The wind was blowing hard that night out of the southwest, from the Rockies as John Henry and I rode as fast as our horses could take us, trying to reach the border and into Montana before the Mounties could gain any ground on us.
We had just delivered a hundred head of wild horses from the high plains of Colorado to Calgary in the Alberta Province. It was a long hard ride that took us six and a half weeks, but the delivery was the highest paying job that Henry and I've had in months. We were doing local drives in and around Colorado for the past year or so, hearding horses from Colorado to New Mexico and Long Horns from Texas to Kansas, or where ever the mighty dollar would take us.
Henry { I called him Henry, he called me 'asshole'}and I met back in the East on a cold day in 1849 when I was hired to take a Wagon Train west to Missouri and then unite with another heading to Wyoming. He came out of upper New york State and I from Massachusettes. I was leading the Wagon Train and Henry guarded the rear. The trip was slow going with ten wagons & three supply wagons pulled by Mules, with ten extra horses in tow.
By the time we reached the Missouri River , we had eight wagons, two supply wagons and nine extra horses...the tenth one broke it's leg, so we had to shoot it, but the supper that night was the most food we ate since we started.
We met up with our new riders just a day past the river , and were glad to hand over the reigns to them so they could finish the treck. Henry and I rode into Kansa City and put up in the best Hotel in town, treated ourselves to a hot bath a cold beer and a couple of fine women.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
An ode to Auntie
I believe most of my writings are being transformed telepathicly through my Aunt Connie, who was the last girl born from David & Alice on my birthday, May 11th. Now that she's not with us, I'd like to share some of her Musings. This one relates to the church in Warren, which was started in 1750 by the Strongs along with the Paine, Curtiss, and Carter families. My Aunt was a member for over 90 years.
"I was not a regular attandant, as my parents had problems of getting us all readyat the same time, due to the fact that the women wore long dresses with numerous petticoats underneath. There were no restrooms or water.
The minister was given a small pittance, people brought cords of wood, a dressed chicken, ham or beef. Also, live chickens and a cow so he would have milk and eggs. He had his own horse and buggy which he used to make callson parishionersthat lived miles away.
The sexton at the time Robert Perkins who owned the town store. He was around 50 years old, and his countenance was always stern. When he looked at you, you'd better behave. The kids were afraid of him. He particularly did not like our family, probably because the boys [ my uncles] always gave him such a hard time, even though their mother was his sister, who never knew what went on.
The night before the Fourth of July at midnight, the church bells would toll. The sexton, pulling on his pants and taking a lantern would hustle up to the church, he lived in the next house west of the parsonage. When he got to the church, the bells stopped tolling. He checked the interior and the exterior of the church, not finding anything or anyone around, he left for home. No sooner had he gotten in bed then the tolling began. Again he went through the the same ritual and still could find nothing, so he he went home again.Ten minutes later the bells tolled again.' Someone is playing tricks and by gum I'm going to find out this time'. So cautiously he looked around to find the culptit. In doing so, espied arope lying on the ground. He followed it into the church which had been tied to the bells and put underneath a window. He then cut the rope, closed the window and went home to bed.
No one ever knew who the culprits were, although they suspected my brothers. They had hidden every time the sexton came, no doubvt scampering up the hill by the academy where they could watch the sexton come and leave.
The midnight tolling of the bells would happen at different times of the year. Years later my brother , Nate, told me the story asw he was a party to it.
In more recent years, mid 80's, thats 1980's , Eric Sloane started a revivel to sound the bells again on the Fourth, and they continue to present day.
"I was not a regular attandant, as my parents had problems of getting us all readyat the same time, due to the fact that the women wore long dresses with numerous petticoats underneath. There were no restrooms or water.
The minister was given a small pittance, people brought cords of wood, a dressed chicken, ham or beef. Also, live chickens and a cow so he would have milk and eggs. He had his own horse and buggy which he used to make callson parishionersthat lived miles away.
The sexton at the time Robert Perkins who owned the town store. He was around 50 years old, and his countenance was always stern. When he looked at you, you'd better behave. The kids were afraid of him. He particularly did not like our family, probably because the boys [ my uncles] always gave him such a hard time, even though their mother was his sister, who never knew what went on.
