Summertime presented a whole new smell, one like no other
Hocking County Historical and Genealogical Society and Museum
64 North Culver Street
Logan, OH 43138
ph: 740-385-6026
hockingh