Cattle Drive and Santa Photos
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.
TB Testing
This was about the last of the cattle drives. I don't know if I mentioned when we had to have the cattle tagged what a lot of work it was, and it had got to be even more so now because the veterinaries had to come in and give then tests for TB. That was quite a seige because we had to keep them over there for what was called an ear and tail test. They would take blood. from the ear and then the tail, and it wasn't a sure test at that. A lot of the cattle reacted to it. I can remember the last little heifer that I had charge of coming up over the road. She lagged, was tired, and I had to push her and keep at her. When we got them up to the pasture we got them to the gate We put them into the Peppermint; that night it rained and it poured. We couldn't do anything; we knew there was enough feed there so that they'd be all right and water too.. So the second day when we went over, we went in thru the gate and there lay the little heifer that I had pushed all the way up side of the fence. She was dead, apparently she was reacting to the testing.
Santa 2018
Santa at the Barrett House 2019
James Roger diary entry & pullet count (7)
24th December 1912 (Christmas Eve)
Snow until the afternoon, wind easterly. David choring round and keeping up fires in Church, etc. for the Christmas tree tonight. Got cards from Tina Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, and Mrs. McKown. Also from E. Preston a book to mother and a calendar for me. I am sending cards, etc. to all our friends. Express Co. telephoned there was [were] two packages for us. Got letter & card from May. Pullets 7.