The night before the Fourth of July at midnight, the church bells would toll. The sexton, pulling on his pants and taking a lantern would hustle up to the church, he lived in the next house west of the parsonage. When he got to the church, the bells stopped tolling. He checked the interior and the exterior of the church, not finding anything or anyone around, he left for home. No sooner had he gotten in bed then the tolling began. Again he went through the the same ritual and still could find nothing, so he he went home again.Ten minutes later the bells tolled again.' Someone is playing tricks and by gum I'm going to find out this time'. So cautiously he looked around to find the culptit. In doing so, espied arope lying on the ground. He followed it into the church which had been tied to the bells and put underneath a window. He then cut the rope, closed the window and went home to bed.
No one ever knew who the culprits were, although they suspected my brothers. They had hidden every time the sexton came, no doubvt scampering up the hill by the academy where they could watch the sexton come and leave.
The midnight tolling of the bells would happen at different times of the year. Years later my brother , Nate, told me the story asw he was a party to it.
In more recent years, mid 80's, thats 1980's , Eric Sloane started a revivel to sound the bells again on the Fourth, and they continue to present day.
Monday, March 7, 2011
comming back Strong
The first Strong to come toAmerica was Elder John , who came to Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1604 And lived in Northampton. One of his descendants, Elizabeth Strong, was the mother of Nathan Hale. I was named after him, as was my father: Nathan Hale Strong. I also married a girl who went by the name of Mary, but that was her middle name. Her first name is Elizabeth....then becomming Elizabeth Strong. We had two daughters, and after we separated, they moved to Massachusetts,now living with my grandchildren in and around Northampton.
I lived the first year & half in a quaint little house just off Lake Waramaug, which is named after the great Chief Waramaug. My family, having help settle that area , and lived at what was know as 'The Sachem'. An Indian name for gathering of the 'Tribe'. The first ancestor to live in Warren was Phillip Strong who married the first white child born in Warren. Now knowing how 'active' the Strong men were with women, that's how I got my Indian blood from ancestors of the 'Chief' himself.
My grandfather, David, who lived on Above All Mt. in Warren, which the family owned, moved to Woodville and became the first caretaker [Ranger] of the State Parks. Lake Waramaug being only one of them. As it turns out my father after returning from WW2, married a young widower Gertrude Wilson from Warren ,with two youg daughters of her own, then proceeded to have four children of their own.[rememember I mentioned the way the Strong men were 'active'] I being the last one born at 11:30 a.m. in time for lunch on Mothers' day & the only boy.....! He also became a Ranger & ended up careing for most of the Parks in the area. That's when we moved to Cornwall Bridge to the Housatonic Meadows State Park of over 5000 acres, and we all grew up there.
I moved back to the house on Lake Waramaug 23 years later, to start another chapter in my life.
I lived the first year & half in a quaint little house just off Lake Waramaug, which is named after the great Chief Waramaug. My family, having help settle that area , and lived at what was know as 'The Sachem'. An Indian name for gathering of the 'Tribe'. The first ancestor to live in Warren was Phillip Strong who married the first white child born in Warren. Now knowing how 'active' the Strong men were with women, that's how I got my Indian blood from ancestors of the 'Chief' himself.
My grandfather, David, who lived on Above All Mt. in Warren, which the family owned, moved to Woodville and became the first caretaker [Ranger] of the State Parks. Lake Waramaug being only one of them. As it turns out my father after returning from WW2, married a young widower Gertrude Wilson from Warren ,with two youg daughters of her own, then proceeded to have four children of their own.[rememember I mentioned the way the Strong men were 'active'] I being the last one born at 11:30 a.m. in time for lunch on Mothers' day & the only boy.....! He also became a Ranger & ended up careing for most of the Parks in the area. That's when we moved to Cornwall Bridge to the Housatonic Meadows State Park of over 5000 acres, and we all grew up there.
I moved back to the house on Lake Waramaug 23 years later, to start another chapter in my life.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
from the Woods......cont.
I do have too clearify afew things from last time. When I mentioned Barry Quiaoit, last time, I said.."as he kept a keen Eve on what I was doing" It was more like ...keeping an eye on the woman that came in there...& you know who I mean ,right ladies?
I'm not gonna mention names , or at least, not alot of them. But while we're on the subject,another thing about the 'Bough', & then I'll , ...well no it's gonna come back now & then...so let's just say , Moveing right along....Bessamer, as in Dick ,then approched 2 other 'locals', who also happen to live right in Town.
Walter Raynor lived only a 'block' away just up to the light, in the center of Town, then just to the right, a half block. Walter started in the kitchen , on the 'cold side', after that we made a journey togeather thru those many establishments;He came to join the ranks of becomeing another 'Dinasour' bartender.Which alot of us still look uppond as a really good thing , even to this very day.
