Gyökerek • A Dráva Múzeum tanulmánykötete, 2004

Mészáros Ádám: Kútvölgyi Vendel, a kútásó mesterség élő legendája Barcson

Mészáros Ádám: Kútvölgyi Vendel, a kútásó mesterség élő legendája Barcson ÁDÁM MÉSZÁROS VENDEL KÚTVÖLGYI, THE LIVING LEGEND OF THE WELLMAKING CRAFT IN BARCS SUMMARY Even the prehistoric man endeavored to find his residence close to natural ponds and brooks. But the growth of the population and the migration inevitably required that the regions far away from natural water would be turned into suitable for human beings. During the history of mankind the importance of the dug and the sunk wells was constantly increasing from the point of view of the satisfaction of the drinking-water pretension. River Drava is the main source for Bares to gain water. In addition to that through the long centuries - artificial wells provided drinking-water for the local residents. Digging or sinking a well demands professional knowledge so the craftsmen engaged to this trade were always experts. Nowadays in Bares only the 89 year-old Vendel Kútvölgyi represents this interesting trade. Since his youth he was the sole well-digger in Bares. He was 72 when he gave up his job and since that day there is not a single representative of this craft in our town. In all probability this status won't change because people consume water from water-pipes and there are not many claims to dig or sink wells. Reading my essay the curious readers can follow the life of an old craftsman with attention and at the same time we gain a good initiation into the various tricks and master strokes of this trade. The vigorous master shows proudly his own inventions and specialties: the edge, the earth transporting rope-course and the method of underground well-shaft straightening. During his career the old master undertook 3620 commissions in connection with well-digging. Amid those tasks there were cleanings, renovations and building new wells. The inner diameter of those wells ranged from 0,8 meter up to 7 meters! With his work he used brick and even concrete. He straightened curved wells which were sunk by bunglers or which were distorted by using up and ruining effects of time. He says: "When I sank a new well the making of the shaft went like clockwork. I was keen on my job. Even nowadays I would be given new orders to dig wells. I worked hard for a long time but my wife charged me not to sink wells anymore. And she said that I have to take a rest, too. " 156