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March 2016 John Frank, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-531-2569 Art Boone, Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-531-2644 Judy Singley , Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301-596-9723 Doug Creswell, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-707-0793 Morgan Covert, Newsletter Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540-818-6842

Museum Telephone — 410-489-2345

www.facebook.com/HowardCountyLiving FarmHeritageMuseum Club web site — www.farmheritage.org

President’s Report By: John W. Frank

I guess it’s time for another edition of the Rusted Plow. It’s a mild day outside. The sun is shining. The snow is almost all gone except for a few places where it was piled up 6 to 8 feet high. So I for one am looking toward the future. The year 2016 is setting up to be a great year at the Living Farm Heritage Museum. Since the last edition of the Rusted Plow, we have received our train locomotive and flat car from North Carolina, and finalized work on rain gutters for the Hebb House. There have been numerous planning sessions for our upcoming hands on workshops at the Museum and we had had the opportunity to interview a number of people as part of our oral history project. We are knee-deep into the renovations of an office trailer that we plan to have ready for our April auction. And we continue to bring in donations from supporters all around the region. Our calendar of events is being finalized for 2016 and members should be able to scope out what activities are in store for the coming months.

We had a great opportunity for the Museum to be showcased on the television show “American Pickers”. It was exciting to see the pictures flash across the television showing our Museum as well as some of our members. Just a brief comment about the power of television, before the show was even over we had already started to receive emails and texts as well as Facebook contacts from people all across the United States, sharing their thoughts and best wishes for the great job that we’re doing with the Living Farm Heritage Museum. We have even received a Lifetime membership from a gentleman in New York State. Virginia and I had the pleasure of representing the Antique Farm Machinery Club and Living Farm Heritage Museum at this year’s Maryland State Dairy Shrine banquet that was held at the Francis Scott Key holiday Inn in Frederick. It was great to see her family and friends at that event. A report was given to the attendees on the status of our main display building which as we all know will also be the future home of the Maryland Dairy Shrine. It’s very exciting to see how supportive

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both organizations are towards this important project. I’m hoping that we have cleared all the hurdles that have caused this project to drag on. And now we can finally get down to phase 2 which is the final construction of the main display building. Barring any unforeseeable challenges I’m hopeful that 2016 will be the year that this project comes together towards completion. With any long-term activity there’s always the chance that participating members may lose interest and that the program itself may become stagnant, stale and suffer as a result. I think by all accounts it would be just plain wrong to suggest that any part of the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club and Living Farm Heritage Museum’s existence over the past 20 and 10 year’s respective had been stagnant or stale. From our very first auction sale, Farm Heritage Days festival, rodeos, bull riding, trailblazing, building construction, and Festival planning, I think it would be accurate to say that every day brings new and exciting opportunities for adventure and success. I’ve said many times that our organization, as well as the Museum, enjoy success from a lot of different perspectives. But our greatest success to date has been the coming together of a community in support of a project that virtually everyone would agree that it’s time has come. The Living Farm Heritage Museum is truly community-based, community built and community supported. Thanks for all that you do.

Train Display Update By Paul Dymond

I’m happy to report that the train project is moving forward, as well as can be expected in this winter weather. I’ve made contacts for supplies and materials, as well as any number of items that are railroad related, with the goal of stockpiling

them as they become available. The railroad will require a great deal of materials, and coordinating this is often slow but steady work. That however doesn’t dampen the excitement of seeing the project move forward.

Special Thanks to John Crane Service, without whom we

could never have accomplished this project.

