Walking the llama trail - The North Star Monthly

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14 NOVEMBER 2009 THE NORTH STAR MONTHLYWalking to school in 1922Through the eyes of a childhood friendBY BRUCE HOYTow did your school“Hday begin?” I asked. Iwas exploring an idea for a“walking to school” narrativefrom a person of the generationbefore my own – the generationthat really did walk acountry mile or more throughthe snow.“I didn’t have any morningchores. I got up for breakfast whenmy mother and brothers came infrom milking,” she said.“You were spoiled,” her son interjected.“I was the baby,” Margueriteprotested.Marguerite Chamberlin, formerlyMeserve, nee McLaren,walked to the same Standard Schoolon Joe’s Brook Rd., that my fatherattended a decade before. Her walkto school was about a mile and ahalf, a bit longer than his. TheFenoff & HaleConstruction Inc.For all yourConstruction NeedsLarge or SmallCustom Homes • Remodeling • Addition • Roofing • Siding • DecksPainting - Interior or Exterior, No Matter What Size • Fully Insured1085 Rte 2 East, Danville, VT 05828 • 802-684-9955Trent Cell 802-535-9108 • Nate Cell 802-535-7303 • Fax 802-684-3414McLaren homestead lies on the LittleScotland Road, and the gable endof the barn is just visible from theHoyt property. Marguerite’s son,Arthur Robert “Bob” Meserve andI were classmates at St. JohnsburyAcademy. The McLaren-Hoyt tiesare old and ongoing.Responding to my concern oversuch a long trek for a first grader, allalone, she said, “Oh no, my brotherNeil walked with me. It was his jobto see that I was safe. I don’t knowthat he was always happy about it,but perhaps we were closer becauseof it. My brother Art was in eighthgrade and my brother Hazen was alreadyout of school.”I wondered about wildlife. Didshe ever experience any event thatgave her a fright?“No, I don’t remember anythinglike that ever happening.”I had to remind myself that Vermontin the 1920s was only onefourthwoodland and three-fourthsopen land. She was much morelikely to see pastured cows andhorses than deer.“No. No deer. No bobcats leapingout of the shadows,” she chuckled.So, lunch pails in hand, she andNeil trooped off to school along thedry dirt roads of autumn, the rollerpackedsnow of winter, and themuddy ruts of spring. They didn’tcarry books. The books were atschool “and not very interesting.”For her, arithmetic held the strongerinterest.“My teacher – I think her namewas Shattuck – Ms. Shattuck waswonderful. When I went to the BarnetSchool for third grade, I was wayahead of the other pupils. I wasgiven the job of correcting their papers.”Dussault’sHeatingSalesServiceInstallationThermo Pride FurnacesPeerless BoilersMuch of the argument forkeeping the one-room schoolhinged on the value of the youngerchildren listening to the recitationsof the older pupils.“I tried to hear what Neil andArt were learning so I could showoff at home,” she said.The winter trek held morechance for adventure. Sleds becamean important part of the morningwalk. With a slight initial grade, ashort flat by Corriveau’s and a longsteep grade down to the Joe’s BrookRd. the trip was fast and fun. Theremaining half-mile along the valley’slevel grade, however, often funneledthe cold north wind into aserious wind-chill.“But I had a long dress withplenty on underneath and longwarm socks.”Still, she was glad that an adult,maybe Dana Garfield - he lived justacross the bridge - had come in earlierto light a fire in the tall stove tomake the one-room school toastywarm. The twin outhouse, one sidefor boys and the other for girls, waswithout the benefit of heat.In spite of the long morningand evening walks in the cold, thechildren went forth during the lunchperiod and dragged their sleds upthe Barnet Center road for whatcertainly must have been a real thrillride down to Joe’s Brook Rd.“My best friends at school wereAmy and Charlie Bagley. Amy and Ihad seen the big boys using a traverseand decided that if they couldcontrol it, we could too. We hauledit almost up to Newman’s beforestarting down.”Her son, getting a new vision ofhis 94-year-old mother, said,“There’s a wicked turn near the bottom.How on earth did you makeit?”“We didn’t. We crashed,” Margueriteadmitted, smiling a bit at thatlong-ago deviltry. “But we weren’thurt.”Did she ever go to school bycar? “We didn’t have a car, and Idon’t remember ever going by team.Cars were scarce except in town.The first time I saw a car was whenwe were on our way down Joe’sBrook Rd. in a one-horse sleigh. Wemet George Stevens in his new car.The horse was scared, but my fatherhad the reins and kept control.” Inthose days, snowy roads werepacked down by a horse-drawnroller. Wheels and runners would bepossible on some surfaces, butsleighs had the further safety ofbells to warn other travelers in timeto let them pull off to the side.Marguerite went to the BarnetSchool after two years.