Bullard Camp

New Ipswich Historical Society

Bullard Camp

Bullard Camp photo given by Mrs. Walter Hardy, Photo taken by Leon R. Willard. Location unknown.

THE OLE SWIMMING HOLE (Hilma Stark)

Walter was boss of the blueberry picking and it was from him we relied on to tell us when it was time to go home. When the desired number of crates were filled, we would all climb back into the truck with our blue teeth for the ride home. The Dodge had hardly stopped when we scrambled out to don the old “swimming dress” as bathing suits were almost unheard of and a discarded dress was used pinned at the bottom. We dashed through the woods to the ice-cold river where there was a natural deep hole excellent for diving in. The water was one degree above freezing, but then we didn’t seem to mind and we all became good swimmers at an early age and also learned to dive.

On the way home, we would stop to hunt for if crockery or spoons at the cellar which had at one time been someone’s home, but the house was long gone and Father now owned the land. It was called “Mary’s Place”.

Once in a while, the cows failed to return home and it was to this place we had to come to find them and chase them home. It’s a good thing at least one of them had a bell and it wasn’t too hard to locate them. Then it was time to go home and have supper. As soon as it was dark, we were chased upstairs to bed. If we delayed in putting the light off, we needed only one command from Father to immediately comply.

After a few ghost stories we had no trouble falling asleep and were up bright and early to start the same routine the next day.

Reminisces  from Hilma Stark (b. 1917) who grew up in New Ipswich. She was sister to the late Elmer Stark who lived at the family place on Fox Farm Road (uncle of Sharon Anderson Rosenfelder). (probably recorded in the late 1970’s)

James Roger diary entry

16th June 1912

Drizzly, misty; east to south wind. Professor Lane preached a good sermon from Proverbs last chapter 15th verse. S.S. after. 12 present. No evening meeting. Mr. Lord on his vacation.