Thanksgiving Stove Stories and Photos

Thanksgiving is the time for gathering around the hearth with loved ones, enjoying harvest-time meals and giving thanks for our many blessings.

Do you have any favorite Thanksgiving recipes ideal for cooking on an antique stove or family holiday photos featuring your antique stove that you’d like to share with us? We’d love your contributions, via email or snail mail, and will post them in honor and celebration of the holiday.

It’s not too late for a drive in the country and a visit to the Good Time Stove company showroom to check out our collection of antique stoves – the treasured heirlooms are ideal for enjoying the holidays and would make a warm and inviting addition to the home.

There are still a few leaves on some trees and a drive in our neck of the woods in November will conjure up images of going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. There are numerous Saturday church craft fairs and bake sales all around the area this month, and some roadside stands are still open and selling homegrown turnips, pumpkins and squash.

We welcome you visit, stories, pictures and recipes and greatly appreciate your contributions. We count our customers and stove enthusiasts as some the many blessings in our lives.

Grandma’s Recipe Book

GRANDMA’S RECIPE BOOK THERE is nothing so dear to memory as the days of long ago. The passing years and the parade of daily events that crowd our lives may dim their scenes, but the sweetness of memory lingers on. All of us, at some time or other with a sigh, have summed it up in the oft-spoken words: “Ah, those were the good old days!” Yes— the snows were always deeper, the summers hotter, the corn grew taller, and the food tasted better . . in those “good old days” And the grandmothers too —they had a way that was different, in those good old days. They were always “the best cooks in the county!” It seems those old time grandmothers knew how to cook things just a little bit better than anyone else, how to give their foods that dash of flavor that makes a body remember for a long time how good it tasted. Well, the truth is that most of those old time grandmothers were good cooks because they knew just the right things to do to prepare a delightful dish.

THANKSGIVING SECRETS FROM AN OLD TIME KITCHEN Push open the door a mite and peek in! There is grandma bending over the old wood range. Smell the fragrant tang of spices— ginger, cinnamon, cloves. She stirs with her long handled spoon. Then she stops and takes a taste—smacks her lips and says: “Just right!” That was grandma in her old time kitchen cooking in the good old way, practicing an art that is almost lost. But grandma, with all her traditional sweetness, comes to life again in the pages of this little book to tell you how she prepared those grand old dishes that were a delight to all who tasted them.

TURKEY STUFFING Take stale or very dry bread and cut off brown crusts (to make about a pound). Place in pan and pour lukewarm water over crusts. Allow to soak for a few minutes; then with hands squeeze out water and place moist crusts in a large bowl. Add a teaspoonful of salt, and pepper to taste, and about a teaspoonful each of savory, ground sage and minced herbs; then add a half cup of melted butter and a beaten egg. Stir thoroughly and stuff turkey. (For an 8 to 10 lb. bird.)

STUFFED EGG PLANT Select a medium large egg plant and cut in half. Remove insides and put them in a pan with a cup of minced veal; add water and boil until egg plant is soft. Then drain off water and mix with a half cup of cracker crumbs, a tablespoonful of butter, a small chopped onion, salt and pepper to taste. Put the stuffing back into the egg plant halves; place a pat of butter on top of each and bake 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with parsley and lemon slices if you prefer.

NEW ENGLAND INDIAN PUDDING Take two heaping tablespoonfuls of Indian meal (corn meal), and one quart of milk, 4 tablespoonfuls of sugar and one of butter; 3 eggs, one teaspoonful of salt. Boil the milk in double boiler, and sprinkle the corn meal into it, stirring lowly. Cook for 12 minutes, stir often. Beat together the eggs, salt, sugar and one-half teaspoonful of ginger. Stir the butter into the meal and milk. Pour this gradually over the egg mixture. Bake for one hour in a slow oven. Should be served with a heated syrup sauce and butter. Delicious with cream.

PUMPKIN PIE Press one quart of cooked pumpkin through a sieve; beat yolks and whites of 9 eggs separately; mix together with 2 quarts of milk; stir in one teaspoonful each of mace, cinnamon and ground nutmeg, and 1 1/2 cups of light brown sugar and a tablespoonful of brandy. Bake in an open crust until firm. Excellent served with a coating of whipped cream. This is a real old-fashioned pumpkin pie.

HOWLING HOWARD

If you happen to be out walking near the outskirts of the quiet village of Buckland Vermont on a dark night, legend has it, you can smell the smoke from the potbelly wood stove and hear the howling. The potbelly stove belonged to Howard Twittleford, and so did the howling.

Howard was a hermit who lived in a ram shackled cabin in the middle of the woods. His closest neighbor, well, human neighbor, lived over five miles away, and that neighbor, Pete Culver, said on a still night he could hear the howling as if it were right outside his window.

Howard at one time lived in town, but was such an odd duck, scared his neighbors. He’d never speak to any humans, but would bark at the neighborhood dogs and caw at the crows. One day, to the relief of all, Howard packed up some clothes, his potbelly stove and a big bag of bird seed and headed out to the forest outside of town.

