Arkie John
Active member
Ron's recent post reminded me of a special in a special time. Come along with me, if you have the time. You might even somewhat amused.
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A few decades back, three and a half to be exact, Daddy and I hunted a ranch called Ferguson's Ranch. It spanned about 4000 acres, give or take. Did it ever provide for some good hunting.
Now, on that place there were several old homesteads--I mean log cabin left-overs complete with out buildings. It was the setting for several treasure hunts. I don't recall ever finding anything of serious consideration with that fine TR machine of mine, but I DID look for that lost loot and had much fun doin' it.
One day, I had chased my last gobbler of the day and it was up toward elevenish, I took a compass reading and set out across unexplored territory, the quickest way back to my jeep. On my trek, I came upon an old homeplace made of rough-sawn pine--and it was in relatively good condition. No vandals had defiled it because it was so far back in the woods. I drank from the creek, 'cause it was plenty hot, and just took a look around. It was a curious sight and I found myself wanting to spend some time there. I knew it was early 20th century-- not only by the way it was contructed and the farm implements left to rust, but in viewing the license plates...HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of license plates. More on that later. The wood was much weathered but still had integrity about it. The well was still intact as was the outhouse. There was an ajoining 60-acre field, gently rolling to the next hardwood stand 400 yards in the distance. There was a horse-drawn hay rake and plow and an old tractor of some sort, with iron wheels, just worn completely down. Then there was the main barn, 150 yards from the house itself. In it, I found a '36 (I think) Plymouth, abandoned for good reason.
Now, let's get back to the license plates. You see, the house was a five-room affair with a 12-12 roof, probably a 20 X 40. The barn was probably 30 X 60, with the same pitch roof. Now get this. The roofs on both structures were "shingled" ENTIRELY with license plates ranging in dates from the teens to the early 30's! Inside the barn, the interior walls were covered with, you guessed it, hundreds of Arkansas Plates! Some of them were in fabulous condition.
I took my first wife and her parents out to see it one Sunday a few weeks later and took along my trusty new super-8 movie camera. I got lots of good film of that old place that afternoon. The film has since been lost (a casualty of the divorce, I reckon) but the memories are forever emblazzoned on my mind.
We never knew who owned the old place. I supposed that the man of the house was employed by the Department of Motor Vehicles for an extended period of time and farmed on the side... and that he maybe lost his farm during the depression. I just dunno. I wish I had taken better care and interest, to learn more about the folks that called that place home.
I went back to see it about five years ago and was just shocked to see the land had been all subdivided, sold and built upon with spanking new upscale homes. I was just sick. Every smidgen, every plate, every board of that old place was just no more. Sometimes we never know what we have until we lose it.
I kept some two dozen plates that I had scavenged, for at least two moves but soon tired of toting them around and gave them away to some collector--can you imagine that????
Looking back, it was a really special place. I really wish that the people that bought the old place had had a better appreciation of our heritage. A houseplace like that will never, ever be built again.
Such a loss! But I have the memories and some 6 minutes of super-eight film somewhere...and YOU have this story.
Thanks for comin' along. I'll see you 'round the bend. <><
aj
**********************************************
A few decades back, three and a half to be exact, Daddy and I hunted a ranch called Ferguson's Ranch. It spanned about 4000 acres, give or take. Did it ever provide for some good hunting.
Now, on that place there were several old homesteads--I mean log cabin left-overs complete with out buildings. It was the setting for several treasure hunts. I don't recall ever finding anything of serious consideration with that fine TR machine of mine, but I DID look for that lost loot and had much fun doin' it.
One day, I had chased my last gobbler of the day and it was up toward elevenish, I took a compass reading and set out across unexplored territory, the quickest way back to my jeep. On my trek, I came upon an old homeplace made of rough-sawn pine--and it was in relatively good condition. No vandals had defiled it because it was so far back in the woods. I drank from the creek, 'cause it was plenty hot, and just took a look around. It was a curious sight and I found myself wanting to spend some time there. I knew it was early 20th century-- not only by the way it was contructed and the farm implements left to rust, but in viewing the license plates...HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of license plates. More on that later. The wood was much weathered but still had integrity about it. The well was still intact as was the outhouse. There was an ajoining 60-acre field, gently rolling to the next hardwood stand 400 yards in the distance. There was a horse-drawn hay rake and plow and an old tractor of some sort, with iron wheels, just worn completely down. Then there was the main barn, 150 yards from the house itself. In it, I found a '36 (I think) Plymouth, abandoned for good reason.
Now, let's get back to the license plates. You see, the house was a five-room affair with a 12-12 roof, probably a 20 X 40. The barn was probably 30 X 60, with the same pitch roof. Now get this. The roofs on both structures were "shingled" ENTIRELY with license plates ranging in dates from the teens to the early 30's! Inside the barn, the interior walls were covered with, you guessed it, hundreds of Arkansas Plates! Some of them were in fabulous condition.
I took my first wife and her parents out to see it one Sunday a few weeks later and took along my trusty new super-8 movie camera. I got lots of good film of that old place that afternoon. The film has since been lost (a casualty of the divorce, I reckon) but the memories are forever emblazzoned on my mind.
We never knew who owned the old place. I supposed that the man of the house was employed by the Department of Motor Vehicles for an extended period of time and farmed on the side... and that he maybe lost his farm during the depression. I just dunno. I wish I had taken better care and interest, to learn more about the folks that called that place home.
I went back to see it about five years ago and was just shocked to see the land had been all subdivided, sold and built upon with spanking new upscale homes. I was just sick. Every smidgen, every plate, every board of that old place was just no more. Sometimes we never know what we have until we lose it.
I kept some two dozen plates that I had scavenged, for at least two moves but soon tired of toting them around and gave them away to some collector--can you imagine that????
Looking back, it was a really special place. I really wish that the people that bought the old place had had a better appreciation of our heritage. A houseplace like that will never, ever be built again.
Such a loss! But I have the memories and some 6 minutes of super-eight film somewhere...and YOU have this story.
Thanks for comin' along. I'll see you 'round the bend. <><
aj
