The Ruby Chronicles (#6)

Editor Note:  The Ruby Chronicles essays come to me courtesy of Sid Stivland. 

Our Cheery Kitchen

Our spacious cheery kitchen with a southern exposure, also used as a family room, is the center of much activity. 

Aromas of delicious food often wafted from the two warming compartments at the top of the stove. The four chrome legs on which the stove rested made it look very elegant.

What a delight after our long walk home from rural school to run into the kitchen and catch the aroma of freshly baked bread.  And best of all, Mom is always waiting for us there.

If the kitchen table we had in my childhood home could talk, it would have many stories to tell.

The wooden oblong table with four grooved legs stood in the middle of our large kitchen.  It could be moved easily because the legs had casters underneath.  The extra table leaves were used when a longer table was needed. Seven sturdy chairs stood around the table for my two brothers, two sisters, Mom, Dad, and me. Since there were five of us children, two boys and three girls and Mom and Dad, we had a large table.  At mealtime the boys were always seated on the south side; Mom and Dad on the north side and the girls on the ends of the table.  The cloth on the table was a brightly colored oil cloth with and interesting design.  On Sunday or special occasions when we had company, a white linen cloth was used.

Even as younger children we were excited to see a new colorful oil cloth replace the old one so worn in the corners. At dusk the kerosene lamp, later replaced by the Aladdin lamp, was lit and placed in the center of the table.

During threshing time the table could easily be extended to accommodate many men.  They eagerly sat down to devour the fresh beef roast, brown gravy, potatoes, fresh green vegetables, warm home-made bread and delicious dessert.  My mouth waters when I think of the aroma of fresh bread wafting from the table.

The table was used for many purposes.  The ironing was done on a padded board laid on the table.  When our seamstress came she laid the material and pattern on the table and cut out the garment.  Many lessons were learned sitting around this table – table manners, public and Sunday school lessons, and our table prayers.  Games were played and many valentines and paper dolls were cut out.

At meal-time I sat across from my Mom, and often she would say, “Ruby, you have to eat some potatoes”.  I would rather make a meal out of only bread and butter.

At eventide a kerosene lamp with a shiny globe was lit.  However, the corners of the room were not very light until the Aladdin lamp was used.

In our kitchen there were no built-in cupboards, but a walk-in pantry with many shelves adjoining the kitchen on the north side.  The fancy dishes and all the best dinner set were placed on the top shelves while the grocery staples, baking pans, and the kettles were on the lower shelves.  Many home baked goodies were found on the shelves, and the many loaves of homemade bread and buns were kept fresh in a large crock.  

The white enamel water pail with a dipper from which we all drink is on the table near the pantry.  On this table Mom makes the big loaves of yummy bread and cakes and cookies.  She bakes them in the large latched oven of the nickel trimmed stove.  The stove has a large reservoir filled with water from the cistern pump.  The pump is on the right side of the sink where we wash ourselves. Either wood or coal was used for fuel. The heating unit was at one end of the stove.  From this the hot air circulated to the cook top with the four round plates, and around the oven with the heavy hinged door, and to the rain water reservoir at the other end of the stove. A crank was used to shake the grates, so the ashes would fall into a pan below.

A table on the north side of the kitchen was the work table on which much baking was done.  On this table, too, the dishes were washed and rinsed in the dish pan and rinsing pan.  Then all the dishes were carried into the pantry and placed on the shelves.

Since we did not have electricity, we didn’t have a refrigerator.  What a luxury it was when ice box was purchased and placed in the hallway adjoining the kitchen.

In the southwest corner of the room a Minnesota sewing machine similar to a Singer machine stood.  A great variety of things were mended and sewed on this machine.  Grain sacks were mended before threshing time.  Many overalls were patched and a hired seamstress sewed many pretty dresses for the girls from organdy, wool, cotton, and rayon materials.  In this corner were boxes of clothes or socks to be mended, towels to be hemmed, or aprons to be sewed.  Many a late night Mom sat there patching or sewing

A lot of living took place around this table and in our cozy kitchen.

Ruby Johnson Anderson