Even without roots

[michaelboy]

On the border of our cabin property is this old, unconnected utility pole. It even has the old-style climbing bolts that follow in a step-wise fashion leading to the top. It’s much thinner and shorter than most present-day utility poles. Closer to the lake shore is another similar pole and I’m guessing that these two poles and several others carried the power that ran across the lake area before it was it was flooded by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District in the late 1930’s. If this is true, then these would have likely been part of the federal government’s REA (Rural Electrification Administration) electrification program in Belmont County.

In an effort to sell the American public on rural electrification, the REA chose Belmont County as the backdrop for a 1940 RKO movie in which, the Bill and Hazel Parkinson family farm was selected for its production. This 205 acre farm was located south of St. Clairsville in Warnock and the purpose was to demonstrate the benefits of bringing electrical power to the American farmer.

The film debuted at the long defunct Old Trail Theater in St. Clairsville on August 31, 1940. It was estimated that this film was later seen by over four million viewers in theaters across the country.

As for that old pole, I won't be taking it down anytime soon as, in some way, it has earned its place.

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[howsmyenglish]

This is cool. I wouldn't take it down either.

[keplers_angels]

That photograph!

At first it was just a rush of emotion. I'm downstairs on my tiny (beloved) laptop and it was a long scroll from top to bottom and I took it as a very erect tree. And then I was unaccountably sad/hopeful to see that it was an old pole. Trying to live as a tree. And I related hard. And I salute you Pole Now Denuded of Power!

And then it hit me that I've always had a weird fondness for utility poles and power lines. It's a thread I can't explain that I can track back to an essay in high school, a profile pic at live journal, my current cover pic on facebook, etc, .... And - a bit of this thread.... on of my best friends is an artist and she did a couple of paintings of those big like power-corridor towers and I bought one from her, some years ago as a gift for my father in law.... who is so recently deceased... so I think your pole ALSO yanked that thread, hit that nerve of grief... I've been thinking about that painting... about powerlessness and power and the certain stoic strength I've always associated with these lonesome pires we build to carry our loads.

Spiked climbing boots and belt

[michaelboy]

I've loved them since I was little as the telephone pole was a mustering point that was away from home and parents. It is why the scent of creosote still fascinates me. In an old episode of The Andy Griffith Show, Opie befriends a lineman named Mr McBeeVee that everyone else thinks is imaginary - as the man who lives in the trees. I always loved that.