Marty Carlson was hired as the Head Chef. Later finding out we were cousins, go figure? I also have to mention , for Loris' sake, that Marty was the one to give me the nick name big, 'Tate', like in Potatos, baked, whipped, fried,you name it , when they were out I was in.
Marty then brought on board, David, Chris, & Karl. Other close associates soon joined, like Barry & Scott Plumb.
I don't know if I mentioned it , but the last 2 Resturants that I worked, the Bough, & the Birches, before I worked at the Casino, weren't like the Casino. Well there really isn't any thing like the Casino, now is there?
I'm not gonna mention names , or at least, not alot of them. But while we're on the subject,another thing about the 'Bough', & then I'll , ...well no it's gonna come back now & then...so let's just say , Moveing right along....Bessamer, as in Dick ,then approched 2 other 'locals', who also happen to live right in Town.
Walter Raynor lived only a 'block' away just up to the light, in the center of Town, then just to the right, a half block. Walter started in the kitchen , on the 'cold side', after that we made a journey togeather thru those many establishments;He came to join the ranks of becomeing another 'Dinasour' bartender.Which alot of us still look uppond as a really good thing , even to this very day.
Marty Carlson was hired as the Head Chef. Later finding out we were cousins, go figure? I also have to mention , for Loris' sake, that Marty was the one to give me the nick name big, 'Tate', like in Potatos, baked, whipped, fried,you name it , when they were out I was in.
Marty then brought on board, David, Chris, & Karl. Other close associates soon joined, like Barry & Scott Plumb.
I don't know if I mentioned it , but the last 2 Resturants that I worked, the Bough, & the Birches, before I worked at the Casino, weren't like the Casino. Well there really isn't any thing like the Casino, now is there?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
From the Woods, to the Golden Bough....& beyond
After the first 'Woods'...I was planning my 2nd one for Aug. I was sitting at the Pub, talking to a regular, at the time, his name was Richard Bessemer. We started talking about the Festivals & asked me if I ever thought about being a bartender. Well, I thought, yeah, being brought up in a the surroundings of people helping people, in some form. In my case I was raised on a state park in Northwest Ct.,in a little town called Cornwall Bridge, on the Housatonic River. Not only did I become formiliar with the habits of all kinds of people, that came there from exotic places like Thomaston & Norwalk,but I also had a chance to start my own business at age 9 selling worms to fisherman in an 'only' Flyfishing area . By the time I was 13, I was hired to work at a concession stand selling ice cream, candy,soda, & believe it not ..cigarettes!
So there it began, the knowledge to not only meet & greet but also how to get away w selling illegally certain things over a counter.
Richard thought , because I doNATEd the proceeds from the festivals to charity, I'd make a good bartender. To this day I'll never understand his reasoning! But who am I to question another drunk. He said he was going to open a local bar w an anonimous backer & wanted only 'local' people to work there. By then I was living in the town that my family helped settle, back in the 1700's, Warren, Ct. Hence the fact that he considered me a 'local'. After training at the Pub, under the keen eye of the manager Barry Quioit, I was then certified...it was'nt until years later that I was certified as something else. So began my allustreous career. {sorry but that story of the Golden Bough, will have to come later}.
After my time at the Bough, I proceded to my next destination: The Birches, with another ...how do I say...unstable owner, Hienes Hol ,or as we loving remember him as 'Hiney Hole'. A short time after that I went to work at the 'Casino' just up the Lake Rd. Now I'm really working it! Handing out 5 to 6 Buds at a time to some real locals at a real bar! How could it get any better?
Next I will reveal the crowning moment of my career. A hint: I was reminded by Wendy & Joe on FB.
So there it began, the knowledge to not only meet & greet but also how to get away w selling illegally certain things over a counter.
Richard thought , because I doNATEd the proceeds from the festivals to charity, I'd make a good bartender. To this day I'll never understand his reasoning! But who am I to question another drunk. He said he was going to open a local bar w an anonimous backer & wanted only 'local' people to work there. By then I was living in the town that my family helped settle, back in the 1700's, Warren, Ct. Hence the fact that he considered me a 'local'. After training at the Pub, under the keen eye of the manager Barry Quioit, I was then certified...it was'nt until years later that I was certified as something else. So began my allustreous career. {sorry but that story of the Golden Bough, will have to come later}.
