Alex Stewart: Cooper

Alex Stewart, mountain craftsman from near Sneedville, Tennessee, demonstrates constructing a churn. Film includes discussion of the use of non-powered tools and skills handed down in Stewart's family in making wooden containers, such as buckets, barrels, etc. Watch the entire film on Folkstreams www.folkstreams...

[@christinej2358]

I’ve been listening to Alex’s life story on Celebrating Appalachia KZbin channel by Tipper. Alex lived an interesting life. Tipper had shared this link so her subscribers could see and hear Alex. He truly was an amazing craftsman. Thank you for sharing his video!

[@tonycurtin279]

My family now owns his property the barn he is working in in this video is still standing as well as his cabin...a lot of history up here in these hills

[@tomdavenport1476]

There is a book about him

[@tonycurtin279]

@@tomdavenport1476 it's called protrait of a pioneer I happen to be up here on the property and remembered my grandma has the book so I had her bring it out this morning to see pictures from back then

[@tomdavenport1476]

@@tonycurtin279 Tony, we include background materials with the stream. If you would like to add some parts of the book and some of your own photos let me know. we can talk over the phone.

[@julybutterfly]

Very cool!

[@klmullins65]

Luckily Alex did take on a few apprentices, before he passed on (12 years after this film was made!). Alex wasn't only a cooper, he waa a true self- sufficient pioneer, that could do practically anything... and HAD TO, in order to feed his family. I highly reccomend the book "Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer" by John Rice Irwin, who was the curator of the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. Alex gives some wonderful insights on life in the isolated mountains, and how they "made do" in every aspect of life... things we take for granted. The Museum of Appalachia has alot of items made by Stewart

[@pheenix42]

"...but I can't get no one interested in it." Good sir, I am saddened that I could not have known you a lot earlier, I would gladly have learned this trade from you.

[@BenC_04]

I would have also liked him to teach me that trade I wonder if one of his children had taken over that job

[@welshtoro3256]

@@BenC_04 Apparently of all the 9 children and 26 grandchildren (42 great grandchildren) it was only his grandson Rick that took it up. The thing to remember is that when Alex learned this stuff when he was young there was no electricity and you couldn't waste time and money making stuff that was second rate and that's why his craftsmanship was so good. He was a perfectionist as well. I highly recommend the book about him - Alex Stewart, Portrait of a Pioneer. A incredible man.

[@erikamoeller8974]

Alex Stewart was my grandma's uncle. I miss hearing that accent. The book about him is wonderful.

[@barbaragilbert5616]

I am one of Alex Stewart great grand child I can rember playing in the shaving and I am very proud of my family linkage I only wish that I had paid a little more to what he did so I could pass on to my son and grandchild.

[@TGTree]

Bless this Cooper, bless Alex; bless the videographor; bless the one who preserved this, bless those who passed this to us here to YTube, bless us viewers. I watched this as inspiration to make miniatures. God bless you viewers. I Hope you're inspired. ❤ great history.😊

[@martino.malley9276]

Loved watching this. My great grandfather was a Cooper in Dublin Ireland for the Guinness Brewery.

[@vivienleighfan]

"Alex Stewart, Portrait of a Pioneer". I highly recommend it!

[@schechter01]

This. Oh blessed FSM...this video. 💕 The filled-sack-between-the-hoops trick, alone, makes this worth watching. To say nothing of all the other traditional skills that so few of us know anymore. I'd like to make a small barrel one day but had no idea how to position the staves so they would stay while placing them next to each other. This is like "Foxfire books, reloaded"!... 😁😃

[@vivienleighfan]

I loved reading the book Portrait of a Pioneer! I thought Alex Stewart was fascinating and a swell feller too.

[@twistedoar]

I saw an article showing Alex at his shaving horse 20 years ago. It is amazing to actually see and hear him in his own words. I use the froe and drawknife here in Canada, and it's very inspiring to see that I can continue this for a very long time. Thank you for this video.

[@erallen97]

My grandmother used to tell a story about Alex. Amazing to see this video. Thank you for posting it.

[@klmullins65]

Was your grandmother from Hancock Co, TN? Mine was, and Alex mentioned my kinfolk in his book many times... my great grandfather married Alex's niece

[@wyandik]

A work of art--both the craft and the man who made it.

