Herrell’s Ice Cream

We are in Northampton getting ice cream. I just ordered a dish of maple walnut. I’m here with Ellen and Tamar.

Ellen is getting pumpkin ice cream with penuche sauce and Tamar is getting cheesecake strawberry swirl. No - wait - they just closed! Rats! No ice cream!

Happy Birthday, Shirley

If Shirley were still with us here on earth, we would be celebrating her 88th birthday today.  She was born about 6 months before I was (we used to joke that when she married me, she "robbed the cradle"). Thinking of her today with love and gratitude  !

Shirley holding a child for baptism

My all-time favorite photo of Shirley

A nice spot

Yesterday, after Ellen's prayer-shawl knitting-group session (and my WiFi session behind the shed at the church) we went to Chelsea Royal Diner for ice-cream cones. We had our usual - Ellen: Peppermint Stick, and Me: Maple Walnut. My cone had a few less walnuts than usual (usually it's loaded with walnuts, which is why I like it), but it was still good. I sat on a bench while Ellen got our ice cream (but with my $20), and while waiting, I took in what a nice spot the Chelsea Diner has out back. Here are some pictures:

My bench was not under but near some  nice old apple trees

My view from the bench

There is a wetlands behind the Chelsea with lots of cattails

This old farm machinery reminded me of the oats binder I used to ride when I worked on the Ogden Farm outside Anamosa, Iowa back in my high-school days

Earlier today, we both had to get in two recordings to Peter Amidon by 1pm for a virtual choir for next Sunday: Birds in the Morning and Blessed Quietness. We got them in just under (and for me a little over) the wire. But that was OK with Peter. 

Right at the moment, I am at the Putney Public Library, outside on a picnic table, while Ellen is nearby at Elizabeth Christie's place at Putney Commons, having tea. 

Outside the Putney Library

You know, when it comes down to it, we live in a pretty nice place!

Behind the shed

Right at the moment, I am sitting at a picnic table behind the shed at the Guilford  Church. It is a very sheltered, private spot. Ellen is out front of the church participating in a prayer shawl knitting-group session - masked and distanced, out-of-doors.  I can access the church's WiFi network from here, so I am a happy camper! Earlier I was working at home, transcribing, while Ellen went with Eliza to Mary Cay's house. A bit later, we will meet John and Cynthia at the Dummerston Church, Ellen will ring the bell as she always does on Mondays at 7pm, and then we'll take a walk with J&C. It is a very nice day, warm but not hot, with a nice little breeze. Perfect for being outdoors. Also earlier I recorded Be Still and Know That I Am God to send to Peter Amidon for the Sept. 13th service. 

Behind the shed

Water woes and other things

We've arrived at that time of year -when the water level in our spring goes down to a dangerously low point. This summer we were lulled into thinking we would be OK because we have had a lot of rain. But Friday, while Katie, Savanna and Brendon were here, the kitchen faucet started making strange whistling noises - air in the pipes. Bad sign! I immediately went to the spring, took off the cover and looked in. Worst fears realized! The water level was a bit below the intake pipe. Usually we would be on top of this and would have discovered the level was low before it got that low. But not this year. I immediately turned off the pump. I don't know yet if the pump has been damaged -water lubricates the pump; pumping air is bad. But maybe we caught it in time.We'll find out when the water level goes up and we can turn on the pump again. Meanwhile, we haul water. We went out after KS&B left because we had a lot of dishes to do. We got two 2 1/2 gallon spring water-jugs, with a spigot, at the store (for drinking), and filled various tubs and buckets with water (for washing) at the Dummerston Church - our go-to place when this happens. Thank you DCC!

But we had a nice supper with KS&B before all that happened. Meat loaf, potato salad, Cole slaw, and a yummy apple pie a la mode (or cheddar cheese) for dessert. It was a beautiful evening on the deck (though  it was chilly enough to put on sweaters. That may be our last company for a while because company = using water. We'll see.

Katie, Savanna and Brendon (who is getting tall!)

Cutting the apple pie

One evidence of a wet summer is our mushroom crop. Here is one I pulled up today:

Mushroom of uncertain variety

Top view

Last night (Saturday) we played Scrabble after supper. For once, I drew good tiles (though at one point I had AAAEI plus two 1-point consonants on my tray). E.g., I drew Q, Z, J and X and was able to double or even triple their value in play. Ellen did well with what she had, often getting 15-20 points just out of playing 2-3 1-point tiles (by using points already on the board). But I won with a total of over 350 points. (Ellen had c. 260). This is rare!

Our completed Scrabble board

Ellen's garden looks great - but, sadly, no more watering, I'm afraid. 

At its peak, I suspect.

The Guilford Church Christmas Bazaar will be held online this year. Instead of tables loaded with items at the church, there will be an online catalog. So Ellen has  been taking pictures of ornaments she has already made:

Little baskets

Felted pumpkins

Felted pears

Felted acorns

And there will be cookie platters like this one:

Aren't they all beautiful!?