The caboose located in Sykesville was inspected by myself 3 weeks ago. Heavy metal like the trucks and main frame works are sound other than surface rust. Lighter sheet metal is in decent shape, considering the caboose is roughly 75 to 80 yrs. old. Windows need replacing, and wooden floors have suffered as a result of water damage over the years. As usual, the soft elements will require the most attention. I believe the caboose will be a real show piece when restored, and plans are underway even now to move it to the club grounds for both security and restoration. Luckily, there is no concrete poured on the floor either. I am always looking for items railroad related, both near and far. If any club members know of anything that may be of use to this effort, please contact myself or one of the other board members. I am interested in more rolling stock or static displays, as this historic equipment is disappearing every day, and we should make the effort to preserve as much as we can. Till next time,

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RUSTED PLOW DRAWING CONTEST

We thought that it might be fun to incorporate a contest into the Rusted Plow News Letter. So, somewhere hidden in this

issue of the Rusted Plow is a drawing of an “old rusted plow” like

the one above that could be hidden anywhere in

the text or superimposed on one of the pictures. It’s anybody’s guess. When you find

it, email us at info@farmheritage.org or send a letter or postcard to

12985 Frederick Road, West Friendship MD. 21794

and describe where the rusted plow is located. From those who

respond correctly we will randomly draw one name as the winner. The winner will receive a neat gift and be recognized in the next edition

of the Rusted Plow. Good luck hunting!!! Congratulations to Phil Greenstreet for

winning this contest in December. He has received a new club hat.

Don’t forget to look for the plow and send an email, a letter, post card or call John or

Virginia Frank. You may be the next winner!

Club Officers and Board of Directors The names of club officers and their telephone numbers can be found under the masthead of The Rusted Plow. Current members of the Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons are as follows: Board of Directors: Phil Greenstreet . . . . . . . . . 410-489-0403 Paul Dymond . . . . . . . . . . . 410-442-5774 John Mihm . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410-489-7704 Chris Feaga . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-531-3307 Mary Mihm Rasche . . . . . .443-790-5059 Jen Frecker . . . . . . . . . . . . .410-804-5653

Committee Chairpersons

Activities Art Boone (410) 531-2644 or email him at abooneboone@yahoo.com

Asset Management Donald Ridgely 443-690-6777 Hebb House Virginia Frank 410- 531-2569 or email her at jsrstar@verizon.net Main Display Building Phil Greenstreet 410-489-0403 or email him at phgreenstreet@outlook.com Membership Secretary and McCracken House Judy Singley (301) 596-9723 or email her at wood_sing@verizon.net (NOTE: There is an underline (_) between “wood” and “sing”.) One Room School House Laura O’Donnell 410-707-7461 or email her at llodonnell@verizon.net

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Restoration Rich McAllister 410-992-1608 or email him at rk_mcal@comcast.net (Note – there is a “.” Between the k and m). “Rusted Plow” Newsletter Editor Morgan Covert – morgan.covert@gmail.com Special Projects John Mihm 410-489-7704 and Dick Claycomb 410-549-2171. Sunshine Dorothy or Ed Frank (410) 531-5555 (Notify them regarding the need for cards in the event of sickness, death, birth, etc.). Technology/Web Site Jennifer Frecker. (contact her by e-mail at jennyfrecker@gmail.com For the betterment of the goals of our organization, your club leaders would welcome any helpful ideas, your constructive suggestions, and especially, your active participation. Please feel free to contact them.

Mark your calendars now! The 21st Annual

Consignment Sale/Auction Saturday, April 23, 2016

9:00 a.m. Set up – Wednesday, Thursday & Friday

April 20, 21 & 22 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Silver Dollar Raffle The winner of the 1883 CC Silver Dollar was Marie Stephens of Randallstown. The drawing was held on December 13, 2015. The proceeds from the raffle benefited the School House Project at the Living Farm Heritage Museum.

Oral History Update

One of the many exciting projects the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club is currently undertaking is documenting Howard County’s agricultural history from roughly the 1600’s through 1960. Working through a professional video studio, our purpose is to capture and chronicle the oral stories of those farmers and farm service providers who can relate to those times past. Many of you have already participated in these individual video sessions, and others will be contacted soon. We all like to tell stories about the good old days, and we would like to capture yours for posterity and future generations. Contact Art Boone or John Frank to schedule your life on the farm story.

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Oh no...ANTS!!!!

