January 2007                                                The Megaphone                                                        Page 7

The Tub

 by Julie (Stout) Crim

The tub had a long and happy life. Most of the time it hung on a large nail inside the coal shed, summer and winter. But every Saturday night it came out to provide enjoyment and clean bodies for my family and me.

My father had built what he called a garage on some land in the south part of town back in the early '30s. He was a bachelor and didn’t need much. However, my mother came along and all was changed forever. The little house had electricity and that was it. No running water so of course no hot water and no bathroom. He figured a man living along didn’t need such luxuries. But now all was changed and so before the wedding, he added a sink with a drain. At least when water was brought in it could be disposed of down the drain.

I was the oldest of three children, all of us being three years apart. Saturday night was special and fun. Supper was sometimes early so the dishes could be done and gotten out of the way because the kitchen was so tiny. Large buckets of water were put on the little coal stove to heat and daddy brought in "the tub." 

It was galvanized metal, a common kind of tub, round with two handles, one on each side for carrying. He would sit it in the middle of the kitchen floor and began pouring in hot water and heating more and more water. When the tub was full enough the youngest child got the first bath. There were toys to play with and we were never left alone. Next came the next child in age and then the next. By the time it was my turn the water was soapy and cool so more hot water was added. I being older could have my water a bit deeper you see. I loved playing with the floating ivory soap and a little yellow duckie. There were other toys but the duckie was the only one I remember. When I was scrubbed clean, I would stand up and a pitcher of clean warm water was poured over me to rinse off all the soap. That was fun too. Next came the drying procedure. Standing on a kitchen chair next to the warm stove either mother or daddy would dry me and help me into my footie pajamas.

By this time my brother and sister, already in their jammies, were sitting on the couch with their weekly treat. I joined them and received my little glass of Pepsi just like they had. Ohhhh, how good it was! The glass was the kind cheese spread came in and this was the only time we could drink in the living room all week. We were not allowed to talk but could listen to the music of the Firestone Hour being played on the radio. At the time I thought it was rather boring but now, looking back at it, I am most appreciative for that time of learning what good music was all about. All too soon it was bed time and that in itself was an adventure I suppose. The bedroom where my parents slept was about 8 feet wide and 10 feet long. My sister slept in their room in the baby crib. The three pillows that made up the back on the couch were placed on the floor next to a wall, covered with sheets and blankets and that was my brother’s bed. I got the couch because I was the oldest. If my brother fell out of bed he didn’t have far to go. This was our routine for several years. Eventually a large bedroom was added to the little house and we kids moved into it as our very own room.

Summertime 

Summertime was wonder time. The old tub played an even more important part now that the sun’s rays fell upon our little brown bodies. As we rolled and played in the grass, mud and sand we became caked with the stuff and for some funny reason Mother didn’t want us in the house like that. Thank goodness the outhouse was outside! The old rubber hose was fastened to the one and only spigot and we were allowed to spray each other. Often we would fill the old tub with water, toys and old pots and pans and play in it too. Sometimes Mother would fill it with water early in the morning as it sat in the backyard and by afternoon it was nice and warm and very comfortable. Eventually though, out would come the soap and we’d get a good scrubbing and rinse off at the end of playtime. I don’t remember it but can imagine I probably got into trouble for splashing my younger siblings.

When Daddy married Mother, he had a dog named Pooch. In time Pooch became my friend and protector. I remember Daddy and me giving old Pooch a bath in the tub once, just once. Just as we got him all soaped down, Mother came flying out the back door yelling at Daddy. “Get that dog out of there and clean the tub. It’s for people, not animals!” Daddy must have thought that was a lot of foolishness but to keep the peace, I imagine he complied.

Eventually a back porch was built across the back of the little house. When I was halfway through elementary school, a bath tub was added to one corner of the enclosed porch. What luxury that was!

Years passed and the old tub was forgotten. I don’t know what happened to it. All that was left were the memories and they’ll stay with me forever I hope. I think of bathtubs of today and bathtubs that my children knew. Really, bathtubs have not changed much throughout the past 50 years. They are taken for granted, like the flip of a switch for electricity and the flush of a toilet. We truly do live the soft life and hardly ever remember to be thankful for it. Earlier today I turned the water on in the bathtub and guess what happened? Out came hot water! Amazing!

Julie (Stout) Crim, '57

Yuma, AZ