Terry Sargent of Greenfield demonstrates how to rope an antique bed at the Reed Case House during Canal Days. He said a basket weave is used. The rope is secured by pegs on the bed. For extra reinforcement, the rope is wound around the bedposts and then finally, stretched between diagonal posts. The rope framework provides the support for feather tick or straw tick mattresses. Sargent said when both kinds of mattresses were used together, the feather one would be on top in the winter (for warmth), and the straw would be on top in the summer. He said a rope bed takes about 100 feet of rope. As it is slept on, the rope stretches. A wooden bed wrench, also called a bed key, is used to tighten the rope.

Comet photo by Jennifer Archibald