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Page 6 with a water tank. This water was used for all household purposes except when snow was on the ground. Then we would melt snow in the boiler or tub and use for washing. Later on a cistern was dug on the north side of the house and eve troughs were installed on the roof. Rains kept water in the new cistern most of the time and it was piped into the kitchen where a pitcher pump would draw water from the cistern. We even had a sink with a wash pan! This was up-town living! In the south east corner of the yard, about fifty feet from the house, was a root cellar. This cellar was probably 12’x14’ and 7’ or 8’ deep. It was covered with logs that had been hauled from the river. The logs were covered with a layer of hay and then the dirt that had been taken from the hole was piled on top of the hay. Of course, a vent pipe was put in, doors installed, a stairway dug out and it was ready for use. The cellar also had shelves for canned goods (home canned), a bin for potatoes and a place for turnips, carrots etc. |