After my time at the Bough, I proceded to my next destination: The Birches, with another ...how do I say...unstable owner, Hienes Hol ,or as we loving remember him as 'Hiney Hole'. A short time after that I went to work at the 'Casino' just up the Lake Rd. Now I'm really working it! Handing out 5 to 6 Buds at a time to some real locals at a real bar! How could it get any better?
Next I will reveal the crowning moment of my career. A hint: I was reminded by Wendy & Joe on FB.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
continue to the Woods..
After arriveing home w my 2 dogs, & a dead 'Affeck' duck in tow, all I could do was lay on the couch, numb from all the bites. I may not be allurgic, but after getting bit that much you can't do much more. All I could do while laying there , was to think of where am I going to get a white domestic duck, & what am I going to do w this one? Well the 2nd question was answered when I thought that I could sacrifice it to the Great White Oak. So I went to the top of a hill in New Milford where the Oak tree stood, & lay the Duck at it's base to lay in peace as it would in Heaven. Or something like that.
Now finding a replacement would seam to be a problem, but as luck would have it, at the time I was working in Kent. I would have to go down the Mountain every morning. One day as I was about to go over the crest, on the right I saw a sign, it read: Ducks for sale. I don't know how much it cost , all I know is that I had it before my party.
Now as most of you know this would be the 1st of 3 that I did...w alot of help from my friends. The 1st was Alive in '75 Lake Country Green , on May 24th 1975. It was in memory of my father, who died a year earier on April 24th '74. The event brought a 1000 people to Warren Woods. Which enabled me to give some proceeds to donate to 2 Fire Depts. & the Cancer society.
The next 2 were almost as successful, except for the fact that the one on Aug. 24th, the same yr...it rained. 400 showed for that one: Independence '76/ Remember America....for the Bi-centenial. Last , but not least:Warren Woods '76 /Dirt Roads are Down to Earth on July 24th , the next year. That was just to all out party!!! [with preservation in mind] That one brought back those 1000 people.
I would have liked to continued this tradition, but the town fathers said:"we don't want those 'types'coming into our town". So ended the hopes for Warren Woods '77.....'78....& so forth.
Of course looking back , that seems like a good idea now, & could'nt imagine doing it again, as much as I was beseiged w request to do another for many years after. It was dubbed 'The Minni Woodstock'. I'm glad to have done it & also glad that I just found my original ticket to ' Woodstock' from '69.
Well, Deb...as I hoped you have learned, the Wasp is the less agressor...I hope this has helped.
As far as you, Lori...you'll just have to keep on 'posting' & maybe I'll just come up w another story for you...
Now finding a replacement would seam to be a problem, but as luck would have it, at the time I was working in Kent. I would have to go down the Mountain every morning. One day as I was about to go over the crest, on the right I saw a sign, it read: Ducks for sale. I don't know how much it cost , all I know is that I had it before my party.
Now as most of you know this would be the 1st of 3 that I did...w alot of help from my friends. The 1st was Alive in '75 Lake Country Green , on May 24th 1975. It was in memory of my father, who died a year earier on April 24th '74. The event brought a 1000 people to Warren Woods. Which enabled me to give some proceeds to donate to 2 Fire Depts. & the Cancer society.
The next 2 were almost as successful, except for the fact that the one on Aug. 24th, the same yr...it rained. 400 showed for that one: Independence '76/ Remember America....for the Bi-centenial. Last , but not least:Warren Woods '76 /Dirt Roads are Down to Earth on July 24th , the next year. That was just to all out party!!! [with preservation in mind] That one brought back those 1000 people.
I would have liked to continued this tradition, but the town fathers said:"we don't want those 'types'coming into our town". So ended the hopes for Warren Woods '77.....'78....& so forth.
Of course looking back , that seems like a good idea now, & could'nt imagine doing it again, as much as I was beseiged w request to do another for many years after. It was dubbed 'The Minni Woodstock'. I'm glad to have done it & also glad that I just found my original ticket to ' Woodstock' from '69.
Well, Deb...as I hoped you have learned, the Wasp is the less agressor...I hope this has helped.
As far as you, Lori...you'll just have to keep on 'posting' & maybe I'll just come up w another story for you...
Back from the Woods
There was a story I was trying to put on FB many weeks ago....ran out of space & promised Lori I would get it to her. That's when I realize I had to come here & Blog, so that I could ramble on.....& on......& on......& on. So I'm gonna try to recreate a time back in the Woods, a few years ago.
It also referred to an incident that happened to Debbie, when she got stung by that Hornet or wasp, & wasn't sure which it was ...all she new is that she was pissed & it hurt like hell. ...re:FB..a month or so ago.
