Well and well-sweep. Water was rarely piped into houses and barns.
Lacking a brook or spring a well was dug near the house. Pumps were
expensive and not often used, but a device like this for lifting water
from a well could easily be made. The pole, or sweep, was so weighted at
the large end that it would almost lift the vertical stick and the
bucket at the other end when the latter was full of water. A moderate
pull on the vertical pole carried the bucket down to the water. When the
bucket had filled a moderate lift on the pole brought it to the top. A
chain from A to B gave room to lift the bucket over the curb.