When my son, Randy, was born and began talking at about 11 months of age, it wasn't mere single words that first came out of his mouth, it was whole sentences; or actually it was whole questions. He would point at certain things and say, "What is that - huh?" Or he'd ask, "Where's the garbage?"
On Thursday and Friday I took a little drive up to Fort Bragg and the Northern California Coast. When I came across this contraption I had my own, "What is it - huh?" moment.
How many of you know what it is, or what it does by looking at the picture? It is located it in the Jackson Demonstration Grove - along Highway 20, seven miles southeast of Fort Bragg. The little area is part of the California State Park System.
You can Click Here for a definition of a Steam Donkey. This area has some hiking trails, and is an interesting stopping off place in the Willets/Mendocino/Fort Bragg vicinity.
StoneHouse Properties - Great Barrington, MA
Myrl, I read the definition and would never guess that. Wonder who came up with the name like that anyway? I thought that was one big milk canister:))
May 23, 2009 11:57 AM
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator
That's one interesting looking contraption. My daughter learned the word "why" a few weeks ago, and I'm wondering where she picked that up...
May 23, 2009 12:36 PM
Coldwell Banker Island Properties - Wailea, HI
Maui Real Estate Broker
Myrl - I didn't have a clue, and enjoyed reading the history of this machine. At first I thought it looked like the thing in my yard I use for making 'shine. :-)
Mike
May 23, 2009 01:23 PM
Keller Williams Indy Metro Northeast - Indianapolis, IN
in referral
How unusual, I thought it could possibly be a floating alcohol still from the old moonshining days. Don't ask me where I got that idea, I have no clue! Anyway, thanks for sharing. It's always interesting to see things from history.
Chanda panda
May 23, 2009 01:56 PM
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
Joanna - When I came upon it, I thought at first it was some kind of boiler, but because it was on those wooden skids, I kind of felt it was meant to be on a river, not land. I imagined them using it to navigate water to transport lumber somewhere. You're right however, it does look a bit like a giant milk canister:-)
Donna - I think the word, "WHY" is programmed into the DNA of kids:-) If your daughter just learned it, heaven help you:-)
Mike and Sheryl - All you need is a little copper tubing and your "shine" would be on the way.
Chanda - Yep, all it's missing is some copper tubing:-)
May 23, 2009 02:00 PM
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired
Hi Myrl, I had never heard of that ( Steam Donkey) before. What a neat old relic of the past. There is something wonderful in the progress of man and the machinery that has move us through the decades. I found the story line about it facinating. Thanks for sharing this.
May 23, 2009 04:37 PM
M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
Hi Myrl, Well I learned something new today. I had not previously heard of a steam donkey. I bet that is a very interesting place to visit. I love seeing the old contraptions like that one and learning more about how they were used back in the day. Thanks for sharing and have a great holiday weekend.
May 24, 2009 01:06 AM
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
William - Learning about steam donkeys was a first for me too. I have a fascination for old relics from bye-gone days as well.
Sandy - I hope you have a GREAT holiday weekend too:-)
May 24, 2009 02:17 AM
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL
Myrl, thanks for the fun tidbit of info. Randy was a precocious little one, wasn't he? Sentences at 11 months is pretty impressive......mine didn't talk until much later than that.
May 24, 2009 04:34 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Meryl, I can always count on you for some very interesting photos! And now I know what a steam donkey is, LOL, thanks!
My little grandson, who is 19 mos old, is still speaking his own language. The doctor has told her he should have speech therapy if he doesn't start soon, and of course other people are worrying her to death. He yaps away a mile a minute in his own little language, and says a word here and there. His latest attempt sounds like something he shouldn't be saying, LOL. I tell her to leave him alone, he will talk when he is ready, and not a moment before.
May 24, 2009 04:54 AM
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR
It looks like one of those things that the heroine was always strapped and bound to when the serial western on Saturday afternoon ended. Slowly she was going head first to this thing which would grind her up like a log. We had to get back the next Saturday to see if she was a goner.
May 24, 2009 01:03 PM
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
Ann - Yes he was a precocious little kid. He's grown now, and sells real estate in the same office I do:-)
Andrea - The mere name, "Steam Donkey" conjures all sorts of visions, doesn't it:-)
Barbara - You're absolutely right. Your reminder took me right back to the Saturday Afternoon Matinees of my childhood with the serial celluloids flickering away.
May 24, 2009 02:17 PM
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH
Myrl, never heard of it called a steam donkey. Steam wench or steam powered wench. Used to use them to pull the elevators up in mine shafts or move the coal car along the rails.
May 24, 2009 05:32 PM
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
Jack and Izzy - I hadn't a clue what it was when I first came upon it. I thought it was a floating boiler of some kind. I pictured it on a river, because of those log "pontoons."
May 25, 2009 07:10 AM
Las Vegas, NV
Myrl- Very interesting and I would have never guessed either. I have been through Ft Bragg several times and I never stumbled it.
Vegas Bob
May 26, 2009 11:08 AM
Connect Realty.Com, Inc. - San Leandro, CA
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
Robert - It's on highway 20 between Willits and Fort Bragg.
Xinh - I thought so too.
May 29, 2009 10:14 AM
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.
Rainmaker
3,551,646
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Myrl Jeffcoat
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired
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