Discovering the weird and whimsical sites of New England
Author: Theophanes Avery
Theophanes Avery is a whimsical travel blogger that is hopelessly in love with New England and all it's weird places, people, and things. Besides running way too many blogs they are the author of three books, at least one of them good, and they also enjoy raising aquarium fish in Walsted tanks, sculpting, Sharpie doodling, knitting, tattooing leather, homesteading, and whatever other hobby tickles their raging ADD. Less fortunately they are a hopelessly impoverished spoonie yelling to the world, "WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY!" but alas no one's listening. Make sure to find them on the FaceBook. They love new oddball friends. Fly the freak flag high my darlings!
So today I was supposed to go to a couple farms to take photos of horses and livestock but it rained all day, everywhere. Still after having a migraine for three days and being unable to move or look into any kind of light, I was crawling out of my skin to go somewhere. I thought it might be fun to re-visit Trap Falls in Ashby, this time with props. I thought with it being raining no one would be there to witness my… creative outburst.
I was wrong. Apparently it wasn’t raining hard enough. I drove by Trap Falls three times, circling it like a vulture over the course of an hour while exploring the local roads near it, and there were people there each time. In fact one of them I think was there with each drive by, staring at my recognizable car and wondering what was wrong with me. Oh nothing, I just didn’t have the gumption to throw a gargoyle under my arm and head into the woods with the grin of a Cheshire cat. I’m eccentric but not that ballsy. Yet.
Still I found a little bridge just across the Townsend town line which wasn’t that far up the road. It had a turn off with some picnic tables so I figured why not check it out. What I found was so much more perfect than taking my gargoyle for a walk in front of a waterfall. It was a stone bridge that looked so castle-y I nearly bounced with the idea of whimsy. Today I had come prepared, not just with my garden statue, but with a whole knapsack full of totally random objects I kidnapped from the house. My intention today wasn’t so much to explore as it was to play. I don’t know what I am doing with my whimsy shots just yet but I am keeping them under my belt, just in case I need them for something, and in the meantime I am really enjoying taking them!
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I apologize for taking so long to update this blog after the fact but it’s just been a whirlwind! Followed by three days with a migraine that had me within inches of scooping out my own sinuses with a sharpened spoon… but I am back! And in full swing!
Last Sunday I found myself in Deering NH working on yet another project of mine (this time expanding my photographic chops.) It went well and I met some really nice people along the way and even learned a new bit of superstition. Apparently if pennies are found in old houses, tales side up, it’s supposed to be good luck left by whoever is haunting the place, preferably your ancestors. I have known pennies have a special place in our strange New England mythology but this was new to me!
I was told the Franklin Pierce Homestead was nearby and I figured it might be fun to drive by. Franklin Pierce used to be the worst president ever… in fact in New Hampshire our schools teach us, “Franklin Pierce was the only president from the state of New Hampshire.” Then they stop talking about him. Can you blame us if we swept him under the rug? Still, it seems as if he wasn’t a bad guy, in fact he was a very likable fellow…. he just would have been utilized better in a job that didn’t require politics… and who is to say his homestead wouldn’t be kick ass? You never know!
I drove down the road and was distracted by a cemetery. It happens. There was no parking as it was an old cemetery, not many new stones to speak of, and cars probably weren’t considered in its location. I parked aside the road in a little ditch I found and headed in. Turns out this was the Appleton Cemetery of Deering NH which seemed to have mostly stones from the late 1800’s. It was fairly small and none of the monuments took my breath away at first but it was still a lovely jaunt in the summer air. And I did find some stones which had an interesting collection of moss growing on them which harvested their own sort of beauty. As I explored further I found some oddly carved stones, even one which seemed to be signed??