As soon as the weather gets warmer, ants will start to scout out food. Our food. We know about BORAX and SUGAR which is messy and not safe for some non-ants. One can soak cotton balls with a mixture of borax, sugar and water and put the cotton balls out. CORNMEAL is one remedy we tell visitors about as we tell them about corn. Yes, ground up corn. Ants take it back to the nest to eat. But, they can’t digest and “blowup” Cheap - effective - safe around humans and animals, but not safe for ants. A visitor told us that in the Deep South they used uncooked GRITS [the ants are larger there]. Said they sat around campfires and listened to the ants pop. DISH SOAP - used to wash away the ant-scout’s trail DIATOMACEOUS EARTH (fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton), food grade, dries them out and is a barrier as well. Safe for humans and animals. Used in stored grain to keep the bugs out. Also given to farm animals to reduce parasites. CHALK [yes like for black boards] Ants will not cross over a chalk line so we are told. COFFEE GROUNDS [used] do not like the smell! Good around plans too. STOMPING - still works too!

From the Editor

Soon the warmer weather will become more consistent which means we will all be outside . I am especially looking forward to beginning to take my kids outside to play. Therefore, please keep in mind that there is a chance of us being on the museum roads walking, running or playing. In addition, there are frequently community members using the property. Use caution as you travel the

museum property and reduce your speed. Feel free to stop in and see us any time! Many of you will be surprised at much our children have grown!

We have lived in the stone house for about four years. The first year we lived on the property we saw two wild turkeys in our back yard. Two years later we saw a flock of seventeen. This year we have seen the flock below multiple times. We have counted approximately forty turkeys. They are a unique species and interesting to watch. The park rangers, Parks and Rec staff and bird watchers have also spotted them on numerous occasions. They can generally be found in the back of the property on the cornfields. Hopefully they will stick around and some of you will have the opportunity to observe them on your next visit to the museum property.

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Antique Sewing Birds and other figures sewing clamps

"Sewing clamps or sewing birds were devices used by a seamstress to assist with hand mending and fancy needlework. They acted like third hand, if you will. ... were typically fastened to a work table by a thumb-screw or other clamping action. The working portion was designed to hold the fabric so that it could be held taut with one hand and her other hand would be free to do the stitching. They are sometimes referred to as "third-hands" even though some were designed to help with numerous sewing tasks beyond just a third hand holding the fabric. Some were multi featured and had pincushions, thread cutters, small drawers, scissor sharpeners or other features to help with the sewing related tasks at hand. Some can be quite elaborate, others very plain and utilitarian." http://www.antiqbuyer.com/sewing_birds.html

WANTED for displays at Museum: If you would like to make a donation of sewing clamps, please go to http://www.farmheritage.org/donations.html OR http://www.farmheritage.org/contact.html Thank you!

Got Internet Access? Why Not Receive the Rusted Plow

Electronically? If you have a computer with access to the internet, then why not help the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club save “a bundle” of money on the cost of postage and paper by choosing to receive the Rusted Plow electronically? Just go to the Club’s website, www.farmheritage.org and access the current, or even past issues. It’s quick, easy, economical, and sometimes even in color. The electronic version also makes it easy for you to copy, print, and save certain articles, even the entire newsletter if you so choose. Why not give it a try? Also, if you would prefer to receive your monthly meeting reminders by the much more economical email route, then please inform Virginia Frank at JSRSTAR@comcast.net. Simply indicate in a

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short e-mail message that you prefer to receive your future meeting notices AND The Rusted Plow now by email. It’s easy, efficient, “green”, and you will be making a significant positive contribution to the Club’s finances.

For Sale

John Deere 140H1 Vintage Garden Tractor. Good running condition, 48" mower deck,

snow thrower, wheel chains and cart. Serviced annually since new by Gladhill's in Damascus. $1000.00 or Best Offer. Cash only.

Call 240-328-4902.

