Not my ancestor. But pics of beekeepers in Utah ca 1880
amazing 56 hives 88 hives did they have to build them all themselves? any local farm stores? do you know what the bee rail they refer to? and summer stands and chop feed? impressed with their success.
thanks for sharing this.
i plan to be at your 100th birthday party Brad in 25 years so behave!
How cool is that Brad?! You brought Silas to life!
This is so cool...
In addition to beekeeping, I am an avid genealogist. In fact, I have been a genealogist for over 50 years.
This afternoon, I found an article from the Salt Lake Herald, dated 13 April 1882 detailing the Beekeeping Convention of the Utah Territorial Beekeepers Convention of 1882. The 5th paragraph in the article speaks of my 3rd Great Grandfather Silas Richards (1807-1884) of Union, Salt Lake County, Utah talking about his local bee club and their experiences. Silas would have been 75 at this convention, (I am 75 at the moment), and he died less than 2 years later in March of 1884 at the age of 77. I hope that's not an omen.
The full article talks about things like foul brood, over wintering issues with the extreme cold, swarming, extracting upwards of 100 lbs. of honey per hive, or an average of 75 lbs. per hive.
Sounds very familiar to recent discussions we have 142 years later.
I guess beekeeping is in my genes.