I just spotted one of these cans, brand new (more or less)
in the local grocery/general store in Palmyra, Virginia.
Back in the days when we used to burn trash we used generic
steel drums, so I didn't recognize the thing. It looks like
a metal garbage can on legs with a lid and was perforated
(as Mr. Liebeknecht notes) with holes about 1/2" in
diameter. I asked a clerk if it was a composter (my first
impression) and received the answer that it was either that
or an incinerator (i.e., she wasn't sure either).
BTW, during the 1970s we lived on a farm in north, central
Virginia. The house and the outbuildings dated from
1912-1914. In addition to two barns, a garage, and
smokehouse, there was an icehouse that was reportedly in
service up to the 1950s. During our occupancy it was used
for glass and metal trash. Paper was burned and garbage
either went in the compost or was fed to the dogs.
Martin Perdue
(formerly of Williamsburg, now residing near Palmyra, VA)
[log in to unmask]
Wm Liebeknecht wrote:
>
> I have one more twist on this suject. I also grew up in the 60's and was my
> job to take the household trash out back and burn it in a galvanized
> perforated garbage can (1/2" holes) set up on brick to provide good air
> flow. The can also had a perforated lid. Once a week I would empty the
> can in an adjacent vacant lot in shallow pits. These cans would last for
> about a year before they would start to break apart. Last week while I was
> helping my father clean out the attic over the garage I came across two burn
> cans in mint condition. My father had purchased these cans as future
> replacements and then a local ordinance ended this practice. One of the
> cans still had a label on it after 25 years of storage. The label reads
> "Heritage House quality galvanized ware 20 gal. Distributed by American
> Hardware Supply Co. Bulter, PA." ... ". rust-proofed zinc coating" ". finest
> grade steel" ". built for abuse". So you are asking what is the twist.
> Well when I finished cleaning the attic I decided to take the cans home and
> think of some other use for them. Guess what they are perfect composting
> containers. Rain can get in and all I have to do is lay it on its side with
> the lid in place and roll it to mix the organic matter. I never thought it
> would show up on this list. I guess I'm getting old...Thanks!
>
> Bill Liebeknecht
> Hunter Research Inc.
> Trenton, New Jersey
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Vallely <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 9:13 PM
> Subject: Re: 20th Century Archaeology
>
> > In the '50's in postwar suburban upstate NY, you could purchase an
> > "incinerator", essentially a galvanized garbage can, perforated. My
> father
> > perforated a 55 gal drum with pickaxe. The garbage was hauled by a crew of
> > black men in a stake truck. The dump was where kids went to find 'stuff'
> or
> > shoot rats with BB's.
> > Rural areas tended, even into the '70's to have de facto 'dumps'--usually
> over
> > a steep bank along an isolated road. (Where grown-ups went to find 'stuff'
> and
> > shoot rats with .22's).
> > Sorry if the sentimental jurney is out of place.
> > John Vallely
> >
> > Meta Janowitz wrote:
> >
> > > The current thread on Histarch has generated some discussion among those
> of
> > > us who grew up in the 40s and 50s on the topic of burn barrels. At
> least
> > > here in the New York/New Jersey area, burn barrels seem to have been an
> > > almost universal feature of back yards. [A burn barrel was a large
> (about
> > > 4 feet high) metal barrel where a household would put papers and other
> > > thrash -- and the definition of what was suitable other trash seems to
> vary
> > > widely. The stuff would be burned down once a week or so and the ashes
> > > left to accumulate until the level got too high for safe burning.]
> > > Garbage collection was available but burn barrels were used anyway.
> > > Municipalities started passing laws against burning garbage in the
> 1960s, I
> > > think, but does anyone have any thoughts on this practice?
> > > Meta Janowitz
> >
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