Camping
New Ipswich Historical Society
Marion Davis Audio-Tape Transcriptions
Sometime before her death in 1986, Marion Davis recorded her memories at the encouragement of her brother, Walter Buck. The recordings were transcribed by a secretary.
The Friends of Wapack have made these available to the Historical Society. Marion was born on February 8, 1894 in Fitchburg, MA.
The Camping trip
Editor’s Note:
[This segment ends abruptly, no mention of what happened after they bought gas. Perhaps it was the end of the recording. The next section (tomorrow) covers sheep shearing.]
Now, Aliva used to spend many of her vacations with us. She hadn't gone through High School; went just two years. So this trip was to include her, too, and she helped us pack. She, Ruth, and I sat on the back seat inside of which much of our gear and food-stuffs had been stowed.
We reached Concord, N.H. in good time, and stopped there to make a tour of the impressive State House and the Tuck Memorial Library, as well as the State Library. That same day we made it to Lincoln, which would be our first overnight stop. There we pitched the tent in a field by the Pemigewassett River. this was our first experience with putting up a tent and preparing a sleeping area. We spread a canvas on the ground, and laid plenty of folded blankets on that, but even so the sleeping was hard.
The next day we made a lunch, tied up things in the tent... (in those - days you could safely leave things....and headed for Lost River. Also in those days there were very few people on the roads at all, and, as far as gas stations were concerned, few of them; so then you came to one.
Photo Archives
W. A. Preston
James Roger diary entry
15th December 1912
Frosty, fine day, westerly wind. I was not at Church. David went with Wilbur this afternoon for an Auto ride through Ashburnham, Gardner, Westminster and Fitchburg (41 miles). Dr. Jones called after church. Pullets 6.
New Ipswich History 1735- 1914. William Arthur Preston, born 1834, died 1902. He graduated from Harvard College in 1854 and afterward studied law but did not follow the practice of that profession. He was the principal of Appleton Academy for twenty- eight years
Cute William Preston story:
The Children's Oak
by Sarah Fisk Lee (from Chandler's book)
Nearly fifty years ago the building originally erected for
the use of the Methodist church and later occupied by the
Second Congregational church was purchased by the trustees
of the Academy and moved to the corner east of the girls'
dormitory to be used as a gymnasium. In the journey the old
oak tree beside the road was in the way and plans were made
to cut it down.
Mr. William Preston, with his reverence for the old land-
mark, felt that such a sacrilege should not be allowed, and he
at once purchased the tree of its owner, and added a touch
of sentiment by giving it to the children of the district school
nearby, thus ensuring its perpetual ownership and care.
Others older than the children are Mr. Preston's debtors for
this graceful conservation of an important unit in our forests.
Some years ago an expert estimated the age of the tree to
be more than 250 years, thus making it our oldest inhabitant.