Pressing clothes was an onerous chore for pioneers
Before electric appliances, pressing clothes was a backbreaking pioneer chore. Columnist Paul Locher explores the history of early laundry technology, from heavy cast-iron sad irons and interchangeable slug irons to specialized tabletop gophering irons used for fluting ruffles.
How the 1833 washboard patent changed early American laundry
The patenting of the washboard in 1833 inspired tinsmiths, potters, and wood turners across Ohio to craft early laundry devices. Explore the history of handmade washboards, possers, and the weekly frontier tradition of "Blue Monday."
Coming clean about clothes washing chores in the early Ohio Country
Before modern washing machines, early Ohio Country pioneers faced the grueling task of cleaning clothes in creeks and iron kettles. Columnist Paul Locher dives into the smelly history of 19th-century laundry chores and the evolution of the scrub sticks and patented washboards that followed.
Sweeping history: The art of early American splint brooms
Before modern stores, early Ohio settlers had to make their own household tools. Learn the laborious process of crafting splint brooms from a single hickory stick—an extraordinary early American craft that commands thousands of dollars at antique auctions today.
Ohio pioneers made cheese to preserve milk without refrigeration
Without refrigeration, early Ohio Country farmers relied on traditional cheesemaking to extend their winter milk supply. Historian Paul Locher breaks down the step-by-step pioneer process of using rennet, straining whey and pressing hard cheeses to preserve dairy for months.
How pioneer families finished butter for market in early Ohio
From Scotch hands and butter-working tables to saffron coloring and decorative butter stamps, discover how Ohio pioneers finished, packaged and sold homemade butter.
Variety of butter churns attempted to make a very arduous task easier
Churning butter was an arduous pioneer task that sparked a wave of American ingenuity. Antique expert Paul Locher explores the evolution of the churn—from simple wooden dashers and decorated pottery to rocking "cradles" and crank-powered models that transformed a chore into a science.
Wooden water pipes were hard to make, but a boon to Ohio Country settlers
Paul Locher explores the fascinating history and labor-intensive craft of early wooden water pipes—a testament to pioneer ingenuity and infrastructure.
Ohio Country coffee pot design depended on your nationality
Antique collector and historian Paul Locher explores the cultural divide of Ohio’s frontier coffee pots. From New England’s lighthouse designs to the intricate Germanic punchwork, Locher details the craftsmanship of local tinsmiths and the distinct styles of early American settlers.
Maple sugaring put the exclamation point on winter work for pioneers
From sumac spiles to bobsleds, discover the traditional tools and annual rites of pioneer maple sugaring before the age of modern vacuum systems.
