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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

‘Pop goes the Weasel’

It dawned a gorgeous day for a road trip, so I headed out to Demopolis, AL, to find the Gaineswood National Historic Site.

67 On the way to NC 20125

The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Deep South calls Gaineswood “one of the three or four most interesting houses in America.”  Well, I can agree.  I’m not one for visiting old houses, but thanks to a very knowledgeable guide I thought the tour of this house was more than worth the 75 mile drive.  It’s hard to believe that this house started out as a two room cabin with a dog trot in the middle.  The white building you see above took 18 years of add-ons and improvements to end up the way it was in 1861.

67 On the way to NC 20124

When Nathan Bryan Whitfield bought the cabin in 1843 he moved in with, if I remember correctly, 12 other family members.  Needless to say he began immediate expansion of the home.  All of the designs were his, and he didn’t spare any money in the construction.  Huge mirrors like the one on the top left were made in France and shipped to the home.  The majority of the skilled craftsmen who built Gaineswood were slaves. (Remember that view through the window in the bottom right area)

67 On the way to NC 20126One of the rooms in the upstairs immediately made me think of Karen (of RVing: Small house…BIG Backyard blogging fame).  I’m sure she would have appreciated this room, and could probably do a better job of explaining the picture in the bottom right.  As I understood it, after spinning the cotton on the big wheel (to the left) the ladies of the house could put in as many as 20 miles a day walking back and forth working that big spinning wheel.  Then they used the machine in the lower right to put the cotton into skeins.  When one skein’s length was reached, the round cogged or geared circle would pop off.  That circle was called a weasel, hence: that’s where ‘Pop goes the Weasel’ came from.  COOL BEANS!!  I love it when I learn where phrases come from.

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Okay folks, do you think bathing in an RV can be a challenge at times?  Well here’s my favorite artifact that was on display in a small room off the master bedroom that was dedicated to the mistress’ personal hygiene.  It’s the “tub”.  It’s made out of tin, is maybe a little under three feet wide, and the water holding depression is maybe 5” deep and a foot across.  Talk about a sponge bath!  Yep, I’m sure liking modern conveniences like running water.  Of course, the Lady had slaves to bring her the hot water she needed…Winking smile

There are many many other things I saw and learned of on this tour, but I’ll just say that I recommend you visit Gaineswood if you are ever anywhere near Demopolis, Alabama.  Not being a fan of fast food, I had packed a lunch to bring along, and I will leave you with a picture of the view from my lunch gazebo today.  (remember the pic through the window)

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Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

23 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tour Judy, very interesting.

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  2. I learned something new today - thanks for sharing. Now I'm wondering how that whole little jingle "'round and 'round the Mulberry bush" came about. Thanks for the tour.

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  3. I love touring old historic homes. The outside is gorgeous.

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  4. Great job of making a blog very interesting for another "not one for visiting old houses"!!! You can retell a great story!

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  5. We love old historic homes too, this has been added to our list

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  6. Very cool tour - I love old houses. :)

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  7. I learned about Pop goes the Weasel at a fort in Utah. Just fascinating. Looks like a another great place to visit.

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  8. I love old houses, and I felt like I was there touring with you!! Love the picture from home to gazebo and reverse. Great Idea!!!!

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  9. Great tour- love the "Pop goes the weasel" lore.

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  10. The wheel at the upper left is called either a Great Wheel or a Walking Wheel. You explained why the name. the upper center, you will find combs...or carders. They were and are used for combing the fibers in one direction for spinning the wool into yarn. The right picture is of cotton - right out of the field. The cotton was probably not spun on the great wheel as cotton has a very short staple length. (the length of each strand of cotton or wool if from sheep). The lower center is a flax spinning wheel with the cotton boles below. The lower right is a skein winder. After the wool is spun into yarn, it is wound onto the skein winder. Knitting or crocheting is usually done from a skein. I was fortunate enough to find a skein winder in Asheville, North Carolina last November. I may have blogged about finding it at the Antique Tobacco Barn in Asheville (right before John backed our motorhome over the stone wall.)

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  11. I forgot to say that when the yarn winder goes for one revolution, there is a mechanism that makes the click "pop"....where "pop goes the weazel" comes from.

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  12. I learn new things from you all the time. I think you could have been an educator in a past life...

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  13. Yup, you got it right, Judy!

    The wheel on the far left is indeed a "Walking wheel" used for cotton.

    The wheel in the middle is a "flax wheel" for spinning linen (the basket of cotton shouldn't be there)

    The rectangle spikey things in the middle are called hand cards are for wool.

    And yes, the swift on the far right does indeed "POP" when a preset number of revolutions are turned so you knew when you have an equal amount of turns as the skeins before and after are wound all same.

    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
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  14. A better expression origin than "ring around the Rosie a pocket full of posies!" That one came from the black death.

    I enjoy seeing history.

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  15. Touring old houses definitely give me an appreciation for today's modern conveniences.

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  16. Judy,
    Check out the Georgia birding trail - there are several stops in the area where you plan to stay, including some in and around Eufaula (where we volunteered several years pre-grandkid era).
    You might also enjoy a visit to Plains, GA and to the Andersonville Civil War prison site which are nearby.

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  17. Judy, Thx for sharing this with us...lived here all my life and never been there. Although I love the old houses I also enjoy our modern conveniences...and ur right about the rv tub. lol It was so nice meeting u and Emma. Safe travels tomorrow.

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  18. What a great place, thanks for sharing.

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  19. Very interesting. Thanks for the tour.

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  20. Very neat; thanks for the tour; nice view for lunch ... we probably would have picked the same spot.

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  21. Very interesting Judy. I'm not much for historic places or buildings having worn myself out on them in an earlier phase of my life and probably from living so many years in Mr. Jefferson's home town with presidential homes abundant. But you've made this one seem like something I would enjoy seeing. A good tour guide really does make all the difference.

    Wonder how often the ladies bathed in that "tub". Certainly not daily like many feel is necessary in these more sterile times.

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  22. Now, that's what I call a major 'home improvement' job.

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  23. After reading the comments, I am surprised at those who have a knowledge of spinning ...I do love to tour the old homes and could almost feel the "history" talking in your photos..Thanks for taking us along.

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