Excerpts from: Price, William T. Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County WV. Marlinton WV, Price Brothers Publishing, 1901

When the pioneers came to need more land than mere patches, they would chop three or four acres "smack smooth" and a log rolling was in order. By invitation the neighbors for miles would meet with their teams of horses or oxen, to assist in putting up logheaps for burning. This being done a feast was enjoyed, and all returned homewards.

The next thing was to burn the heaps. Outside the clearing a wide belt was raked inwardly to prevent the fire from "getting away." The preferred time for using fire was usually some night when all would be still and calm. The first thing was to burn the clearing over, thus making way with smaller brush, undergrowth, and other "trash." It was an impressive sight to witness as the smoke and flames of the burning heaps arose like pillars of fire by night, while the men, sweaty and sooty, passed among them keeping up the fires.

Another interesting pioneer social gathering was the "raising" of the dwelling or a barn. Nothing peculiary was expected, simply a return of like service when notified. "Huskings" were popular at a certain period. In some communities they would come off in the day as a matter of business, not recreation or frolic. But the typical "husking" was prepared for with some elaborate preparation. The ears would be pulled from the stalks, husks and all, and placed in ricks. This "husking" usually came off on some moon lighted night. A managing "boss" was chosen who arranged the men on opposite sides of the rick, and the contest was who would be the first to break over the crest line. Finding a red ear was considered good luck and so every ear would be noticed as it was broken off. Whoever scored the most red ears was the champion of the 1 "husking bee." While the fathers and sons were thus laborously but joyously disporting themselves at the corn ricks, the mothers and daughters were gathered at the house, some cooking, others busy at the 'quilting." About 10 or 11 o'clock the "husking" and the 'quilting" were suspended, supper served and then came the "hoe down," wherin heavy stumbling toes would be tripped to the notes of a screeching unruly violin, such fiddling was called "choking the goose," or when there was no fiddle in evidence some one only "patted Juba" about as distinctly as the trotting of a horse over a bridge.

As a rule pioneer festivities were orderly, yet once in a while there would be a few persons at the huskings who prided themselves in being and doing ugly. Somewhere about the premises there was some body or some thing that they would speak of as "Black Betty." After a few clandestine visits to where "Black Betty" was, the consequences would be that colored Elizabeth with her songs, yellings and a few fights would get in her work, and thereupon a fistcuff or two would impart interest to the gathering, and make the occasion the talk of the neighborhood until some other exciting matter came around.






1. Barbara WVGenWeb note: Also found a similar reference in New England area - the tradition was that the husking of a red ear gave license to kiss the one of choice.

Duties Of A Nurse 1887


In addition to caring for your 50 patients, each nurse will follow these regulations:

1. Daily sweep and mop the floors of your ward, dust the patient's furniture and windowsills.

2. Maintain an even temperature in your ward by bringing in a scuttle of coal for the day's business.

3. Light is important to observe the patient's condition. Therefore, each day fill kerosene lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks. Wash the windows once a week.

4. The nurse's notes are important in aiding the physician's work. Make your pens carefully, you may whittle mibs to your individual taste.

5. Each nurse on day duty will report every day at 7 a.m. and leave at 8 p.m., except on the Sabbath, on which day you will be off from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

6. Graduate nurses in good standing with the director of nurses will be given an evening off each week if you go regularly to church.

7. Each nurse should lay aside from each payday a goodly sum of her earnings for her benefits during her declining years, so that she will not become a burden. For example, if you earn $30 a month you should set aside $15.

8. Any nurse who smokes, uses liquor in any form, gets her hair done at a beauty shop, or frequents dance halls will give the director of nurses good reason to suspect her worth, intentions, and integrity.

9. The nurse who performs her labors and serves her patients and doctors faithfully and without fault for a period of 5 years will be given an increase by the hospital administration of 5 cents a day, providing there are not hospital debts that are outstanding.

--- Anonymous