Old Narragansett Church

Wickford, RI - This is the oldest Episcopal church in the Northeast. The congregation was founded on 1706 as St. Paul's Church. The church was was built in 1707. The church has box pews, a balcony, and one of the oldest organs in the United States. The organ was built by Bernard Smith in 1680.


There is a small church graveyard, one of people buried there is Frederick Hesley Belden, the 10th Bishop of Rhode Island.


I noticed this stone for two people lost at sea.


The church is set way back from the main road. The stones you see have names and dates carved in them.


Judging from the names and dates, it appears that these are the ministers from the church.


Not all stones are for the ministers, some memorialize members of the church or important dates for the congregation.

South Hadley Canal

South Hadley, MA - The Connecticut River was used as a highway to transport stones, hides, lumber, and other raw materials from the North and brought back Iron, Molasses, Sugar, Rum, and Manufactured goods. These items were transported by Flatboats which floated down the river and had to be poled or pulled back up. The round trip from Wells, VT to Hartford, CT took 25 days. The problem was around the South Hadley area, the river bed dropped 53 feet within 2 and a half miles causing rapids. A way to by-pass the rapids had to be found so a canal was built. The South Hadley Canal was the Nations first commercially operated canal. The canal was two and a half miles long and at the South Hadley Falls a unique way of getting the flatboats over the falls was built.

It was called the "Hampshire Machine" a 275 foot long, 30 foot wide, and 53 foot high stone inclined plain; it was capable of lifting 250,000 pounds. It took two years to build and was opened in 1795. Boats were floated onto a carriage and pulled up the inclined plain, waterwheels at the top supplied the power to pull the boats up; I believe a cable or rope was attached to the boat and the turning of the waterwheels would wrap around an axle and pull the boats up. The whole trip up the ramp took fifteen minutes. This model is located in the South Hadley Firehouse Museum.


This path brings you to a section of the canal still there. I walked down the path along the canal and did see "No Trespassing" signs so you can only go a short ways along the canal.


This part of the canal is still existing, there is a path from the Hadley Falls Canal Park(see bridge above ).


This is an overlook at Hadley Falls Canal Park, where you can have a great view of the Connecticut River and what is left of the canal.

A dam was built south of Northampton, MA to raise the water level to divert water into the canal. Citizens of Northampton brought suit against the canals proprietors in 1803, saying the backed up water caused them to suffer "fevers, miasma's(bad air caused by decaying material), and malaria". The inclined plain was close and a series of locks were put in in its place.

South Hadley Old Fire House Museum

South Hadley, MA - The Fire District No. 1 Firehouse was constructed in 1888-89. In addition to a firehouse it was also used as a polling place, a theater, a graduate site, a meeting hall and a social hall. This firehouse was used until 1974 when a new firehouse was built in Newton Street. In 1974 the Historical Society was chartered for the purpose of preserving the Old Firehouse. The Firehouse Museum was dedicated on July 3, 1976.
The museum is staffed by volunteers, all belonging to the South Hadley Historical Society. They are always looking for memorabilia to add to their collection; so if you have something historically significant they will be more than happy to display it in their museum.


The Old Firehouse, the bell from the tower was moved to the new firehouse.


Here is a 19th century hand pumper and a 1926 Dodge Fire Engine.


A motorized Ice Saw.


South Hadley Electrical Department display.

There is much more, I can't give it all away. There are somethings I will use in a future posting(you will just have to wait and see).

I just happened to stumble on the museum when it was opened for someone to make a donation to the displays.

Hours are: MAY - SEPT. 1:30 - 4:00
JULY - AUG WED 1:30 - 4:00

There is no admission charge but donations are welcome.

Info from museum handout.

Old Fashioned Fly Trap

Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, MA - When I was at Sturbridge Village, at the farm, I noticed this fly trap. It appears to work quite well.

Massacre in the King's Philip's War

South Hadley, MA - This is a monument for a massacre on September 18, 1675 in King's Philip's War, English against the Indians.



On the inscription is the word, "ambuscaded", which means ambushed. On the bottom was a reference to a stone slab that was 21 rods south of this monument(rod is 5.5 yards). I did not see this slab.

Rock Art

Burlington, VT - Along the Burlington Bikeway is this beach with all this rock art. Here are a few examples.


Passion!


Peace and Love


Rock Arches


A whole series of rock art.


Rock Machine


Stacks


Tiled Rock

Wickford RI Scarecrow Contest

Wickford, RI - Judging from the ribbons on the scarecrows Wickford was having a scarecrow contest. Here is a few that I saw when I was there.


This really tall scarecrow was the champion I believe.


I really like this one, it looks familiar but I can't quite figure out what is looks like other than a bird with a mask. It has a first prize ribbon and a second place people's choice ribbon.


This rather floral scarecrow was just sitting around.


