Mountain HomePlace

photos by Sabalou (2001)

In The Appalachian Mountains Of Kentucky

The David McKenzie house was likely built in 1860. These were hard times but good times too. In those days a well-built house was constucted around the well to protect the water from animals, to protect the small children playing in the yard and near the home to make it easy to draw a bucket of water. And of course Moutain Music was ever present! When you visit you shall hear some as you retreat in time to the days of McKenzie Farmstead!

When you come to visit, Jeff and Abe, our friendly oxen, will be happy to show off for you. One of the most important crops raised was cane sorghum. It was extracted by mule power and boiled in cauldrons until syrupy . Corn was grown as feed for the animals and to grind into meal for the family. Hay was also a necessity for the animals. There was a separate area for a garden where vegetables were grown to be used by the family.

You have heard of the one-room school, the little red schoolhouse? Well that was only partly true here in Appalachia. One-room school? Yes! But they were not painted red, they were mostly white or of unpainted logs. Students in those days used goose-quill pens and ink made from elderberry juice. The furniture was constructed of logs and was not conducive to the students' comfort. The schoolhouse was also used for other events such as town meetings or just plain fun gatherings.

Faith is the heart of Appalachia! Faith and culture were and still are linked by the tightest of bonds. Fishtrap Church was a constant supply of faith and security in the face of poverty, disease, and the unpredictable elements of Appalachian life. The church has a wide variety of pews scattered throughout, one dates back to 1851. Portable oil lamps were used for light. Heat came from a coal-burning pot-bellied stove. Services were held the first Saturday and Sunday of each month. Baptism was done in creeks and rivers, even in the winter.

The crib barn stored the bounty of the land, keeping animals and people alive and fed throughout the year. Hay was stored in the loft for the animals, also making a wondrous place for children to dream and play. The hog lot was where the hogs stayed to fatten them up before butchering time. Hog killing was a once-a-year event when it got cold enough to keep the pork from spoiling.

Fire, air, earth and water were once considered to be the four elemental substances of our world. In the early years, only the blacksmith worked with all four. His forge held the fire and his bellows controlled the air to his purpose. His material, iron, the black metal, was part of the earth, and water was essential to cool his heated iron and give temper to the red-hot steel. The blacksmith was well respected not only for his strength but for his intelligence and imagination for making the wide variety of items that was used by the township. His most important function was supplying the tools of civilization and war.

The grist mill was essential to the working farm. It was used to grind the corn into meal for the use of the family. We are now in the planning stage of adding a mule-powered grist mill and hope to have this completed soon.
Today we have demonstrations using a mule to remove the sorghum from the cane, this occurs during
Paintsville's Apple Day Celebration which is the first Saturday in October.

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