Jeremy Hall and Steve Scott ready for work

Picking up a monstrous sized tree off the wooden fence

Ooops! The crust of the muck gave way!

Stuck up to its gills they call a big brother to dig him out

With its pride hurt and mud nearly to the top of the cab, baby Trachoe crawls out to go home

This page last modified on Monday, April 25, 2005

Trachoe Problems
and McDonald Sisters **

ASHS Column for 4/28/2005
Margaret Collier

(** One has nothing to do with the other!!)


HEAR YE, HEAR YE! "A Sawmill Scrapbook, Volume 4", in a series, has been printed and will be available on Friday, April 29, for $15.00 (that's 15 dollars, folks). This new book is in columns and color for your easier and more enjoyable reading, so dig down in your pockets and come to The Leach House or call one of us to get your copy. Soon the books will be available in various business places such as Flomaton Antique Auction, Escambia County Bank, and Southern Treasures. Of course, you'll want more than one to use for special gifts and, while you are at it, you may as well pick up a copy of "Old 100" for ten dollars.

The Scrapbook proceeds support the regular work of the Society, but the donations for the "Old 100" book are placed in a special fund to buy our steam engine back, return it to Century, restore and maintain it. We really need everyone's support to make this happen.

In response to the "History Mystery" tool picture, Jim Thurber of Flomaton, says it is a splitting tool for rocks rather than wood. Leon Crawford of Canoe identified it as a miller's hammer for sharpening millstones. Neal Collier thinks it looks like a cross-peen fuller for spreading metal. Ken McCurry of Century, also thinks it is a miller's stone cutter. Joe Ross of Pollard and a waitress at Allen's restaurant, also think it is a stone splitter.

At the Society meeting on last Tuesday night, we all came to the conclusion that it is a versatile tool that may be used any way you want to! At any rate, we are extremely pleased that so many of you responded. Thanks for reading our columns and do make it a point to come to see the many interesting items that are on display in our three museums. You can probably help us in properly labeling these.

And, speaking of our last meeting, we were very pleased to have Dan Leach with us. His mother, as many of you know, was a co-founder of the Society and a great supporter. Dan has donated many items from the Hauss days and has a story of interest in Scrapbook Volume 1.

We were unable to have a big birthday celebration this year but, in conjunction with the annual Century High School Reunion that will be held this Saturday, April 30, our museums will be open to all for Friday and Saturday. Of course, you may call for an appointment at any time, but we especially want to be available for the alumni of our now defunct school so be sure to put the Park and museums on your schedule for this weekend.
Last Friday morning we were pleased to have the eighth graders and their teachers from Century Carver Middle School come to tour. They seemed to be quite interested and hopefully will bring their parents back to visit with us.

Friday afternoon Helen Nemunis guided two carloads of people to the Park. The former McDonald girls, Martha and Felicia, and their spouses had a fine time discovering what we have been able to put together of historic interest.

The old saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I have a series of pictures for you that will tell the story of what went on in the Park on Monday, April 18. Ivan left a mess on the back of the property so, in order to be ready for the FEMA pickup, we hired the H & H Construction Company of Huxford to clear out all of those trees and get the fences cleared.

No problem. Jeremy Hall and Steve Scott came with a Trac-hoe and chain saw and attacked the mess with great vigor. Soon they were about halfway across the property and we were elated, thinking that the job would be done by the end of the day. Wrong!

The big machine fell through the muck and could not be dug out. What to do? A bigger Trac-hoe was called in to dig a path. Finally, they were all able to get out, but a bath for the machine was in order. (Probably for Jeremy and Steve, too.)

Unfortunately, the ground is too wet to use machines for cleaning out the rest of the debris, but the two determined men returned on Tuesday with chain saws to cut the big items into manageable sizes. If you need some firewood you may contact us about where to find it. You are welcome to it if you can tote it out.
In closing, let me point out that working with the Alger-Sullivan Historical Society can be really exciting at times!