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Central Cane Syrup Cooks Again
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By Dave Freneaux Pete Firmin of Greenwell Springs Road in Central collects and restores old farm machinery, including tractors, engines, blacksmith tools and more. It seems a while back he bought an old John Deere Cane Press, so naturally that meant he had to plant sugar cane, raise it, cut it, press it, and learn to make cane syrup, all right here in Central. The process took up the better part of four days from cutting to canning and dozens of friends, neighbors and "sugar cane experts" helped make it happen.
Pete constructed a large brick fireplace to accommodate the 150 gallon vat used to do the cooking. About 1/4 acre of cane produced 150 gallons of juice with a final yield of about 25 gallons of cane syrup. Pete was asked how many times he had done this and he responded "Counting this time, if I do it again, that will make twice." He added, "This was a great event and everyone had a good time. Of course we will do it again."
Ms. Helen Buckles Fairchild paid a visit during cooking and reminisced about her family cooking syrup back in the 40's and 50's. Her husband, George Fairchild, and his father, Jesse Lee "Cap" Fairchild, cooked syrup every year from after the war in 1945 until 1959 when "Cap" passed away. Ms. Helen said the smell and the steam from the vat was exactly as she remembered it. Pete, thanks for bringing back a little piece of Central's history and heritage.
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