Neighbors helping neighbors museum display

LA GRANGE - A new exhibit has been unveiled at the Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center in La Grange. The exhibit titled "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" is on display in the Museum and features farm equipment from the early part of 1900 that was shared locally between various farms. Not all farms owned all the equipment needed, making it necessary to join with neighbors on larger jobs. One farm would have a large corn grinder and engine/tractor for power, one farm would have the molasses press, one would have the thresher, baler, binder, and so on and so on. When the crops were ready, help was needed to get the harvest done on time and avoid weather damage, which meant loss of income that they depended on to finance another year. Harvest was done by hand with most if not all crops. La borers were needed to get this strenuous, yet rewarding task done. Most families were large, some having as many as 16-18 children. The more hands the better. This also helped when the harvest was ready. The older children would help the neighbors while the young - er ones stayed home to handle the daily tasks around the house and farm. Families would rotate between farms, all helping each other out in one way or another. The exhibit features a 1912 Galloway Manure Spreader, the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce Tomato Planter, an International Harvester Corn Grinder, and more. The Texas Czech Heritage & Cultural Center is located at 250 West Fairgrounds Rd. in La Grange. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturdays. For more information call (888) 785-4500 or www.czechtexas.org.