Muddy’s Pit bringing the flavour back to Keene
There is one sure sign of spring in Keene and that is when Muddy’s Pit BBQ opens for the season.
I’m glad to say that, with some adjustments, the famous rib joint will open for business May 14. It will be takeout only, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday to Sunday. See the Muddy’s Pit BBQ Facebook page for more information.
Food cupboard
Otonabee South Monaghan Food Cupboard runs May 14, from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Keene United Church. If you need food and are not registered, contact Joan at osmfoodcupboard@nexicom.net.
Scholarships available
Graduating Otonabee-South Monaghan high school students are welcome to apply for one of four Keene Lions Club Scholarships. Applications and information are on the Keene Lions website, e-clubhouse.org/sites/keeneon/.
A farmer’s journal
John Graham Weir was born in Otonabee Township in 1844 and kept daily journals from 1880 until his death in 1925. They were donated to Trent Valley Archives by the Mitchell family of Stoney Creek.
1889 May 11, Sat.
I sowed nineteen bushels of peas in field No. 5 and finished at tea time. Downer and Sawyers were picking stones. John Hamlin rolled the field as I sowed it. After tea Lovina and I went to town. The weather is very dry and we are done sowing on this side of the road. We have sowed 90 acres this spring and we have 10 acres to sow yet in the swamp. 1890 Monday May 5
I took a load of lumber to Lakefield and along with Sam and Valentine Best and Ben Shortly we moved from the car to the scow the lumber and building material for our houses on Stoney lake.
1890 May 8
Crowe rolled the two fields of peas in the 12th concession and was done before tea-time. After tea he rolled five acres in field No.6. In the forenoon Bob Mitchell was plowing in the summer fallow. In the afternoon he was using three horses and the spring-tooth in field No.6. Hard frost and thick ice this morning. Lovina was in town since yesterday helping take care of Wesley Baxter who is sick and I had to do the house work and cook for the men. After tea I sowed eleven bushels of barley in field No. 5 and that field is finished.
1890 May 10
Charley and Bob were plowing with five horses for Willie Graham. Lovina and I went to town this morning and after I came home and gave the men their supper I went back to town and stayed all night at Robert Baxter’s,
his son Wesley being dead. 1891 Friday May 8
John Graham and I went with five horses to plow in the new land on the other concession in field No. 1 and 2. Peter McLeer was working at the carrot ground. Mr. Elmhirst and his stallion was here for dinner. Fine warm weather today.
1891 May 9
This forenoon Lovina and I went to town. In the afternoon I finished sowing oats. Our spring seeding is all done except some flax and potatoes. We sowed our carrots after dinner today. We are done sowing earlier this year than we ever were before.
1894 Monday May 7 We finished sowing today and we never were done sowing so early.
1896 Monday May 4
Walter and team and Henry Rose were away planting hedge fence. I sowed peas this forenoon in a field on the 12th Concession. Aleck Dever and wife were sleeping for he failed to come to work. George Baxter was picking stones in the forenoon and filling in furrows after dinner. After dinner I went to Robert Weir’s and got his mare for him.