Photo by Barry Wallace
When I was a young teenager, back in the mid-50s (that's the 1950s, not the 1850s) I used to hang out with a good buddy named Dan Buddin, who was a resident of Laskay. We'd spend time at and around the Laskay Emporium, run by the Arbuckles. Immediately north of the Laskay Emporium was a residence which many years before had been an inn. In front of that building, on the shoulder of the road was a watering hole which ran with cold spring water. All the kids thereabouts used to get drinks of the cold water, especially in the hot summertime. I recently saw someone, who had parked a car at the side of the road, drawing water from that same spot. In 2013, there is a little red pump and a large concrete well cap, atop the water source, and I presume the pump is functional. I asked a couple of old Laskay acquaintances if they remembered the spot. Betty (Arbuckle) Dew, who now resides in King City, remembers the spring's cold water (just north of her parents' general store) and that many folks from the Laskay area drew drinking water from the spot. Ed Etheridge who has lived in Laskay for many years also remembers the spring and how farmers used to water their horses from a trough across the street, which drew water through a pipe under the road and connected to the spring. These two folks were describing the setting from the 1940s and 1950s, but the history of this community water source would appear to go back many decades before then. The folklore says that the water was always pure with no tales of people or beasts ever being sickened. Apparently it was much more recently that nearby housing development and run-off prompted the safeguarding of the water with underground tiles and the little red pump.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace
How about that we have one of those in our garden, even can
ReplyDeletepump water after a LOT of hard work. Our little barn at the
bottom of the garden also has the luxury of a twin hole facility
from way back, I rush to add we don't use it!
What a nice background story.
ReplyDeleteHi Barry, I just came across this one and it brings back the fondest memories. Even when we lived there in the 50s-60s families close by would get their drinking water from the pump. Our family revered "Miss Arbuckle" as a teacher and the ones left still speak with awe of what she could accomplish in that little country school. And the Etheridges were dear friends. Thank you for seeking out and posting these lovely little reminders of a special time and place, and the people who made it so wonderful.
ReplyDelete