Oatmeal Rock "Cookie Power" Cookies

This recipe is Grandma Wellman's recipe, which dates prior to 1890. It was served at the Wellman Hotel in Niobara NE. Kearney loved hydroplanes, and eventually he traveled with the teams where he was known as "The Cookie Man" for baking tens of dozens of oatmeal rock cookies for the team at each race. On race day (or before), the crews would be running hard, with scarcely a moment left for eating. Kearney's cookies were a handy, wholesome, and energy packed "unit" that you could grab and eat on the run.

In a large mixing bowl, mix:
4 cups old-fashioned oats 4 tsp (heaping) cinnamon 2 tsp (heaping) ground allspice	1 tsp (heaping) ground ginger 2 tsp (heaping) ground nutmeg 2 tsp (heaping) ground cloves
Bring 1/2 lb butter + 1/2 lb margarine to a boil and pour over the above ingredients Mix well and then add:
1 1/2 lbs light brown sugar 4 eggs 1 lb walnuts (whole or pieces) 6 cups flour 1 cup hot water mixed with 2 heaping tsp baking soda	15 Tbsp whole milk 3 tsp vanilla 2 lbs raisins
Mix well. Batter will be very sticky. Place tablespoon sized globs on a buttered cookie sheet (butter cookie sheet between batches). Bake at 375-degrees for 15 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool and ENJOY! Makes 5 dozen cookies.