Stewart Letter # 25

 LETTER # 25                               

                                       Company "D" - Sixty-eighth Battalion

                                        Fourteenth Training Regiment

                                                Camp Fannin, Texas

2 Sept 45

Dear Family,1

    Even though the Japanese have officially surrendered,2 our cycle is still scheduled for 17 weeks.3 It is, however, the last cycle that will go through Camp Fannin4, because on October 15, it becomes a separation center.  At any time the length of our training can be shortened, and probably will be. We have just completed our first week of training. About fifteen AST men from Brookings got here on Sunday, 19 August,5 and so did about 65 other men in the battalion. We had some orientation and other things the first week we were here that helped us more than the boys who came in later.

    A number of the AST men were chosen as squad leaders, or acting corporals, myself among them. In my squad6 I have three men who can neither read nor write English, although they can speak it.They are, of course, Mexican, and speak in their native tongue much of the time.

    So far we have had classes in chemical war- fare, physical training, dismounted drill, guard duty, first aid, personal health, sex hygiene, and personal adjustment. On Friday, 31 august, we tested our gas masks in the gas chamber, once with tear gas, to make sure our masks fitted perfectly, then another time with tear gas to show us that our masks would work and then took them off, gave our serial number and walked out of the chamber. We went into the chlorine chamber and tested for the smell the first time, and then walked in with our masks in the carriers and put them on inside the chamber.7

    We got Sunday and Monday off this week. On Tuesday we begin on mines, boobytraps,
and hand grenades. We will also have pre-rifle instruction during the next three weeks. In the fifth week we fire our rifles for practice and for record. We were issued some more equipment
both at Ft. Leavenworth and here. Now we have another pair of fatigues and a pair of coveralls. Also we have a helmet liner and steel helmet, combat pack, gas mask, foot locker, M. rifle, bayonet, and accessories. So far we have taken only one hike purely for hiking, but we pile up enough mileage walking from one area to another for classes. Later on in the cycle, when we fire machine guns, BAR's,8 mortars, and bazookas, we will walk to ranges that are from seven to ten miles from our company area. With GI shoes and leggings on, one's feet must be carefully attended to every day. In fact, everyone is required to take a shower every day. '

    We must rise at 0500. At 0555 we fall out for reveille. Chow is at 0615 or 0645. We begin our day of training at about 0715. PT is held only two or three times a week, but the manual of arms and hikihg make us sweat enough to make even warm salt water taste good.

    Most of our company is composed of 18-year-olds, even one Canadian who served for 18 months overseas, and once marched 120 miles in 4 days in France. He was discharged and overstayed a pass into this country, so he had to register for the draft.

    As far as Japanese is now concerned, I would not be interested in staying in the army very long, since the war is finished. It's a cinch that the army wouldn't train some- one for nine months or a year and let go for some time. At the present, I am merely recommended for Japanese when I have finished basic. Later in the cycle we will have a chance at OCS unless it is closed to new candidates by then.

    Tyler is about 135 miles from Texarkana,9 but weekend passes have only a fifty-mile radius. Besides, there are 4 theaters, a swimming pool, a main PX and a branch PX in our own Bn. area,10 and a servicemen's club all on our post. I received my travel check for $26.00, and we will receive a full-pay on 10 Sept.

    Don't send too much in the way of food, because no food is allowed in the barracks, so it must be eaten immediately.

    I am bearing up all right so far, although I am rather tired.

                                                                                                                Love to all, 

                                                                                                                        Stewart

Layout of Camp Fannin

Camp Fannin recruits

Camp Fannin montage

Camp Fannin chapel

NOTES:

1 This salutation is "Dear Family" rather than "Dear Dad" or "Dear Mother," because Dad, mother and I were all in Minneapolis at this time. I had completely forgotten that dad came home from France in late August. His Chaplain's Journal has a page for Sept., 1945, and it states, "at home," and lists three sermons or talks he gave in the area, including one at the Como Ave. Congregational Church, his former parish. Dad was home, but not out of the army. He was subsequently sent to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and then to Camp Breckenridge, near Morganfield, KY. Mother and I joined him there in November - but that's another story. Stewart came through Morganfield at Christmas, 1945, on his way from Camp Fannin to his next assignment, and we all got to see him then.

2 The Japanese officially surrendered on August 15, 1945 - V-J Day. This occurred just before Stewart arrived at Camp Fannin - either he was at Ft. Leavenworth, or in transit. It must have been a huge relief, not only to him, but to my parents as well. I personally have no memory of V-J Day.

3 If Stewart's first week of training began on August 26th, 17 weeks would end on Dec. 22, 1945. That would allow just enough time to make it to Morganfield, KY for Christmas.

