The fields behind Mom's are full of rivers today, as it's so warm you could be out with a t-shirt, and the snow is melting rapidly. The high point near where we used to play baseball in the field (to the left of the tree island) is bare and dry. (Just a week ago I was able to walk the snowmobile trail back from Rick Pease's) Ever since I was a boy one of my favorite things about early spring was watching all these little rivers flow above and beneath the snow, eventually coming together into a big river heading down the west field.
I had set out with Todd going around the east of the tree island looking for places dry enough that I could walk back to the woods road. I finally made it back near where the road goes into the woods, but then the rock wall, which has always been fascinating to me, drew me in. So we ended up walking the perimeter of the field to the west, me investigating areas of the rock wall and occasionally picking up limbs, Todd investigating who-knows-what. Dogs love spring, everything smells like shit to sniff.
I find these rock walls to be beautiful works of art and awesome feats of engineering. Look at how well they're put together, like a mason building a stone chimney; and conversely look at how long the walls are around the property and imagine how many rocks and the physical effort it took to build them.
Sorry I don't have a camera but I'm sure your imagination is better than any picture I could take. But if anyone has one they'd like to share, just let me know in the comments. Also, if anyone has any information on who, how and when the walls were built or any story related to them, it would be great to see someone post a story.
6 comments:
I talked with Dad about the cemetery and the old homestead. He said that as near as they can figure it only Nathaniel and Keziah were buried there for sure, with the possibility of some of their older children. James Basford (their son and our direct ancester) is buried over in the Detroit Cemetery.
Dad said there was definitely a homestead back in the treeline. He said from the looks of the layout it would be somewhere around that dip in the road after the snowmobile trail. There is a rock wall out there and a spring. He had a good point about finding anything out there in that the homestead was most likely a log cabin, no nails or anything.
If you are serious about a metal detector, a friend of mine has offered the use of his too. I see that Kim has one and would be cool for the two of you to hunt around together.
It is great you hve the opportunity to view your family history in 'you own backyard'. I love the stories... keep em commin'! I can't wait for the metal detector update.
could bring it up on easter? not really sure when that is though. would love to know who Nathaniel, Keziah and James were
Nathaniel and Keziah were the first Basford's to settle the land in Detroit. James was on of their youngest children, and as I said our direct ancestor.
I've given your Dad access to the family tree I started and he can show you that the next time you see him, if you're interested.
don't have an ancestry account but searched for keziah and found a couple entries;
Name: Kasiah Basford
Birth: abt 1790 - Maine
Residence: 1850 - city, Somerset, Maine
Name: Keziah Bassford
Birth: abt 1788 - Maine
Residence: 1860 - city, Somerset, Maine, United States
would love to see what else has been found
As you can see, Aaron's done quite a bit and your Great Uncle Bruce has also. I can certainly show you around on Easter.
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