This Buried Treasure in Your Backyard Could Be Worth a Fortune
July 31, 2024
Source: Reddit
When I was a child my grandparents had a large, and rather rusty cauldron in their garden. When I asked my grandmother she said it was a potash kettle, something once valued by our forefathers. At the time, it was just another forgotten piece of history, but it is a great example of how people lived back then.
During the early settlement of America, prior to the industrial revolution and the physical transformation of the territory, the potash kettle was a popular item found in many homes. These large cast iron kettles were used in the production of potash which was an important item in manufacture of soap, glass and fertilizer. The procedure was to soak the wood ash in water and followed by heating the solution to produce potash. This was a common practice and hence, potash production was one of the major products of the colonies used in both the internal and external markets.
The potash kettle was not only useful item; it was the representation of the early American spirit of innovation. In a society where all facets of a household’s day entailed the provision of necessities, the potash kettle was an essential factor that connected one aspect of the day with another. Thus, potash production was a complex process that involved the whole family and had a great impact on the economy of that period.
Let me take you to a winter night, sit in front of the fire place and the potash kettle is hanging on the fire. This scene, that can be easily associated with many American families, creates a coziness feeling of belonging to one big family. The informal style of these recollections, told over a cup of tea, makes us hear the stories of our foremothers and fathers who worked hard for their dreams.
Thus, despite the fact that the process of making potash was rather complicated, it also created a sense of unity and success. Families helped in the preparation and also in cleaning, making what could be a rather boring task into a social activity. Thus, the potash kettle remains an example of early American settlers’ strength and resourcefulness.
The next time you happen to encounter an old iron kettle, try to visualise the scene which this kettle must have been a witness to. Try to imagine the times when this particular object was an item of use in the day-to-day life and contributed to the development of a newly formed country. These are not just a piece of iron that has been left behind; they are historians narrating the story of the past.
Thus, learning about the potash kettle, we come back to the era when everything was more basic, but everything was important. We must continue to celebrate and embrace that which has been passed on to us by our ancestors.