Howard lived happily for many years, never venturing back into town. Pete Culver would bring Howard some supplies and food now and again. Pete never saw any animals close by, but said the cabin was covered in black feathers and gnawed on bones.

In the warmer months, Howard kept a bowl of seed on his potbelly stove top next to an open window. The window sill was carved up with claw marks. “In all my days, I’ve never seen claw marks that big.” Pete marveled. “Must have been some pretty darn big birds.”

One October moonlit night the air was dead quiet. And that’s when the howling began. The howling was so loud and ominous it sent shivers down Pete’s spine. “I knew something must be wrong.” Pete figured.

The next morning Pete headed over to Howard’s cabin. There he found a sight which he won’t soon forget. Howard was dead on the floor, covered with wolf hair and surrounded by black crows. Pete buried Howard next to his cabin and sprinkled seed over the grave.

Pete went back home, got his mules and wagon, and then went back to Howard’s cabin and got the wood stove. Years later, Pete, who by then was an old-timer, sold the potbelly to Stove Black Richardson.

“I still hear the howling at night.” Pete told Stove Black. “And I know it’s Howard, it sounds too human, or maybe, not human enough.”

Howling Howard became a legend in the county. You ask any school kid about Howard Twittleford and they’re likely to tell you…

Howling Howard howled at night.

Howling Howard was a fright,

Howling Howard’s now dead and out of sight,

But Howard’s howling still packs a bite.

Family Halloween

Would you believe that the lovely little girl in this photo is our beloved Sara the Stove Princess? I’m the witch and the darling Lil’ Gypsy is my sister Meg.We are ready to go trick-or-treating with older brother Jaime, the Grim Reaper. We are standing in front of Glenwood Oak heating stove. This stove has been heating my mother’s 12,000 square foot house of their mother for twenty-five years. (We do have the powerful heater in stock for anyone looking to warm trick-or-treaters for next Halloween.)

Notice the small red broom Sara is holding is the actual broom use to sweep up the stove’s ashes.

Also notice the turn-of-the century Hoosier Cabinet in the background.

Jaime used to scare the liver out of us before trick-or-treating.

We would march in the Williamsburg Shag Rag Parade. This is a smalltown, New England tradition. Costume-adorned children parade down the Main Street of town, often to the local firehouse for halloween games, races and other fun. And of course from there, we trick-or-treat the town.

With full bags of candy, we would return home where we would sort and trade candies. The Glenwood Oak would warm us up after our Hallow’s Eve adventure.

We here at the Good Time Stove Company wish you and your loved ones a safe and Happy Halloween filled with special treats and treasured memories.

Happy Treats,

Sara the Stove Princess

& Stove Black Richardson

Celebrate Pumpkins: A New England Tradition

It’s that time of year, at least here in western Massachusetts, when “the frost is on the pumpkin.” The days are still fairly warm, but the nights are getting mighty cool. Cool enough to start the wood stove.

There’s still plenty of time to get a wood stove for the winter and a couple of cords of wood. There’s also still time to come and enjoy the fall foliage in western, Massachusetts and to pick up pumpkins for Halloween.

Our neck of the woods knows pumpkins. If you take a drive down the scenic route 5&10 from Northampton to Greenfield, you’ll pass by numerous roadside stands selling pumpkins, apples, cider, maple sugar, and Autumn produce like squash and turnips.

We not only know pumpkins, we CELEBRATE PUMPKINS. Our good pals in Whately, near the scenic route 5&10, will be hosting their 21st annual festive pumpkin carving party this month.

And on Columbus Day weekend we here at the Good Time Stove Company hosted our annual pumpkin party, complete with a delicious potluck supper, live music, and dozens of carved, candled-filled pumpkins that lit up the gardens.
See some photos of the fun below. Click Here for Pictures of the Party!

So why not come on by for a visit, pick out an antique stove to keep you warm this winter, and a couple of pumpkins to celebrate the season. We’d certainly love to show you our collection of stoves – and carved pumpkins.

Cheers,
Stove Black Richardson
& Sara the Stove Princess

4th Annual Pumpkin Party - Good Time Stove Celebrates Autumn’s Arrival!

On Columbus Day weekend we here at the Good Time Stove Company hosted our annual pumpkin party, complete with a delicious potluck supper, live music, and dozens of carved, candled-filled pumpkins that lit up the gardens.
See some photos of the fun below.

Halloween’s Haunted Stoves

Halloween is just around the corner. And it’s the perfect time to share ghost stories. There are many inns, museums, taverns, bed & breakfasts, old houses and homesteads that are steeped in history – and hauntings.

Many of these locations also feature antique wood stoves and antique kitchen ranges.
Visit:http://www.oddinns.com/index.php/pages/hauntedbedandbreakfast.html to find one list of top ten B&B’s in America. (We’re betting most have an antique stove in their establishment.)

