Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The Watering Trough


Along the side of Pa. Rt. 16 are the remnants of this old watering trough. It was used to water horses as they stopped to rest while climbing the Tuscarora Mountain. Later it was used to top off the radiators of the early cars. I remember my grandfather telling of the days when it was made of wood.

The water came to it through a pipe from a mountain spring. When I was a child we would haul our livestock to market across this mountain and frequently stop on our return to get a refreshing drink of the cool mountain water spilling continuously from the pipe. On a hot summer day it was a most welcome respite before continuing our trip home.

I remember my grandfather telling that in earlier years it was made of wood. The watering trough was a very useful piece of infrastructure whose time passed as technology improved. I remember my grandfather once saying that he had seen man go from the horse and buggy to the moon. Now I look back and can only marvel at the amazing progress that I have witnessed in my years. I am sure that my stories of “the old days” seem just as quaint to young folks now as Granddad’s did to me.

4 comments:

Chad Oneil Myers said...

I remember passing by that many times when I lived up there.

Unknown said...

Please don't stop telling your stories, Salty Dawg. It doesn't matter if they seem quaint to the younger generation. Its so important to keep history alive.

Imagine how wonderful it would be to sit down with your granddad now and ask him questions and listen to him talk all day.

I know I sure wish I had listened more...

Tim said...

Cool Story! I am thirsty now.

Kekiinani said...

Great story and image to go along with it. It is amazing how well made things like this are to have lasted such a long long time. Nice shot. :)