Dedie:
I just consulted with husband Bob, and he remembers like I do that the folks
up at the Kit Carson Museum south of Cimarron (not the one in Taos)
interpret the oxblood floors in the house that Carson built during the 1840s
for the Santa Fe Trail trade. They specifically state that oxblood was mixed
with clay to produce a hardened clay surface for the floor, which they
reproduced when they reconstructed the house. This house is part of the
Philmont Scout Ranch, and, as far as Bob and I could tell when we visited
the museum, we thought they had done a pretty good job with the
reconstructions.
But, as you say, this may be an example of the Scouts believing the WPA, and
going with it when they did their reconstructions.....They are now
continuing to spread the myth. You are not aware of excavations done at the
Carson House in Rayado, I take it.
Cathy
Catherine Holder Spude, PhD
7 Avenida Vista Grande #145
Santa Fe, NM 87508
505-466-1476 home
505-913-1326 cell
"Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you are standing outside the
fire," Jenny Yates and Garth Brooks.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Dedie Snow" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 12:08 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: cow's blood in floors
> I'm glad you asked, Susan. Contrary to conventional wisdom, tradition,
> oral histories, what have you, Cathy, I have never found an oxblood floor
> in an archaeological excavation in Santa Fe or anywhere else for that
> matter, and believe me I've looked for them! Truth to tell, I've come to
> believe ox blood floors are another example of mythology perpetrated by
> the WPA and other fact-finding missions. To begin, ox blood or the blood
> of any large or small animal is too valuable a protein to waste slathering
> it on floors. Secondly, spreading the blood of oxen or any other animal on
> a dirt floor only adds to the generally unsanitary conditions of an age,
> increases the number of flies and disease vectors round about, not to
> mention, produces worse odors than those usually present with privys, etc.
> If anyone has any information to the contrary and can show me an actual ox
> blood floor, I will be glad to consider changing my story.
>
> Cheers!
> Dedie Snow
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cathy Spude" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 11:36 AM
> Subject: Re: cow's blood in floors
>
>
>> OK, so I don't have documentation, but it does seem to be common
>> knowledge here in Santa Fe that ox blood was mixed with clay to make the
>> characteristic black-colored dirt floors of the adobe buildings from the
>> 17th and 18th centuries. I'll check with my sources and find out whether
>> its fact or fiction.
>>
>> Cathy
>>
>>
>> Catherine Holder Spude, PhD
>> 7 Avenida Vista Grande #145
>> Santa Fe, NM 87508
>> 505-466-1476 home
>> 505-913-1326 cell
>>
>> "Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you are standing outside the
>> fire," Jenny Yates and Garth Brooks.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Susan Walter" <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 11:38 AM
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: cow's blood in floors
>>
>>> June 28, 2008
>>>
>>> Hello All,
>>> Working in San Diego Old Town, we are bedeviled by trying to tease out
>>> fact from oral traditions...
>>>
>>> A current one we are dealing with regards the claim that cow's blood was
>>> a component of packed earthen floors.
>>>
>>> Long time residents of Baja that we know deny this as a fact. Their
>>> packed earthen floors are solidified simply with water. Other
>>> historians we have questioned have not found this blood addition was
>>> done.
>>>
>>> So,
>>> 1. Has anyone in the Histarch community heard of this?
>>> 2. Is there documentation of it?
>>> 3. Where and who documented it?
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>> S. Walter
>>>
>>> PS: Then, when you are finished with bloody floors, there is the story
>>> that roof tiles were shaped over maidens thighs... And we can follow up
>>> with documenting the number of girl's petticoats that were torn up to
>>> make American flags... And, oh Lord save us from Ramona.
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.2/1523 - Release
>> Date: 6/28/2008 7:00 AM
>>
>
|