Farming Quotes “If you tickle the earth with a hoe she laughs with a harvest.” -- Douglas Jerrold “Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization.” -- Daniel Webster “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.” “I own an ant farm. It produces very small fruit.” “Life on a farm is a school of patience; you can't hurry the crops or make an ox in two days.” -- Henri Alain “Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man. “ -- George Washington “Farming is a profession of hope. “ -- Brian Brett

“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower I’m glad I don’t make a living farming. Too much hard work. Too many variables you don’t have control over, like, is it going to rain? All I can say is, God bless the real farmers out there. “A good farmer is nothing more nor less than a handy man with a sense of humor.” E.B.White A farmer recently won the lottery. When asked what he was going to do with the money, he replied, “I’ll keep farming until the money runs out.” Anyone can farm, but not everyone is a farmer. Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong. Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor. Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

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The Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club

2016 ANNUAL DUES are due.

Will this be your last edition of the Rusted Plow?

The Membership Year starts on 1 January 2016. Our Club's mission is to preserve the agricultural way of life that is too quickly disappearing throughout our community. One of the main ways we meet this mission is by being the custodians and curators of the Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum. We conduct programs and demonstrations as well as develop displays that tell visitors about the way of life in Historic Howard County. The year 2016, at the Farm Museum, promises to be another awesome year full of projects, displays, big events & so much more! Come be a part as a Member! There are THREE ways to pay dues to become a member or to renew your Membership. ANNUAL Membership is $15.00 LIFE Membership is $100.00 [If your Membership has lapsed, one only has to pay for the current year; no arrears!] * ONLINE ~ PayPal * MAIL ~ check * Meetings ~ cash or check ONLINE http://www.farmheritage.org/membership.html Fill out the form & use the PayPal [credit card] link.

MAIL Make CHECK payable to: Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club or HCAFMC Mail to: Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club [or HCAFMC] P.O. Box 335, West Friendship MD 21794 MEETING - at the Monthly Meetings one may pay by CASH or CHECK. PLEASE consider including your EMAIL address! You can receive monthly General Meeting reminders; any very important messages by email plus the Rusted Plow newsletter can be quickly sent to you - thereby negating the costs of printing and stamps. HELPING MY TRACTOR KEEP IT’S COOL

By Art Boone When I was young we had four (4) farm animals to do the work on the farm. I barely remember the two mules except that they were kept in the small stable at the edge of our woods, and the two horses were in the big stable at the top of the hill. The horses were Jim and Jenny. Jim was grey, and Jenny was brown. I remember the horrific grinding noise that they made when they ate the kernels off of the ears of corn in their trough. And I remember the big wooden feed bin that contained the oats and molasses that dad got from the Continental Mill in Ellicott City. In the 1940's big changes came to farms everywhere. Everyone was replacing their work animals with tractors, and to support this desire there were several farm equipment dealers in Howard County. My Uncle Joe on St John's Lane, had a new Farmall H, and my Uncle John, also on St John's Lane, had a Farmall B.

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After church one Sunday we visited my Uncle John and dad decided we needed a Farmall B like his brother had. Shortly thereafter he went to the Wm B. Owings International Harvester dealership, located where Route 29 and Route 40 are today, but they didn't have one in stock. However, the farmer across from Route 40, Fred Kaiser, was renting one from Owings and it was for sale. It had a standard PTO, but also included options like 6V electric lights, electric starter, wheel weights, a swinging drawbar, a belt pulley, and calcium in the rear tires. Dad bought it and also a disc harrow, a mounted one-bottom hydraulic plow, and mounted cultivators. In later years he adapted the cultivator frame to a snow plow (see photo). The Farmall B has a thermosyphon cooling system. Engine cooling takes place by the heavier cooled water exiting the radiator at the bottom, then through the engine where the lighter hot water rises and enters at the top of the radiator. The cycle continues in that fashion. There is no water pump. The fan blows air over the radiator to effect the cooling.

