It was in the 1983 John Anderson’s Country Song, I’m “Just A Swingin!” For my birthday this year, my husband and I rescued an old porch swing which had been in storage for many years.This swing holds such special memories for me. The wooden porch swing with its cranky chain supports, had once been stationed on my childhood home’s front porch. As a youngster I sat many times in that old swing and was looking forward to doing that again. Though it needed a few repairs, loving care and a paint job, my husband assured me it would be as good as new. Now it is at our farmhouse.
So many memories on that porch swing, though it wasn’t the first one my parents had. The first one was handmade by Arby Cole who at that time was running his workshop in Burr Oak. It was a wonderful porch swing. It was used until its repair needs were beyond control. So mother came up with another one - the one I am now enjoying.
Many childhood and teen memories were made swinging in the porch swing on the large wrap around porch, with the large white pillars supporting the wooden porch roof. The swing was on the west side of the porch so there would be nothing for the swing to bang into when it was in use. On cool summer evenings, we would sit out on the porch and watch the farm traffic going by. Many dolls were rocked to sleep using that steady swinging motion. A nearby lilac bush sent out its sweet fragrance in the early spring. When Dad mowed the alfalfa hay, the sweet smell would fill the air. It was also fun sitting on the porch swing while it was raining and the sounds of the falling rain on the porch roof brought a sense of calm. In later years, the grandchildren, including my two sons, enjoyed the porch swing whenever they were staying with their grandparents.
Porch swings became popular with the addition of the front porch on homes. The wooden porch swings were first made during the 1880s. Their heydays were from the late 1880s through the 1940s. People enjoyed sitting out on their open front porches in the early evenings and visiting with friends and neighbors as they passed by, or just to enjoy the summer breezes as the inside of the houses did not have the comforts of the air conditioners in those days. Some liked to sit in the porch swing and read a book or newspaper but some found that didn’t work so well while swinging because of motion sickness. Many couples on dates spent time seated in the porch swings together.
One could adapt the motion of the porch swing by just a slight push of a toe or by placing the whole foot on the porch floor, it could send the swing into a much stronger motion. Sometimes the porch swings were made more comfortable by adding a soft pillow seat, and pillows to help support the back. A small table was sometimes stationed on either side of the porch swing where cool glasses of lemonade was enjoyed while sitting on the swing. During the winter months, the porch swings were raised to near the porch roof. It was exciting when the porch swings were lowered for spring, summer and fall use.
By the 1920s, the Montgomery Ward catalog was offering two styles of porch swings with the simpler style available for $4.25 and the more decorative designed swings selling for $7.45. About every house in town had a porch swing. During the 1950s, the porch swings were not called for as much as the more popular stylish yard and porch furniture became more desirable. The porch and yard “gliders” replaced the old porch swings. I was thankful my parents made the decision to place our porch swing onto their front porch when they did, in the mid 1950s. I can’t remember when they took it down, but I’m so glad they decided to keep it and stored it away.
Porch swings are now making a come back. They are seen in most of the popular decorating magazines, that feature the “Country” and “Farmhouse” styles. It is good to see the porch swings enjoyed once again.
I know I am enjoying mine for I’m “Just A Swingin!”
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