PENINSULA MIX
In going through old papers I came across one of those stories of old time Peninsula. This one is titled " Dairy to Berries" by J.C. Conger.
Back in the early 1920's they found that cows were carriers of tuberculosis. So all people that had a lot of cows or just one, had to be tested. John Conger lost all his cows but one. John was not to be defeated. He loved farming, so he planted strawberries, raspberries, cherries and a peach orchard. For spring harvest he planted asparagus patches, green onions and radishes. That's when most kids that knew red from green had an afterschool job and most of the summer. Old people too!
As I close these pages, John had a song he would sing as he was hoeing, or some other job he was doing, it took most of my summers to hear the song from beginning to end and here it is:
“My charcoal charmer, my dusky belle, how much I love you no one can tell. When stars are shinning of you I dream, my charcoal charmer, my midnite queen."
I hope you approve, Mr. Conger.
| Lily Fleder |