HEMLOCKTREE a work in progress

HEMLOCKTREE a work in progress

Winter is almost here. My name is David Ricketts , My sister pointed out that my name was nowhere to be found on my web site and thus never would anyone find me with a search. This may still be true even with my name published but .......

This Summer (2004) I plan to add a porch and bedroom to the caretaker house at SHADOW LAKE in Concord Vermont. This project is modest in scale but fitting to my laid back lifestyle. I find great joy at this location and keep going back there when I have a chance. I have been working very slowly at this location since 1973. I have been very fortunate to have acquired a number of acres near Shadow Lake that have been in my family since the beginning of the last Century. 100 years ago this land was the poor remains of sheep and dairy farming. Today it is a loosely managed woodlot of mixed deciduous and conifer species, typical of the northern climate. The primary softwoods are Balsam Fir and Red Spruce, with a sprinkling of White Pine (pinus alba) and Eastern Hemlock (tsuga canadensis ) and pockets of White Cedar. The Hardwood is Red and Sugar Maple, White and Yellow Birch, Ash , and Beech.

In recent years I have noticed the Red Oak is just beginning to take root. The Northern limit for this species is in this area and Red Oak's apprearance in my wood lot is evidence of a general warming pattern over the last century.

Since my families stewardship of this property, The land has been lightly logged 3 times. Once about 1948 ,once in the mid 1970's , and again about 1996. The last time it was logged a landing was made near Shadow Lake road of about 1 acre. This area is a small plateau just above some wet land that filters water into Shadow Lake . In the lower wet areas is growing sparsely amongst the abundent Alder , the Tamerack or Eastern Larch. This species contributes a golden aura to the autumn colors as the needles of this deciduous conifer give way to winter.

The landing itself I have kept open by mowing the alders every fall after the first frost. My neighbor JAK and I will often sprinkle wild flower seeds collected in the fall in hopes the field will amaze us in the spring and summer with color. Last year (2003) the Lupine dominated and should again this spring be abundant. Other plants that naturally grow in this area are the sundew (drosera grandifolia)

and the cat tail. Both plants grow in a wet area that is fed by one of the prolific springs in the upper woods.

Concord Vermont Early 20th Century

What's New?

May 14, 2004 : Last week I woke looking over the lake and seeing the trees covered with snow. At 1000 ft above sea level ,we were cold enough to accumualte about 6 inches of snow. It was the latest snow fall that I can remember. Driving down into the village that afternoon, the day turned into spring.

This past week the daffodils have reached peak around the cabin at Shadow Lake. In Burlington the Lilacs are almost in full bloom.

My porch is started .My slow pace will prevent a morning coffee while sitting in one of the old Power chairs while looking over the lake for some time, but I have this image to keep me going . I hope most of the platform will be complete by at least the end of July. I have already set the sills for the back section and fastened the 2x8s that are the first set to span the 8x 24 section.That will be the back room addition. This may be a bed room or if I am ambitious it will become the kitchen and the original cabin that is the kitchen at present time will become a bedroom.

Power Chairs: There was a family ( three generations)of local chair makers that crafted small ladder back utilitarian chairs . The first maker was Benjamin Franklin Powers who worked during the late 18th century into the early 19th century. His chairs were some what delicate and were joined with square pegs , which is supposed to be a distinguishing characteristic of all the Power chair makers. They were originally painted red and had ash splits woven as the seat. More on these later.

May 20, 2004 This past week I managed to attach 2x8 joists to the back section of my house. I suffered a thousand BLACKFLY bites in the process, and put myself at considerable risk from WEST NILE disease from the Mosquito bites as well.

July 28th,2004: I have managed to make some progress in the over two months since last entry. The frame and plywood decking has been installed , and the frame and roof rafters erected on the front of the house

August 14th,2004

Some of the roof is in place.

November 12th, 2004

The back room is enclosed, the metal roofing has been installed except for one piece that will wait until spring, most of the ceiling insullation is installed. The door of the porch is in place. Windows have been found and the major ones have been installed. I have a new helper who has been helping me in exchange for a place to live. JAK has been a great help but he has other things to do, He drops in now and again to give a hand and much appreciated technical advice.

In between bites and nails ,I explored the cemetery in East St. Johnsbury , looking for the graves of ancestors. I found the markers for the graves of my Grt Grt Grandfather ( Oscar F Harvey) and Grandmother(Ellen Hill Harvey), my Grt Grt Grt Grandfather (Rawson M Harvey) and Grandmother(Susan Wood Harvey) and the double marker for two of the wifes of my grt grt grt grt grandfather( Joel Harvey) one of which is my grt grt grt grt grandmother( Susanah Farr Harvey)

Now that I have introduced the remains of these people, It is their Life that is interesting . The settlement of Northern Vermont in the 18th Century was the precursor to the those who made the migration to the West. Popular lore focuses on the people who traveled to the western states as the American Pioneers because communication was better developed by the beginning of the 19th century for their stories to return to the established Eastern Communities. Before the Western migration there was the Northern Migration into the wilderness of northern New England. The people in the Cemetery in East St. Johnsbury came here first and settled . After Northern Vermont,many of the relatives of these folks left and continued west to California. Joel Harvey born 1779 came to Vermont in the latter part of 18th century and raised 2 families. His first wife was Susanah Farr who journied with him to Caledonia/ Essex counties , had 2 sons , Rawson M Harvey (Born 1804) and Joel Harvey Jr.(Born 1801) She died in 1807 according to her gravestone. Joel sr remarried Betsy Bowen and had ? children. before she died in 1838 at the age of 50. . Meanwhile Joel Jr. is wandering around New England , goes south to Massachusetts , weds Lydia Barbar and has 7 children. At some poin they return to Vermont where Baby girl Nancy born May 11 1831, dies young ,July 16 1833 , and is buried next to Joel Jr.'s Mother and stepmother's grave . The same artist who carves the twin stone for Susanah and Betsy out of soapstone, makes the stone for baby Nancy. I think the stones were made in 1838 after Betsy dies and when the 2 Joels decide to go west. They are preparing to leave and want to mark their lives in Vermont before going West.