This weeks Sepia Saturday photo, immediately reminded me of this photo of my grandfather, who was a farmer in his younger years;
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| Allan Scott on Old Bluey Winiam |
"During the Depression Allan worked with 2 bachelor brothers, Jeff and Ralph Creek for his keep and when things came good they paid him 10 shillings ($1) for each week, which was good pay for those times. They didn't have to, but that was the sort of men they were." Eva Scott
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| Jeff & Ralph Creek's Winiam |
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| Haystack on Jeff Creeks property 1934 |
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| Reference from Henry "Jeff" Creek about my grandfather, Allan Scott. Click to enlarge |
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Nice set of old photos you have there along with the letter.
ReplyDeleteThanks you Bill. Without this weeks prompt, I don't think I would ever have put them together.
DeleteThat first picture is a winner for matching the prompt. The haystack looks like a house -- I immediately thought of the first little pig that built his house of straw.
ReplyDeleteThe reference letter is interesting because I wonder why your grandfather kept it. I would have thought it was given to a future employer. Maybe he held on to it and showed it around without actually mailing it.
This is one of a number of references that were among my grandmothers things that we located after she died. I am very fortunate that she kept so many things. It seems that there was a reference from nearly every place that he worked (which is great for a family historian).
DeleteThey moved towns after this reference and he went from working on farms to working in a flour mill so maybe the reference wasn't needed?
I agree with Wendy - a good match. I can see why you chose it. The letter is interesting too.
ReplyDeleteYes I immediately thought of this photo. Good choice of topics recently as I have had a choice of things to write about :)
DeleteA week or so ago, when I was thinking about the small bag over the shoulder of this week's prompt shoulder, I checked out the word "swag" in relation to bags and found that it has Australian roots in a bedding roll. It clearly was not that, but now I see your Allan Scott on Old Bluey with a bag that, unless I am very wrong, is exactly that?? Was he setting off, for days, weeks or years, with just the boots he stood in and his bed roll, his swag, looking for work ? Was this a goodbye photo? Was Allan...Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong..Under the shade of a coolibah tree??
ReplyDeleteYes I think my grandfather has his swag with him (A bit different to our modern day swags). I have letters showing that he went away in the early 1930s to get more work, which seems to fit this photo.
DeleteYour first photograph was so apt for this week's theme, and great to have the letter as well.
ReplyDeleteI nearly wrote about all his jobs but thought it better to stick with just the Creek brothers.
DeleteA huge haystack! I love people's penmanship long time ago.
ReplyDeleteHazel
It sure is a huge haystack. I also thought the writing was very neat and easy to read, especially for a bachelor farmer.
DeleteEveryone agrees -- that first photo is uncannily perfect for this Sepia Saturday post! And you and I both have grandparents who farmed: your grandfather in Australia, and my grandmother, who grew up on a farm in Canada. And I imagine that your grandfather's letter of reference was valuable during those rough years!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly had a tough life, didn't they Deb. I certainly couldn't do it but from what my great aunt and grandmother wrote, they loved the life style.
DeleteI worked on a farm in school holidays when I was 16. That stack looks just like one that I helped make - at the end of the day I never wanted to see another.
ReplyDeleteThis brought a smile. I can understand why. It must be back breaking work.
DeleteI played in them as a child and would stack the bales to make a cubby house(with rooms). We had a great time.
I am not familiar with farms, so I did not even recognize the haystack. The letter is beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the country so didn't even give a thought that there may be people who didn't recognise a haystack.
DeleteThis haystack is really extraordinary. A fine recommendation and beautiful hand writing. Great set of old photos.
ReplyDeleteI am fortunate enough to have many farm photos, including many of haystacks :)
DeleteHaving ephemera like that reference letter to go with the photographs makes it so much more interesting, and important as a family heirloom.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is great to have Sepia Saturday, which inspires me to put things together and in order.
DeleteYour photo matches perfectly! I enjoyed reading about your grandfather and seeing the pictures of the farm ... and the letter of recommendation too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by to visit, Sharon.
Kathy M.
Thank you for visitig Kathy when you are so busy at present.
DeleteThat haystack in very impressive. I've never seen one like it.
ReplyDeleteI have several photos of big haystacks but this one is the biggest.
DeleteQuite special to have that photo and letter. The photo of your grandfather on the horse with the satchel is ripe for a story.
ReplyDeleteYep. I have one of him wearing the same hat in a bush camp with his father and brother. The two photos together could really be made into an interesting Aussie Bush story. Maybe I should move away from factual family history :)
DeleteI too find it interesting that you and I post things about country life that others have no idea about! I had some this week not knowing what a rabbit plague was, yet I grew up feeling like it alternated between rabbit plagues / mouse plagues / and locust plagues. I guess you did too. I remember the haystacks - grew up in the Wimmera - lots of wheat.
ReplyDeleteYes my ancestors were were wheat growers. I can relate to your posts and photos, even if it is stories I have heard, rather than experienced. Mum said that when we lived at Quambatook (I was only little) that there weren't many visitors due to the mouse plague. The mice would even eat through the Tupperware containers and from what mum says, you just lived with them. There was no choice. She was more worried about the red back spiders......as they could make us kids really sick or worse.
DeleteI have never seen any haystacks like that,or even photos of them. It looks huge.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder how long it took to build it. Don't think I would have fancied being on the top.
DeleteYour grandpa certainly made a favorable impression
ReplyDeleteto get such a letter of recommendation.
Good to know he was an honorable man.
And that first picture:
Top Notch!!
:)~
HUGZ
It is such a shame that I never got to meet him. He really does seem to have been an honourable man. A true gentleman. My mother and aunty both say that they can never remember him raising his voice (or hand) but he had a way of letting them know right from wrong and they never wanted to disappoint him.
ReplyDeleteThere you go: another great testimonial!!
DeleteSpeaks volume about the man.
I prefer those who teach by example,
rather than those who preach with slaps and insults.
I know about those...
Surprising I didn't turn out violent or something...
I hope you may come up with more stories about him.
:)~
HUGZ