Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-08-10
A communicated 20 the American
HIS II Club.
Westfeld, Mass, Aug. L, 1907

Nv Dear Cow Orkers:-I am so
sorry that l could not get this off so
you might have it Club day, but I
simply could not. First place, ex-
cuse pencil as am writing on the
porch.
l was very tired when I arrived,
with a little tendancy to heart
trouble. Sister Nellie gave me
drink Of wine and in an hour or so
she said looked ten years younger.
Then the visiting began. l visit
ed an old burrying ground, copied a
few inscriptions, drew picture OF
one stone TO show the club, found
some OF Mrs. Marlow's Ashley an
cestors. also Richard Falley's OF
Revolutionary fame. Went TO the
cemetery where my father and
mother are buried and visited the
old Washington elm that has been
filed to keep it alive. I saw the
house where Barron Reidersol
stopped over night with prisoners OF
Burgoyne's army, captured by
Ger eral Gates. Saw the largest
whip factory in the world, and visit
ed many places Of interest to me,
where / had wandered with my
brother. Found the old tree where
] sat when the event took place
which I told the club about.
Monday 1 went TO stay few days
with nv COUSIN, Nellie Carry--cousln
bv marriage of DR.. Phoebe Sprague.
Tuesday morning we started for a
ride on the trolley, leaving West
field at s a. m. Our first stop was
at West Springfield, which has wide
streets with elms on each side and
row through the center. There are
few old colonial houses here with
their quaint hand carved doors and
small window panes. We did not
linger long but took the trolley for
Holyoke College, where cousin Nell
graduated. She n Nde an ideal COM
pan1on, having ma DE a study of the
history of the state, of its homes,
trees, churches, politics and every
thing pertaining to the state. Our
road lay along the Connecticut riv,
er and I fairly reveled in the grand,
grand old elms and naples and the
peaceful farm homes. We spent
an hour or more in Holyoke-saw
pictures of Mary Lyon, the founder.
and for many years its teacher.
wish I could describe the beautiful
grounds slOping to the river, its &C.
ragnt walks, flower beds, grand
trees and dark,red brick buildings
covered with ivy. You must see II
II imagination
We then started for Amherst
where we took dinner at one Of the
old, old houses once owned by
President Hitchcock, first president
Of Amherst college, and where
Mary Lyon boarded when she first
taught school, great square CHIN
ney in the center Of the house. with
pannelled cupboard and closets let
into the walls; 2 long, low dining
room with one end ali windows and
doors, steps leading up into a bed
room with its high post-bed and q
dresser with big glass claw-feet and
handles. Such q welcome and such
q dinner as we received Cousin
Nellie's mother in-law inherited the
house years ago. After dinner the
man Of the family" hitched up and
took US all over the college grounds
and past a fine building of the boys
society. Then we boarded the trolley
again, bound for old Hadley. Here
Is the widest street 1 ever saw
with four rows of elms. Here also
is the house where one OF the
regicides was in hiding when the In
dams were getting the better of the
troops, 1876. He came forth and
lid something and Immediately dis
appeared. CYou members Of the
History club fine out what he did
Here Burgoyne presented his sword,
that had been returned to him when
hs surrendered, to some gentleman
who had been kind to him. The
sword is still in possession of the
family VINO guard it with jealous
are. never leaving it for one NOM
ent when al nv OF the big gather
ing
The trolley from Amherst to Hol-
yoke passes through a notch in the
RolyOke range Of mountains. We
cot In front with the motor-man,
0. how / did wish I had you all
with me going up the mountains
It was like a picture-the ascent
was so gradual and we could see for
mile and miles the different colors
IN the fields, the large orchards,
the farm houses surrounded by
trees, little ponds Of water or tiny
village, al on such a slope that
-.AJ,,-,~s caa,,,od Indian Two poxyo1.