Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-22
Mrs. Frank Brooks, aged 66, Horse
back road. Clinton; 40 years Record
Horse Raking on 250-A Farm

Il would never advise a young
couple to go onto farm in this part
of the country unless they had plen-
ty OF money to start with" declared
Mrs. Frank Brooks of Clinton. yes
terday afternoon. The hours are
long and the work hard. The farm
err has to stay at home and take care
of his farm while you people who
live in the city are free to go and
come as you like" Mrs. Brooks has
just completed her 4Oth season on
the horserake and every year Mr.. and
Mrs. Brooks have stored so or 80
tons Of hay in their big barn.
5 When the reporter arrived yester-
day Mrs. Brooks was busily engaged
in her kitchen but she seemed very
much pleased to find that people were
interested in her achievement. The
Brooks live on a 250-acre farm on
the Horseback road in Clinton. They
have a substantial set of buildings
and any housewife would be proud
where Mrs. Brooks does her daily
household tasks. The reporter no.
ticed a Kennebec Journal lying on the
kitchen table and inquired how long
they had taken the paper. Mrs.
Brooks replied that 1t was so many
years that she really could not re-
member when they first subscribed
for the Journal. She thought that it
was at least % years.
II have done every bit of the rakinS
every year since we have been mar
ried, except one" said Mrs. Brooks.
proudly, land we have been married
for Al years. l was born on that
farm up there" and she pointed to a
farmhouse about 800 yards away.
after we We're married we bought
this farm, which is about so acres
and have lived in this house ever
since. A few years later we bought
another farm about q half mile above
gether we cut from so to 80 tons of
hay each year"
II have run the moving machine.
too" declared Mrs. Brooks. but late
wears l have taken the hOrserakinG
for nv Job. Mr.. Brooks and / have
cut the hay on the farm above here
for several years and some years we
cut the hay on other farms. One year
was sick with rheumatism and the
doctor said l could not do it but |
got up and went out and climbed on
the horse rake. 1t seemed as though
the rheumatism just disappeared.
for I was lots better the next day
and I worked the whole season.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brooks are both &c
years of age, and still in the best OF
health. Mr.. Brooks was born in Pal
myra. They have two daughters,
Mrs. Ivol Hall and Mrs. NJ. l.. Chase
of Hinckley. and two grandsons.
Manley O. Chase, senior at Colby
college, and Leigh Chase. who Will
enter Colby in the fall.
Not only does Mrs. Brooks do all
the raking on her own farm but for
many years she has finished trousers
for a Pittsfield factory besides doing
her homework, mending and sewing.
The Brooks farm is one of the fin
est in the state. Practically all OF
their land is tillable and many acres
are soWed to corn, oats and other
grain. Mr.. Brooks is famed for his
whitefaced Hereford cattle and every
year he takes them to the fairs
throughout the state. He is planning
to exhibit at the Central Maine fair
next week.
"Another year and I will have
enough blue ribbons to make quilt"
said Mrs. Brooks to the reporter.
smiling. "You must come out to the
barn and see his cattle" After a
tour of inspection the reporter read
iIy agreed that finer whitefaced cat
tie would be hard to find.
do you expect to do all the raklng
next wear. Mrs. Brooks?" asked the
reporter. She replied that she thought
this would be the last year but when
the season comes around next year
she might change her mind.