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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Latch String

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Just Wondering

08-30-2005 05:33:04




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Was reading a article written by an old-timer..... ..he referred to a "latch string". What is it? What does it mean if it is in or out?




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Rauville

08-30-2005 08:16:04




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 Re: Latch String in reply to Just Wondering, 08-30-2005 05:33:04  
Here's a reference to it in a poem by James Whitcomb Riley...

"Tell me a tale of the timber-lands. Of the old-time pioneers; Somepin' a pore man understands With his feelins 's well as ears.

Tell of the old log house, about The loft, and the puncheon floor. The old fire-place, with the crane swung out, And the latch-string thrugh the door."



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Coloken

08-30-2005 09:54:40




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 purcheon? in reply to Rauville, 08-30-2005 08:16:04  
Understand latch string, but what is a "purcheon" floor? Seems every western writer uses the term. An how about "lighting a schuck (sp?)"? Lighting a corn schuck for a torch. Don't seem to me they would last long. Maybe dipped in oil. Oh yea, and carrying you sadle when the horse is dead.....every try carrying one a few miles?



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Mike (WA)

08-30-2005 12:17:16




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 Re: purcheon? in reply to Coloken, 08-30-2005 09:54:40  
Coldiron is right- it is "puncheon". Early logging in the Pacific Northwest used puncheon roads- small logs placed tightly side by side, cross ways, to make a road in swampy areas- sort of "floated" on the mud underneath. Don't think they bothered to square them off- they soon gathered enough mud between the cracks to make them more or less smooth. Often, a young kid's first job "in the woods" was cutting puncheons- hard work, sharpened his skills with an ax, but trees were too small to be dangerous if he made a mistake in falling them.

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jeffcat

08-30-2005 19:27:50




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 Re: purcheon? in reply to Mike (WA), 08-30-2005 12:17:16  
In north Jersey near New York city, there was a plank road. Same idea and it went across the Medowlands. My dad is 82 and can remember the remains of it when he was a kid. I guess an old wagon with large diamater wheels wouldn't be too bad a ride. UFFFFF-da



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Mike (WA)

08-31-2005 08:21:59




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 Re: purcheon? in reply to jeffcat, 08-30-2005 19:27:50  
I do recall my dad saying that if you drove the log truck too fast, it would "shake the puddin' oughta ya". I love some of those old sayings. . .



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Coloken

08-30-2005 12:53:23




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 Re: purcheon? in reply to Mike (WA), 08-30-2005 12:17:16  
OK, thanks. I think that could be what I heard refered to as a "cord 0 roy" road. Can't spell that one either. None around here unless you could make them out of tumble weeds.
Kennyp



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Coldiron

08-30-2005 12:00:21




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 Re: purcheon? in reply to Coloken, 08-30-2005 09:54:40  
Ken, I think it is "Puncheon" which is a heavy thick, wide piece of wood smoothed and flattend on one side. More of what we refer to as rough cut lumber with one smooth side. My understanding of the use of the word. When I was a kid we would hear the phrase, "We lit a schuck and got the heck out of there". Like you say they probably soaked them for use as a torch in the old days. Sure wouldn`t want to light one around here in this dry, fire prone area we live in during the summer.

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THEkyroastnear

08-30-2005 08:12:12




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 Re: Latch String in reply to Just Wondering, 08-30-2005 05:33:04  
the latch string was left out during the day so those outside could come in at evening-bedtime it was pulled in



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PatMx

08-30-2005 05:54:04




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 Re: Latch String in reply to Just Wondering, 08-30-2005 05:33:04  
It's the string that goes through the door and lifts the latch, when the latch was like a gate latch third party image, only instead of a lver throught the door, a string was used to lift the latch.



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PatMx

08-30-2005 05:52:08




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 Re: Latch String in reply to Just Wondering, 08-30-2005 05:33:04  
It's the string that goes through the door and lifts the latch, when the latch was like a gate latch third party image, only instead of a lver throught the door, a string was used to lift the latch.



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mike brown

08-30-2005 06:36:29




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 Re: Latch String in reply to PatMx, 08-30-2005 05:52:08  
Yes, like Pat described it . The string could be pulled inside effectivly locking the door at night. The old saying "i'll leave the latch string out " meant you were welcome at my cabin.



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