SEPTEMBER

THE NINTH MONTH • 2021 SEPTEMBER HATH 30 DAYS

The rain is o'er—How dense and bright Yon pearly clouds reposing lie! –Andrews Norton

Farmer's Calendar

This house was once part of a hill farm that started around 1790 and was worked until about 1925. On the place today are five wells that served the old farm. One is a spring a couple of feet deep that's been scooped out and lined with stones. The others are more ambitious structures: 12 to 15 feet deep and lined with large stones laid skillfully in the manner of a house foundation. I try to imagine how you'd go about building such a well. You'd have to dig out the hole, plumb 6 or 7 feet wide and as deep as needed. Two or three workers could dig, but once the hole was dug and the work of laying up the stones begun, only one worker could carry on at a time; there is no room for more in the stone-sided cylinder. Putting up the stones, you'd be alone down there. And the stones would be above. Somebody would have to lower them to you on ropes. You'd want a good man up top. As the stones rose around you, you'd need staging to stand on and work from. You'd dismantle it when you were done. How long would it take to lay up a well? For an experienced stoneworker with good help, a day or two. Would you toss a penny down the finished well for good luck? I would.

Listen to the Farmer's Calendar at Almanac.com/Podcast.