AMISH SCHOOL AUCTION…THREE DAYS LATER
alan skeoch
July 23, 2019
Three days earlier this barren site contained a couple of thousand people and as many cars, trucks, horses and buggies.
But today it is a barren site
“Alan, where are we?”
“Marjorie, it has taken us nearly four hours to find this place even though I drove
here with Andy and Jack in less than 1.5 hours.”
“But where are we?”
“Somewhere in the centre of Amish Ontario…near Milverton.”
“Do you mean this empty field is where you spent last Saturday afternoon?:
SHORT days ago this field was jammed with people bidding on the weirdest collection
of objets imaginable. Today, three days later, the field is barren except for the things
nobody seems to want.
EARLIER
“I notice it is wash day…maybe these Amish folk can give directions.”
“And there it is Marjorie…sitting all alone among the stubble and the footprints
of auctioneers and bidders.”
“Not another fanning mill, Alan, when will you grow up and know to stop…”
“Beautiful …right?
“Battered”
“140 years old, bound to be bruised.”
“Does it fit in the truck?”
“Not quite…needs to be rolled over.”
“How will we lift it?”
“Look what’s coming across the field…”
“Give you a hand if you want.”
“Wonder how we would get the mill into the truck without you”
“What make is it?”
“Looks like a Clinton made machine,…circa 1880 give or take…”
“Or it could be a McTaggart…name long worn off by the grain and Calloused
hands…”
“Did you buy that thing…now that is interesting…a shoemakers anvil with
the shape of real boots made of iron…interchangeable.”
“Where will we put it?”
“In the farm kitchen…looks good beside the stove.”
“How much did you pay for it?”
“Rather not say. I paid $5 for the fanning mill though.”
“Let’s tale a few minutes to see what else has been left behind.”
A REAPER…WITH ALL PARTS…REPLACED THE SICKLE AND CRADLE SCYTHE…TECHNOLOGICAL
WONDER IN ITS TIME.
HORSE DRAWN HEAVY HARROWS…WHEELED KIND
LOBSINGER THRESHING MACHINE…
REMEMBER WE BOUGHT ONE OF THESE 35 YEARS AGO…FARMER UP THE ROAD
BORROWED IT FOR HIS LAST THRESHING. HE GOT INJURED AND HAD TO
GIVE UP FARMING. THE THRESHER WAS PROTECTED BY A TARP BUT THE
DAMN TARP ROTTED AND SO DID THE THRESHER. WENT TO SCRAP BECAUSE
WE HAD NO BARN TO KEEP IT IN. SAD. MAYBE SAME FUTURE FOR THIS ONE.
FARM WAGON…ALSO LAND ROLLER
‘
HORSE DRAWN CORN BINDER
NICELY RESTORED MOWING MACHINE
POTATO HARVESTER
MANURE SPREADER
HAY LOADERS…ABOUT TEN OF THEM.
SIDE DELIVERY RAKE
HORSE DRAWN SET OF DISC HARROWS
“ALAN, TIME TO LEAVE…DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GET HOME?”
“NOT SURE…WE WILL JUST DRIVE EAST AND CUT SOUTH…TAKE US A COUPLE OF HOURS.
MOOREFIELD FOR LUNCH
“STRANGE LUNCH HERE MARJORIE”
“I notice you serve raccoon steaks…”
“Look at the bottom entry…’Bright Raccoon 732..”
“So?”
“So, if I ordered a “Dull Raccoon steak” would it be cheaper?”
“Five dollars….”
(not the truth…Bright Raccoon is their Wi Fi number…a joke. We had two pieces
of Rhubarb and Strawberry pie with a mountain of vanilla ice cream…”
alan skeoch
July 23, 2019