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SALISBURY HISTORYMARM MESSERMarm Messer was a small, dark complexioned womanwho lived alone in a small house on the old Ferry Road,150 years ago. It was said that her husband was an Indianand some thought she also was.In June when the wild roses were in bloom, she would beseen along the road-side filling bags with rose petals. Sheknew of their medicinal uses and would make salves andcough syrups. Mothers would seek her aid when their childrenwere ill or had colds. Like the Indians, she had greatfaith in the healing power of herbs, roots and plants.She went to meeting every Sunday with the same heavyclothing. Her feeling was, if thick clothing would keep outthe cold in the winter, it would keep out the heat in the summer.Marm was not well known. She lived a quiet life andkept to herself. Only her remedies brought her in contactwith others, but she was often seen walking through thewoods gathering plants and herbs.STRANGER’S GIFTAlong time ago an elderly man and his wife lived in asmall house on what is now Lafayette Road, near theroad that leads to the Plains. They had come to Salisburyearly and worked hard on their farm, but in their later yearsthey just grew enough vegetables for their own use.One spring morning a traveler knocked at their door. He198