Over the years the radiator developed leaks several times and dad merely took it to a radiator repair shop where they pinched off the leaking tubes and resoldered the joints. The radiator was no longer totally efficient, and under heavy workloads it became prone to boiling over. In 2014 I ordered a new radiator with a new cap, two new hoses, the hose clamps, and a fan belt. The total was $400. It took some patience to figure out and remember how the hood, the grill, the radiator, and everything else was originally assembled because that's how I was going to put back together again (see photo). The biggest obstacle was that the new radiator wasn't fabricated exactly like the original and it wouldn't fit down into the cast iron front end of the tractor (the radiator was made in China). I couldn't break or chisel the cast iron so after a lot of thought I wound up using my sawzall to cut very narrow strips which broke off easily with the touch of a hammer. Other noteworthy issues were that the purchased hoses were slightly short and I couldn't use the Wittek period clamps that I had purchased. So I used stainless steel screw-band type clamps which did a better job. Also the new fan belt was one-inch too short, and the local auto supply store only had one that was one-inch too long. So by using the long one the generator now hangs out more than I like, but it's not noticeable. The Farmall B was discontinued in 1947, the year that we bought ours. It was replaced by the Farmall C. I don't plan to do any radiator work on my "B" ever again, and that's cool!

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1880’s SAYINGS AND PHRASES

“Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater” used to suggest an avoidable error in which something good is eliminated when trying to get rid of something bad. Some claim the phrase originates from a time when the whole household shared the same bath water. The head of household would bathe first, followed by the men, then the women, then the children, followed lastly by the baby. The water would be so black from dirt that a baby could be accidentally "tossed out with the bathwater”. “Door-knocker” - A type of beard "formed by the cheeks and chin being shaved leaving a chain of hair under the chin, and upon each side of mouth forming with moustache something like a door-knocker.” This style has come back!

“Fly rink” - An 1875 term for a polished bald head. “Through the wringer” based on literal meaning of wringer (a device that presses water from clothing that have been washed) experiencing something difficult. “Through the mill“- Hardship or rough treatment. This term alludes to being ground down like grain in a mill. “Easy as Pie” - another American Victorian saying meaning an easy task to complete. The pie does not refer to a baked good, but rather of an easy fight, or match, which resulted in an

easy victory. “Get His Dander Up” - dander is Dutch for anger, or it may have originally been donder, which translates to thunder. Whichever, it was used to express becoming irritated or angry and was popular by 1830. What is your favorite old saying’s real meaning? Bales of Gardens or Unique raised Gardens

Create raised bed gardens on a patio, lawn or any area with poor compacted soil. Straw bale gardening has been around for centuries. What is needed: * bales of straw, (cereal grains like wheat, oats, alfalfa) Do not used Hay as it has more weeds. * fertilizer * planting mix or compost * plants * source of water (you will be watering every day-hose nearby would be good) http://www.countryliving.com/gardening/how-to/a37470/create-a-garden-anywhere-with-straw-bales/

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Start a few weeks ahead of planting to condition the bales PLACE THE BALES in their permanent location with the cut sides up and twine parallel to the ground. Once you start the condition process, the bales will be very heavy and hard to move. When the bales are in place you are ready to start the conditioning process. This is done to start the inside of the straw bales composting, so they'll support plant growth. Conditioning bales: start the inside of the straw bales composting, so they'll support plant growth. Ten days: Day 1: - choose permanent location(s) - position twine side on the ground with cut sides up - spread 1/2 cup complete garden fertilizer OR 3 cups organic {like Milorganite] - completely moisten bale SOAK BALE(s) EVERYDAY Day 3: - repeat fertilizer at same rate as Day one Day 5: - repeat fertilizer at same rate as Day one Days 7 - 9: - repeat HALF the amount of fertilizer as Day one Days 10: - add 1 cup of 10-10-10 OR 3 cups of an organic fertilizer rich in phosphorous and potassium The bales are now conditioned. PLANTING: - if organic fertilizer was used, wait a few more days

- inside bales will be temperature of warm bath water - let cool - plants: make holes for plants & cover with planting mix or compost - seeds: cover area with planting mix or compost to depth of 1"-2”; follow directions on seed packet Water: especially raised beds need water. Could use a soaker hose, drip system; inverted 2 liter soda bottles; gallon plastic jug with holes in the bottom [can easily add monthly feeding in it] Monthly - fertilizer boost

Just a way to help you think of spring. Keep an eye out for the Kwanzan Cherry Trees in mid-April to bloom into beauty. They are always beautiful and a tribute to those who have battled cancer. They are all over Howard County so watch for these beautiful trees in April.

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Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club P.O. Box 335 West Friendship, MD 21794