From My Farmhouse Kitchen

Last week the weather forecast was for a warm day. Consequently, my farmer and I made plans to work outdoors after dinner. It was January, so any day warm enough to get work done outdoors is extra special. This year, without any snow cover, there are a few different jobs that can be worked on.

The day began with sunshine. There was no wind, so the heat of the sun felt very good. At noon I was beginning to think maybe my insulated coveralls might not be necessary. The sun was so bright I just had to remark on the loveliness of it.

FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN

By Renae B. Vander Schaaf

As quickly as those words were out, I glanced to the north. It showed a very different sky. Dark clouds were moving in. Although very beautiful, they had an ominous look at the same time.

As if to draw my attention away from the sky, the wind picked up. One could imagine the furious wind chased the sun right out of orbit. With the sun’s disappearance, the 40-degree temperature plummeted to single digits in a matter of hours. My insulated coveralls did not provide enough protection.

The only thing missing was snow com-

In 1888, Draayom was the manager for an elevator which later was owned by Hubbard and Palmer from Mankato, Minn. Jan. 12, 1888 was just a beautiful day that hardly required a winter coat. Draayom and an employee, Johan Waanders, took advantage of the warm weather to fill in holes in the elevator’s stable. He ing down. did not want to see snow on the flax seed which at

If it had been snowing, this day would have been that time was an important crop for the area. The similar to a day in the life of Gerrit Draayom on elevator was full of flax seed. Jan. 12, 1888. Later in the day, Draayom went over to the train

Two days earlier, Draayom had just celebrated his depot to write out his report for the day. The depot 37th birthday. He had grown up in Diepenveen, The also served as his office, as the elevator had no Netherlands. His mother had died when he was just stove to provide any heat.a young lad of 10. Because he had to earn his living, his formal schooling was very limited. While at the depot, the telegraph was busy transmitting warnings of an incoming storm. Because

Draayom was 18 when he sailed to America, first Draayom was concentrating on error he found in settling in Alto, Wis. A few years later he relocated the day’s report, he wasn’t paying attention to the to Hospers, Iowa. In 1872 Hospers was just a water- warnings. The numbers were not adding up and ing stop for the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad. that was enough to worry about.

Draayom was poor. He Mr. Orton of Maurice, had to get along with Iowa, a cattle buyer, the cheapest oxen, hors- came in to the depot and es and implements — in told Draayom he had other words, the stuff no planned to return to one else really wanted. Maurice, but changed He had married Loetje his plans when some of (Susie) Beukelman in the older people who 1874. Their son was were at the depot talked born in October of 1875. about the fury of past Susie died before the storms. year’s end. Mart Ingold, a carpen-

Draayom then married ter, stopped at the depot Egbertje Libbes to let Draayon know it (Elizabeth) Dijk in 1877. was snowing. The wind They were blessed with was blowing 60 miles a son and daughter per hour, but Draayom before she died of stayed right on working. typhoid fever in 1881. His two dogs, Hector He married Jeltje (Julia) and Watch, were still Dyjk (Elizabeth’s sister) there. in 1883. She lived a good long life. Seven children were born to this wedded couple. Finally, the howling, shrieking winds caught his attention and he felt he should be getting

Possibly to support his home on his 10 minute walk. His dog Hector quickly farming habit, or perhaps it became his only job, ran ahead on the familiar trail. Watch stayed by Draayom became a grain buyer. The Alton Democrat Draayom’s side. He couldn’t see his hand before his newspaper reports he was buying grain for H. B. face. The wind seem to come from all directions. It Wyman in 1884. The Oct. 31 issue states that didn’t take very long for Draayom to become disoriHospers had already shipped more flax that fall than during the whole last season. See FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, pg. 6

Photo by Renae B. Vander Schaaf The marker stone for Watch the Hero Dog now guards the Hospers Community Center, Libaary and Museum complex. Gerrit Draayom.