Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 16 · column 2 of 7 · from the scan, no model involved
remarkable illustration.
Spot decisions at times called for special talents. The summer months saw the eight-foot fence sections steadily advancing around the field’s perimeter. The contour of the land sometimes required adjustments beyond the aid of a level or a surveyor’s transom. B. Settle, a Ruritan and Amissville landowner for many years, has a master’s degree in home fencing. As he adjusted the fence to conform to the lay of the land, the club was treated to a demonstration of a talent known as “eyeballing the fence.”
Since the scope of the project was unprecedented, little emergencies called for quick thinking and resourcefulness. Halfway through one Saturday morning, the crew ran out of posts. Timing their arrival perfectly, Gilbert Lawrence and his son C. G. showed up with their new platform saw. Tractor-driven, with multiple adjustments, this versatile piece of equipment could saw a variety of lumber sizes. With logs readily available, the post order was quickly filled.
While powered machinery lent valuable assistance, it was still mainly back-bending and muscleflexing which created the fence.
Even as the first sections were completed, the work looked not only professional but also picturesque as Sim Hutton led the crew of painters into the fray. Many a Saturday saw Siin alone with his own brushes and five-gallon bucket, glossing the rails with his own professional style.
The entire endeavor required the effort and sacrifice of every member of the Ruritan Club, and each member deserves the satisfaction of a job well done. If any one member deserves the title of Master Fence Builder, it is Bill Barney. Saturday after Saturday saw him on the job early, staying on for the entire day.
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