Today we visited the local Farmers' Market, purchasing our weekly supply of fruits and vegetables. Here in Florida, Farmers' Markets can be found almost everyday of the week. "In season produce" is abundant, with pricing fairly low compared to the grocery store prices. Although apples are not local produce in this part of the country, they are many varieties at the Farmers' Market. Prices this season are high. We understand, the weather in the northern climates this past Spring, is the culprit. Last season we purchased "fresh cider", we will not make the same mistake again this year.
Mr. Potato Head was reminiscing about the Fall season he remembers as a child in Norwich, Connecticut. Apple orchards and local farms flourished in eastern Connecticut. "Scotland Road should of been called Apple Farms Road", Bill mentions as he recalls that ten to fifteen mile stretch of road, he walked home from school everyday, as being the most scenic and serene places during his childhood. This is where his love of farming and the dream of someday being a dairy farmer, was born.
At the bottom of Scotland Road was the Bailey Farm. Bordering this was Polsby's Farm. This farm had only golden Guernsey cows. Continuing north, was Bill's favorite place in the fall, Wallstone Orchards, owned and operated by the Graham family. Mr. Bill remarked, "There wasn't a day he didn't walk by that apple orchard, fill his belly and pockets with the crisp Autumn Macintosh apples." He also mentioned, "this was the first place he every saw apple cider being made. We used to ride our bikes down their and get free cider. The plastic cup was always there, just fill it up!" About a half mile north was a pasture owned by Mr. Polsby. It was full of huckleberry and blueberry bushes. You could jump the fence and fill your belly with these fresh berries. It was too bad when the birds also found them. Just a stones throw away, on the opposite side of the road, was the Geer farm, which was more of a menagerie than a farm. Continuing North, was a small farm, owned by an old hunch-backed man named Gardner. He only raised heifers and harvested his hay by hand, sometimes using a sickle, stuffing it to old grain bags and storing it in the old barn. Eccentric beyond belief, Bill would walk by the place at a brisk speed. "Very eerie and spooky, the man spoke like someone straight from a horror flick" Bill remembers. Rumor was, the man was old eccentric millionaire with no family or friends. He didn't even have electricity in the place. Walking along you'd arrive at Bill's house. Right next to Bill's parents was the Lillibridge Farms, Clarence on one side, his brother Thurston on the other. Everything Bill learned about nature, trees, crops and preservation of these, he owes to older Mr. Thurston Lillibridge. Thurston, wife Margie, was the "greatest cook in the world!" Bill worked and lived the entire summers at the Lillibridge house. Most everything they ate was "homegrown." "That woman could even make cod fish patties, digestible!" Not one of his favorite meals.
A local landmark was next, Wilcox Sawmill, which also had a very large and picturesque apple orchard, including peach and pear trees. Large piles of sawdust from the mill, beckoned the neighborhood children. "King of the Mountain" was the best fun. My husband recalls taking off socks and shoes, climbing to the very top of the pile, then rolling over and over down to the bottom. Mom wouldn't let him back into the house, until every piece of sawdust was left outside. Bill said,"You just removed all of your clothing outside, there we no neighbors close enough to see you standing naked, shaking the sawdust out of your clothes." Boris Kill was the next dairy farm in line, son Jerry went to school with Bill, later becoming the owner of K&L Grains. On the right hand side, further north, was the most active and idyllic farm on the road, Valley Hill Farm owned by the Rainville Farm. This was and still is today, the Rainville homestead. Valley Hill was the only farm in the area selling raw milk. It also housed the large Rainville family, ten children strong. They never had to have a hired hand! Just before the Sprague town line, was Arthur Hawkins Farm. With about thirty dairy cows, Arthur's was one of the smaller farms on Scotland Road.
What is ironic about all of these places...most are gone, land sold for development, but still one of the most scenic drives. As you cross the town line into Sprague, it becomes High St. Travel down this narrow road, lined with the original "mill houses", you arrive at the Academy of the Holy Family and the cross road of West Main Street. Just to the right, tucked neatly on the edge of Beaver Brook, is the building that once was Fred's News.
Although Mr. Bill is almost ten years my senior, the stories of his childhood came to life, as each of the people that were part of his memories, became Fred's News patrons. Mr. & Mrs. Wilcox, from the old sawmill, had lunch frequently at Fred's News. How they loved their burgers and steak sandwiches with onions or a BLT sandwich, extra mayo PLEASE. A long time friend and neighbor during Bill's youth, was Alan Rainville. He and his children visited Fred's News as well, with granddaughter, Heidi, eventually enjoying the coveted role as "Toast Person." The scenic area remains, but the orchard lands are now homes, the sawmill is quiet, the Polsby Farm,although no longer in operation, still has open land, Valley Hill Farm is the only farm still operating, but no longer produces milk. They now raise only heifers. Fred's News, now stands alone and quiet on a once bustling West Main St., beckoning people to remember.
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