The Spy House in New Jersey is a great example of a haunted house that features a wood stove. Check out, http://www.angelsghosts.com/spy_house_museum_haunted_place_story.html to learn about the ghost of Thomas Whitlock who could be heard “banging and clanging around the old pot-belly stove.”

Do you have a good ghost story involving a location with a wood stove? Have you ever been to a historic place that’s not only haunted but has a wood stove?

If so, we’d love to hear from you. We invite you to submit your ghost story, and any links to locations that are haunted and have antique wood stoves and kitchen ranges. The week of Halloween we’ll post the tales on our blog.

Please send the items to stoveprincess@goodtimestove.com and put in the subject line GHOST STORY.

Happy Hauntings!
Stove Black Richardson

38th Annual Ashfield Fall Festival

Welcome to October! One of the prettiest times of year to visit the Good Time Stove Company. The leaves are changing colors and there are all sorts of fairs, festivals and events to attend in the area.

The Ashfield Fall Festival, takes place only a couple of miles down the road from us. Main Street (RT116) comes alive with crafts, food and small town culture. Activities take place from 10:00am – 5:00pm on the Saturday and Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. Click here to read a local review of this event.
The festival began in 1969 and has been a popular event ever since, attracting thousands of people every year. Ashield’s Fall Festival features tag sales, live entertainment, and children’s games. It showcases artwork and handcrafts from area artisans including jewelry, ceramics, fabric items, paintings, baskets, and even furniture. And it’s all for sale. As are pumpkins and locally produced Click here to visit the official Ashfield Fall Festival web site.

Activities are many and the Pumpkingames are unique to this festival. Teams of volunteer participants are recruited on the spot to race against each other in games that use pumpkins as props.

The variety of food will make any mouth water: sausage grinders sold by the snowmobile club, cider doughnuts sold by the Boy Scouts, homemade soups in the Congregational Church. The Ashfield Lake House, situated on its namesake body of water, is a casual and comfortable tavern. Cajun flavored treats are available at Elmer’s Store. This is a very popular breakfast joint/whole food grocer/art gallery/lunch and dinner place. Click here to watch the video titled The Ashfield Fall Festival: What Did you Eat There?.

Crafters and exhibitors include jewelers, wood workers, glass blowers, potters, yarn and fabric artists, basket makers, metalworkers, leather workers, instrument makers, furniture makers, photographers and painters.

The festival is family friendly and there is no admission charge.

So we hope you’ll plan a trip to visit the Good Time Stove Company and the Ashfield Fall Festival this October.

Happy Trails,

Stove Black Richardson

& Sara the Stove Princess

Good Times in Goshen

Good Times in Goshen

Sunday, August 10, 2008

yesterday i hit a photographic jackpot — the good time stove company in nearby goshen, ma. not only is good time stove the place to find beautifully restored antique stoves of every size and shape (including stunning, vintage 1930’s gas kitchen stoves) but it’s also a landmark, thanks to the enormous tin man of goshen who welcomes visitors to the shop. built in 1955 to advertise a local fuel company, the tin man has been featured in the boston globe, the daily hampshire gazette, the berkshire eagle, and yankee magazine, as well as being a subject for bill griffith’s comic zippy the pinhead. you can read all about the towering tin man, including the story of how he got his sizable heart here on the good time stove company’s blog.

he’s awesome.

fascinating, random objects of rusty metal and painted wood embellish the outside of the shop - signs, tools, iron gates, wagon wheels, bikes, an old pair of wooden crutches, hand made bird feeders, defunct lawn mowers - melding together in a sculptural assemblage. beyond an arbor of rusty bicycles and swaying lady’s mantle, the three sisters garden stretches out from the shop and behind owner richard richardson’s home. not wanting to impose, i didn’t tour the gardens (this time) but they include windowed arbors, a stone and metal dragon, a 16×32′ water garden, a stone amphitheater, a sanctuary for meditation. you can tour all of them here.

i may never recycle another tin can.

after stopping here and looking around, i didn’t feel the need to travel farther (did i mention i was on my bike?) i was so creatively refreshed and inspired by the imaginative assemblages and joy de vive evident in the spotless shop full of carefully restored stoves and the surrounding artful gardens. i only wish i lived next door!

Can’t Visit Good Time Stove? Take a Scroll Through our Showroom

Take a scroll through our Showroom…

For those of you who don’t live close enough to visit, enjoy these photos of our showroom.

Good Time Stove Co. Musuem and Showroom located on Route 112 in Goshen, MA

Franklin Fireplace Stoves

Four O’Clock Stoves

Pot Belly Stoves

Cylinder Stoves

Parlor Stoves

Parlor Stoves

Parlor Stoves

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Dual-Fuel Gas/Wood Combination Kitchen Stoves

Gas Cook Stoves

Wood Kitchen Ranges

Enamel Kitchen stoves

Cast Iron Cook Stoves

Wood Stoves for Cooking and Heating

Coal Ranges for Heating and Cooking