This artist scarecrow was painting a nude modeled by this scarecrow wearing a body stocking or is that a scarecrow with a stocking body?


Now this scarecrow was just hanging around.


There is even a gourd dog.

Pulp Mill Bridge

Middlebury, VT - This bridge is just outside Middlebury VT spanning Otter Creek. It has two lanes one each way, I believe it is the only double covered bridge that still has traffic using it, in Vermont. It was built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1980.


Side view of the bridge.

The Round Church

Richmond, VT - This sixteen sided church was built in 1812 as Richmond's first meeting house by a group led by William Rhodes. The first proprietors were members of five denominations Baptist, Christian, Congregational, Universalist, and Methodist. Town meetings were held here for 160 years. In 1973 it was closed for restoration due to structural problems. It is maintained by Richmond Historical Society and staffed by volunteers. It is now used for tours, meetings, weddings, ecumenical services and concerts. In 1996 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.



A view from the balcony.

Information from sign outside the church.

Proud Farmers

Around Westhampton, MA - I saw all these prize ribbons and trophies in front of the Whirlwind Farm. There were quite a few of them...they must be real proud.


Another view showing the ribbons in front of the house also.

Whoopie Pies

West Kingston, RI - I ran across this Whoopie Pie stand and of course I had to check it out. These treats were being sold in someone's driveway; stored in a cooler with a cashbox to put your money in on the honor system.


The day I went the flavors de jour were Chocolate and Pumpkin. I've had chocolate before so I went with the pumpkin. It was a good selection, I'm sure the chocolate was just as good. Now if you don't know what a Whoopie Pie is, sorry no photo, I pigged it down too fast, it is two round pieces of cake, each like a mound with a creamy filling between. To tell you the truth, I don't exactly know what was the filling in these. It tasted somewhere between a cream and frosting, but not too sweet. Depending on the recipe, I think you can put anything from whipped cream, to cream cheese, to frosting, to mashmallow cream.

So if you are in West Kingston stop in and try one; I don't know the exact road but it is just around the corner from Kenyon's Grist Mill (a future post).

West's Bakery - Bismarck Doughnuts

Hope Valley, RI - I stopped in Hope Valley on my way to Allie's Donuts. At the time, I did not know that the name of the doughnut shop was called. I asked a few people if they know of a good doughnut shop and Allie's was mentioned a few times. But, one guy told me to make sure I went to West's Bakery and try the Bismarck doughnuts. This is a photo of the shop, it appears to be a local hangout. The guys standing out front were discussing hunting as I passed by.



The pastry case.



These are the Bismarcks that I was told about; they are a long doughnut split down the middle, a bit of jelly on the bottom, and then filled with a light cream...delicious! It was well worth the stop. If you are ever near Hope Valley, stop by and have one of these bad boys, you will not be sorry.

Allie's Donuts

North Kingstown, RI - I somewhere this week, it might have been Yahoo, that one of the top donut shops in the country was Allie's Donuts in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. I was planning on going to RI anyway so I made sure I stopped there. This photo is deceiving, all the cars are in the large parking lot to the right.



When I walked in there was a line to order, now this was about noon, I would expect a line earlier in the morning. This place must pump out a ton of donuts.



This is the donut case to choose from. My apologies to the worker that I caught as she walked into the shot. With this many people waiting for the delicious donuts I did not dare hold up the line for another photo.



Another thing they do here is make "Donut Cakes". They come in different shapes, this one is a car, I did see others that were shaped like BIG donuts.



If you are in the area, be sure to stop in and sample some of these delicious donuts. I had a glazed which was fresh and and soft, just like a good glazed donut should be. Also, I had cinnamon donut which had just enough crispness on the outside and was dusted with cinnamon mixed with powdered sugar.

Allie's is located at 3661 Quaker Lane in North Kingstown, RI.
You must call ahead to order cakes, 401-295-8036.

Autumn Road

Somewhere in Rhode Island - I was driving down this road and thought I looked very autumn like.

Cabot Farm Tour

Last weekend Cabot Cheese was holding am "Open Farm Tour" of farms that belong to the Cabot Cooperative. I toured two farms in Rhode Island and took a few photos.

The first farm was The Meadowburg Farm in Wyoming, RI run by brother and sister Francis and Rita Kenyon.

One of their barns.


Rita is describing something while giving a tour.



Cabot passed out these, "Poop Booties", if you did not want "Meadow Muffins" on your shoes.



A two week old calf in "Jail".


The other farm I visited was the Panciera Farm in Westerly RI.

Their Barn.



These are their cows, they sold all their cows a few years ago and are starting to build the herd back up.



Oh yes, there was a goodie table with "Got Cheese?" stickers, brochures, Cabot Cheese Samples, and even Corn Chowder.



This calf was born the day before...add one more to the herd.