Historical Photo

Seward, Logan County, Oklahoma

Peach Pickers Seward, Logan County, Oklahoma

Peach pickers in front of the peach packing shed, which was northeast of the Big House on C. W. Scheihing's farm. On the far left is Walter Hermann. Henry William's head is just visible, the sixth person from the left. C. W. is in the center. Ada Louise is the second from the right. About 1919.

The peaches were Elbertas. About 15 or 20 pickers would bring the peaches to the packing shed on large, flat-bed wagons pulled by horses. The packing shed could be opened on all sides. Some 20 women were hired to pack the peaches which were emptied into bins for sorting and packing. The top of each bushel basket was "ring packed" with the nicest looking peaches. The fuzz on the peaches made the packers very uncomfortable, so they used talcum powder on their arms. The younger Scheihing children carried cold water to the shed for the packers to drink.

A man named John Russell bought the peaches. He hired an inspector, who was a bachelor, especially interesting to the single packers. The children remember these packers "making eyes" at the inspector.

The car loads of peaches were loaded on the Sante Fe railroad at Seward, 3 miles west of the farm. Later, the interurban railway was built a mile west of the farm and the cars were loaded there. John Russell eventually hired Charley to go to Colorado as a buyer for him.

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