Paradise Found...The valley
March 15, 1870
"Let me tell you about this valley to which we're moving", my Mother said to me on that sunny March day,..."Mr. Putnam has written an account to your Father that he did for another gentleman...let me read an except for you". "I have traversed on horseback, and on foot the whole extent of the valley of Big Stoney Creek, and along Potts creek to the settlements. There are large bodies of land which are not excelled by any that I have seen. Dense forest of white pine, some of the trees more than a hundred feet high, a rich deep black soil and gentle slopes for drainage and cultivation, combine as many elements of value as can readily be found in one locality. The lands as far as my observation extends, are all heavily timbered but not in all places with white pine. There are walnut and black birch trees of unusual dimensions, oaks of every variety, chestnuts, beeches and maple. But little of the land is too stony for cultivation;grass grows spontaneously when openings are made, even on the tops of the mountain. Thousands of cattle and sheep could be pastured on these ranges, without expense, for the greater portions of the year, and those who have engaged in the business declare that they have doubled their money annually. Tobacco is largely cultivated in the vicinity and is very profitable, it grows luxuriantly of the hillsides". My Mother paused and looked to the sky saying in a breathy voice"sounds like paradise",then dropped her eyes and continued to read. "One other source of profit I have not yet alluded to, your lands would yield quantities of bark, which for generations, may be considered inexhaustible. It is much less expensive to carry the bark to the hides. You have pure water and cheap labor. There is no reason, therefore, why extensive tanneries should not be started and yield large returns". "And that", my young darling,"is what your father is going to build, only down the line a little farther close to a town named Paint Bank". What a dumb name,I thought. Oh well, what choice do I have and finished packing my valise for the long journey by train only to end up in some dead-end town with some dumb name....nothing like Philadelphia...now that has class.
Next excerpt...The Train Ride.
Paint Banks Potts Creek Valley still yields the best that Mother Nature has to offer. Take that ride down Big Stoney and Potts Creek and come see for yourself.
Only 19 days till the Vernal Equinox....Spring, can't wait.
Factoid!! The citrus soda 7 Up was created in 1929. #7 was selected because the original containers were 7 ounces; UP indicated the direction of the bubbles.
"Let me tell you about this valley to which we're moving", my Mother said to me on that sunny March day,..."Mr. Putnam has written an account to your Father that he did for another gentleman...let me read an except for you". "I have traversed on horseback, and on foot the whole extent of the valley of Big Stoney Creek, and along Potts creek to the settlements. There are large bodies of land which are not excelled by any that I have seen. Dense forest of white pine, some of the trees more than a hundred feet high, a rich deep black soil and gentle slopes for drainage and cultivation, combine as many elements of value as can readily be found in one locality. The lands as far as my observation extends, are all heavily timbered but not in all places with white pine. There are walnut and black birch trees of unusual dimensions, oaks of every variety, chestnuts, beeches and maple. But little of the land is too stony for cultivation;grass grows spontaneously when openings are made, even on the tops of the mountain. Thousands of cattle and sheep could be pastured on these ranges, without expense, for the greater portions of the year, and those who have engaged in the business declare that they have doubled their money annually. Tobacco is largely cultivated in the vicinity and is very profitable, it grows luxuriantly of the hillsides". My Mother paused and looked to the sky saying in a breathy voice"sounds like paradise",then dropped her eyes and continued to read. "One other source of profit I have not yet alluded to, your lands would yield quantities of bark, which for generations, may be considered inexhaustible. It is much less expensive to carry the bark to the hides. You have pure water and cheap labor. There is no reason, therefore, why extensive tanneries should not be started and yield large returns". "And that", my young darling,"is what your father is going to build, only down the line a little farther close to a town named Paint Bank". What a dumb name,I thought. Oh well, what choice do I have and finished packing my valise for the long journey by train only to end up in some dead-end town with some dumb name....nothing like Philadelphia...now that has class.
Next excerpt...The Train Ride.
Paint Banks Potts Creek Valley still yields the best that Mother Nature has to offer. Take that ride down Big Stoney and Potts Creek and come see for yourself.
Only 19 days till the Vernal Equinox....Spring, can't wait.
Factoid!! The citrus soda 7 Up was created in 1929. #7 was selected because the original containers were 7 ounces; UP indicated the direction of the bubbles.
posted by mamajama at 1:03 PM
<< Home