Document Type
Correspondence
Files
Download Full Text (1.4 MB)
Date
3-5-1957
Keywords
aprons, homesick cows, Kutztown, scalding hogs, barrels, Morgenland Church
Description
A handwritten letter from Robert V. Fritz addressed to Alfred L. Shoemaker, dated March 5, 1957. Within, Fritz details a cure for homesickness in cows and describes the process he learned to scald hogs by using a barrel.
Sender
Robert V. Fritz
Recipient
Alfred L. Shoemaker
Corresponds to:
Packet 700-32 to 700-35
City
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Transcription
Kutztown R2 Pa
Mar. 5, 57,
Dr. Shoemaker
Dear Sir: -
As a regular listener to your radio program and having graduated from the common school at the same time that you were a post graduate. At least that’s the way I remember it. I should say I was raised in Weisenberg Township, Lehigh Co. In fact I believe I was on the same platform with you at Morgenland Church at our graduation exercises. Well enough of that.
Last Sunday you talked about homesick cows. Well while you were talking about it my wife said to keep a newly bought cow from getting homesick her mother always removed her apron laid it in front of the stall door so the cow had pass over the apron going in the first time.
And as to scalding hogs I helped my dad many a time scald hogs in a barrel made especially for scalding hogs. If my memory serves me right. First we put in some wood ashes. And later on lime. By that I mean we used wood ashes when I was real young then later we used lime. Somebody probably suggested lime was better. Then we heated water in the big iron kettle when it was nearly boiling we'd go over shoot and stick the hog's body. Then we'd put it into the barrel head first which was laid on a tilt then we’d pour the water over the hog. After the bristles came out we’d pull it out turn it around and scald the back end while we cleaned the front which was sticking out of the barrel. As long as I was home we never had a scalding trough.
I am not very good at drawing but I’ll give you an idea how the barrel was made. It had straight sides about 2 ft. in diameter at the bottom and wider at the top maybe 2 ½ ft. and about 4 ½ to 5 ft. long.
[drawing] blocking
Hoping I’ve been of some help I remain your steady listener
Yours truly
Robert V. Fritz
Language
English
Rights Statement
This item is available courtesy of the Ursinus College Library Special Collections Department. It is not to be copied or distributed for commercial use. For permissions which fall outside of educational use, please contact the Special Collections Department.
Recommended Citation
Fritz, Robert V., "Letter From Robert V. Fritz to Alfred L. Shoemaker, March 5, 1957" (1957). Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents. 109.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/shoemaker_documents/109
Included in
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