In the Archives: Can You Lend a Hand?

For today's archives search, we hearken back to a time when people left their homes and interacted with other people. In our internet-connected world, it can be hard to imagine needing to talk to other people to share information. But that's what they did -- like cave people.

In this photo from 1955, half of Sodus, including a couple of Steinkes, gathered at the Emil Ertman farm to lend a hand trimming 3.5 acres of grapes and several acres of black raspberries. They were there because Ertman was hospitalized during the winter with a back injury.

This kind of thing wasn't uncommon by any means. In this photo from five years prior, "Neighborliness is still very much alive in the River Road area south of King's Landing." Art Lange had fallen ill, and thus fallen behind on his work. So his neighbors helped out, trimming and wrapping 3 acres of grapes, trimming and hauling brush from 2 acres of apples, and trimming an acre of raspberries.

People cared about other people. A neighbor was sick, they lent a hand. A relative was elderly, they took them into their home. The school was having a play, everyone showed up to watch, and brought a dish to pass. People knew their neighbors. There was a sense of community.

Contrary to what you may have heard, I'm not much of a people person. I could go days without peopling and be just fine with it. But I could stand a little more kindness and civility. I think we all could.