Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Trailblazers Make Trip To Northeast United States (cont)

New Hampshire, the group enjoyed the scenic beauty of the White Mountains.

Another highlight of the trip was touring the Morse Farm in Montpelier, Vermont, sampling maple syrup and learning the sugaring process from tap to table. The Morse's have been making sugar since their journey to America in 1635. They represent sixth and seventh generation of Morse sugarmakers. In the heart of the northern forest, the Morses still live in harmony with the land. It is with great pride that they continue to serve up pure, seet, maple syrup. While there the Morses threw the Trailblazers a "Sugar on Snow" party.

The group toured the Vermont Historical Society. A visit to this modern, inviting museum offered them a trip through Vermont's colorful history. The exhibits connected Vermont's rich past with today.

The Trailblazers went to Rock of Ages in Barre, Vermont, for a narrated tour. It is the world's largest monumental granite quarry. The quarry complex is truly one of New England's most spectacular attractions. Afterwards they went to Hope Cemetery, which is a museum of granite sculpture just north of Barre. The headstones and markers rival the finest granite carvings anywhere. Many highly skilled European stonecutters settled there.

The group traveled the next day up scenic hillside from Taftsville covered bridge to the Sugar Bush Farm for a tour and visited the Maple Sugarhouse.

In Hartford, Conn., the Heritage Trails guide took the group by the Old State House, the oldest state house in the nation; the state Capitol; the 1871 Harriet Beecher Stowe House, which is the restored Victorian Cottage where she wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin; and the 1874 Mark Twain House, where he wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

The Trailblazers enjoyed seeing "Rose Day" at Elizabeth Park, where over 1,500 varieties of roses are grown. This is the finest municipal rose garden in the country. They also saw the restored 1800 Brownstone Mansion, the 1633 Dutch Fort and had a panoramic Connecticut River view.

As the group traveled, they were entertained by Lenora McWilliams. Devotionals were given on Sunday mornings by Ann Oliver and James Ed Martin. Singing was led by Sue Lambert.

Those making the trip from Prescott were Sybil Sherman, Bobbie Gautsche, Virginia Easterling, Ann Wilson, John L. and Lenora McWilliams, W.J. and Blanche Oliver, Pat Severns, Ervin Fairchild, James and Ann Oliver, Allene Spencer, Flo Brackman, Mary Johnson, Billie Ridling, Marie Eley and Bobbie Jones.

Others going were Polly Caldwell of Benton; Odell Collier of Hope; W.E. McFarland of Emmet; Mary Frances Moore and Joe Morgan of Stephens; Norma Hansford of Star City; Nelle Thomason and Len and Winnnie Harrell from Hampton; Mary Moore, Virginia Latimer, Ollie Mae Waren, Kerit and Sarah Ward of Ashdown; Mildred Buffalo, Scott Langley, Leola Garrard and Christine Wilson of Magnolia; James Ed and Wanda Martin of Hot Springs Village; Mildred Johnson of Little Rock; Alma Brewer of Texarkana; Peggy Butrick and Sue Cornwell of Summitt, Miss.; Sue Lambert of Tallulah, La.; Pat Keen of Houston, Texas; David Richardson of Shreveport, La.