I got a call just about then, from a friend claiming to be in the area. Can she drop by in half an hour? OK… but I don’t know where I am going from here! I wandered back into the cemetery and found a stone with flowers growing next to it. This was weird as it was the only stone to have live flowers anywhere near it. It didn’t appear anyone was still visiting this place – certainly not long enough to plant flowers. I decided to use the opportunity to take a few tinted shots from an odd perspective. I had the time, why not? After sharing this image with a few history buffs I was given this delightful link on the 17th Maine Infantry. I can’t say I have spent much time thinking about the Civil War in regards to Maine. I mean really, why bother fighting it if you’re living in Maine, which is as far from the conflict as you could possibly get! But hey, got to hand it to them, they were there, marching with the rest of the North. Good for them!
I waited in the cemetery for two hours. I called and texted my friend to no avail. This was a nice cemetery but not that nice. I left. This time I decided to meander down a few completely random roads nearby. I am always so happy to do this because the views you can find just lollygagging about can be spectacular! I was not disappointed! Just look at this roadside shot of a typical New England stone wall edged with flowers, trees, and a mountain in the background. This was someone’s farm. Another car creeped slowly by probably wondering what I was doing just parked there with my camera. Sorry!
And then I turned and started to meander down another long dirt road where I was delighted to find a big sign in the middle of nowhere directing me to a trail probably no one’s heard about. It was the Deering Audubon Society’s Wildlife Sanctuary. I was still pretty annoyed so I set off into the woods at quite a clip, didn’t look at the map. Who looks at maps? Certainly not me!
Roadside View – Deering NH
It was a pretty rough trail in the sense I don’t think anyone had been by to keep it cleared aside from some deer. Ferns grew over the path in several sections and for quite a while it seemed.. unspectacular. That is until it turned direction and led me past this gorgeous pond. I tried to snap a few photos but then after just a few shots my camera’s battery died. With the camera dead I realized I didn’t get my characteristic marble shot. I couldn’t live with that so I took out my broken cell phone and took this oddly awesome photo which totally looks like it’s supposed to be all hazy! I sat for another hour on this rock, just enjoying the gentle breeze coming in off the water and listening to the song birds. It was amazingly peaceful. I calmed down. A full three and half hours from when I got the first phone call I got a second, “Where are you?” “Fuck if I know. Not like I have an address.” I headed back down the trail thinking it was probably a loop trail and the car couldn’t be much further but by now it was getting dark and I hit an intersection which literally pointed the trail in three different directions. I could have just guessed… hoped for the best… and I probably would have if I wasn’t trying to get back to the car before they found me. Instead I went back up the path where I came, probably doing the majority of it twice, this time at an even faster clip and in squelching heat. I was a sopping mess and exited the forest just as they drove up…
If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!
Today I decided to take the longer path in the Betsy Fosket Wildlife Sanctuary, the Old Woods Road Trail. I guess a hundred years ago it was actually a real road and not just a tiny deer eaten path in the forest. It’s not a long or difficult path but it is very quiet and pleasant. It leads to a dam with a sweet little bridge. I felt like I fell through the looking glass here. I can’t believe I have lived in Rindge almost my entire life and had no idea any of this was here. In the spirit of whimsy I took a lot of the photos today with the “dramatic” filter – because I couldn’t find the black and white option… As you can see it was raining but I still had a great time in peaceful reflection.
If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!
Took a little stroll through Dunn Park in Gardiner MA today. I have been to a lot of little city parks and most are fairly sad in what they offer. This park however was pretty decent! It had numerous trails, a few hills, lots of trees, and a pond that had a swimming hole and many little spots to fish. It was just enough of a walk when you have a three year old in tow! All in all I had a very nice afternoon here… and I found some marbles!
If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!
The Betsy Fosket Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature area and trail that starts at the end of Emerson Lane. You have to walk half-way up someone’s driveway (which is a twelve foot right of way) and you’ll find the entrance to the trail on the right where there’s a mailbox and a bunch of signs. It is mostly used as a preserve and breeding ground for various wild birds but the trail through it makes for a nice low-impact walk of 0.6 miles.
