"Cordless Iron"

How many of you remember using this "cordless" iron?  Irons like these are made from solid cast iron and are heated on a wood stove to warm them up.  If the user wanted to see if the iron was hot enough to iron clothes, they would lick their finger and touch the heated iron quickly.  If the saliva evaporated, then the iron was hot enough.  Washing clothes and hanging them on the clothesline caused the clothes to wrinkle as they dried so a whole day had to be dedicated to ironing shirts, dresses, handkerchiefs, and sheets.

Breast Auger

Coal mining was a dangerous and back breaking occupation, especially from 1870 until the 1930s.  During this period all mining activity was completed by hand.  When the miners needed to drill a hole to "shoot" the coal with dynamite or gunpowder, they had to use a breast auger.  The U-shaped bracket fits over the chest of the miner and the long drill fits into that piece.  The men would push against the wall of coal with their chest and use their hands to turn the drill to make a hole in which to put the gunpowder.  When the whole length of the drill was inserted in the hole, it was changed out and longer drills were used to go deeper.  The same design is used today except the augers are electric.

One section of a breast auger that was used in the early coal mines of Scott County.

This U-shaped bracket was held against the miner's chest to put pressure on the drill.

This catalog page shows how the breast auger pieces fit together.  Miners often had to buy all of their own tools that they used to work.

Images 1 and 2 courtesy of the author.  Image 3 found on Ebay.

"Hamp" Law Cartoon

William Hamilton "Hamp" law was born in De Soto Parish, Louisiana on November 13, 1923.  Law spent an unhappy childhood growing up in the great Depression, but he found that he had a knack for drawing.  Although he never attended art school, Law prayed to become an artist and escape his rough life.  Hamp Law served aboard the USS Tennessee during World War II and make several hilarious cartoons about life aboard ship.  He continued to draw cartoons after the war until he died.  The final years of his life were spent drawing get well cards for veterans and sick children, which was a ministry that he started with his Sunday School class.  Law passed on December 22, 2009.  Visit the USS Tennessee Battleship Museum, part of the Museum of Scott County, to see more of Hamp Law's work.

The caption on this cartoon states, "I'd like to hear th' Stateside news to see WHO'S WINNING!!!"

Hamp Law drew his makeshift studio aboard the USS Tennessee, which was located in gun turret one.

Hamp Law later in life.  His cartoons provide a wonderful look into what life was like for a sailor.

Merry Christmas

The day before Christmas was a busy time.  This is when a chicken was killed to fry and the hams, from pigs killed after the first cold snap, came from the smokehouse.  Vegetables from the spring garden that had been canned in late summer would appear from the cellar.  Apples that had been dried on rocks and the tin roofs of outbuildings would be soaked in water, cooked, spiced, and spread between thin pastry layers to make stack cakes.  Exotic treats such as oranges, coconut, and brazil nuts would make their yearly appearance on the table or in the stockings of young children.  Although the food and the gifts were very simple compared to today, people who remember Christmases like this always emphasize an important detail, they were able to spend the holiday with the people that they loved and counted their blessings.  We hope that you are able to spend the holiday with the people who mean the most to you.

Merry Christmas from the Museum of Scott County.

Reed General Store

Our general store building was built in the Verdun area west of Oneida by Campbell County Reed in 1868 after he moved from Chitwood Mountain in Winfield. His son Joel Reed used the building as a store and the museum has copies of the store ledgers which can be viewed inside. Joel Reed would buy supplies for the store in Caryville, which took six days there and back. C. C. Reed, son of Joel, married Rhoda Ann Phillips and they lived in the old building until he died at the age of 91. Thereafter the building was inhabited by their daughter Alta Presley until she died in 1996 at 90 years of age. Alta Presley was widowed at twenty years old when her husband died from the effects of mustard gas that he suffered in World War One. Being left all alone, Alta communicated with family members and kept close ties with them even into her advanced age. Alta Presley is buried in Hazel Valley Cemetery next to her husband. The building sat vacant until purchased by the Museum of Scott County in 2007 to be used as a schoolhouse. After learning about its history, it was turned into a general store to feature items made by students of Scott High School and local crafters. 

"Soldier's Sacrifice" Armistice Day

Exactly one hundred years ago today, the major powers of the world sat at a table to sign the document ending the terrible war that had taken millions of lives. The armistice ending World War I was signed ending the hostilities, and was celebrated around the world as Armistice Day. This day was used to remember all of the soldiers who perished in World War I, and was later incorporated into a day to remember all veterans. Today, remember that freedom and peace cost a dear price and please thank a veteran.

The museum will continue to feature "Soldier's Sacrifice" posts to remember the servicemen who perished after the armistice was signed and how World War I affected Scott County.

"Soldier's Sacrifice" James Gibson

Today the Museum of Scott County wants to take the time to recognize Private James Gibson, who died while in service to his country one hundred years ago yesterday. James Gibson was born on March 16, 1894 in Bell County, Kentucky to Wiley and Elizabeth Gibson. According to his draft card he was twenty two years old, tall, had blue eyes, and brown hair. He was drafted in June of 1918 and spent considerable time in the United States before being shipped to France on September 29th. They arrived in France on October 8th, 1918. Gibson would not see action and would die of pneumonia on November 2, 1918. His body was returned to the United States and he was interred in the Antioch Church Cemetery in Norma.

Information provided by James Gibson's Draft Card and David Jeffers.