“That was easier. We lived justup Church Street, but I used tothink about my Joe’s Brook Rd.walk. I still do.”MICHAEL K. WALSH & SON, BuildersCustom Homes • Finish Work • RemodelingAdditions • Roofing • Siding • DecksPainting • Wallpapering & MoreSmall or Large ProjectsReasonable RatesQuality WorkmanshipServing Danville and the surrounding areas for 25 years.Danville, VT • 802-684-3977 • Call now for Spring Projects!Box 301St. Johnsbury, VT 05819(802) 748-494524 hour serviceRichard P. Barrett Insurance Agency309 Portland Street, Suite 102St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819(802) 748-5224Dr. Richard LevenDr. Stephen FeltusDr. Andrew IshakDr. Robin Vance-IshakAnti-reflectiveCoating Sale Cuts down computer screen glare Cuts down on annoying night driving head light glare* Sale ends November 30, 2009HARVESTSALEInstant Rebatesave up to *$750FEDERALTAXCREDITGet up to *$1500The recently passed EconomicStimulus package includes federaltax credits that encourage homeownersto make energy efficientimprovements to their homes. The30% consumer tax credit (up to$1500) applies to the purchase andinstallation of a stove which usesthe burning of biomass fuel to heata dwelling unit located in the UnitedStates and used as a primary residenceby the taxpayer, or to heatwater for use in such a dwellingunit, and which has a thermal efficiencyrating of at least 75 percentusing the lower heating value.Harvest Sale: For a limited time,save up to $750 off the MSRP ofselect in-stock Central Boiler outdoorfurnace models and ThermoPEXinsulated piping atparticipating dealers only. Instant rebateapplied towards the purchasewith the dealer¹s participation. Savingsshown is on a CL7260 model.Savings for an E-Classic 2300 is$600. See dealer for details.Appalachian SupplyHome of the Bad GuysRt. 5 North, St. Johnsbury, VT / 802-748-4513Rt. 302, Littleton, NH / 603-444-6336
www.northstarmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2009 15Up on the Farm EarlyChicken pie suppers arenot only good eating,they are tremendous bargains.Where else can youget entree, beverage anddessert for the pricescharged by our localchurches? And children areusually half-price.Ads for these chicken piesuppers appear early in the summer,pick up toward fall andcrescendo during the foliage season.You find pies made with individualbiscuits, or with theirwhole crusts, like the ones servedby the Groton Baptist churchduring the Northeast Kingdom’sFall Foliage Festival. The BaptistChurch’s dinner is so popularyou have to make your reservationsbeginning in the New Year.The Baptists serve their piesfamily style, the portions are generous,and the dining room ringswith the noise people makewhen they are enjoying a goodmeal and good fellowship.Driving at night is now difficultfor us, so Dick and I did notmake the pie supper at the BarnetCongregational church.There is another excellent meal.You go through the line whilethe servers fill your plate—and Ido mean “fill.” Fall squash,coleslaw, mashed potatoes and avariety of homemade pies makesure no one goes away hungry.Our daughter Kathy lives inCambridge, Vt. She and her husbandmake a special effort to goto the chicken pie supper in Waterville.Besides excellent pies,both chicken and dessert, theyoffer home-made pickles. Onewoman makes what Kathy saysare the most delicious tonguepickles she’s tasted, with just theright amount of spice.CHICKEN PIE SUPPERSBY LORNA QUIMBYThere are chicken pie, ham orgame suppers most weeks duringthe fall. What fun it would be tosample every offering. And toknow you are supporting a worthycause to boot.When I first became presidentof the Peacham HistoricalAssociation, we had many needs:flashing on the roof to replace,windows inside to paint, acidfreeboxes and much neededsupplies for the collection (andthese do not come cheaply), insuranceand water rent. Thehouse always needed painting. Toraise the necessary funds we puton chicken pie suppers. The scaleof the project was measured inthe number of suppers weneeded to do.Chicken-pie suppers involvemany people: someone has to setup the dining space, some needto cook and serve the meal and,if you’re lucky, a few wonderfulworkers do the dishes and cleanup after the meal. Rob Ide lent ushis special chicken pie pans.Leslie Post not only cooked thechicken and made the gravy, butalso introduced us to BakewellCream for light and fluffy biscuitdough.We were not the only groupin town that was trying to raisemoney. There were the twochurches, the Women’s Fellowship,the library and the elementaryschool.We were all doing the samething. Most of the time it was thesame few people who did all thework. After Leslie moved west,the Senturias put on a GroundHog Day dinner for severalyears, but surprise! None of uswere getting any younger. Wehad to find another way to raiseneeded money. Ghost Walks offereda fun way to increase ourfunds.Years ago, when the Academywas booming and theboarding students came to thesuppers, the women who put onthe suppers had a guaranteednumber. There was a suppereach month. The weather did notmatter. The students walkedfrom their dorms, and the localswere used to winter driving. Youdidn’t plan on someone