by Holloway, Harold L., Jr.

See previous entry: Little Home Histories, Part 41 -- The Thomas Hall Home.

My grandfather, Wilfred T. Hall, tells of the many delights of a growing boy walking to school at No. 1, with his sister Margaret. They started in a southwestern direction from the barn of the Thomas P. Hall home down the lane towards Peter Sears. This lane was lined with very large fruit trees, which extended almost the length of their place.

One of the large apple trees on Peter Sears' farm was considered the largest apple tree in Belmont County. It is known that Prudence Williams went on horseback to Redstone, Pa., for the trees when planning to plant the orchard, and brought the trees back and set them out herself.

The last tree was blown down on 7th month 10th 1896, and by measurement taken a few years before, was found to be 9 ft. 4 inches in circumference at the smallest point between the roots and forks and 10 feet and eighteen inches above the ground. It had four large branches, one of which measured 4 ft. in circumference, another 5 ft., another 5 ft. 2 in., and another 5 ft. 1 inch. These measurements were taken 18 inches from the junction of the forks.

The big apple trees were laden with many varieties such as Hubbards and sheep nose. The large peach trees were laden with juicy fruit. All of the fruit was perfect and required no spraying. The sweet apples hidden in the deep blue grass, so deep that in late winter they could be kicked out, cold and delicious. The walk then continued through a maple camp with perhaps a few sips of maple sap. All these things made the walk to school seem most too short.

The school was located in a beautiful grove, and at that time was one of the best schools in the township.

With the money earned as janitor, which included the care of the teacher's horse, my grandfather bought his first watch.

On their way home from school, grandfather and his sister Margaret often stopped to see grandmother Anna Sears (Peter Sears' mother). She would feel them all over to see how they were growing, since she was totally blind.

Source: Written by: Harold L. Holloway, Jr., Wheeling, W. Va.

See next entry: Little Home Histories, Part 43 -- Anecdotes: Putting Up Hay.

For the table of contents and first entry in this series, please see: Little Home Histories, Part 01 -- Table of Contents and Introduction.

This entry is adapted from Little Home Histories in Our Early Homes, Belmont County, Ohio, which was published in 1942. Its publication was coordinated by Robert D. and Beulah Patten McDonald. This entry has been reedited for inclusion in the Pierian Press Fulltext eBooks database, and is included on the Stratton House Inn Website by special permission. This entry is licensed for use ONLY on this Website. It may be used for educational purposes and personal pleasure under fair-use provisions via this Website. Please note that the Stratton House Inn iteration of this entry does NOT include the subject headings assigned each chapter for use in the Fulltext eBooks database.

DATABASE: Fulltext eBooks: Copyright (c) 2002 The Pierian Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved
ENTRY NUMBER: EBK30013742

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