H70.142.42

• california gold rush

Wooden scoop. Description: Wooden scoop or paddle (butter-worker). From the History Information Station: This paddle, probably homemade, was used to beat the excess water out of fresh butter, and to mix in salt and yellow coloring. To make the butter, cream was poured into a churn and shaken or mixed vigorously. This caused the butterfat particles to clump together and separate from the remaining liquid, which was called buttermilk. The butter clump was then put in a bowl, beaten with paddles, and finally packed in crocks. Not only was butter important in cooking in pioneer households, it was a good form in which to preserve nutritious fresh cream, since cream spoiled very quickly when no ice was available for storage. Butter was stored in cold cellars or in storehouses built over creeks, which stayed cool all year.

Used: butter paddle