Back in the days of washboards and wringer washers Monday washdays were not as quick or convenient as they are today, with computer-driven appliances such as the washers and dryers on the market these days.

The washboard especially was in the process since rivers or whatever were the sources of water.

It didn’t matter that broken fingernails or lacerated knuckles were the result of washing an item. In later years, it was better than using another tool to beat the garment or using a stone out of a stream.

There seemed to have always been the need for clean clothes, at least for some in the early days of civilization.

Modernization

When the wringer-washer came on the market, about 1843, the household duty required additional equipment, a water source. a couple of wash tubs (later used for cooling larger quantities of beer or soda for larger gatherings, a source of electricity and adequate space to spread out all the equipment.

It is really difficult to believe, but one source says the initial wringer washers on the market sold for $481.50, which would not fill some gas tanks these days. Actually it would not pay for a very good sack of groceries, or anything else so far as that goes.

There are many stories about the wringers and what might be caught in their rotating manner that was one of the final processes after the garment had been washed and rinsed, just before it went to the clothesline.

Helping occasionally, it became common knowledge concerning how certain items should be hung to dry to avoid as many wrinkles as possible.

Most of the time, younger participants were not permitted to go near the wringer, although there were those who tried a time or two with a hand and suffered no serious results.

Arrival of a length of garden hose in the back porch area went a long way toward the convenience in draining the washer upon completion of the chore eliminating the former bucket-toting method that was previously necessary.

Six bedrooms

All these first experiences were at the Ray House at Ninth and Townsend in Cassville where it is now apartments. The house had six bedrooms. Most households today have no idea what was required when aunt Missie Pearl, usually in charge of the Monday process, decided the bedding needed to be included in the laundry.

There was no other way for her to accomplish the task but to boil the sheets using a large cast iron kettle over an open fire, which was the process regardless of the weather.

The fire was provided by “shekan” wood, meaning split out of larger pieces that came from the woodshed at the back of the yard. Chet Hadlow had a regular assignment not to let this supply dwindle, since the fire needed an additional supply a number of times during the process.

A lengthy piece of broom handle was used to constantly keep the items moving in the boiling waters. There was always the precaution to keep away from the fire and not splash any water on legs.

It was always a mystery why none of the girls were involved in this washday activity, but they were usually up and gone during the early morning when the process began.

Always clean

There was one thing for sure when Monday came around, in those days, you better have your duds to be washed in the clothes hamper or they would not go through the process.

Once when I was home on leave, my blues needed washing and after cautioning how they should be handled, they went in the wash and were handled with extreme care. After being washed, someone decided they would go a step further and press the uniform.

I had a laugh with them afterward when I discovered the pants and blouse were pressed, but without turning the items wrong-side-out. This meant they had to go to the cleaners to be correctly turning the crease going inward.

Almanac for June

Reaching the sixth month of this year there are probably some folks enjoying the plantings they might have nursed through cold or downpours of rain. You are the fortunate ones.

There is still moisture possible this month, at least so says the Almanac, through the latter part of the month, then it is supposed to turn dry.

So far as fishing goes, the predictions are for best times during the period of the June 2, 11, 18, thru 19, then good fishing the 10th 14th, 15th, 28 and 29th.

These periods are the best times to be on the water, either Table Rock, Elk River, Kings River and yes even Flat Creek.

Bob Mitchell is the former editor and publisher of the Cassville Democrat. He is a 2017 inductee to both the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame and Missouri Southern State University’s Regional Media Hall of Fame.