H70.142.45

12.5 in HIGH
(31.75 cm HIGH)
Gift of Joan Pearson Watkins
H70.142.45


Bucket. Description: Staved wooden bucket, large. Household water bucket of wooden slats bound with iron ring. The bucket always had some water in it to keep the slats expanded. If the bucket dried out, the slats would shrink and the bucket would leak. From the History Information Station: Though large cities had piped water systems by the 1850's, most people still carried their water into and out of the house. Carrying water was a constant chore, for it was used,like today, for cooking, cleaning, bathing and drinking. Most California gold-rush families drew their water directly from the creeks and rivers which were plentiful in the rocky foothills where the gold-rush towns sprang up.

Used: kitchen ~ utensil

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