Alexander Tanning Yard

 

ALEXANDER TANNING YARD  -Piney Fork Community

 

William Patton Alexander moved from Dawson Spring, Ky. About 1844 and brought farm land from Jacob Crider, located east of the Piney Fork cemetery. William Patton married Polly Moore and they had one child. After her death he married Lucinda O'Neal, they had eight children.

 

William Patton operated a Tanyard on his farm, located on the east side of the Alexander Creek near the spring that runs from the Cave. The pits were on flat land south of the spring, probably six pits were used. They were about four to five feet deep and shaped like a grave.  (These were filled in later)

 

In the spring of the year when the sap was up, they would strip bark off of black oaks, white oaks and red oaks and haul it to the pits. The bark could be used dried or green but had to be hacked into tiny pieces or beat with a hammer before being placed in the pits. Water from the near by spring was added to make an ooze. The hides were then added to this ooze and allowed to soak until tanned into desired color.

 

The Tanning yard located on the Alexander farm was used by people in a wide area around the Piney Fork community. Most people would bring their hides to the tanyard in the spring to have the hides tanned during the summer, they would then use hides for shoes and other articles.

 

Cowhide was used for harnesses, horse gear, sack strings, lines, bridles, shoe strings and shoes. This was the best hide to turn water. The thick part of the hide was used for soles and the think for vamps.

 

A Mr. Wilson from Fredonia would come to the Piney Fork community in the fall and stay with each family and make shoes for each member of the family out of the hides.  He would have different sizes lasts with him to get the proper fit. Pins for the Pin Oak Tree were used for shoe pegs before tacks were used.

Other hides such as groundhog, wildcat, squirrel, deer, raccoon and horsehide were used for various items. Sheep skin was usually tanned with hair on and used for rugs, saddle blankets and saddle cushions. 

(Sidesaddle leather made from the Alexander Tanning Yard.  Located in the Crittenden County Historical Museum)

 

The Black Oak would make the leather dark and it was used on heavy hides. These were used for making saddles bags, men's shoes, harnesses, etc. The White Oak made a lighter color leather and was used for women's shoes. When the leather was tanned it was picked up or some people would bring their hides and thrade them for tanned leather, making only one trip. An example of the quality of leather is a side saddle given to Flora Alexander by her father, James Calhoun, in 1901. It is now in the Bob Wheeler Museum.

 

Information indicates the Tanyard was closed at the death of William Patton Alexander in 1916. In 1930 Orlin Woodside operted a sawmill near the pits and they were filled in with sawdust for safety.

 

By: Sarah Alexander Ford from information shared with her by her Aunt Flora Alexander Guess, her mother Annabel Alexander and Braxton McDonald.