Baths in the summer were taken more often and easier for everyone. The hayfield crew came in hot, dirty and itchy, grabbing towels, suits (maybe) and a bar of soap as they headed for the icy waters of Boulder Creek, about ½ mile away. Boulder Creek’s headwaters located on Jug Handle Mountain and our house nested at its base. A perfect swimming hole at the bridge, made a good place to get clean and cool. There was a lot of horseplay to bring a day of hard work to a close. Proof that farm work is not all work and no play. The younger kids were not forgotten in this ritual, since early in the morning, an old bathtub filled with water and left in the sun to warm during the day. Before we were called to supper, all of us played, splashed and washed the dirt away, and then took a quick rinse in the cold water of the lawn sprinkler.
Water had to be heated for everyday needs, dishwashing etc. and washday. Power outages and frozen pipes were always a problem. If that happened, then we had to haul snow in, to melt for water. It was never a problem to find snow in Lake Fork, but it still required many trips. It takes a lot of snow to make that much water.
I remember that Daddy installed a water heater in the spring, so we would have instant hot water. But an indoor bathroom didn’t make an appearance for several more years. By then we again really appreciated being able to turn on the tap for more hot water, stretch out in the tub, and sit on a warm toilet seat instead of making the cold trip to the outhouse. Maybe this was when Daddy finally got to take a bath in his very own bath water...Hugs To All...OWAV:) Written by, Idella Ashton Allen
Joe and Blanche Ashton
1949 before we moved to Idaho.
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