Putting on the Big Boots

Clinging To Sweet Memories

By DeAnn Kruempel
Posted 8/11/21

Just south of the house a large cement tank extended up eighteen inches from the ground. A heavy round cover fit perfectly over the top. It took a lot of muscle to move the cover, but at a very young age, each of us was warned to never mess with that cistern. It was a deep tank that contained the water for our household use. During a heavy rain, one of the folks would step outside and pull the lever on the downspout that allowed rain water to fill the reservoir. When rain was scarce, we called William and Darlene, a dear couple from Erwin, and paid them to haul in a tank of water from De Smet. Though the cistern held a couple thousand gallons, a family of eight used a lot of water. Needless to say we never luxuriated in neck-deep bubble baths. As with everything else those days, we did not waste water on our South Dakota farm.

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