Carpet Beater

Twirled wire with a handle coming at the one end.
End of the carpet beater from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: Canada
Year: 1900
Materials: Wood and Metal 

Before electricity cleaning the carpet was a seasonal job.  The family would remove the carpet from the house and drape it over the clothesline.  They would then use a carpet beater to force the dirt and dust out of the carpet. This process was time consuming and labor intensive. Typically carpet beaters are made of wood, rattan, cane, wicker, spring steel or coiled wire.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.