I walked this trail a lot when I was just a little thing, before a house got built right next to the trail’s beginning (which seems to scare most people away these days.) It’s a nice winding woodsy path that allows you a decent view of Crowcroft pond. It’s more damp than most trails I have been on but it’s nice in how few people use it – you’re not likely to bump into anyone else here. It’s been a favored spot for much contemplation over the years and if you’d like a longer hike this trail attaches to the Old Wood’s Road (follow the red markers when you see them!)
***I apologize for any missing photos and galleries as I continue to work getting Catching Marbles fully migrated to a new host. Please come back soon for restored photos and thank you for your patience!***
If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!
UPDATE: I have returned to the Betsey Foskett Preserve many times, mostly for the scenery and the exercise but sometimes my creative spirit needs more. Today, 5/30/2017, I headed out into the woods with an assortment of seemingly random props – a purple crystal goblet from my kitchen, a sack of marbles, a broach, and two crystal balls which were gifted to me with a smile and a wink during one of my gender bending escapades. My friend looked me up and down dressed in full regalia as The Goblin King, and said, “Well you got the c*** part down [with a codpiece] Now you just need some balls.” And with that anecdote I have completely ruined A VERY PRETTY PICTURE.
Well, since I was in town anyway, a mere two miles down the road if my GPS tells me right, I decided to swing by the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed. I must say this is the most underwhelming roadside attraction I have ever witnessed. It’s a little ditch, with something that looks like a gravestone marking his birth and right next to that there is a bulletin telling you who he was and a dollhouse replica of the cabin he was born in. All these are under a No Trespassing sign but if you turn a blind eye to that you can walk around the dollhouse and find an immensely underwhelming diorama! Seriously, this is not worth driving to but if you happen to be there anyway….
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It was gorgeous out today and well worth wandering. I left the house to explore some odd corners of Leominster. I had heard a rumor there’s a stone in one of their cemeteries that belongs to a man who had it inscribed with, “Was persecuted for the beard.” Apparently he had a luscious beard. And people didn’t like that. The story gets so bizarre I really wanted to see his stone but the directions I had to the unnamed cemetery were atrocious. I turned around in many a good fellow’s driveway. And just as I was about to give up I found myself parked directly across from a cemetery that seemed somewhat hidden behind a big stone wall adjoining a park. Off I went!
It turns out the park and cemetery are adjoined. The park was once a military training ground for soldiers as far back as 1812. The cemetery was older. It was filled with absolutely pristine and ornately carved slate stones from the 1700’s. According to the plaque this was Pine Grove Cemetery and buried there were no less than ninety-four minute men. This is a Revolutionary War buff’s dream. And I will be damned! In yet another clusterfuck I forgot the camera and the pennies I like to leave as a sign of respect. So I took these photos with my broken phone and they probably aren’t great but they do show the exquisite attention to detail… even the poems are still clearly legible.
We didn’t find our bearded man here so after a nice walk I drove off and bumped into another cemetery not far away – the Saint Leo Cemetery. This was a much larger cemetery that reminded me a lot of the moneyed cemeteries you find in Lowell MA and Rochester NY. Big beautiful monuments, angels weeping, cherubs lurking behind every dark corner, Greek styled women in mourning towering over the stones, and even a huge mausoleum. I can think of no better way to while away an afternoon.
If you enjoy my blog please consider helping me fund my lifelong dream of having an educational farm and check out my GoFundMe. Thank you! https://www.gofundme.com/help-fund-an-educational-farm
If only you could read my resume. It would have a lot of life experience, a whole ton of odd stories, a dizzying collection of skills, and yet nothing you could possibly use to hire me for anything. Cemeteries are a good way of illustrating this because I have volunteered many a summer day to archive them. I know, you’re scrunching your nose wondering what exactly that means… It means I went out with a group of other women who were super into genealogy (which sadly, I am not) and we toured all the old cemeteries in the area, scribbling on outdated maps and tattered notebooks a few key details – where each stone was placed, what they were made of, what they read, and any other notes. These were being compiled for a book for prosperity – almost finished but not published yet.
