Crossroads and Characters
33. OLD THRESHING MILL.
In the 1920's threshing mills driven by traction engines began to be used by local farmers, the equipment travelling from farm to farm during harvest season. This scene was photographed at Masterfield farm. A long belt from the traction engine, creating great potential for accidents if a worker got carelessly near it or if it broke, powered the mill itself into which the sheaves of grain were pitchforked. As can be seen, women and occasionally older children also formed part of the threshing crew. The photographer apparently caught the workers just after the harvest was finished. In the background can be seen the stacks of straw from the threshing, carefully built in a conical shape and thatched so that rain would run off. The top of the stack is tied in what was called a corn dolly.
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