From a lump of clay the potter made everything for pioneers
After the blacksmith, a potter was the next essential skilled tradesman in the burgeoning
towns of early Ohio Country in the 1800s.
Conestoga wagon was the Swiss Army knife of vehicles
The Conestoga wagon had many tools that helped families move westward in the 1800s. Paul Locher gives a detailed description of its most important features.
Fighting back against deadly livestock predators
A huge hunt in Medina County in 1818 resulted in the harvest of 21 bears, 17 wolves, 300 deer and untold numbers of turkeys, foxes, raccoons and opossums.
Trees: The settlers’ biggest nemesis and asset
In his latest installment of "An American Tale," Paul Locher explains how early settlers managed to fell trees to build shelters in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Tinsmiths were self-taught craftsmen important to daily frontier living
A tinsmith was a vital craftsman in the development of a pioneer community. The items they made encompassed everything from kitchenwares to farming tools.
After the house raising, there was still plenty to do
Paul Locher continues the journey of early settlers in Ohio by detailing the work they did following a house raising in his latest An American Tale column.
Creating creature comforts for the creatures
Having reached adequate comfort for the pioneer family with the creation of the barnhouse, it was time to work on creature comforts for the livestock.
It’s time to bring on the schnitzelbank
Paul Locher details the special tools early settlers required to construct sturdy roofs for their homes in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the 1800s.
Many arms (and legs) were required at a house raising
Paul Locher details the dangerous and exciting process of raising a house on the frontier of the Ohio Country in the 1800s.
Completing the punch list before occupying the barnhouse
Once the the main log crib of the barnhouse was built, there were still a number of tasks to complete before it was ready to occupy through the winter.