4 Camp Fannin was located in East Texas, 6 miles from the small city of Tyler, TX. The camp was decommissioned in 1946. There is a Camp Fannin Association which preserves its history. Here is a Wiki article on it:

Camp Fannin was a U.S. Army Infantry Replacement Training Center and prisoner-of-war camp located near Tyler, Texas. It was opened in May 1943 and operated for four years, before closing in 1946. It is credited with training over 200,000 U.S. soldiers, sometimes as many as 40,000 at one given time. The camp was named for Col. James Walker Fannin, a Texas Revolutionary War hero, who died at Goliad. The camp served as a German POW camp during World War II. The area where Camp Fannin existed was returned to non-military use during 1946. A section of the land was handed over to the state of Texas, where the once military hospital was transformed to the East Texas Tuberculosis Santorium, later the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. Other buildings were sold to commercial and development companies. Many buildings still stand today, most of which are used as location for business and warehouses. A memorial, paid for by the Camp Fannin Association, stands at the UT Health Center at Tyler.

Tyler, Texas was six miles from Camp Fannin. Stewart has little to say about it. Today it is famous for its roses - it boasts one of the largest rose gardens in the world, with over 500 varieties. An October Rose Festival draws thousands of visitors annually. 

5 Stewart doesn't say so explicitly, but I am assuming that he was among this group. If I read this paragraph correctly, the week of August 19-25 was spent in orientation, and the next week of August 26-Sept. 1 was his first week of basic training.

6 According to one military website, a squad is 6-10 soldiers.

7 This bit about gas mask training must not have been easy reading, especially for mother. Chlorine gas is very pungent and irritating, but wouldn't be fatal with only a brief exposure

8 Browning Automatic Rifles.

9 Texarkana was where we were living in 1941 when the war began. Stewart was in high school there, so he would have liked to go back for a visit.

10 I don't know what "Bn. area" refers to.

Small world department

Yesterday, Ellen and I went to Vernon Green, a retirement village in Vernon,VT, where our friend, Rev. Marcia Dorey, had just moved into a small apartment. I have known Marcia for decades: she was the pastor  of the Wilmington and West Dover UCC churches for many years, and she and her late husband, Jack, were members of a class I taught on "Small Church Management" for Bangor Theological Seminary about 20 years ago. Ellen got to know Marcia pretty soon after Ellen and I met because I was fairly deeply involved in helping Marcia through a difficult time in her relations with the then-current pastor of the Wilmington Church (Marcia was still living in Wilmington as a former pastor - always a tricky situation, but especially so in this case). The Vermont Conference staff were also involved, which made it even more  complicated. Ellen went to some of the meetings dealing with all of that. For a time, we met Marcia fairly regularly at Dot's Restaurant in Wilmington for lunch. But we haven't been able to do that for some time, and then we learned just a few days ago that Marcia was selling her house and moving into Vernon Green. Ellen baked her a nice apple pie as a sort of "house-warming" present. So we took the pie to her.

On our way down, I filled Ellen in on my connection with Vernon Green. About 30 years ago, I was teaching a course for Southern Vermont College titled "Portfolio Preparation for Life Experience Credit." Students with extensive work experience who had never completed a college degree took the course in order to get college credits for the learning they had acquired from life/work experience. This required a fairly rigorous process of analyzing their experience and identifying the skills, knowledge and subject matters they had become competent in. These were organized into subject areas and described - not unlike a course syllabus. Supervisors and others would "document" this learning by writing letters of recommendation. This would all go into a portfolio which would be read and assessed by faculty members  in the appropriate fields, and credit awarded.

Well, an eighty-year old man named Raymond Beecroft signed up for the course. He had never gone to college, but boy, did  he have a ton of experience! He had experience at a high level of responsibility in accounting, banking, church publishing, etc., and he had most recently been CEO of Vernon Green at the time of its inception and had overseen the building of its extensive campus. He was ultimately awarded close to three years of college credits - more than anyone else had ever been awarded at that time - and then took a few more courses and earned his B.A. from Southern Vermont College at about age 84! He was a very fine person and a joy to have in the class. Needless to say, he was very happy with the outcome. 

When we got to Vernon Green, we had to go to the main office to find out Marcia's apt. # (it was 105). We met Brad Ellis, the current CEO (outside, masked and distanced!), and after getting the Apt. # I asked him about Ray Beecroft. He had known him (Ray, of course, passed away some time ago), and he graciously gave me a brochure which celebrates 100 years of Advent Christian Retirement Communities (that is the denomination that built Vernon Green), which features Ray Beecroft! So that was nice.

We found Marcia sitting on her front porch, resting from the rigors of moving. She was thrilled to get a pie. Her Apt #105 shares a porch with #104, and also sitting there was it's occupant, the Rev. Bill Monroe. And here is where the "small world department" kicks in. For years, Bill Monroe was pastor of an Advent Christian church in Friendship, ME. Two members of his congregation were Tony and Susan Campagna. I know them well, because Susan is the sister of Deborah McKean - and Phil and Deborah McKean are dear friends who have frequently been mentioned in these blog pages. Bill Monroe considers Susan and Tony good friends and  had recently visited them in Friendship. Small world!

Raymond Beecroft

Apartments at Vernon Green