"On the following day some of the neighbours returned to complete the house, (the work was being done in this instance for a shoemaker whose home had been destroyed by fire) ; the rafters were put up, the house boarded, spaces for doors and windows cut out, and everything completed. Some of the neighbours furnished boards, others shingles, a carpenter the door and sashes, and the storekeeper the glass, putty, nails, etc., all of which the man paid for in work at his trade in the course of the following six months."
Often as many as one hundred men gathered to raise the framework of a large barn, with teams of oxen used to haul the larger logs. The process varied with the type of building, but the framework was usually constructed on the ground and then raised into position by the men, with long pike-poles for the purpose.
Sometimes a race was held by the two teams of men at work on the opposite sides of a barn, which made the work a little more lively, though at times needless risks were taken that resulted in serious accidents. Susanna Moodie, discussing the raisings in Peterborough district as "generally conducted in a more orderly manner than those for logging. Fewer hands are required, and they are generally under the control of the carpenter who puts up the frame, and if they get drunk during the raising they are liable to meet with very serious accidents."
This meal was eaten at noon, and afterwards the raising continued. Later on it began to pour rain, so the men went into the old house and drank punch and smoked cigars, while "the young people chatted or flirted as they fancied. A substantial tea was served soon after, whereupon dancing commenced to the fiddling of one of the men, and this continued until eleven. A supper almost as substantial as the 'dinner was then brought forth, after which dancing was resumed and continued until one. As no one could venture out because of the rain, and the whole eighteen were somehow accommodated for the night.
"And I hear", says Mrs. Stewart, "that they laughed almost all night instead of sleeping. In the morning all were busy before breakfast, and by noon the structure was raised, and the hostess considered that they should be glad that nothing but the rain had interrupted the work, for often dreadful accidents happened at these raising bees".
In the Archives of Ontario there is a diary of John Thomson, April 19-24, 1834; that gives an account of a raising 'bee' that lasted three days and ended in an inquest due to the death of a Native Canadian.
"Saturday, April 19, 1834; - "Sent off two hands to raise the country to come on Tuesday to get up the frame of the barn. ...
"Monday, 21st; - Very rainy. Poor prospects for tomorrow's work; two hands at the village bringing over a
supply of whisky, etc., the other two making the pike poles for raising the frame, cleaning and preparing the shanty for the accommodation of the people coming from a distance. ...
"Tuesday, 22nd; :- A bad rainy morning; however, as people came forward we commenced towards 9 o'clock to put the bents of the building together. It was with difficulty we got them persuaded to stay and persevere tomorrow; however, I sent for a fiddler and cajoled and flattered them as well as I could, with the assistance of Mr . Kinsopp, Majors Darlings and Rowes, these being gentlemen and messed in the dining room, while the others, landed proprietors but no gentlemen, lived in the kitchen; (this) caused some envious feeling among certain Yankiefied personages of the latter class; and consequently we mixed among them and did all we could to do away with any bad impression, and pleased them wonderfully well."
"Wednesday, 23rd; - Began to put up the frame with thirty lienor thereabouts; found the bents so heavy that at firRt we feared a failure, but, after everyone got themselves fairly put to their mettle, it went up and so did all the others before night. ...In the afternoon several men who had come from Oro, perhaps ten or twelve miles
their places in the morning. While the men were at supper this evening a half-playful wrestling scuffle occurred. ...Joseph St. German was thrown down in the kitchen, and, melancholy to tell, he received some mortal injury, and in the course of seven or eight minutes expired, to the horror and regret of everyone....
"Thursday, 24th; - Sent a warrant to the constable to call a jury by daylight; they assembled about half-past 11 o'clock and proceeded to investigate the unhappy occurrence of last night, and found a verdict of manslaughter against Ronald McDonald. ..Very cold day: the people could hardly stand upon the top of the barn to get the plates on; indeed, had it not been for the detention as witnesses on the inquest, I believe they would all have decamped by daylight; no great wonder if they had, as I am sure they must all be sick enough of the job. The inquest was over by half-past three, and all hands got away by five o'clock. They have used a barrel of pork and one of flour with fifteen gallons of whisky, besides tea and sugar, etc. One of the hands made a coffin for St. German, and he was removed immediately after the inquest by his friends".
