Thursday, December 3, 2009

Along with the log cabin...the wagon and even more important the wheel...both wooden and iron played an important part in the settlement of America.

The wooden wheel often failed in the elements...rotting and breaking under pressure but those who were lucky enough to have access to iron wheels were the envy of the village...virtually no upkeep or breakages for years until the rust finally won out.

Nowadays...the thought of having to make our own wheels rather than going to the nearest auto parts store is unfathomable...but that was part of life in those days. Even the smallest needs of the family had to be made from the materials at hand.

How long would we survive if we had to go back to those times? I wonder.

Dan

10 comments:

Sunny said...

I love the colors and textures in your wheel picture...very cool!
It would be hard to go back to those times but I'd like to think we would survive because of our human spirit. We'd probably complain a lot though. Ha-ha!
Sunny :)

The Lly Dilettante said...

I wouldn't survive very long...haha
The colours are lovely.

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Sunny! I hope I am too skeptical and that we would survive just fine!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Lly...probably longer than you think!

Dan

dianne said...

If we had grown up in that era, we would survive but having been spoiled by all of our modern conveniences I think it would be very difficult to get used to ... but if we were given no choice we would either have to learn very quickly,persevere or perish.
Did you happen to see the series which featured on US television and here about some families who went back to the basics in Montana to survive without help from the oustside world? We had a series here as well, it was very interesting to see how some survived and others gave up, those who were competative and selfish and those who survived by helping each other.
All agreed it was a challenge but most an experience they all enjoyed once they became more self sufficient, one fellow decided to stay and forget about the modern world.
Lovely photograph Dan. ♡

Dan Felstead said...

Dianne...yes I saw some of the episodes and it was exciting and really encouraging to see how they survived. Also on Discovery channel...have you seen the episodes on Alaska ...same type of scenarios?

Dan

Unknown said...

I love this one - reminds me of something I'd see on my Grandparents old farm. I love the texture and colors - it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside!

Dan Felstead said...

Bobbie you have provably seen your share of wagon wheels like this over in Lexington!

Dan

Cynthia L. H. said...

At first thought, when thinking about me, making my own tires, I think...that would not work out so well.
;^)
But, then, if I absolutely had to, I believe that I would end up being very resourceful...as that is what they had to do back in those "olden" days.

Dan Felstead said...

Cynthia...I think each of us would probably surprise ourselves if we had to...at least I hope so.

Dan