How many of you have one of these? This one belonged to my Mother. I never used it, but I can remember my Mother scrubbing clothes on this very board. If we had to do that today, I have a feeling our backs wouldn't last very long. Besides scrubbing on the board, most people had to carry their water either from a spring or a barrel that caught rain water from the house. I guess we are spoiled today....but I am so thankful for my running water and my wonderful washing machine. But if times get bad enough, I have my wash board and my rain barrel ready......and pray my back holds out!Monday, October 13, 2008
Wash Board.....
How many of you have one of these? This one belonged to my Mother. I never used it, but I can remember my Mother scrubbing clothes on this very board. If we had to do that today, I have a feeling our backs wouldn't last very long. Besides scrubbing on the board, most people had to carry their water either from a spring or a barrel that caught rain water from the house. I guess we are spoiled today....but I am so thankful for my running water and my wonderful washing machine. But if times get bad enough, I have my wash board and my rain barrel ready......and pray my back holds out!
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18 comments:
Clara, we must be so much alike. I have my mother's washboard and it is hanging on the wall in my laundry room. I would not part with it for anything. I have used it in the past when my twins were little and our water froze on the farm. I wash clothes with it in the bathtub!
My mother thought she had died and gone to heaven when she got a wringer washing machine. I have a scrub board, but it isn't hers. I'm sure she probably got rid of it. Good riddance!
I love your fall photo and the quotes. I'm in Virginia with my son, and I'm enjoying the fall colors...something we don't see in Florida.
Clara
You could also lighten the washday by having a break and doing some skiffle
I don't have one but I sure remember them.
Patsy
Hi Barbara, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with skiffle. Would I ruin my reputation by doing this? LOL Can I google and find out the meaning?
Barbara, I googled skiffle and found out it's a type of folk music with jazz, blue and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments such as the washboard.
I've done that before, I just didn't know what it was called. LOL
My dishwasher was broken for two weeks recently, and I had to hand wash our dishes.
I am indeed spoiled because hand washing dishes felt like a real chore.
I think that scrubbing clothes on that wash board would make me think twice about jumping in a mud puddle. I'd want to wear my clothes ten times before having to scrub them clean.
It's so neat that you have that old wash board of your mother's.
I am thankful for all my modern conveniences, but I have respect for those in the past who had to work so hard to complete every task.
Clara, yes you brought back memories. I remember the washboard, and even used it. I don't do much with antiques. So I don't have one - I'll bring my wash and come see you if times get bad! How about that?
I've written a lot about my years on the farm way back when, and I declare all you bloggers I'm reading had to have live on ajoining farms from me! Daddy said, we didn't know wer poor until TV came along to show us the other side!
Clara, I have one, but it was not my Mom's. If it was it would be a treasure!!! I actually used it as well. When we moved into our last house it was an Amish house. We did not get to put in the electricity right away. I had James Hand Washer, but got better results with the wash board. It is hard work. Our Grandma's must have been tough!!!
I see your wash board and all I can think is that I could paint something nice on that...haha...sorry I don't have a wash board story to tell you about but yes, I like my washing machine too!
Cathy
Clara, I sure hope we never have to go back to those! The modern way is so much easier!!
Clara, my Grandma used to use one of those and I used it enough to be really thankful we had a washing machine! I see you have Octagon soap there. That really brings back memories. My Grandma used to have us wash with that in the washtub when we got into poison ivy and it really helped. My husband loves it so, he uses it as his regular bath soap! And I still use it with my dirty laundry to remove stains. I love it, too, because it reminds me of Grandma.
Dear Clara,
My mom had a washboard, and I had to use it, along with my sister, when we moved to New Market during my fourteenth year. We used water from the cistern on the porch and also water from the barrels that collected water at the corners of the house. It was not my favorite thing to do, of course, and I was delighted when we got electricity in 1949 (two years later), and could use the wringer washer that we had brought from Knoxville. My sister used the wringer washer until they sold the house in 1986.
Ah, memories!
Clara,
I'm new to your blog.... love it. Just wanted to say that I scrubbed clothes by hand after my children were born (no rub board) And, I can remember my mother using one of those things. I am glad we have nice washing machines now.
Clara, you not only brought back memories of washing boards but also of your MOM, I loved her, she always made me laugh and always fed me well. She was a real sweetheart in my book.
Hi Clara,
Skiffle was very popular here at one time popularised by Lonnie Donigan. Perhaps it didn't reach the U.S.Groups wore a kind of thimble on their fingers and 'played' the wahboard .
On wash day you could have had a break and do a bit of entertaining for a change
Clara,
I think I found you on the Smith's Bennie & Patsy blog. Glad I did. It does sound like we have a lot in common. I too am a cancer survivor... 6 years now. It was colon. I've had two knee replacements and a husband who is sick (we saw the first symptoms about 10 years ago but he was diagnosed 7 years ago). I love to quilt and will be posting some of my quilts on my blog before long.
Wakefield is a tiny town (one red light) in Southeast Va. We moved here in 1999 (from Alabama) to be near our children and all that illness I mentioned above has happened since the move. Wonder if it's the water. ha
I hope we stay in touch.
My sister has my mom's washboard. I remember using is myself on several occassions. We did have running water, thank the Lord but had to heat it on the wood cookstove. Mom usually had a bar of Fels Naptha soap to wash clothes with. Those washboards are really hard on knuckles and the base of the thumb. I still remember how it hurt.
Like you I am very thankful for all my modern conveniences.
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