These photos of root cellars are from one of my November posts five years ago. I’ve been thinking about them lately because in the speculative novel I’m writing, an abandoned root cellar figures largely in certain plot points of the story.
More than 130 root cellars have been documented in the Elliston area, dating back as far as 1839, and some are still used today to store homegrown vegetables.
According to Elliston folklore, the older folks told the children that babies came from root cellars. For more photos and info, click on the link below:
Fascinating Jennifer, I can imagine that they offer numerous possibilities for stories and folklore!
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Exactly, Andrea. It’s funny how these root cellars are all around the province but there is such a concentration of them in the Elliston area. They were fun to visit.
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Never seen a root cellar in my whole life and doubt I ever will
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You never know, Joanne!
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Such an enticing, mysterious teaser! Can’t wait!
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Really? Thanks for telling me, Connie!
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It makes me unaccountably happy to learn there is a town that is the root cellar capital of the world. And those photos are entrancing: they look like hobbit houses.
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They do! And I’m so glad to have brightened your Sunday, Jan. Thanks!
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I think of spiders and crawly things when I think of root cellars. I wouldn’t have done well back in that day.
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You remind me of my grandchild when you mention fear of spiders. 🙂
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Your pictures are great. We had a root cellar on our farm in rural Alberta, Canada. Your pictures are great. We were not told about the babies though. That was left to the storks.
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Thanks, Darlene! No, I’ve seen root cellars in other areas of the province, but never heard about that baby folklore until I visited Elliston.
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My mother’s home town. Her family root cellar is still there.
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How nice! Thanks for letting me know and stopping by for a visit. 🙂
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That’s interesting folklore, Jennifer. Have you ever been inside a root cellar?
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Yes, I have, Jill, but it was a long time ago now. 🙂
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I have taken photos of similar ,root cellars, in Sweden out in the countryside. They do look so
attractive and are of course great for storing.
miriam
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Yes, they may not be used as much these days but they were great back in the day.
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Nice! Can’t wait to read your new book, Jennifer! 😀👓📚
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Thanks, Barbara. It’s slowly but surely taking shape!
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Nice!
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