A few years ago we all gathered in Columbia, of Adair County Kentucky, for afamily reunion. While there we took a trip to Sparksville, the area of my roots.Then from Sparksville we proceeded to a home place of Ms. Vada Gowen whereI had the opportunity to stay with the family and do some share cropping as ayoung man. (Ms. Vada Gowen was the mother-in-law of my cousin and step uncle).

On this farm there was a well of which all three families received their water. It wasa casing well, very deep in the ground. To draw the water from the well one neededto use a long tube type bucket (sand bucket) to bring the water up from the well.

My cousin's brother who purchased the farm, being a handy man had built a moremodern way to draw the water. The well has a spool and crank attached to a shaftheld in place with two large posts. The spool has a chain which was about 90 feetlong to which the water bucket was attach.

When we stopped at the home place, I began to tell of some of the eventsthat had happen there when I was a young man. The well being located nearthe road, the grandchildren ran to explore such a site. Upon which one ofour daughters ask if we could draw some water. This was an experience forour family to move back in time and see how people of that day got their water.

When I began to lower the water bucket into the deep well, our oldestgrandson ask "How do you know when the bucket is full of water?"I explain "If you will get close to the well and listen for a gulping noise,that is when the bucket is filled with water." As I began to draw the water,each grandchild that was big enough wanted to turn the crank that broughtthe water to the top of the well.

When the water was drowned, one of the children asked, "How do you get thewater out of the water bucket?" Again I explained, "You place the bottom ofthe sand bucket into a bucket of which you wish to save the water. Then pullthe release lever to open the valve in the bottom of the sand bucket."

I suppose not one of our children, son-in-laws or their children had ever neededto draw their water from a well.

_Carlis B. Wilson