Search Results

[Arriving at the Stir-off]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Friends and neighbors come from miles around to participate in the Molasses Making Stir-off. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of Baptist preacher the Rev. Hugh Vancel. More information about these images can be found in scrapbooks in the Clark Family Co… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Grinding Cane]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Sorghum cane is fed into a mule drawn press where the juice is extracted and collected. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of Baptist preacher the Rev. Hugh Vancel. More information about these images can be found in scrapbooks in the Clark Family Collect… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Old Time Dancing]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark: Photograph is from 1940s and is shot in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Students of "Pappy" Hiram Frakes School learn old time dances. This photo appeared in National Geographic Magazine.
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Stirring the Molasses]

Description: From the storage barrels, the cane juice is poured into the boiling vat where it is stirred and skimmed constantly during its entire cooking period. As the cane juice nears the 'lasses stage it begins to form into a rich, creamy foam. Joe Clark, HBSS Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014: Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, o… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Couple Sampling the molasses with Sop Sticks]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 People watching the molasses syrup as it boils down use short pieces of sorghum cane stalk to make “sop sticks” used to dip into the molasses syrup for a taste. This was the height of the fall social season. Harvesting the sorghum, extracting the juice, boiling it down into molasses could take days and weeks going round the clock to finish. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mi… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Walking home by lantern light(1)]

Description: Photograph of Cecil Ray with his arm around a Bonnie Burns as they walk along a gravel path. Burns carries a gas lamp while the Cecil Ray carries a small pail of sorghum molasses while they both laugh and smile. Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Walking Home by Lantern Light. This is a typical scene at the end of a stir-off event. It is a scene Joe tried to capture many times. It is a good shot and has been published, but it is not the "kill-shot" the one "picture that tells a… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Stir-off Sing-a-Long]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 People watching the molasses syrup as it boils down use short pieces of sorghum cane stalk to make “sop sticks” used to dip into the molasses syrup for a taste. This was the height of the fall social season. Harvesting the sorghum, extracting the juice, boiling it down into molasses could take days and weeks going round the clock to finish. Joe Clark, HBSS has type-written on this print. “Between dances and games Delma Huddleston leads the youn… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Women quilting outdoors]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark: Photo of women in the Powell Valley during the early 1940s in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. The quilters gather at a neighbor's home for a Quilting Bee. This is a 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 B&W negative.
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Harvested Sorghum Stalks]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Sorghum cane stalks being gathered. Eventually the stalks are ground and the juice extracted, poured into vats and boiled down into molasses. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of Baptist preacher the Rev. Hugh Vancel. More information about these images … more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Harvested Sorghum Stalks]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Sorghum cane stalks being gathered. Eventually the stalks are ground and the juice extracted, poured into vats and boiled down into molasses. Overall Background:These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of Baptist preacher the Rev. Hugh Vancel. More information about these images … more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Women at an outdoor quilting bee]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark: Photo of women in the Powell Valley during the early 1940s in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Quilters have set-up a piece of fabric and are sewing on a drawn pattern during a quilting bee. One of the quilters is drawing the quilt's pattern. This is a 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 B&W negative.
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Watching and Waiting to Sample the Molasses]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 People watching the molasses syrup as it boils down use short pieces of sorghum cane stalk to make “sop sticks” used to dip into the molasses syrup for a taste. This was the height of the fall social season. Harvesting the sorghum, extracting the juice, boiling it down into molasses could take days and weeks going round the clock to finish. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Douglas Clark]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark: Photograph is from the 1940s and is shot in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. This is my cousin Douglas Clark, son of my Uncle Junebug and Aunt Jennie Clark. I'd guess this to be shot in 1945.
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Sorghum Cane]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014: Sorghum cane stalks being brought to a mule drawn press where the stalks are ground, then the juice from the cane extracted and later poured into vats to be boiled down into molasses. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of Baptist preacher the Rev. Hugh V… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Making Molasses]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014: Douglas Clark, age 7, watches Dolly Goins as she uses a ladle to siphon off impurities in the boiling sorghum juice as it is being turned into molasses. This photo was taken on the farm of the Rev. Hugh Vancel. It appears full page in LIFE Magazine, November 13, 1950, page 157. Overall Background:These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles sou… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Young Boy and Girl Warming their Hands and Watching the Molasses Boil Down]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Ladling or stirring off the impurities of the molasses. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of Baptist preacher the Rev. Hugh Vancel. More information about these images can be found in scrapbooks in the Clark Family Collection at the University of North T… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Young Boys Man the Sorghum Press]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 One mule powers this grinding mill where sorghum cane is pressed, then the juice is extracted and boiled down into molasses. Here three young boys take turns feeding stalks of sorghum cane into the mule drawn press. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four miles southwest of Cumberland Gap, or in Cumberland Gap on the farm of B… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Party at the Stir-off]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014: Stir-off Time, the harvesting of sorghum and the process of extracting out its juices and boiling it down into molasses was a day and night process that brought families, neighbors and friends together for this last social event in the Fall season. Besides sharing in the labor they also shared in fun and dance as local musicians came to play as did many of the single folk used this as an opportunity to meet and court. Overall Background: Thes… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Making Molasses]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014 Douglas Clark, age 7, watches Dolly Goins as she uses a ladle to siphon off impurities in the boiling sorghum juice as it is being turned into molasses. This photo was taken on the farm of the Rev. Hugh Vancel. It appears full page in LIFE Magazine, November 13, 1950, page 157. Overall Background: Edit: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the early to mid-1940s. Either on the farm of Fred Whitaker about four mil… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections

[Couple Making Sop Sticks]

Description: Narrative by Junebug Clark in the summer of 2014: People watching the molasses syrup as it boils down use short pieces of sorghum cane stalk to make “sop sticks,” which are used to dip into the molasses syrup for a taste. This was the height of the fall social season. Harvesting the sorghum, extracting the juice, boiling it down into molasses could take days and weeks going round the clock to finish. Overall Background: These Molasses Making Stir-off photos were shot by Joe Clark HBSS in the… more
Date: 194X
Creator: Clark, Joe
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections
Back to Top of Screen