The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • Mary Catherine Brooks

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November 7, 2009

Although retirement is good, he says, ‘I have to stay busy’

By Mary Catherine Brooks

Retirement seems to agree with Warren Reed. The 78-year-old Pineville man has spent the last two decades collecting Griswold cast iron pieces, though that is only a portion of what keeps him busy.

“I have to do something to keep busy,” he said with a smile that reflects in his eyes.

Griswold Manufacturing created a variety of cookware items such as roasters, Dutch ovens, kettles, muffin pans, griddles and skillets, among others, from the mid-1860s through the mid-1950s.

Reed has one piece in his collection that came from the mid-1860s, based on the markings.

The cast iron collectibles are now found in estate sales, consignment shops and through antique stores, as well as on the Internet.

Many of the nearly 70 pieces Reed has found came from estate sales in and around Monroe County farms, he explained.

“They would be selling everything, and if I could pick it up for a reasonable price, I would,” he said of his vast collection.

Most of the pieces were made for use with wood-burning stoves, he said.

“They really weren’t made for electric stoves,” he said.

Many collectors, however, still use the antique pieces today with their electric stoves for cakes, breads, stews and other recipes.

Reed and his wife, Rosa Belle, keep the collection in storage, not in their home, with the exception of one piece she uses to make upside-down cakes.

“The handle makes it easier to turn the cake,” he explained.

Reed also purchased a book that explains the various “marks” and items created by the manufacturing company.

Griswold’s first mark was “Erie,” which indicated the pieces were made by the company in Erie, Pa. The black iron also makes the pieces easy to identify.

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Reed worked as a machinist at several area mines during his career, including Kopperston, Slab Fork, Island Creek and Maple Meadow.

He now spends his time in the woods, picking berries for homemade jams and jellies, digging ginseng and making turkey calls.

The turkey calls are the only thing that Reed sells and the handmade wood creations are $10 each.

“Anybody comes to my house goes away with a jar of jelly,” he said with a laugh.

His most recent batch resulted in 35 pints of grapebutter/ apple, made with Concord grapes sent to him by a relative.

“I have to stay busy,” he emphasized again.

He has dug more than 1,000 ginseng plants this year.

“I give the money to my great-grandkids,” he said.

Reed and his wife have two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

“My mom lived to be 96 and she dug ginseng until she was 90,” he said. “I want to keep going; I have to keep busy.”

— E-mail: mcbrooks@register-herald.com

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