William K. Askren Sorghum Mill, Harveysburg, Indiana, circa 1910

Description:	Members of the William K. Askren (4th from right) family and friends pose as they make sorghum on a farm in Millcreek Township, Fountain County. Long stalks of cane (technically a grass) were cut in the fall and squeezed to extract the juice. It was then cooked down into a thick syrup, often referred to as sorghum molasses. The sorghum mill, powered by horses walking in a circle, is to the back center. Women at the right pose in front of a shed that likely housed the vats or kettles heated over a wood-burning fire. After constant stirring, known as a stir off, the sorghum was poured into jars and used to sweeten recipes and as a syrup.People in picture from left to right are Russell Mann, John Askren, Paul or Bob Mann (most likely Paul as Bob was born in 1912), Fred Starkey, Freddie Brooks, Goldie Askren (Morgan), Mabel Drake, Ruby Drake, Jim Drake, George Mann, William K. Askren, Sciota Thomas, Mert Drake, Mamie Askren (Allen).See more images from this family at ia-0412-0001 through ia-0412-0015.
Origin:	1910, circa
Created By:	Lighty Photo Co., Williamsport, Ind.
Source:	http://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/268AD4AE-4AE4-4BFF-8262-602792914250
Collection:	Indiana Album
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Geography:	Harveysburg, Fountain County, Indiana, United States
Subjects:	McKee-Fisher Family Collection Sorghum Farming Farms Fountain County (Ind.)

Further information on this record can be found at its source.