The Best Chalk Around

From Doyle Argyle

It seems Delbert’s home on the flat was kind of a mark or gathering place for the neighbors around there, the Nelson’s, the Kingston’s, the Sessions and so on seemed to use that as a target place for social times.  Back then there was no electricity so the lighting was done with kerosene lamps and gasoline lights, but through the foresight of my grandfather when he built the home he put in what was known as a carbide system.  This consisted of a tank of carbide periodically being dumped into a large vat filled with water and causing carbide gas to burn and make the brightest lights in the valley.  Everyone told him this was a dangerous thing that shouldn’t be done.  I remember him going to my Dad and saying “Do you think we ought to change this Delbert?”  Dad would reply “What do you think?”  Grandfather would always reply “As long as it is taken care of properly it will be alright.”  So one of my fond memories as a child is cleaning out this vat every fall and getting the white carbide from the bottom that had crystallized, man that stuff made the best chalk you could ever get hold of.  I chalked up the barn and the corrals, and granary.  It would last for a period of three or four days until the rain came and then it would be gone.  It sure was wonderful chalk.

(1930 Delbert and Dora Argyle)

 

 

(1935 Doyle Argyle)

 

 

(1936 Joseph Hyrum Argyle)