the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana 20181001_beacon | Page 3

October 2018
THE BEACON
Page 3A
Vision for the Future Comes Alive in Aurora
This month's items should ring a bell for area farmers.
What is it?
Editor’s note- Last month’s items
were reported as being obsolete.
However, that turned out not to
be the case. While large fields are
harvested with farm equipment,
many area farmers still use tobacco
knives and spears. I would like to
thank Rick Bales, a farmer who
Last month: tools
graciously let me experience the
for harvesting
joy of harvesting tobacco. I cut
tobacco
and spiked thirty-six plants which
amounted to six sticks. Mr. Bales was very kind and didn’t
say a word about the leaves that I butchered during the
learning process.
Anyone who pays for a gym membership should save
money and put in tobacco instead. You might even come
out ahead financially at the rate of 22¢ per stick.
Larry Mingua, Bright, identified last month’s items
correctly. The tomahawk-type knife is used to cut the plant,
and the spear is placed on the stick to split the tobacco
stalk as it is forced onto the stick. Usually, six stalks (some
farmers did five) are speared onto each stick, left to wilt in
the field for a day or so, and then loaded onto wagons for
transport to the barn for hanging and curing. Mr. Mingua
used those tools while he was growing up in Kentucky.
The bottom knife in the picture was used to cut and
split the stalk so it could be placed on the stick as above
but without the spear. Mr. Mingua never used that type of
knife but remembered a few of those still on the farm.
“Burley tobacco is still harvested in this way even
today. It is very labor intensive, good, honest labor and
taught my generation and the ones before mine good
work ethic, pride, and family values. Tobacco has been
demonized in our current culture, maybe rightly so, but it
has long supported the small towns, businesses, schools,
and churches in rural America.”
Charlie Thies, Wrights Corner, added that the smaller
tobacco knife was used before the spear. The cut tobacco
stock would be slit 2/3 of the way down the stalk to allow
it to be placed on the tobacco stick. “I used all these
tools for many years as my family raised quite a bit of
tobacco in Ohio County and later at my farm at Wrights
Corner. Looking at these tools sure brings back memories.
Everyone in the family helped raise the crop. It was hard
work, but we had fun!”
Roy Barth, Harrison, shared, “It was a delicate balance
to get that 1 to 2-inch diameter stalk over the spear and
push it down on the stick. If you missed, the spear might
end up in your arm. An experienced farmer could cut about
five hundred stalks per hour, a half acre in a day.
Wayne Monroe, Brookville, said, “ A good man could
cut one stick a minute which consisted of 5 or 6 stocks of
tobacco.” (I guess I need A LOT of practice!)
Correct answers were also submitted by Ed Emley,
St. Leon; Carol Morton, Brookville; Lillian Hoover,
Lawrenceburg; Ed Emley, St.Leon; Barb Ward, Dillsboro;
Greg Walke, Batesville; Lonnie Frye, Brookville; Sharon
Ketenbrink, Rising Sun; Fred Wolber, Brookville; Ruth
O’Neal, Manchester, and Carol Ziegler, Sunman.
This month’s challenge rings true on farms still today. At
least one farm, somewhere (not making that mistake again)!
Please e-mail your guesses to editor@goBEACONnews.
com by Friday, September 21. Good luck!
sponsored by Cornerstone Realty/Lutz Auction Services
Continued from page 1A
continue improvements in
Aurora.
The planning for Aurora’s
revitalization doesn’t stop
with the new streets, cross-
walks, and lights. A Master
Parks Plan has been cre-
ated which includes plans
for Gabbard Riverfront Park
to be located at the corner of
Second and Judiciary Streets.
Currently, the eye-catching
mural Aurora 1 Steam Engine
at the park location has been
completed as well as the stage,
retaining wall, and gateway
Gabbard Riverfront Park sign.
The park will also feature a
Pergola Swing Corridor with
six-foot-long bench swings
and benches situated for visi-
tors to enjoy one of the pretti-
est bends in the Ohio River.
Projects for the youth are
also underway at Taylor Field
located next to the Aurora
Community Center. Currently,
four lights are being installed
at the field. Preparations for
an additional four lights are
also being made.
A number of properties in
the downtown area are in the
process of being renovated.
Several antique stores, a
professional services business
and a restaurant will be occu-
pying these newly renovated
spaces. Two current business
owners have had such a good
experience being a part of the
community that they have
purchased property in down-
town Aurora and are currently
renovating them with plans
to make them their family’s
future homes.
Aurora plans to offer a third
round of facade grants in the
coming year. The structures
must be located in Aurora’s
historic district and must be
owner-occupied.
Extending Aurora’s bike
path past Lesko Park, includ-
ing designing the route to
go past the Triple Whipple
Bridge a nd Riverview Cem-
etery, is being discussed. Cre-
ating a branch of the bike path
to reach the other side of U.S.
50 is also being considered.
Plans have long since begun
for the celebration of Aurora’s
200th birthday next year. The
return of the USS LST 325 to
the Aurora Ferry Landing is
much anticipated. The LST
last visited Aurora in 2011
when thousands of veterans
and families toured the vessel.
“The best thing to me
would be to see the Mudbugs
perform on stage at Gabbard
Riverfront Park while I’m still
mayor!” said Mayor Hasting.
Stay tuned...
The mural Aurora 1 Steam Engine at the site of proposed
Gabbard Riverfront Park. (photo by Main Street Aurora)
Plans for the Gabbard Riverfront Park in Aurora.
Senior Dances on Main
New Year’s Eve 2018
Monday, December 31, 2018
7:00PM until 12:30AM
228 Second Street, Aurora
(Aurora Lions Club Building)
Presented by:
Main Street Aurora
Music by:
Denver Brandt and the Wooden Wheels
Classic Country Music & More
Tickets: $20.00 each
Reservations and Tickets Required in Advance
Includes admission, dinner, soft drinks, snacks,
midnight toast and party favors
Door will open at 6:00PM
Dinner will be served at 7:00PM
Music will start at 8:30PM
Get your tickets early!
Limited space available for this event!
231 Main Street, Suite #210
812.926.1100
Starter Home or Dream Home....We Can Make it Happen!
Make The Maddin Team your first call when
you’re ready to buy or sell a home.
The Maddin
Team
513-519-0006
kenmaddin.huff.com
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