{"id":1784,"date":"2018-10-28T23:02:02","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T03:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=1784"},"modified":"2018-10-28T23:03:47","modified_gmt":"2018-10-29T03:03:47","slug":"fwd-music-has-faded-auction-nov-22-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=1784","title":{"rendered":"Fwd: Music has faded Auction Nov. 22, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Begin forwarded message:<\/div>\n


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From: <\/b><\/span>Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Subject: <\/b><\/span>Music has faded Auction Nov. 22, 2017<\/b>
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Date: <\/b><\/span>November 24, 2017 at 11:16:53 AM EST
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To: <\/b><\/span>Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>, Kate McCartney <katemccartney4@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Cc: <\/b><\/span>johngillespie@sympatico.ca<\/a><\/a>
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Mary\u2026This  is  what I am working on to send to our kids and  grandkids\u2026rough , unfinished\u2026but you might like it.  if you do not like it just press Delete.<\/div>\n
Iff I had  help I wold have bid  on the big cutting box in the barn\u2026I am an historian and  that machine is  fantastic.  But too hard for me to load and<\/div>\n
a  bit too far for my sone to come with  his truck.  I hope you find a proper home for it.  I did  an  MA thesis long ago on machine design in 19th century\u2026yours<\/div>\n
was  part of the thesis  (300 pages).<\/div>\n

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Sorry  about your husbands injury\u2026farming is  a  tricky business\u2026no need to list the injuries for there are many.<\/div>\n

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the dolly?  No way I could have known it was not part of the purchase, sorry about that.  you will get it back.<\/div>\n

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alan<\/div>\n

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Kate and  Jim,<\/div>\n
I  just assumed  the dolly was part of the sale\u2026under the  organ\u2026it will be  returned  somehow.<\/div>\n

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MUSIC HAS FADED<\/p>\n


<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
nov. 22, 2017<\/div>\n
McCartney auction at Ayr<\/div>\n

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\u201cAlan, tell me why you went to that auction today\u2026cold, November day like this\u2026cold, cold, cold.\u201d<\/div>\n

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\u201cPushed  on by a force greater than myself\u2026power of change in our society\u2026to be  a \u2018witness to history\u2019 as has been said by persons far<\/div>\n
more observant than myself.<\/div>\n

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\u201cBut Let me try to answer\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n

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\u201cThere are forces  in out lives\u2026events, people, places,  songs\u2026that get lodged in our brains  and  are so deeply imprinted that they cannot escape.<\/div>\n
Some woul call these memories.   But to me they are greater than that\u2026forces.  They just cannot be repressed.<\/div>\n

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Today this  ancient pump organ forced up the memories of a farmhouse deep  in water\u2026January, february\u2026long long ago in<\/div>\n
the late 1940\u2019s when Grandma and Grandpa were still alive living on their tiny hardscrabble  farm on the fifth line of  Erin Township, a farm<\/div>\n
lodged on the southern tip of  Wellington County, Ontario.<\/div>\n

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They had retreated into the small front room of the house\u2026the only place where there was a big wood stove so hot to the touch that it could make a fine pile of toast on the bent wire toasting grill.   Crammed into that room often, so often that those winter evenings  all blend together into one evening\u2026a  forceful memory that just burst forth <\/div>\n
at the farm auction today\u2026November 22,2017.  Grandma cold  play  the pump organ as could my mom.  Look at the worn foot treadles above\u2026and then the  ivory   keys<\/div>\n
below.<\/div>\n

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Who was  in that room?  First there was the big dog Laddie.  He had a fine vice  and  loved to sing as soon as Grandma opened  the organ and<\/div>\n
began pumping the treadles to get wind into the hidden reeds.  Laddie howled.  Now I realize he hated the organ. Wanted to protect us from its unholy moaning.  Love and  hate are sometimes confused as you probably know.<\/div>\n

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Laddie  was not the only animal in the room.  There  were mice lured from hiding to get their necks broken on the Victor snap trap guillotines.  And below the<\/div>\n
floor in the field stone foundation there were snakes  hibernating.  And  perhaps  bigger things  being the plaster walls\u2026raccoons for instance.  All made alert<\/div>\n
by the moaning organ and the human voices\u2026Grandpa, mom,  Eric, myself and occasionally Dad  if the harness horses were not running at Differin track.<\/div>\n
Grandad would get out his Stradivarius violin, the treasure of his life other than Grandma who he called Lou.  And soon Grandad  played the  Devil\u2019s Dream accompanied by Laddie howling.<\/div>\n

