Granny Nevil's Spinning Wheel
From Nevilpedia
Yarn Spinner
SAC Jet Inspection Mechanic Milligan Nevil this month proudly brought SKYLIGHTS this picture of the "old spinning wheel" in the parlor of his family home. The wheel was made for his mother, Mrs. J. B. Nevil, when she was six years old. Now 84, Mrs. Nevil still takes a turn at the wheel every now and then to keep it from gathering dust. Clock at upper left is an antique, but still keeps perfect time. Pictured, left to right, are Nevil's sister, Mrs. Duckworth, his mother, Nevil, and Granddaughter Veronica Nevil.
Thanks to Leroy and Billie Griffith for the photo above. The photo below was in my father's possession (Daris Russell Nevil) when he died. He proudly displayed the photo at his home in Abilene. It was given to him by his mother, Floye Ellen Nevil.
Susie Arbell Barnett Nevil was born 18 June 1873 in Lexington, Alabama. She turned 84 years old on 18 June 1957. The photo could have been taken anytime between then and June 18 1958. By using the closeup of the calendar below, and the Linux calendar program, it was deduced that the photo could have been taken either in August 1957 or May 1958. Finally, by accessing the U.S. Naval Observatory's Phases of the Moon program, it was found that the calendar's moon phases matches that of August and September 1957. (Please note the exception that the calendar showed August 31 as the First Quarter, whereas the US Naval Observatory shows September 1 as the First Quarter). The Full Moon symbol is not really visible on the calendar's August 10 date, probably because it is an outline of the moon instead of a filled-in dark image like the new moon. Likewise, the Last Quarter is barely visible on August 18.
1957 Phases of the Moon
Universal Time
From the US Naval Observatory
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html
New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter
d h m d h m d h m d h m
Jan 1 2 14 Jan 9 7 06 Jan 16 6 21 Jan 22 21 48
Jan 30 21 25 Feb 7 23 23 Feb 14 16 38 Feb 21 12 19
Mar 1 16 12 Mar 9 11 50 Mar 16 2 22 Mar 23 5 04
Mar 31 9 19 Apr 7 20 33 Apr 14 12 09 Apr 21 23 01
Apr 29 23 54 May 7 2 29 May 13 22 34 May 21 17 03
May 29 11 39 Jun 5 7 10 Jun 12 10 02 Jun 20 10 22
Jun 27 20 53 Jul 4 12 09 Jul 11 22 50 Jul 20 2 17
Jul 27 4 28 Aug 2 18 55 Aug 10 13 08 Aug 18 16 16
Aug 25 11 33 Sep 1 4 35 Sep 9 4 55 Sep 17 4 02
Sep 23 19 18 Sep 30 17 49 Oct 8 21 42 Oct 16 13 44
Oct 23 4 43 Oct 30 10 48 Nov 7 14 32 Nov 14 21 59
Nov 21 16 19 Nov 29 6 58 Dec 7 6 16 Dec 14 5 45
Dec 21 6 12 Dec 29 4 52
The spinning wheel was made for Susie when she was 6 years old. That means it was probably built somewhere near Lexington, Alabama, as that is where the Barnetts moved from when Susie was about 16 years old.
The image below is a closeup of the photos in the background. Can you identify those photos? I was told who the person in the cap and uniform is at the 2002 Nevil Reunion, but alas, I have forgotten who it is. I believe it may be Milligan Nevil. If you can verify or correct please email me at daris@nevil.org.
