It was molasses making time when the sugar cane planted in the
early days of Spring was ready to harvest. September in the
start of the Fall season was the time for making molasses. Not
too many years ago in Scott County, Tennessee making molasses
was very common. The owner of the sugar cane mill served the
families that lived within twenty miles and charged fifty cents
a day for the use of his mill. If you did not have the money you
could usually pay in molasses. When it was molasses makin' time
it was a community event. Many people would refer to it as the
"Stir Off" and would often ask, "Are you a goin' to the stir off
tomorrow?" Back when my grandparents were raising their children
in the 1920's and 30's making molasses was a way of life. The
molasses was stored and used through the winter months.
Sometimes it was used to sweeten items instead of using refined
sugar. During the Depression days most families including my
grandparents raised what they ate on the farm. There was little
money to buy things yo