Archival Anecdotes: Everything is better at Grandma's

I may be speaking for many more than myself when I say, there was always a special feeling when Grandma was cooking in the kitchen. I wasn't often allowed in the kitchen, but still I found a way to cultivate a sense of wonder regarding my grandmother's abilities to turn common ingredients into delectable delights.

On a rare occasion I can replicate one of the divine aromas from my childhood. However, with all of today's fancy kitchen devices, I can't help but feel further and further away from the old way of doing things.

There are times a blended approach makes wonderful sense. Last week I harvested the last of the apples, steamed them in a pressure cooker and then pushed them through a sieve exactly like the one that grandma used.

The result was perfect. Less so was the realization that Grandma was much stronger than I ever gave her credit for.

From sieves to coffee grinders to food mills and water pumps, manual labor helped make the magic happen in many a grandma's kitchen.

Many kitchen items are on display at the Eddy County Museum. In fact, a whole kitchen scene is on display- complete with the kitchen sink for a total of 234 entries for kitchenware.  

The sampling of kitchen artifacts pictured above can be found displayed in the northwest corner of the depot's main room.

From left to right, starting at the top: 8-inch kettle with an 8- inch handle as well. The metal colander measures 9 inches and was donated by the Dora Carleen Finch family. The square contraption far to the right is an "early toaster" and was used by Bird Miller in the early 1900s.

On the far left of the shelf is a wooden and metal coffee grinder that was used by Grandmother Mattson. A note reads, "Matt Mattson Sr. repaired many times." It was reportedly in use from 1819-1922.

The ceramic pitcher once belonged to Mary Haas.

The two remaining pitchers on display offer little context as to their life before the museum. Still, the dark pitcher with a chicken on the front with the word "batter" is just as effective as the white ceramic pitcher in reminding us that some of the wisest people we have known once did things differently.