Stith-Naucke House – Kerby, Oregon
Continuing our journey, we went next door from the Kerbyville Museum to the
Stith-Naucke House.
This house was built about 1870 by Frank Stith. It was built for William Naucke, a Kerbyville merchant.
Frank Stith later married one of Naucke's daughters, and they lived in this house for years afterward.
The home was purchased by the Illinois Valley Federated Women's Club
in 1958. They made restorations, and since Oregon's centennial in 1959,
the house has been a museum.
The living room seems small by today's standards,
and one wonders how the parlor, or sitting room was used. Perhaps in
the old days, the living room was for use of the residents, and guests
were entertained in the parlor.
The fireplace in the parlor makes it seem better to have guests often.
A massive wood stove and oven dominate the kitchen, which must have
been a bustle of activity with a large family, and all baking and
cooking done the old way. No microwaves, no timers, and certainly no
shortcuts.
Note the "modern" hand pump in the kitchen sink, so the residents could have running water inside.
Prior to this convenience, buckets of water were pumped at the well, and carried in to the house.
Bath water had to be pumped into buckets or pans, and heated over the
stove, and carried upstairs to the bathroom. Pipes led out from the
tub to drain it, but earlier on, even the bathwater had to be carried
outside after the bath was done.
The outhouse was in back, and even as nice as these folks had it, it was still a tough life.
A large pantry sits behind the kitchen. Pioneers had to plan ahead,
and stock as much food and supplies as they could find and afford.
There was no such thing back then as running up to the store.
The bedrooms in the
Stith-Naucke House are located upstairs. This bedroom has the luxury of a wood-burning stove.
The furnishings in the
Stith-Naucke House have been generously given or loaned to the museum by local pioneer families.
The staircase is very narrow compared to today's standards.
This is called a "witch ball" or "witch trap." "Witch balls" were
usually hung in windows for protection against evil spells and
negativity. A blown glass witch ball traps negative energy to prevent
it from affecting the home environment.
The
Stith-Naucke House still needs a lot of work, and just keeping ahead of deterioration is a constant battle.
The museum is not funded other than by the small admission and
whatever fund raisers they can conceive. All donations are gratefully
accepted.
Note the tree to the right of the house; it was the notorious
"hanging tree" referred to in the Kerbyville Museum post. It had quite a
bit of activity in its' day, and now a granite rock with a large
dragonfly carved in it, sits in its' place.