I'm going to try to help Deb with the difference between the two, while bringing you back to the sping of '75.
The many times I visited Tom that spring, going over plans to have a party for a few close friends, this time I could'nt help but notice his one apple tree, that once stood on the sloop just off the lawn, had blown over. I quickly volunteered to cut it up for him, & we made plans to do it the next day.
Arriveing at his house the next day with my trusty Homlite,which had been my fathers, I first noticed that Tom's car was not there. [ ye 'ol Blue '65 Falcon] So, I thought, at least I could get started. He'll get back from the Pub at some point.
Even though I was low on gas & oil, I should haved stopped then, but no, get 'er done! I proceded to the fallen tree, which was split in 2 leaders...or limbs....I started my trusty Homlite & began walkin toward my 1st goal which was to cut at the 1st branch, I reached down w the saw & started.....then WAM.......standing there w just a pair of cut-offs...a swarm of white - assed Hornets came right up my crotch!! The 1st one I hit was on my inner thigh, It left my hand print for a week!!
I jumped off the tree, with chain saw in hand, tossed the saw, rolled on the ground screaming the most profane words that pierced that sunny, warm , peaceful day on the quite back roads of Warren. After running down Brick School House Road, I stopped & turned around , the neighbor accross the street came over to me to see if I was alright.After telling him what had happened, he said even though I was'nt alurgic, I should see some one that knows bees.
I jumped into my Landcruiser, along w my 2 dogs at the time: Tokas & Charlie. and started home, then it came to me that I could stop at the Masseys farm to consult about my stings, knowing that he kept bee hives on the farm. I pulled in next to the barn & as soon as I stopped, Tokas jumped out....haveing no doors on at the time....run down the stairs below the barn. Not too soon after he returned w white feathers in his mouth. Oh, SHIT......then came the Massey family, following right behind.I think they were on their way to lunch.
Dumb-founded, all I could say was: 'want can I do to make up for this?' His reply was:'Replace it'.
O.K., now I have to replace a white domestic duck for the guy that's the Fire Chief in the town that I'm just about to throw a little gathering at the park where I named the Fire Dept.as one of the beneficeries of any profits.
It also referred to an incident that happened to Debbie, when she got stung by that Hornet or wasp, & wasn't sure which it was ...all she new is that she was pissed & it hurt like hell. ...re:FB..a month or so ago.
I'm going to try to help Deb with the difference between the two, while bringing you back to the sping of '75.
The many times I visited Tom that spring, going over plans to have a party for a few close friends, this time I could'nt help but notice his one apple tree, that once stood on the sloop just off the lawn, had blown over. I quickly volunteered to cut it up for him, & we made plans to do it the next day.
Arriveing at his house the next day with my trusty Homlite,which had been my fathers, I first noticed that Tom's car was not there. [ ye 'ol Blue '65 Falcon] So, I thought, at least I could get started. He'll get back from the Pub at some point.
Even though I was low on gas & oil, I should haved stopped then, but no, get 'er done! I proceded to the fallen tree, which was split in 2 leaders...or limbs....I started my trusty Homlite & began walkin toward my 1st goal which was to cut at the 1st branch, I reached down w the saw & started.....then WAM.......standing there w just a pair of cut-offs...a swarm of white - assed Hornets came right up my crotch!! The 1st one I hit was on my inner thigh, It left my hand print for a week!!
I jumped off the tree, with chain saw in hand, tossed the saw, rolled on the ground screaming the most profane words that pierced that sunny, warm , peaceful day on the quite back roads of Warren. After running down Brick School House Road, I stopped & turned around , the neighbor accross the street came over to me to see if I was alright.After telling him what had happened, he said even though I was'nt alurgic, I should see some one that knows bees.
I jumped into my Landcruiser, along w my 2 dogs at the time: Tokas & Charlie. and started home, then it came to me that I could stop at the Masseys farm to consult about my stings, knowing that he kept bee hives on the farm. I pulled in next to the barn & as soon as I stopped, Tokas jumped out....haveing no doors on at the time....run down the stairs below the barn. Not too soon after he returned w white feathers in his mouth. Oh, SHIT......then came the Massey family, following right behind.I think they were on their way to lunch.
Dumb-founded, all I could say was: 'want can I do to make up for this?' His reply was:'Replace it'.
O.K., now I have to replace a white domestic duck for the guy that's the Fire Chief in the town that I'm just about to throw a little gathering at the park where I named the Fire Dept.as one of the beneficeries of any profits.
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