[@jimargeropoulos8309]

Oh how I wish I could have been his student!

[@mikegb667]

This is a wonderful video, thanks for posting!

[@jackreeves3001]

Amazing, thank you so much for this presentation!

[@vivienleighfan]

You betcha! It's called "Alex Stewart, Portrait of a Pioneer". It's such a fascinating read!

[@stephanienuce7711]

What I wouldn’t give to have one of his churns & a butter press! My jersey cows milk sure would make some fine butter in those ! What a treasure of a man, sure saddens me to see the old skill sets falling by the wayside.

[@vivienleighfan]

I have a book about this feller! He sure was smart. I admire the man.

[@monjiaitaly]

I hope his pieces are still around and people know who made them.

[@aramirez8427]

Awesome

[@TheBoyFromNorfolk]

@jonathanharris2007 Wow man, that's good to hear. Amazing really. I'm a (very) amateur bodger and turner, and I learned the skill from my grandfather. Nice to hear it's still going and some one did take up his tools and trade.

[@electronictrip]

my people are from Grainger county Tn, just 30 mins from Hancock county

[@patsymeleen5662]

Thanks for sharing.

[@ericrachal6133]

The Best!! coopering is a dying trade, and its so sad...

[@johnterry4127]

Wish the younger generation would have learned his trade. It's sad that alot of these old trades are dying out as we lose these very talented people.

[@AllenGoodman]

Awesome video !

[@jameshowcroft321]

Awesome 👏

[@TheBoyFromNorfolk]

I would dearly love to see his footpowered lathe, I wonder if it is anything like a bodger's lathe.

[@ashleighstephens9310]

They probably are his was on a spring pole

[@rokpodlogar6062]

raised nine kids damn i cant even stop worrying about raising one in this age.

[@klmullins65]

“I’ve rolled in the bed many a night, studying how I was going to feed my family the next day,” - Alex Stewart, in "Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer"

[@jmg1957]

wow he is good........well done..

[@michaelcooney7687]

Art

[@folkstreamer]

What is the title of the book? I'd like to see a copy.

[@iceandale7621]

folkstreamer www.amazon.com/Alex-Stewart-John-Rice-Irwin/dp/0887400531

[@alexanderclarke3011]

Could you tell the rest of us what the book is called, please?

[@iceandale7621]

Alexander Clarke www.amazon.com/Alex-Stewart-John-Rice-Irwin/dp/0887400531

[@robinkeannupadilla4603]

Kkona HELL YEAH BROTHER

[@shantayprueeissen8914]

My husband used these plans from woodprix and he's very satisfied.

[@nannettebattista6224]

Very good to me. Thanks Shantay!

[@bradwells8643]

Kinda sucks that 3 generations providing for all families an not even one child pick up the trade but maybe there's no demand for it who knows

[@Ellenslife851]

I love wood workin

[@miami100ful]

Hope someone takes over from here ,,,lord god,,,be a shame to see the worls lose this Art/

[@aidanandrews7322]

I like it 5

[@AM_Mechanic]

Thanks for sharing, gotta be a relative of mine.

[@klmullins65]

Hi M Stewart, my gr grandfather, Landon Mullins, married Alex's niece, Margie Stewart, and lived not far from him on Newmans Ridge. After reading "Alex Stewart-Portrait of a Pioneer" by John Rice Irwin, I was just amazed at how Alex could do just about ANYTHING a man could do by hand...coopering was only one of his skills, albeit his main one!

[@seantap1415]

Awesome,,,,vids,,,,, bet he didnt make the dividers,,,lol

[@biggrantlewis]

Stud

[@Ellenslife851]

Well if I was near ya I’d love ta work always by side yee

[@OKRhys]

Well listen sonny, I know exactly what you was sayin. I just dont understand why some folks feel the use of the "F" word is always a necessity. I bet old Alex never had to use it. And I can make a bucket like Alex did. Can you?

[@cliklab]

Zen

[@dessertman1181]

The pipe tobacco smells good

[@allanegleston13]

:)

[@miami100ful]

World\\..

[@antiquevintageretro4u105]

¿?

[@davidjones9518]

Ole timers about all gone so is their trades to lazy