Page 18 - North Haven Magazine Issue 28 Spring 2023

by Sally Brockett

Soap has a long history, dating back to 2800 BC and ancient Babylon. The Babylonians were the first to master the art of soap making, using fats
boiled with ashes. As time passed, other civilizations developed their own method of making soap. The ancient Egyptians used animal and veg-
etable oils with alkaline salts to create a soap mixture. In 600 BC the Phoenicians used goat’s tallow (fat) and wood ashes to make soap. During
these times, the soap was not made for personal use, but it was used for cleaning cooking utensils or other goods, and for some medicinal purposes.
families had their own lye stones and ash bar- no longer used for soap making. This was the
rels, called an “ash hopper” or “leach barrel.” A case with the lye stone from the Brockett family
circular groove and spout were carved into the farm. Richard (Dick) Brockett enjoyed saving
lye stone. The barrel was placed into the groove items from the past so history and culture could
on the lye stone and ashes from hard woods be shared with future generations. The family
such as hickory, maple, and ash were collect- lye stone occupied various places around the
ed in the barrel. Wet lime was tamped into the family homes over the years, but Dick never
barrel of ashes and water was poured into the allowed it to be discarded. To ensure that the
barrel. The water “leached” through the barrel family lye stone did not become lost to history,
and drained out as lye. The lye solution was col- his son Walt decided to move the stone from
his parent’s house to his own yard. Due to the
size and weight of the stone, this required plan-
Positioning the lye stone for display. ning and use of his John Deere tractor.
s the years passed, soap was made by a It was decided that the lye stone would be
Asmall group of soap makers using an ex- placed in the berry garden (planted for the
clusive technique, and in some areas, there birds) located in the backyard. To easily see the
was a monopoly on the business. Soap was carved circle and spout, the stone was to be set
very expensive during this period. In 1791, a on an upright angle. A large stone would be
Frenchman named LeBlanc discovered a new placed behind it to support the lye stone in the
chemical process that allowed soap to become upright position.
less expensive.
Bracing stone with another stone.
Modern soap making began in the early 1800s
when another Frenchman used glycerin, fats,
and acid. Soap became less expensive and more lected as it dripped from the spout in the stone.
available. Since that time there have been no It was important to get the lye exactly right,
major discoveries that impacted soap making. so it was poured over fresh ashes in the barrel
However, as the science of chemistry evolved, at intervals to strengthen it. The lye was con-
soaps were gradually differentiated for use in sidered exactly right if an egg or potato could
laundry and personal bathing. Currently we float in it. The lye was now boiled with animal
have a vast variety of soaps, each with a specific fat in a big pot and sassafras was stirred into it
recipe and purpose, including those for wash- to provide a fresh scent. This mixture became
ing your pets, cars, carpets, clothes, and your soap, which was then “seasoned” for ten weeks
child! before use. Fall was a favored time for making Brockett lye stone in its new location.
soap because the farm animals were butchered
The slipperiness of soap lowers the surface for meat and the fat could be collected for mak-
tension of the water you are mixing it with. ing the soap. The tractor was used to dislodge the lye stone
Rubbing your hands together while washing from its place near the kitchen door of the fam-
allows dirt to temporarily bond with the water ily home. The forks on the tractor carried the
and soap and get washed away. The same pro- stone from its long-time resting spot to the new
cess occurs with most viruses and bacteria that location in the berry garden. Using braces and
might be lingering on your hands. Soap does ropes, the stone was carefully set into the gar-
not kill these bugs— they become slippery and den at the appropriate angle. A smaller stone
are lifted from your skin, mixed with water, and was set behind it to keep it upright.
sent down the drain. This chemical and me-
chanical reaction makes soap and water more The lye stone is now enjoyed by Walt and his
effective, in general, than waterless sanitizing family, and others who visit. It has become a
gels. conversation piece because many are not fa-
miliar with lye stones and how soap used to
Let’s take a closer look at how the lye stone, be made. So, it triggers talk about how the lye
or leaching stone as it was sometimes called, stones played a vital role in making soap to
played a vital role in making soap many years Soap making stone. Photo credit: wpthistory.org keep families clean years ago! And the legacy
ago. lye stone can be passed down to future genera-
Because lye stones were such an important part tions to keep history alive.
Lye is an important ingredient in soap and had of life years ago, families often kept their lye
to be produced by the soap makers. Pioneer stones on their property even after they were

North Haven Magazine - Spring Issue 2023
18