Flowerday Black Butcher Kettle.

This Black Butcher Kettle has been a part of Elaine's life for as long as she can remember. As a little girl her Dad rendering lard in it over a wood burning fire. She also remembers her folks making soap in it with tallow and lye. It would be cut in white blocks and used in the washing machine. She remembers of the kettle being stored near the smoke house with it turned over to not catch rain. Elaine inherited it when her folks had their farm auction in the spring of 1956. We had bought our 5th street house a short time before and suspended it with chains from a tripod made with oak poles. We have always used it for a "planter" except for a party that Carolyn had out at the farm. For that occasion, we dumped out the dirt and plugged up the 3 holes I had drilled in the bottom. She used it as a cooler at the event by filling it with ice, water and drinks. I took the plugs out later and it has been a planter ever since.

We have often pulled up this picture of Elaine and the kids because of her dress and attractiveness, but never before as a chance to see the Black Kettle soon after it became ours. We took it along when we moved to Lincoln a couple years later and had it set up in the backyard there like we had it in Seward. However, we took it back out to Seward and left it with Elaine's folks at their Locust Street house. They took good care of it but never put it to any use. Their Estate Auction was held March 15, 1983. So, it is obvious that we would have "reclaimed it" prior to that date. I do remember of our buying Geraniums at a Greenhouse in DesMoines in the late '80's while working at Ankeny, IA and making frequent trips back to Seward. The Geraniums were special and planted in the Kettle in front of our 1st Street house in Seward. I'm certain that it has occupied that location for at least the last 25 years. It was one of those things from Elaine's childhood that led to our quality of life, but it is appropriate for it to move along and bring happiness to others. She appreciated getting the check this morning.