I was the youngest on the crew in those days so my eyes were of more use than anything else. I was given the stones everyone else had given up on – the markers who were so worn down by wind and weather that they were virtually impossible to read. I LOVED this work. Sometimes I spent as much as forty five minutes trying to hobble together what one stone read, a task that took particularly long because old stones in New England often have whole poems inscribed on them. Often they’re beautiful rhyming quatrains, elegantly written in the vocabulary of the day, which makes trying to figure out what they say even more difficult. Luckily I had some practice in Old English and knew a few tricks (like old F’s look like S’s and words like “warbled” are nearly obsolete but real.)
I can’t tell you how great this experience was. I learned so much about local history doing this. I jotted down the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers, I witnessed in writing the lives and deaths of slaves (yes, New England had those too,) I got to see the profound effects of dysentery which killed a great deal of children under the age of ten, I also read on various stones about children dying in factory accidents, old women spontaneously combusting, and even a note to someone who had claimed to invent powdered milk. And if all that wasn’t enough I became familiar with the art – as many of these stones had intricate and eerie carvings of weeping willows, urns, bundles of wheat, cherubs, and skulls.
Imagine our surprise when we were driving to Doane’s Falls and stumbled upon a cemetery we hadn’t archived. I was thrilled, I can’t say the woman that organizes these little ventures was quite as much. This was a large cemetery and she thought she was done! We parked the car and took a quick jaunt to see if maybe she had just forgotten this place but nothing seemed to trigger her memory. I took a few photos and this is really what New England is all about – history, art, poetry, nature, and look at those stone walls in the background. I would miss those dearly if I ever left this place.
I will be writing a further entry if in fact we haven’t archived this cemetery because that means I will be back for a far closer look!
***I apologize for any missing photos and galleries as I continue to work getting Catching Marbles fully migrated to a new host. Please come back soon for restored photos and thank you for your patience!***
If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!
Today I went to a town I have never heard of – Royalston – and enjoyed a brief but very enjoyable jaunt through the woods in order to see Doane’s Falls. Who knew I lived so close to waterfalls!
The GPS had noooo idea what was being asked of it so it took a while to get to the right location. In fact there was a lot of weaving through little rural roads past historic homes and cemeteries. I can’t say I was displeased with the Leaf Peeper’s Route to Nowhere.
Upon arriving there’s a little gravel parking lot off the road and curiosity got the better of me. Instead of waiting to see the water’s edge after going down the trail I decided instead to skip up to the fence keeping everyone away from it at the edge of the parking lot. I wasn’t disappointed! What a view! A gorgeous stone bridge spanned the water and would have been totally missed if I just walked on!
I must admit I was feeling a bit spry today and didn’t feel much like abiding to rules. I wandered off the path at numerous points and climbed down the rocks, past the signs that explicitly told me not to… You only live once right? Though I don’t condone this brazen behavior I must admit I don’t regret it… not one bit. Oh the photos!
The path was short and sweet and a very easy hike. Nothing scary here. I will very much recommend this to anyone of any experience level.
While driving through Globe Arizona I noticed something really bright glowing through the trees. It was an intense red and the closer I drove it to it the more intense it became until I couldn’t look directly at it without burning sun spots into my eyes. As I approached it not only got brighter but I could feel heat. Driving at a crawl I approached a gate and several hundred feet beyond there was a live lava flow. I could feel the heat from the car as if I was standing next to a hot stove. It was all encompassing and set off a primal fear. I shouldn’t be near this. It oozed and glowed and proved quite a mystery. I asked locals about it… none of them had any idea they lived on an active lava flow… what had I witnessed?!
If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!
