Trap Door
In he 1870’s, the houses built in North St.Louis, had outside basement exit’s, and an inside Trap Door, in the floor and corner of a small room. How lucky could we be, to have this Trap Door? My father gave all of us a quick look-see and a loud, “Stay away and Don’t go near!“
On wash-day, Monday,my mother took several loads of clothes to the basement, and soon you could hear the, Kenmore wringer washing machine making all kinds of noises. As the clothes are washed, rinse, and wrung-out, she is taking loads to the backyard, via basement outside steps. She would go into the house via kitchen backdoor and back to the yard, where my brothers and I were swinging and singing.
Tom the youngest, was highly curious and went inside, could not find Mom, went to the edge of the Trap Door, called “Momma” and as she screamed back, “Stay away”, Tom was flying to the basement.
I guess Tom , leaned too far over looking, and top heavy, hit bottom. With wash baskets and plenty of clothes piles, how Tom did it – No one knows and Tom survived!
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