Something Pure and Sweet

Good Evening Everyone... 03/12/19

Something Pure and Sweet
Loucks Maple Syrup

I would like to share some really cool pictures and a fascinating story from a visit that I had yesterday with Nina and Tina Loucks, from the W. Center Rd area in Linesville, Pa.

I was contacted by Tina Loucks Woge to come out and meet her mom, Nina Loucks and see and read some cool history of this area of Conneaut Twp. in which they live..

I must honestly say that my visit was absolutely a blast and several stories will be developed from my time with them both....

But tonight I want to share a group of pictures of Tina’s grandfather - Herman “Squeak” Loucks and her grandmother - Inez Bollard Loucks.... also in the pictures you will see Tina’s Dad, Russell who was around the age of 20 and newly married to Nina.

The Loucks Family has a homestead on West Center Rd, (Center Road back then) just east of Maple Road or west of Airport Rd...

Back in the 50’s, Herman and his wife Inez, and their son Russell, not only dealt with the daily grind of raising a family, going to work and taking care of the farm, but they also had their own Maple Syrup Business.... back in the Sugar Shack begins the family barn.

Now I’m sure some of the local folks might remember this amazing locally made Maple Syrup which they produced, but for the rest of us who didn’t, this is a cool glimpse back into a time, not so long ago, (68 years ago), but far enough back to see just how they did it then, and probably using the same traditions handed down from those that did it 100 plus years ago.....

I can almost smell the large batch of maple sap cooking off/down in the sugar shack out back.. as the sweet aroma gets closer to the point of maple syrup..

As Herman and Russell are out in the woods collecting the sap from the maple trees which are tapped and filling with the sap dripping into the tin pails; then hauling their sap back by horse and sled in a large collection barrel; then tending the fire with cut wood and stirring the brewing batch..... Inez is inside the house, placing the labels on the tin cans which have been filled by the guys, (she had to clean the tins first from the drips....) which contain the Pure Maple Syrup which is now finished and manufactured from the Loucks Family Maple Sugar Shack....

These pictures really capture the whole process, and thanks to the person who took these pictures to memorialize what they did back in 1951....

They are a cool time capsule of a local family business who took pride in all they did... making this delicious sweet maple syrup that covered stacks of pancakes, sausage or toast from one kitchen to another..... So sweet that moms everywhere had to hide the tin can from the kids so they didn’t eat it all like a bunch of buzzing bees around an open Soda Pop can...

Were you one of the lucky ones to enjoy their syrup??? Do you have one of those cool labeled cans laying around the house or barn.... if so, let me know, as we are looking for a few of them to give back to Tina (Herman’s grand-daughter) and if lucky enough, I would love to add one to my tin collection which is on display at our business in Linesville too...

So, I hope you enjoy this (not so old, but sweet story), and a glimpse back at a sweeter time of life.... For those of you that knew Herman, Inez, Russell and Nina (not Pictured, but the proud owner of these pictures).... I hope these pictures bring a smile to your face as they did mine....

Thank you Nina and Tina for sharing your time and these great pictures with all of us... this is another cool story from the Pymatuning Lake Region, where life is so sweet!!!

Thanks Everyone for reading and Sharing....
Follow us direct at “Visit Pymatuning Lake Pa” Facebook page and read more upcoming historical stories of all the Pymatuning Lake Region.....

Thanks again....

This article is about John's Aunt Nina and Uncle Squeak (Russell).