Бывший пилот ВВС из округа Оттер-Тейл возрождает старинное ремесло ткачества на семейном станке

OTTER TAIL COUNTY — History weaves through Ron Mohs' life, literally and figuratively. In a small room in his East Leaf Lake home, clothes are neatly folded on a shelves that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. On the other side of the room is an old loom. “This loom was my wife’s (Kathleen) grandparents' originally,” Mohs said. “Then her uncle took it over and he made rugs for a lot of years. I used to go watch him.” ADVERTISEMENT Mohs’ uncle-in-law was a farmer. He had placed the loom in the upstairs of his house and would spend his evenings weaving fabric into rugs, table runners and more. Under his guidance, Mohs learned efficient ways to arrange and load the more than 250 strings and other secrets of the traditional skill. “I enjoyed it so much that he left this to me when he died,” Mohs said. “It's really an old skill. Not too many people do it anymore.” When the loom was brought to his house, Mohs began a new morning routine. Just about every day the retired teacher spends time creating something new out of old fabric. Most of the rugs he creates are made of 100% cotton material. He explained the clothes with spandex in them don’t make straight edges. As he moved his hand over the loom, Mohs explained that when new spools are strung, he can make upwards of 30 rugs, depending on the size. He noted the width is always the same, at about 2 feet, whereas the length can vary from 3 to 7 feet. “Once in a while my wife helps crank on it because my arms are getting stiffer as I get older,” he said, adding when the weaving of a rug is completed, each end is tied by hand. “My wife says it is a job for me, but it is not. I enjoy it a lot. It is too fun to be a job.” Since he was gifted the loom, there has only been one stretch of time when it has remained stagnant. “I lost my sight for awhile,” he said, noting he went blind in one eye and his retina detached in the other. After surgeries, he regained his sight and returned to his seat at the loom. “It gives me a sense of peace.” ADVERTISEMENT While the hobby gives Mohs something special, his rugs often bring forth memories from his customers. Some grew up with similar rugs by the entry way or on the kitchen floor. Often those core memories are shared with him at craft shows and vendor events he attends. Air Force Pilot lands close to home Mohs grew up in Bluffton, on a farm, and ended up in North Dakota after he got out of the Air Force, where he served as a pilot. Mohs explained he and his wife were teachers, and at that time the jobs were in North Dakota. While he taught English and French, his wife brought music to her student’s lives. The two also raised five children, and now have 12 grandchildren. Mohs said they returned closer to their childhood hometowns when his wife’s father began experiencing ill health. “Eventually he moved into town,” Mohs said, adding his father-in-law sold the land he owned on East Leaf Lake, which was divided into four lots. “We bought one of them. This is the land my wife grew up on.”