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| Ernest S. Hull |
As I looked through these receipts from 1944, I discover that Ernest S. Hull once owned this farm and sold chickens for 30 cents a dozen and took cattle to the market. At the local Walworth’s store, he could buy a loaf of bread for 30 cents and a cake for 40 cents.
Through internet research, I discovered at age 27 he married Blanche and had 3, maybe 4 children. He was listed as a farmer in the 1930 census who could read and write and owned a radio. Their oldest son Hobert was drafted during World War II and was serving in the Pacific in 1944. The Hull’s youngest son, Arlo enlisted in 1944 and was also sent to the Pacific.
In my garage, as I work on restoring the large pocket doors for the farmhouse living room, I came across a small BB gun pellet stuck in the door.
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| BB in top right corner |
Hobart and Arlo Hull ran through this house. Did they shoot this pellet in the door and get scolded by Blanche? Would it be a constant reminder of that day? Would a tear fall down a mother’s face as she rolls her hand over this pellet, remembering a son that never came back from the war?
I don’t know how many other families lived in this old farmhouse or their stories, but I know there was joy, love, hard work and sadness that occurred here. I am reminded that someday our story will be over too and someone else will live in this house and work the land. But as we rebuild the house and cultivate the land, it works and cultivates our hearts and minds too. It makes us tougher, stronger, braver and more humble.
Several years ago I was reading a devotional and the author wrote this question as if God had spoken it. He simply wrote . . .
“Have you enjoyed the day I’ve given you?”
I have never forgotten these words and sometimes when I get so caught up in all I have to do, I hear them in my mind and I take a breath and slow down. I hope these words remind you today to live your story, to work hard, but enjoy your day too.
Thank you for the reminder, Cheryl, to think of every day as a gift. I love that you are seeing more of the history of the previous owners. It's more than just a house, a shell. Now it's the cover of a book with many stories inside.
I love this post! I especially love these lines: "But as we rebuild the house and cultivate the land, it works and cultivates our hearts and minds too. It makes us tougher, stronger, braver and more humble." I can't remember who said it, but someone has said, "First we make our homes, and then they make us."
I don't know if I've mentioned it, but my family has a farm near Topeka. My aunts own it now; they are the fourth generation to live there.