Origins of the Forestry Forum

[Jeff]

These photos depict something that I attribute to the beginning of the Forestry Forum. Maybe it could be explained as "7 separations of the Forestry Forum" It's not that they are old photos from the Brokaw family history, but its the activities that are going on, and how those activities eventually brought about the start of the Forestry Forum. I thought it might be fun for you to guess how this possible could be explained, and then at some point, I'll tell you the "Rest of the Story" 


 
Left to right beginning in the back. My Dad's dad. Manley Brokaw. Grampa was 6'6" and taller then anyone I ever saw photographed with him. He was a huge fellow in his day. Next to him is my Grandma, Flora Brokaw. Next to her would be her mother, my great grandma Lydia Christ. I don't know the next two for sure but think they are siblings to my Grandma Brokaw. The guy with the wide brim hat is my grandma's dad. My Great Granddad, Donus Christ. The children are all of my dads brothers and sisters. The little guy clear to the right, that my Dad. 

My Grandparents all died decades before i was born.


 

[Mooseherder]

Looks like there could have been some characters in that group.
I was thinking today there should be a camera crew following you around with all the happenings and characters here on the Forestry Forum that would be one heck of a show.

[Jeff]

I can add this, as the nut didnt fall far from the tree.

[Jeff]

My Great Grampa Donus Christ.  I like this photo. one of the many old Pine Stumps my dad told me about that were long gone by the time I came around.
 

[customsawyer]

Jeff in the drawing of you on the wood are you eating a bowl of grits.

[Ron Wenrich]

Seems like we're looking at the south end of your great gramps quite a bit in the several of the upper photos.  He must be the supervisor on Saturday bath times.   

[Furby]

Food prep, eating and talking, guess I don't see any connection to the forum.

[thecfarm]

There's something going on in them last 2 pictures that involves an axe.Looks like they are sharping something.I can see shavings.

Edit alert.Ther're not making ice cream are they??? That picture with the ladder,do I see a churn???


More edit alert.Eating ice cream in the first picture.

[Gary_C]

Very nice family photo's and in that first one I thought sure that was you Jeff until I read what's under the picture. You look just like your dad.

Other than that, I haven't a clue what you are talking about.

[Mooseherder]

I think thecfarm got it.

[Gary_C]

I think thecfarm got it.

Yep, that's it.

[Jeff]

Yep, its eating and making ice cream. They are busting up ice as they need it. That might be what you see as shavings, is the ice shavings.  I wonder whatever happened to that old dinner bell in the photos?

So, Ice Cream and the making of it. Has a lot to do with the origins of the Forestry Forum...

[thecfarm]

Always was a big deal to try to find snow to make ice cream for my Grand Father's birthday in May.Some years they had ice crearm,some years they did not.No pictures.Seems like they had time to take pictures of the farm animals,but not many of the people or the events on the farm.

[SwampDonkey]

That is exactly the same life and times the family had around here. My grand father, dad and uncle, more so than my aunts and grandmother,  made ice cream like it was going out of style. Oh, I'm sure they ate it to.

The two major kinds they made were maple walnut and grapenut, they were very popular varieties around here. You ask an old timer what flavor he wants, it's either of the two. 

[Gary_C]

Where did they get the ice? From the leaves on the trees, it does not appear to be spring time where they could have gathered or stored some.

What year was that?

I recall hearing that years ago some companies cut and hauled ice from lakes and stored it in warehouses under straw for summer use.

[Jeff]

The Brokaw's always had Ice. Thats part of the Story.

The year of the photos must predate 1930 as that is the year that My Great Grandfather, Donus Christ Died.  (By the way, Christ is pronounced with a short i. Rymes with "mist")  Christ was also my Dad's middle name.

[Mooseherder]

Our Govenor for Florida is Charlie Christ pronounced the same way
and so far just about everyone likes him. (I do)
Wonder if there is any relations

[Dave Shepard]

Ice harvesting was big business years ago. Dennis Picard, who runs Storrowtown at the Big E (Eastern States Expo, known by all New Englanders  ) knows a lot about ice harvesting. There were warehouses so big they drove entire trains inside to unload, and the steam from the engines would create their own clouds and it woud snow inside. At one time ice was a major export of the US, being shipped as far as India. Product loss was near 50% sometimes.

Great pictures Jeff, I like history, even if it's someone else's.


Dave


PS, I wasn't worried for a minute that you were eating grits.

[Jeff]

This is Lucy Brokaw  Jan. 19, 1855 - May 14, 1909 And Abraham Brokaw  May 29, 1845 - Feb. 18, 1909, my great grand parents. They are standing in front of what would eventually become the Brokaw Ice House. Its just east of the driveway of the house that Abraham.s  son built, my Grampa. That house, which we call the old farm, still stands today and was built by my Grampa in 1904.


Below is the old Farm. My Dad is on the left, my uncle Ron on the right. My Dad started his Biography shortly before he died. He only wrote one chapter, but included a story about his relationship with his little brother Ron. I posted about that several years ago.
LINK If you read the link, My dad will help fill in part of this story where he tells about Ice and Ice Cream.

Believe it or not, I'm preparing to tell you what this all has to do with the start of the Forestry Forum.

[asy]

Hey Boss, this is FAR too cool!!!

I can't wait to hear more. It's sorta like the boy's diary. Just waiting for the next instalment.

Ice cream and all

asy