Picking potatoes, Presque Isle, 1939

Contributed by Presque Isle Historical Society

Picking potatoes, Presque Isle, 1939

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Description

This photograph illustrates how potatoes were harvested in 1939. The harvester is a one-row digger. The digger removes potatoes from the row and lays them on the ground, ready to be picked and put into barrels.

The mechanical parts of this digger were run by horsepower, hence the need for two horses. Because this type of digger was hard to pull, the horses had to be replaced by another team by noon. The cleats on the wheels operate the sifting of dirt as the dirt, rocks, and potatoes go over the digger.

Some diggers at this time had a gasoline engine to run the mechanical parts and could by pulled by one horse.

Dawn Rediker, the woman in the photo is ready to pick the potatoes and put them in the barrels behind her.

The full barrels are loaded into a wagon or truck and sent to a potato warehouse for storage.

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About This Item

  • Title: Picking potatoes, Presque Isle, 1939
  • Creator: unknown
  • Creation Date: 1939
  • Subject Date: 1939
  • Location: Spragueville Road, Presque Isle, Aroostook County, ME
  • Media: Photographic print
  • Dimensions: 11 cm x 6 cm
  • Object Type: Image

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For more information about this item, contact:

Presque Isle Historical Society
PO Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769
(207) 762-1151
Website
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted More Info

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.

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