drivingfrom a neighboring town or,heaven forbid, St. Johnsbury.There were plenty of workers forthe meals, too. I’m alwaysamused when someone says theycan’t help because “they work.”I’m not saying they don’t, but Ithink of those farm women likeVivian Churchill who rose early,cooked an enormous breakfastfor their brood, got them off toschool, did their own housework,made the noon meal and thendrove to the church to prepareand cook a supper, clean up afterwardand went home satisfiedthat she had helped the Fellowshipraise what seems a pitifulsum these days. Those smallsums repaired the parsonage,provided a pair of shoes so alocal child could go to school,sent food and clothing abroadand even helped pay the minister’ssalary.They were different timesand different ways. Thingschange, but still, as the leaves puton their glorious reds and golds,you’ll read the modest ad for achicken pie or a game suppernearby. You should go. Enjoyyourself and bon appetit.Woody on Words by Woody StarkweatherNaming the AnimalsThe Bible says that Adamand Eve were given dominionover all the animals andalong with that, or because ofit, had to name them. Thatmeant coming up with nameslike aardvark (“earthpig” inDutch) and armadillo (“little armoredone” in Spanish). Well,maybe those names came a littlelater, after the language ofEden gave way to the many differenttongues of modern people.Now we’re in Vermont, whichbears an uncanny resemblance toEden during five months of theyear. It seems fitting, then, to considerthe naming of animals. Notthe genus and species kind of namingthat Adam and Eve had to do.(Imagine the conversations theymust have had around the campfire,disputing the importance of earshape and tail length.) I’m thinkingof the less paradisical naming ofpets and farm animals.At the Danville Fair this summer,I watched the horse-pullingcontest and was struck by the namesgiven to the massively strong animals– Pete, Sam, Bob — strong,masculine names, just what drafthorses need. No Rachel Alexandrasin the group, or Sea Biscuits for thatmatter. I never heard the announcersay anything like “Here are Racheland The Biscuit trying their luck at26 lbs, 7 oz.” No. The names fit thehorses’ task.Cows too. We recently startedbuying our milk directly from a localfarmer and were pleased to learn thecows’ names. First there was Mule,originally called Sprinkle, but I canimagine the milker felt awkwardyelling “you #@$%&” at a recalcitrantSprinkle balking the stanchion.“Mule” allowed for a little moreWcussing. Anyway, it’s nice to knowthe name of the cow that gives youmilk. Knowing an animal’s nameprovides a connection to it, just asknowing a person’s name signals acertain level of intimacy.People who raise poultry formeat don’t give their charges names,unless the labels are Christmas,Thanksgiving, and Sunday Dinner.We have three ducks, but we haven’tgiven them names. They may beworried. If they could talk, I betthey’d introduce themselves, wantingus to know them a little better.An egg-laying hen is another story.For them a name is fine. There is anintimacy in eggs, as there is in milk,that allows for a name. Meat is a littletoo close for comfort. You don’twant to get attached to your futuredinner.Pets are another story. Manypets are named for their presumedcharacter when they’re young, butthe names don’t always pan out –Frisky the kitten, now grown,spends the day sleeping on the sofa.You can’t name a pet after someoneyou know; it’s a little insulting. Buthistorical characters are fair game.When I was a boy we had an Englishsetter named Churchill, and noinsult, in fact admiration, was intended.Our current dog, a greyhound,is named Merlin. I’m notsure why, but we certainly havenothing against the Arthurian magician.Some families have pet-namingtraditions. All our pets have namesthat begin with the letter M – Merlin,Molly, Marley, Miranda, and –Bruce. Well, we inherited Bruce thecat. Strong and masculine, he wouldhave made a good draft horse.Having so many names that soundalike poses a problem. When wecall one, the others come running,just in case. It seemed like a goodidea at the time.e’re thankful foryour patronage!We are pleased to offer a special presentation about theLEWIS & CLARKEXPEDITIONNovember 19, 2009 • 7:00 p.m.Danville resident Bob Nixon has become avery knowledgeable enthusiast of this intriguingjourney over the last ten years. Nixon willcover topics that lead up to the Louisiana Purchase,President Jefferson’s involvement andhow the expedition is connected to space travel.The people, events, discoveries and other interestingtopics will be discussed.FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLICHANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLELocated in the old school building - North Danville, VTElizabeth Szymanik, Librarian 748-4423Regular Hours: Mon.,Wed., Fri. 2-4 p.m. Wednesday Evenings 6-8 p.m.From:BobJeanMagonDanandLaura199 Depot StreetLyndonville, Vermont(802) 626-9026(800) 822-9026THE CARPETCOECTIO
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