82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 7, 1992
Stranded Motorist
_n years ago, Arlene and Bill. le met when
Arlene had a flat tire along Route 1 and Bill stopped to help
her. Bill, who was a widower with three young children, con
vinced city-bred Arlene to marry him and become a full
fledged farmer's wife.
Seven layers of old wallpaper and paint were removed
from the walls throughout the house. Then Arlene stenciled
the walls In various patterns. Shown Is the formal dining
room.
Wooed From City To Farm
(Conti nuad from Pag* B 1)
The front windows stretch from
floor to ceiling. The bottom part of
the window has glass that slides up
and wooden doors that open and
close. Arlene said that she was told
that the windows were built in this
matter so that a coffin could be
moved in and out of the parlor for
family funerals.
Touches of love and style are
evident throughout the 1862 farm
house. Arlene has removed the
layers of wallpaper and paint on
the walls, replastered the holes,
painted and stenciled the high ceil
ing walls. She found that a bam
scraper worked best for removing
the paint and paper. She learned to
spackle and plaster ceilings. She
worked all hours of the night to
strip paint with a heat gun and put
ty knife. The carved woodwork is
painted in contrasting colors. And
she has made curtains for several
of the rooms.
The country decor is filled with
garage sale finds and family hand
me-downs that seem specially
selected for their coordinated
appearance.
Because the original kitchen
was too dark, the Maules had an
addition added. Now the kitchen
opens into a dining and sitting area
with a fireplace and large windows
that face the pond on one side and
profuse flower beds and open
fields on the other sides.
Arlene is known for her warm,
outgoing personality and loves to
entertain. “Everything that I am, I
owe to my mother,” Arlene said.
In the parlour, windows stretch from floor to celling. The lower wooden doors may
be opened or shut. The bottom windowpane may be raised. The Maules were told that
the windows were built In this way in 1862 so that a coffin cou Id be easily moved In and
out for family funerals.
homestead
“She was the best cook around,
and she taught me everything I
know.”
Farm work
When Arlene first married, her
mothcr-in-law warned Arlene:
“Never start helping the men in the
bam or they will expect it all the
time.”
Arlene confided sheepishly that
she didn’t take her mother-in
law’s advice and so she does carry
milk in pails from the 53 cows,
forks hay, makes sure the cows are
in the right staunchion, and rakes
hay with the tractor. So far, she is
able to convince the full-time hired
man and her husband that she is not
a permanent worker.
Although Bill’s dad had Guern
seys, Bill made a gradual shift to
all Holsteins, “whose disposition
aren’t as nice but they are reliable
milkers.”
The Maules raise com, alfalfa,
and wheat on 120 acres. They have
a staunchion bam and the second
oldest silo in Lancaster County.
Although Arlene took five years
off from school teaching when the
children were young, she is now
teaching computers part time. She
has taught 23 years in a parochial
school and finds great fulfillment
in being able to teach the children
of former students. She also finds
it rewarding to see how some for
mer troublesome students turn into
stable, law-abiding citizens.
Arlene said, “I try to make the
classroom as pleasant as possible
for students because you don’t
know what they go home to face.”
Her efforts have not gone unno-
c H/otps
ticed. Arlene’s home is filled with
gifts and she has numerous notes
and letters from students and
parents in appreciation for her car
ing attitude and her ability “to
make learning fun.”
Farm Women
When Arlene married Bill, her
mother-in-law said, “You’re a far
mer now so you must join Farm
Women.”
Today, city-bred Arlene is a
full-fledged farmer’s wife and
president of the Lancaster County
Society 15 of Farm Women.
Society IS was established in
1938. The society started the Sol
anco Fair, the only one in the coun
ty that is considered an agricultural
fair since they do not permit
amusement rides. The society
raises funds by selling funnel
cakes at the Solanco Fair and at
other annual community events.
With part of the money, they pro
vide one $5OO scholarship and two
$lOO bonds to students in ag
related subjects.
Arlene said most of the Farm
Women members are elderly so
she can learn so much from them.
“They have been through it. They
make me feel so comfortable.’’
Arlene recalls that she grew up
appreciating the older generation
because her grandfather lived in
their home for many years.
Whether it’s old or young peo
ple, Arlene has the ability to make
each person feel special. “I love
people. Everyday I leant some
thing from someone,” Arlene said.
“Life is so interesting.”