The "Table" was in our family's possession at least from the early 1900's. Grandpa and Grandma Willis bought it soon after they were married to seat their growing family of 10 sons. I am sure it heard many tales and saw many meals over the years.
No one knows how old the Table really is because Grandpa and ma bought it used.
It is solid oak. Not a fancy ornate table, but sturdy and built for durablility. It took a
lot of punishment from the 10 Willis boys, and also by my 6 children. But, who had
it before us? What stories could it tell before us? No one will ever know but, "The
Table" - and it is not talking!
It came into my possession in the late 1950's - and I raised my 6 children around it.
My father, Jack Willis (one of the 10 sons) asked his mother what she was going to
do with it. (It was being stored in a shed at that time at the back of the house). She
asked him why he wanted to know, and he told her that "Shirley needed it". She replied,
"well, take it to her! " It was a wonderful blessing for me. I really needed a BIG table.
Dad took it home, and he and his brother Bill stripped it (of many layers of paint)
and refinished it in a walnut stain. It was beautiful! It's finish suffered for many years
till my children were all grown and gone.
My husband and I decided to have it
refinished again. This time, we had it refinished in a natual oak finish. I have had it
for around 40 years now, and it is one of my most prized possessions. It will remain
in my family as an heirloom for generations to come. I know!
Shortly after going online, a cousin, Stacie found me and she and her mother, Brenda and I have been getting acquainted
ever since. Brenda mentioned "The Table", and that she had written a piece while in school
about it. After talking, we realized that it is the same table that I have. I am including
her story about the Table, (with her permission) for all to see. This is a wonderful
story and speaks for itself.
"The Table"
MY GRANDPARENTS HAD A BIG ROUND OAK TABLE. NO ONE, NOT EVEN MY GRANDMOTHER
SEEMED TO KNOW JUST WHERE IT CAME FROM. THIS TABLE HAD SIX "LEAVES". THESE
WERE FOUR OF THE ORIGINAL AND TWO BOARDS THAT HAD BEEN CUT TO FIT, WHEN TWO LEAVES
GOT BROKEN.
THE TABLE SAT ON A LARGE PEDISTAL. IT WAS ALWAYS "SET" WITH THE SAME BASIC
THINGS WHEN NOT IN USE. THERE WOULD BE A STACK OF PLATES, SOME COFFEE MUGS, A FEW
"TIN" CUPS, A GLASS OR TWO OF SILVERWARE, SALT AND PEPPER, SOME SUGAR IN A CUP AND ANY FOOD
THAT WOULD NOT "SPOIL".
MY FIRST MEMORY OF "THE TABLE" WAS REACHING UP, GRABBING WITH BOTH HANDS, STANDING ON MY
TIP TOES AND STICKING MY NOSE JUST OVER THE EDGE TO SEE WHAT WAS THERE TO EAT.
I REMEMBER SITTING ON TWO MILK CANS, WITH A BOARD STRETCHED BETWEEN, THAT MADE A BENCH THAT HELD THREE
KIDS. THERE WERE ALWAYS A LOT OF GROWNUPS AND KIDS AROUND GRANDMA'S HOUSE
YOU DIDN'T TALK MUCH AT "THE TABLE" DURING MEALS. GRANDPA WAS A NO NONSENSE
PERSON, IF YOU WERE EATING... YOU ATE.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN "THE TABLE" WOULD BE COVERED WITH "OIL CLOTH" AND POUNDS
AND POUNDS OF RAW PORK WOULD BE SPREAD ON IT. SEASONING WOULD BE ADDED TO THIS
AND THEN IT WOULD BE MADE INTO BIG BALLS AND STORED IN "LARD" UNTIL IT WAS USED.
MANY TONS OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS WERE CUT AND PREPARED FOR CANNING ON "THE TABLE".
MANY OF THE GRANDCHILDREN WERE "DOCTORED" WHILE SITTING ON THE EDGE OF "THE TABLE".
GRANDMA, OR A PARENT, WOULD MOST LIKELY SPREAD A LAYER OF "CARCOLIC SALVE", A BLACK NASTY SMELLING
SUBSTANCE ON THE WOUND AND THEN WRAP IT IN A RAG. A STRIP OF CLOTH WAS THEN USED TO SECURE
IT IN PLACE.
WHEN THERE WAS SORROW, ILLNESS, DEATH OR PERSONAL PAIN, THERE WAS ALWAYS COMFORT
AROUND THE "THE TABLE".
WHAT GREAT FUN IT WAS TO CRAWL UNDER "THE TABLE" AND LISTEN TO THE ADULTS GOSSIP. I REMEMBER THINKING
THAT THE REASON PEOPLE CAME SO MUCH WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE THE ONE TALKED ABOUT!
IF YOU GIGGLED AND GOT CAUGHT, THIS WOULD RESULT IN BEING CHASED OUTSIDE WITH A FLY SWATTER!
I KNOW A PIECE OF FURNITURE HAS NO LIFE, BUT "THE TABLE" WAS THE HEART OF THAT HOME. IT WAS THE PLACE
WHERE LESSONS IN LOVE, LIFE, AND SURVIVAL WERE TAUGHT. PUNISHMENT WAS OFTEN DEALT OUT
BY SOMEONE SITTING AT "THE TABLE".
IF YOU ASK ANY OF MY BROTHERS, COUSINS, AUNTS OR UNCLES, THEY MOST ALWAYS HAVE A "YARN" TO SPIN
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE KITCHEN AROUND "THE TABLE".
By Brenda WILLIS Roads/Barnes
(written as an English assignment while a Junior in High School)
You may email Brenda with your comments at:
[email protected]
barnes@misslink.