Who killed Miss Delia B.?

The place was Sugar Hill. The year was 1908. The day was July 24. Miss Delia B. Congdon’s lifeless body was found on her pantry floor. She had been beaten with a sharp instrument. Miss Delia was a deaf mute who lived in the home she grew up in. When her parents passed away they willed the home to Miss Delia so she would always have a safe and familiar place to live. Miss Delia suffered a bout with scarlet fever at the age of 8 and as a result lost her hearing and most of her speech. At the age of 41 years, 3 months and 13 days her life ended in a tragic way that, to this day, is still somewhat of a mystery as to who actually did the horrific deed. Who killed Miss Delia B.?

Fast forward. The place is Orford, New Hampshire. The year is 2008. The day is August 2. A woman at a flea market is handed an old and mysterious envelope containing the yellowed newspaper clippings about a murder and the manhunt that pursued. Hand-written in pencil on the front of the envelope are the words: The paper slips in account of Miss D.B. Congdon East Wallingford VT. The woman stands there holding the envelope and shudders. She knows this story but how did these faded clippings make their way over time into her hands?

I am the woman standing there at the flea market holding the fragile envelope that contains the brittle news clippings. I remembered, as a little girl, listening to a tale of murder and intrigue on Sugar Hill from accounts told by my parents. Later in life I remember learning more about the murder of Miss Delia from a brother who researched the history of Sugar Hill and its neighboring hamlet of Centreville where we grew up. Why now, had these clippings surfaced? Where did they come from? Who took the time to clip and preserve them in this now frail envelope?

Later that evening as I lay in my make-shift bed in the van, which I drove to the flea market, I pulled from my purse the well worn envelope of news clippings. I gathered my pillow and a flashlight and settled in to read the news from the past. As I gently pulled the clippings from their paper time capsule a thunder storm raged outside the van. Lightning flashed repeatedly illuminating the night sky and making visible the cemetery next door. My thoughts were racing with eager anticipation of what more I could learn about the demise of Miss Delia that my brother hadn’t told me.

The clippings were in no particular order but, fortunately, the person who so carefully preserved them had taken the time to write some dates on them in pencil. As I began to read Miss Delia’s story began to eerily unfold before my very eyes.

To be continued....

Brave little soldiers and hero mommies!

I received my latest issue of The American Legion yesterday. Didn't get a chance to read it until this morning while having breakfast. An article that caught my eye and made me cry was titled: Hug-a-Hero dolls comfort kids of the deployed. This is a must read for anyone who proudly supports our troops, whether they be here working at home or deployed overseas. The official website is www.daddydolls.com.

The wives of two Marines developed the idea of making fabric dolls with the printed picture of their husbands in uniform so their ill children could still have daddy to hug while he was deployed. What a wonderful idea. What touched my heart was the photo with this article of the 4 year old receiving chemotherapy holding her 'daddy doll'. I remember so well the dependent children I cared for while working in the military hospitals when I was stationed around the country at various Army posts. Military families are special. Their children are special. They must endure many hardships and sometimes never know when a parent or spouse must leave for a length of time to serve overseas. It's what they choose to do but they do it selflessly and proudly. It's something civilians will never understand. To this day I still feel the tug of my 'military family' and remember fondly the many great opportunities and experiences I had while in uniform.

A piece of history...now gone!

This old landmark was the local post office and general store in Mt. Holly, Vermont, many years ago. It no longer exists, even in the form of this old ramshackle house. It was recently torn down as an eyesore and to open the land.

I remember my grandmother living here at one time. She lived here with her son and daughter-in-law in the late 1950's or early 1960's. We attended the local church (which recently burned to the ground this winter) just around the corner and would then go to grandma's house for Sunday dinner. I remember watching grandma wearing her apron and cooking in the kitchen. We have old home movies of us in front of that old porch waving like maniacs to the camera. It was a grand old house but nature eventually took over and now it's only a memory. Thank you, Grandma, for all the wonderful Sunday dinners.

Freecycle is my new best friend

I've discovered The Freecycle Network here in Vermont. According to The Freecycle Network home page the network "is made up of 4,229 groups with 4,397,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free."

I've joined four different Freecycle lists here in Vermont: Addison/Rutland; Springfield; Burlington and Washington County. The reason for this is I clean out estates in various towns and in order to list items in whatever town I'm working I need to be a member of that town's list. It's actually fun and exciting because I have the opportunity to meet many great people who appreciate my castoffs and less stuff is going into the local landfills. Besides offering items for the taking a member can also place a wanted post if they are looking for an item in particular.

So far, since joining, I've managed to keep 35 boxes of old books; 4 boxes of records; an old buffet/server; 3 bags of vintage linens; some old shutters; a floor model stereo; 15 boxes of household items; a sofa; 2 upholstered chairs; a large kitchen counter; 4 boxes of children's encyclopedias; a stroller; and a large box of men's clothing out of the local landfills. I find this exciting (I know, I need to get out more) but best of all I've met some wonderful folks who were just as excited to receive these items.

It's free to join a Freecycle list so give it some thought. I'm glad I did. It's a great way to keep from filling up the dump with stuff that still has some miles left on it and it's actually fun!

Simply...LOVE says it all this Valentine's Day!

Angel Ridge Art has created this adorable Valentine greeting card, using one of the many Flutternut Faerie designs created by homeschool graduate and talented Vermont artist, Annaquista Thomson. This Valentine greeting is now available in many forms including greeting cards, mugs, canvas bags, 2008 calendars and more. Check out these other Flutternut Faerie designs to share the fun and magic that will set your heart aflutter.

Vintage Fish Oreno Wooden Lures