There are only about a thousand stories I could tell from this one picture, but I’ll try to stay focused. As we all know, years ago (as my Daddy would say), most folks farmed for a living. There wasn’t a lot of monetizing within farming one-hundred years or so ago. The main intent of many of these farmers was to put the fruits of their labors directly on their family’s table. I’m sure this middle buster on my mail box helped fill many plates. I have always wished that I lived back in those days of working to live and not living to work; that is until someone reminded me there was no indoor plumbing.
Middle busters were used with what is called a Georgia stock plow. The Middle buster was one of a few different “sweeps” that could be used with the plow. The middle buster, with the help of a guided mule and plow, created the rows and the furrow in which the seeds were planted. Another sweep was used to cover the seeds up after they were, of course, planted by hand.
The stock to this middle-buster would have been made of wood and is probably long rotted away. I had the pleasure of stumbling upon this piece of history a few years ago while treasure hunting in the woods around my house. I am sure the person who used it long ago never thought it would be put on display and be considered such a treasure to someone.
The majority of the antiquated “decorations” inside and outside my home are not just adornments. They are all prized pieces with stories begging to be told. Until the next treasure speaks to me……….