In addition to the train car, this elevator has a
second room next to the basement, hollowed out so that a wagon
could be driven under the main floor. Grain in the elevator tower
could then be dropped into a large metal basket on the main
floor, suspended from a scale. Farmers, wishing to buy small
amounts of grain would pull a wagon under the basket, go up and
have grain dropped into the basket until the weight
was
what they wanted, at which time it was dropped down into their
wagons after the sale.
The park was broken up into three distinct areas, all centering
around 1928. The town, the rural community and the farmstead.
Each had its own unique story to tell. From the old Greek
Orthodox Church, to the working one room school, it all came
alive around us, as each actor or presenter played his or her
part in creating a living image of this Ukrainian town of 1928.
The church displays the traditional onion dome and is without a
bell. The church as its name implies, was quite orthodox in its
approach. Men sat one side and the women on the other. There was no music or musical
instruments as early on, these things were considered to be pagan
parts of their past. What writings that were present were written
in the Cyrillic alphabet, which has 33 characters. We continued
our journey into the farmland where life was more rustic. There
were several buildings of an earlier date which were the most
rustic, showing large hand hewed logs for support beams. We
stopped at a small farm house and found Gregory in the side
garden picking potatoes for the evening meal. We chatted while he
told us of the life he was cutting out of the land in this new
country he had recently arrived in. His wife was away on an
errand but he offered to take us inside.
The house was sparse but clean. One of the
customs, which seemed strange to me was the preparation of one of
the rooms as an entertainment room where visiting guests could
sit and have a meal. In a house where space was a precious
commodity, this was one of the biggest rooms. A table laden with
delights stretched the entire length of the far wall. However, it
was not normally used for everyday living but was kept strictly
for special guests or special occasions. We left the park with a
new knowledge and appreciation of the Ukrainian people, their
past, and traditions.
For more information
about the village check their website at:
Ukrainian
Cultural Heritage Village
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