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Not much room for us all.  Big Victorian sideboard jammed with dishes and  food, a  day bed long the south wall tucked safely behind the wood stove which <\/div>\n
dominated the  room.  Grandma treated the wood stove with caution for two reasons  First, she had severe parkinson\u2019s disease which meant her hands shook all the time. Lighting the stove with the paper tubes she made was  done cautiously.  The second  reason was the memory of the log cabin they lost at Krugerdorf in Northern Ontario.<\/div>\n
They only had time to rescue a few  valuable things.  One of  which was  the pump organ, similar to the one above only less fancy.  That organ stood beside the hall  door, always ready for use.  Then there was  the  kitchen table and assorted chairs and a small cupboard.  All this in a room that was about 10\u2019 x 15\u2019.  To say we were a close family would be an understatement.<\/div>\n

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So when I  bought this pump organ at the Gillespie farm sale in 2017, memories popped  up.<\/div>\n

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This  story will be a bit unusual.  Interspersed  among the tools  of agriculture\u2026ancient and modern\u2026will be  the lyrics  of songs<\/div>\n
that came to mind..songs of  the First World War and  songs of  the post war years between 1945 and 1949.  In particular Roses  of Picardy which grandma <\/div>\n
played on her organ many times\u2026and sang until her voice got shaky, All part of my childhood  and<\/div>\n
the  reason these farm sales, sad though they be, are important to me.  <\/div>\n

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\"\"upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Roses_of_picardy_sheet_music_01.jpg\/500px-Roses_of_picardy_sheet_music_01.jpg<\/a> 2x” data-file-width=”1596″ data-file-height=”2126″>Verse 1:<\/span><\/p>\n
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She is watching by the poplars, Colinette with the sea-blue eyes,<\/dd>\n
She is watching and longing and waiting Where the long white roadway lies.<\/dd>\n
And a song stirs in the silence, As the wind in the boughs above,<\/dd>\n
She listens and starts and trembles, ‘Tis the first little song of love:<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
Refrain<\/div>\n
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Roses are shining in Picardy, in the hush of the silver dew,<\/dd>\n
Roses are flowering in Picardy, but there’s never a rose like you!<\/dd>\n
And the roses will die with the summertime, and our roads may be far apart,<\/dd>\n
But there’s one rose that dies not in Picardy!<\/dd>\n
’tis the rose that I keep in my heart!<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

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You asked why I go. So now you have your answer.  Complicated  spider web is it not?<\/div>\n
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All of  the Gillespies family horses and cattle  were gone.  You know where.  To a place few farmers want to mention.  Instead they use the expression \u201cThey have been shipped.\u201d  Farmers , most of them , come to love their animals so the whole business of raising livestock has  an unpleasant ending.  One farmer I knew  lived on peanut butter rather than beefsteak  and  bacon.<\/div>\n

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The last living animal was their dog, an Alsatian with signs of hip displasia.  He endlessly circled  the  crowd wondering no doubt \u2018what the hell is  going on?\u201d<\/div>\n
The snap of  my  camera startled  him but instead  of attacking he dragged  his back legs in a hasty retreat.<\/div>\n

