Alonzo’s Sled. Photo credit Joey Bensley.
When it snows it reminds me of Alonzo’s sled. Alonzo Craker lived in Omena in the 1860’s, played in the abundant snow with his two little brothers. He built his own sled, a little bobsled that he could steer, to go sailing down the hills on. He only used it a few years however when he was taken sick with Scarlet Fever and died at the age of ten.
The little sled hung in the attic all that winter. So grief stricken was this little family, that no one would even think of using Alonzo’s sled, or even of removing it from its hook in the attic after that. Generations of Crakers left the little sled undisturbed. The longer it stayed in the dark attic, the more it became part of the house and its history, a silent memory of a lost childhood.
When the old house finally was sold to Joey and Larry Bensley in 1989, the sled was taken down from its hook in the attic for a time, however the family eventually decided the old sled belonged in the house where it hung for so long and returned it. Joey hung it again…but not in the attic. It is a lasting tribute to the little boy who made it, hung it in the attic, and then had his young life cut short.
Thanks to Joey Bensley and Omena Historical Society for the photos and story.
Here is a poem written by George Craker’s grandson about little Alonzo:
The spike in the wall and the corn husk rope Alonzo made to hang the sled up in the attic. Photo credit Joey Bensley
Alonzo’s sled where it hangs today in the Bensley’s house. Photo credit Joey Bensley
“The little bobsled that Alonzo made
Is hanging right where he hung it
And the corn husk rope that he braided with care
Is still tied down where he put it.
Time was when this little bobsled was new
and it’s maker was proud and fair,
and that was the time that our little boy
was taken sick with the fever.
That was the time that they hung it there
and said goodbye forever.”