Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:
Question: What is this wooden bin in the attached photo? It was found in a 1907 house in Asheville. It's hinged on one side and has a lock for security. It's got rope handles, and it's vented on both sides.
My answer: A cage for Bigfoot when he was but a lad? Bobcat trap? Really poorly made time capsule? Laundry basket for the worst smelling clothes? Primitive washing machine? Clearly, I have no idea.
Real answer: Seriously, I had no idea, other than suggesting maybe it was a bin for coal, but that didn't make much sense. So, I sent the question off to some local history experts.
They came back with some suggestions that make sense, and a few that'll just make you smile.
More: Answer Man: Stoneyard Apartments in RAD still a go?
"Well, wish I could say I see these all the time, and they are...," Taylor Barnhill, an architectural historian, said during an email exchange on the subject. "But (I) haven't seen one, but every farmer had their own unique way of doing things — few standard objects."
Barnhill noted that it's the size of a small grain bin, "except those would not have the slatted lid, which would indicate it was used for carrying an animal.
"And based on the size, if that's the case, it might have held a young hog, to go to market," Barnhill continued. "But the hasp lock would not be necessarily needed."
Barnhill exchanged emails with Karen L. Paar, director of the Southern Appalachian Archives at Mars Hill University.
"I wondered if it was for a fighting cock — the hasp lock would be needed for that, right?" Paar said.
That's certainly a solid guess, as cockfighting was a huge entertainment in the South back then.
Barnhill responded, "Ah haa! That could be it!"
Mars Hill also sent the picture to Richard Dillingham, a retired MHU history professor and regional lore expert, and he seemed to fall into the rooster camp, too.
"I've been here 83-plus years and have never seen the likes," Dillingham said in an email exchange. "It could be an animal or pet cage, but there would be no lock latch! Maybe a prize rooster cage for a cock fighter? The gospel according to Dillingham!"
Peter Koch at the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University said he tossed it out to his colleagues at the center.
"(They had) several answers and thoughts but nothing definite from the MHC staff," Koch said, offering this rundown from his colleagues:
• "Critter jail. I could use it for the hill bunnies and their woodchuck buddy!"
(personal issue there)
• "Chickens or Turkeys?"
• "Way too small for coon dogs."
One of his colleagues offered up this explanation, which makes the most sense.
"Many, many homemade objects were used for what the builder used it for, and then for what the subsequent users used it for. To me there's no right answer — we don't have the builder around to ask anymore. It's used for whatever someone uses it for."
More: Answer Man: Biltmore Estate mystery building? Nancy Williams MIA?
That person went on to say their "random wild guess" was "produce box for deliveries?"
I'm still going with "baby Bigfoot carrier."
If you have any knowledge of what this bin might have actually been used for, give me a call or shoot me an email.
Dead rat in your vehicle followups: As you may recall, last week I regaled y'all with the tale of how a rat got sucked in the ventilation blower of our SUV and pretty much got shredded and blown throughout the system.
While we still don't know how the unfortunate rodent got in there, a couple of you good readers offered some tips on preventing this in the future. I will note that I've talked to several folks, including the mechanic who did our repair work, who say soy-based electrical wiring covers are part of the problem, as rodents naturally enjoy a good soy-based snack.
At any rate, here's the first suggestion, which came in from Michael Doty in Landrum, South Carolina.
"We live in a heavily wooded area where rodents, varmints, and critters of all sizes, from beetles to bears, roam about," Doty said via email. "We have discovered that the rodents like to chew on the wiring and nest in the engine compartment of my wife's Miata. We have had all that wiring replaced twice."
"But, we discovered that a packet of mothballs laid on the ground directly under the engine where the car is parked, and scattered around the edges of the carport, deter the critters," he continued. "We also place packets of mothballs on top of the trash receptacles to fend off the bears. We used to have bruin trash invasions on a regular basis, but have had none since we 'scented' the trash cans. We also tie up the packets on our deck rails where they approach the house and the bears are now conspicuously absent."
Clearly, bears don't like the smell of napthalene. While some humans don't, either, the reader said in their experience the smell dissipates after a day or two.
I'll remind you that mothballs contain some very serious chemicals and can be a lung and eye irritant with prolonged exposure, and some literature suggests they're also carcinogenic. You don't want to leave them lying around if you have children or pets that might get into them, and I wouldn't be keen on using them in an enclosed area.
Another reader said, "We were told to put organic peppermint oil on the filters and the carpets in the car. It smells great and helps keep the rodents out."
They've used it for eight years so far with no problems.
Our total repair cost ended up being over $3,700, so trust me, you don't want a varmint in your blower. Thanks goodness, insurance covered nearly all of our expense.
No word on whether the rat's family plans to file a lawsuit.
This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com.
"used" - Google News
September 21, 2020 at 04:08PM
https://ift.tt/2ZRqZna
Answer Man: Old mystery bin used for fighting cocks? Bunnies and their woodchuck friends? - Citizen Times
"used" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2ypoNIZ
https://ift.tt/3aVpWFD
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Answer Man: Old mystery bin used for fighting cocks? Bunnies and their woodchuck friends? - Citizen Times"
Post a Comment