Page 6 - North Haven Magazine Issue 32 Winter 2024

by Sally Brockett

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The Old
The O
The O
uc
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Oaken B
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Oaken Bucket
Oaken B
Oaken B
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ket
When you hear the words “the old oaken bucket” some may think of the traveling trophy awarded in American college football as part of
the rivalry between the Indiana Hoosiers football team and Purdue Boilermakers football team. It was first awarded in 1925. However, oth-
ers may think of the old oaken buckets that were used to pull water up from the well many years ago. These oaken buckets were especially
important for families and there was even a poem written by Samuel Woodworth in 1817 which became so popular that a song was written
for the lyrics in 1820. It was one of the most popular songs in America through the 1830s. For me, those three words immediately bring to
mind one of those experiences that occurs in childhood that you never forget.

y mother’s family was from Kentucky cets worked quite well! So, the oaken bucket
Mand Tennessee, and she had many earned a new role in the home. It became my
heirloom antiques that were passed along mother’s waste basket. Lined with a plastic
in the family for generations. She cherished bag to keep it clean, the old bucket had its
the furniture and various antiques that were place beside her large bed.
permanent fixtures in our home in rural
North Haven in the 1950s. We lived on a As you probably know, children raised on
small horse farm and enjoyed country life. a farm are expected to help out with chores
from an early age. They are given jobs that
are appropriate for their age and expected to
carry them out without reminders or even
payment because it is their way of contrib-
uting to the family. My sister, who was 18
months older than me, and I were respon-
sible for collecting all the waste baskets in
the house once a week. The paper waste was
taken outside to the “burn barrel” which was
a common way of disposing of paper back
then.
The barrel was a 55-gallon metal drum with We used a burn barrel to dispose
a screen to place over the top to prevent ash- of waste paper.
es from drifting out. The barrel stood about
four feet high and was securely elevated on barrel. Because I was small, I could push the
concrete blocks to prevent grass fires. Being waste baskets up to the barrel rim and dump
the younger sister, it was my job to help gath- the papers out, but it was a bit difficult for
er the waste baskets and empty them into the me to reach, or to see into the barrel.
barrel. My sister helped with this, and it was
her responsibility to handle the matches and Just before we finished dumping the last
light the fire. waste basket, a blustery gust of wind and
snow swept across the yard. It was so cold
On this particular day, we had gathered the and there was such a harsh wind! The snow
One of the cherished possessions was the waste baskets and taken them out to the was blinding, and we had to turn our backs
old oaken bucket that had been in my moth- burn barrel. There was quite a winter storm to the wind. After a few moments, the wind
er’s family for years. Though our water was in full force with heavy gusts of wind and let up and we quickly dumped the last waste
sourced from a well, there was no need to blowing snow. It was very, very cold but we basket. My sister carefully lit the paper in the
use the old bucket for pulling up water be- were bundled up in our winter gear. We took barrel to start the fire.
cause the new-fangled pump and sink fau- turns emptying the waste baskets into the

6 North Haven Magazine - Winter Issue 2024