Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: BrianS on August 02, 2016, 03:50:51 pm
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Even though I do not want to admit it, I am getting old. I started writing down memorable stories about things that have happened at the cabin over the past 60 years. Each short story is written in my own words (I am not the best writer by any stretch). Each story has no real connection to the other stories other than they happened at the cabin. Most are about simple things. I have some hunting stories included also ( some about successful hunts and others about unsuccessful hunts). They are just random stories and follow no pattern. My hope is that when they are all put together the stories paint a picture of the cabin and property. I have several written (18) so far and plan on adding more as my free time permits. My goal with writing down the memories is not based on ego or anything like that. My goal is to pass on the stories to my grandson one day when I am gone. He is still young and if I were to tell the stories to him verbally, chances are they will be forgotten by him or will be distorted with time. I hope when he gets older he can continue with the tradition and some day have stories of his own to share.
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That's cool.
Writing has it's own joy and it's V good exercise for the memory. It will be a good aide memoir for you too.
I find bits on my Bowyers Diary that I had forgotten about, and some anecdotes would get lost if you didn't write 'em down.
I'd like to read 'em too, 'cos they will be about a life and experiences that I don't see this this side of the pond.
Kudos to yo
Del
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Del,
Thank you for the kind words. I have enjoyed this little project and would encourage others to do something similar.
The collection of memories range from old Jeeps, wood stoves, guns, bows,hunting, fishing, things breaking and backwoods repairs, trees, cricks, canoes to development and so called progress. I have several others in my head that still need to be recorded down for my Grandson. Here are some of the titles of the short stories so far. Please note that the title may or may not be obvious to what the story is about
The Trail Marker Tree
Ithica Model 49
The cricks of Poverty Hill
The Turkey Shoots
The Birdwalk Canoe race
Twenty below
The deer that came with a drag rope
The cantakeous water pump
Thought I was alone
Mighty mouse
What's the worse that can happen?
First deer
Daffy duck
Turkey hunting with (Famous TV star whose name I have left out for this post)
Tree stand nicknames
We were here first
The woods of Poverty Hill
The upper and lower cabins
Neighbors of note
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As a fellow "older feller", I admire you for taking the time to embark on such an effort. Your family will treasure this forever!
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Nice, "The Storyteller" ;D
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I think that's a great idea. In my dads family Alzthymer is scary common. I would have loved to read my grandfathers memories. I think you should tell them your stories even if their to young to remember, when they read the stories they might remember you telling them.
Bjrogg
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That is cool! I have the hand written account my Grandmother wrote When she was very young, when her family moved from Indiana to Florida in an old Model T truck my Great grandfather built a house on the back with a wood burning stove. The account she told about crossing cable wooden bridges through the Okeefeenokee Swamp that would disappear under water was amazing. Someone had to walk in front with a stick and poke for wood to make sure they weren't driving off of the side. The whole account with pictures is now in the Florida State Natural History Museum along with the interview AAA did with her when she was in her early 90's. And I have the original manuscript. ;D It's priceless.
I commend you for doing this. Your family will cherish reading and sharing your memories forever and hopefully your Grandson will enjoy what we all do in the woods.
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... you should tell them your stories even if they're too young to remember, when they read the stories they might remember you telling them.
Bjrogg
great idea!
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Those titles sound great :).
If you are into the web and stuff (which you must be to some extent to be on here) it may be worth publishing them for kindle... it's not to hard (there are guides on how to do i, using MS Word) doesn't cost and you could make 'em available free or a V small cost. That way they would be out there in the public domain and being in electronic format may appeal to a younger wider audience.
If you price at $1.99 I'll buy 'em for my recently bought second hand kindle :).
I did consider publishing something based on my bowyers diary, but I'd need pictures which complicates it.
There doesn't seem to be much in the way of stories like that to download >:(
It the sort of thing that is fun if you really want to do it.
Del
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Del,
I am a bit hesitant about sharing all of the stories as I am not a real good writer but here is the first story title "The Trail Marker Tree". Another project to record memories I recently worked on was a time capsule for our Archery Club Hawkeye Bowmen. In the capsule are photos of various members hunts, club related items and other misc. items pertaining to our time as "caretakers" of Hawkeye. It has all been sealed up and is at our clubhouse collecting dust until it is opened in the future by the next generation of members.
The Trail Marker Tree
Close to Sixty Years ago, my older brothers Mark and Karl and I spent countless hours exploring the woods, fields and creeks on Poverty Hill. For Young Boys like Us it was Heaven on Earth. One special place we discovered was a large tree that was bent in an odd shape. Even as young boys we recognized the tree as being unique among the other trees growing in the woods. We would climb up on it and pretend to be riding a horse. Little did we know back then just how special the tree would turn out to be?
Fast forward Sixty years, quite by accident it was learned that the tree is a Trail Marker tree that was formed by the hand of Man to mark a trail, a natural resource or perhaps even a sacred place. Measurements have been taken of the circumference of the base of the old Maple and based on estimates it is quite old. Remarkable it is still alive and has escaped damage from Man and Nature for a estimated Two Hundred years. Who originally shaped a Maple sapling way back in time that has grown into the large Trail Marker tree and what it marked will never be known. The Trail Marker tree stills marks a location of note, a very special place to me named Poverty Hill.
