The Coal Yard & other stories

Page 2

Kelso and Glen
Kelso and Glen 		  The yard as we all called it had one of the first telephones in the district. With its big batteries and wind up handle it was always a fascination to the young visitors. The phone was used by all of the neighbours including the Police Station next door, Robertson the butcher and many others. Many calls came in for Constable (George Eric) Williamson who would be sent for, by means of whatever kid was handy at the time. Calls would come in from the Abattoir at Burnside with requests to fetch Robertson the Butcher who often ordered a body and four. (One bullock and four sheep) However, when the post office wanted business rates for the phone Bill Ellis had to start charging for its use and a wee box went up on the wall to take payments. Butcher Robertson objected to this and stopped using the phone but soon after got on a party line with “Doughy Taylor” the baker across the road.

In the kitchen, the coal range, with it’s big cast iron kettle steaming away, and the glow of embers through the front grate, lent a cosy atmosphere to the busy room. As the men came in for a cuppa and a dip into the biscuit barrel at smoko time, the visiting children would slide on to the long form behind the table. Hoping for a chocolate biscuit hidden deep in the barrel, the kids would enjoy the gossip plead to be taken out for a ride on one of the trucks. Overhead a clothes rack hung from the high ceiling to get good value from the rising coal range heat.
In one corner, a couch with a rolled end and little turned wooden dowels along the back, yielded a pile of Evening Star, Otago Daily Times and Auckland Weekly, papers under a cushion. Was it real horsehair used to stuff the seat? We wondered. Set through the outside wall was the meat safe keeping the butter, dripping and meat cool and away from flies. Near the door was, the sand soap scrubbed, wooden topped sink bench.
Our Auntie Annie Ellis would often ask out loud as she left the room, “I wonder if the fairies will do the dishes while I’m away?” We children were sucked in every time but would enjoy the sweets or soft drink that followed our labours. An item we found intriguing was the egg timer (hourglass) from on the mantle piece, and it certainly kept us quiet for a few minutes at least. Under the stairs was an Aladdin’s Cave (the broom cupboard), that yielded straw boaters and bowler hats, among other exciting things. Little kids would love to try on the hats and swagger about with an old walking stick. A flower, fitted to your lapel, which a worm popped out of, when a bulb of air on a tube was secretly squeezed, was a popular item. The kind adults would suffer the “smell our flowers” cry on almost every visit. Of course the big sitting room was also fun. The brass alligator nutcrackers on the hearth, tested many fingers. How hard can you stand it before you yell out? The pair of pink glass kerosene lamps with chandelier type glass crystals hanging down was another fascination. Not used since electricity was installed, the crystals tinkled merrily when little fingers gently touched. The “Humpty Dumpty” footstool was great fun not only for a child’s seat, but when rolled along on it’s side, it made a hefty weapon. High on the wall were our grand parent’s portraits that kept a stern eye on mischievous little folk, and made the room feel like it was “special” rather than a place for high jinks.   wall telephone
Wall Telephone

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