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On-Site Farm Auction Sale<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
For John Gillespie & Mary O\u2019Connor
(519) 501-1668<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
(Jomar Cattle Feeders Inc.)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Wednesday, November 22nd at 10:30 a.m.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
(Preview Tuesday 12 – 4 p.m. )<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Located at <\/strong>869 Brant, Waterloo Rd, (Ayr). From Hwy 401 take Exit 268. Go West on Cedar Creek Rd. (Hwy 97) approx. 2 miles then South on Northumberland (Reg. Rd #58) for approx. 3 miles to Ayr, then South on Swan St. (Reg. Rd. #58) for 1 mile to Brant-Waterloo Rd. (Watch for signs).<\/span><\/div>\n
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Consisting of Tractors \u2013 Tillage \u2013 Planting \u2013 Haying \u2013 Livestock Barn & Equipment \u2013 Conestoga Wagon<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
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Tractors:<\/strong> \u2012 John Deere 4050 Cab & Air 4 x 4 – 20.8 x 38 rears \u2013 front fenders \u2013 IH 3288 Cab with 2350 Loader \u2013 IH 966 \u2013 Cab, Case 630 with hyd Loader (gas), 6\u2019 Loader Stone Pork<\/span><\/div>\n
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Equipment: <\/strong>\u2013 John Deere 1750 Maxemerge XP 6 x 30\u201d planter with liquid, J.D. 7000 6 x 30 planter (dry), IH 4800 \u2013 24\u2019 Cultivator Vibra Shank with Walking Tandem, J.D. 24\u2019 \u2013 1010 cultivator, John Deere 235 \u2013 24 hyd fold disc, A.C. 19\u2019 3300 wheel disc, IH \u2013 720 s.m. 4 x18\u201d plow, Kewanee 22\u2019 hyd fold packer, Brillion 3 P.T.H. 6 row corn cultivator, Case IH 5100 soybean special 21 run drill with press wheels and markers (grain only), IH 6500 conser-till 9 shank 10\u2019, Brady 5\u2019 flail chopper, 2 row N.I. Picker sheller (314), 6-gravity boxes (3 with 963 J.D. Gear) and wagons, Fertilizer hopper tender & Auger, Precision Tandem 500 gal 60\u2019 hyd boom sprayer, A.C. (Model 6-30) 6 row 30\u201d corn head<\/span><\/div>\n
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New Holland: <\/strong>\u2013 489 Haybine, bale elevator 30\u2019 steel frame Tandem Round Bale wagon, 4 bar ground drive hay rake, IH 580 Tandem manurer spreader, J.D. 12\u2019 wheel disc, 6\u201d x 32\u2019 transport Auger 6\u2019 3 P.T.H. B.N.E. flail mower, Flat deck wagons<\/span><\/div>\n
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Cattle Barn & Access: <\/strong>\u2013 Approx 120\u2019 x 60\u2019 post & trust open sides to be dismantled, approx. 40-9\u2019 x 4\u2019 H.D. gates \u2013 Petitions 2\u201d x 2\u201d tubing, Approx 20 concrete J.Fedders with steel headrail, Approx 140 10\u2019 x 4\u2019 concrete slat flooring, Misc 1\u201d tubular gates, Husky Manure pump & pipes, Butler (Oswalt) 2840 single axle feeder wagon, Farm Hand grinder & blower, new Digi-Starz EZ 2100 scale head.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Good Selection<\/strong> of Rough cut pine lumber mostly 2\u201d various widths & lengths, 3-30\u201d logs up to 20\u2019, misc hand hewn barn beams (varying sizes)<\/span><\/div>\n
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Misc: <\/strong>Conestoga Covered Wagon, Honda TRX 200 4 wheeler, (as is), Watson\u2019s Antique cutting box on steel, 44\u201d x 48\u201d Feedmill scale, old 3 wheel Watson bag cart, 12\u2019 chain harrows, 8\u2019 3 P.T.H. blade, old 2 wheel 6\u2019 pull type road grader, Acre meter, Barn Scales, 10\u2019 tandem boat trailer, J.D. fast hitch, shair saw, roller chain, shop and related smalls, J.D. Lawnmower LX, digital electronic scale head, Perry grain blower<\/span><\/div>\n
\u2013 Antique Bell Pump organ & stool, old cupboards, Pine Boxes, misc. primative tools, Walking plow, 2 row turnip planter, misc. household items Many more miscellaneous farm related items<\/span><\/div>\n
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Terms:<\/strong> Cash \u2013 Cheque \u2012 Interac\u00ae \u2012 VISA\u00ae day of sale<\/span><\/div>\n
Lunch Booth on Grounds<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Jim McCartney Auction Service Ltd.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
905-689-8778<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Waterdown<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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1446 Views<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n


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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Begin forwarded message: From: Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com> Subject: Music has faded Auction Nov. 22, 2017 Date: November 24, 2017 at 11:16:53 AM EST To: Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>, Kate McCartney <katemccartney4@gmail.com> Cc: johngillespie@sympatico.ca Mary\u2026This  is  what I am working on to send to our kids and  grandkids\u2026rough , unfinished\u2026but you might like it.  if you do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1784\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}