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I understand your hesitance, but I'd just say a lot of people mistake correct grammar, spelling, punctuation etc for good writing... sure it helps, but those things should be ignored or, are easily corrected if it is felt necessary, so don't let that stuff worry you.
Good writing is (IMO) about writing as we speak, writing from the heart, and spinning a good story.
I hate "fancy writing" where people use 20 "clever" words when 2 would have done...
Del
BTW, we can see from your posts that you can write just fine ;D
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Nothing wrong with your writing or story. I thought it was very interesting and if it was boring I would have fallen asleep lol. Cool bedtime story for the grandkids might have to answer questions but those little minds would be dreaming about that tree and who formed it and used it.
Bjrogg
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Brian,
The titles are interesting and after reading "The Trail Marker Tree" I want to read more!
Kevin
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Brian,
The titles are interesting and after reading "The Trail Marker Tree" I want to read more!
Kevin
What he said ^
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Guard them carefully and make copies. My grandfather kept a journal of his travels and adventures around the world. Mining in Texas in the 1880's(about), joined the Texas Rangers, fought in the Boer War, dredge mining in Alaska and more. I guess my parents didn't guard it well and a cousin and I colored all over it and tore it all up. I didn't learn about it until I was in my 50's. I sure would like to read it now :( :( :( :(
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I would love to read them. This is REAL history, it's common folks doing ordinary things that form our history and remind who we are (or who we should be).
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We grow up thinking history is something that happened somewhere else to someone else. Glad you realize you are utterly made up of history.
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A wonderful idea and gift.. I hardly knew my grand parents.. They lived in Holland.. Only meeting them a couple of times.. A few memories and stories are all I have.. Back in '78 I went over to visit.. Opa took me for ice cream.. We are sitting on a bench enjoying the day at the park.. A young lady walked by and caught my eye.. Opa tapped me with his elbow looked at me winked and in broken English '' Pretty girl '' smiled.. Passed 4 years later..
Thanks Leroy
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Picture of the trail marker tree
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Here is another short story. Just something that happened that has stuck in my head.
Mighty mouse
As with most cabins, Our Poverty Hill camp has had mice from time to time. Come fall and winter field mice like to get into things. Spring and summer they nest outdoors for the most part. We stay atop of the little rodents by setting traps and such. Never have we been infested with great numbers but the little buggers manage to get in the strangest places and sometimes startle you where you least expect them.
It was late in Deer season and we were staying in the cabin. Upon arrival a fire in the old wood stove was the first item of business. A layer of crumbled up newspapers and an armful of small dry kindling was lit. The fire was burning furiously for several minutes before We opened up the front door of the old box stove to add some larger pieces of firewood. When the door was opened a mouse ran out of the stove and down Karl’s arm! Both of us were surprised to say the least. We chased that poor little mouse around the inside of the cabin until finally dispatching it with an axe.
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One last story.
The deer that came with its own drag rope
Next to Opening Day, Thanksgiving morning is one of the best firearm deer hunting days. I had applied for a deer management tag (doe tag) for 9M where Poverty Hill is located and was hunting with my Remington 870 Wingmaster with a smoothbore rifle sight barrel on a rainy Thanksgiving morning. Although I had heard some shots from other Hunters on Poverty Hill, I had not seen a deer all morning. It was close to the time to leave the woods to go for Thanksgiving Dinner at Mom and Dad’s house when I spotted a lone deer walking at a fast pace uphill a bit from me. It was a big doe and there was something reddish dangling by its front quarter. I thought perhaps it had a injury, took aim and shot one time. The doe jumped straight up and only went a few yards before dying. I rushed up to the doe and discovered what I had thought was a injured leg was actually a faded “hunter orange” strap attached to a frayed rope tied around the deer’s neck! I checked the deer and it had just my shot in it and I had watched it drop. I skinned it out and I could find no evidence of a healed over wound. How that strap got on that deer is a mystery. I replaced the rope and still carry that faded orange deer drag and use the same 870 shotgun during firearm season. There have been many other deer taken since that Thanksgiving but none that came with a drag rope!
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Great stories.
Love that pic of the tree :)
Del
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Great stuff :)
I was lucky enough to get a few of my stories
published in the Indian Artifact Mag years ago.
Forty years ago when talking to older folks,
about trees that look like yours-- They said
that the Indians would fashion them that way
for chairs/benches along their trails??
Zuma
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Zuma,
Thanks for the info.
I did a bit of research on the Great Lakes Trail tree Society website and this is what their website said about trail marker trees.
Trail Marker Trees are trees that were shaped into a specific form by man to be easily recognized and then used to aid in land and/or water navigation as well as to mark significant Native American sites. These trees would help guide Native Americans along the safest route in their journeys and would direct them in finding a variety of natural resources necessary for their way of life.
The Trail Trees are most commonly formed from trees in the hardwood family (i.e. Oak, Maple, and Elm) because of their flexibility while young and their longevity after being formed. I also learned that some trail marker trees were formed by non Native Americans. Their website is quite interesting.
Regardless of the unknown (Native or Non Native) person who formed it or what it marked it is very special to me.
Take care,
Brian
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Awesome tree Brian and it's a good thing that your little piece of Poverty Hill has a good land steward who recognizes that trees' importance to history and cares for it.
Kevin