The Ed Larkin Contra Dancers...

Edwin Loyal Larkin was born on Christmas Day, in 1867. When he was a young lad of 16 he attended a local event, the Tunbridge Ball. From that time on he loved dancing. In the book "And Everyone Would Sashay" compiled by Ruth Sher she describes the District School #3 where after the lunch boxes were put away at noon, sixteen of the older pupils danced the old dances. Ed played harmonica for those noontime school dances. But he wanted to dance himself! By the time he was 21 he was fiddling and calling the dances at kitchen parties all over the area.


After dancing for many years, the group officially formed in 1934. That year the Ed Larkin Contra Dancers performed in front of the log cabin on Antique Hill at the Tunbridge Fair. They went on to appear at the 1940 New York World's Fair.

Here today's Ed Larkin Contra Dancers group takes the dance floor to the cheers of a large crowd. Note the top hats and period dress!
The group performs such old time dances as "Hull's Victory", "Portland Fancy", "Petronella", and "Green Mountain Volunteers" among others. The following video was taken this past Saturday. I will bet that before it's finished your toes will be tapping!

This gentleman will be 90 years old in a few weeks. He was the fiddler for Saturday's performance and still fiddles regularly for the group.

And now the performance is over and the dancers parade off the dance floor, waving goodbye in Tunbridge for another year!

If you want to visit the Tunbridge World's Fair check the website http://www.tunbridgefair.com/ as summer draws to an end. The fair is always held in early September. While on the grounds don't miss the Ed Larkin Contra Dancers performing in the tent on Antique Hill. You can still obtain a copy of Ruth Sher's book there. Also if you check out the exhibits in the Floral Hall on the fairgrounds, you may still be able to find copies of the book "History of the Tunbridge World's Fair" by Carol Moller.

See you there next September?

The rest of the fair,...

We are still at the Tunbridge Fair. After spending time on Antique Hill (yesterday's post) we walked down to the midway where you are hit with happy sounds and delicious smells. The fairgrounds sits in a valley surrounded by several "ice cream scoop" hills. There are regular fair exhibits, rides and oh, so much food to choose from!

Try your luck?
This merry-go-round is especially pretty with all the lights and mirrors.

The Cavalcade of Animals parades around the track.
The big and the small alike,...

After the hot and dusty parade animals were treated to a drink of water in the river behind the barn.
What is a fair without a sales pitch? These chamois clothes were interesting, but I saved my money.

I even resisted buying a box of fudge for the ride home!

Tomorrow will be my last post about the Tunbridge World's Fair. I have saved my favorite thing for then. If technology works for me I will have a special treat for you!

From our past,....

On Antique Hill at Tunbridge Fair is a museum. The exhibits are interesting and have volunteers in period dress playing parts. They are able to talk with you about what they are doing. This gives those from more modern times a better idea of what life was like "way back when!" The Postmaster had a real handlebar mustache.

Dipping candles was part of life two centuries ago. Some people do it today as an art.

Locally, these candles are popular..... http://www.adirondackcraft.com/XPH/ach/ManufacturerProducts.htm

This woman is carding wool prior to spinning it into yarn.

The General Store was my favorite. I loved the little guy in the middle in the old fashioned hat. The fellow on the left is cutting cheese from a large wheel and is weighing it prior to selling it to a person walking through the museum. These are truly examples of "living history!"
Here rug hooking is being demonstrated. Not "latch-hook" with yarn that is precut,... she is cutting her own strips of fabric and choosing her own colors to make her pattern.
Behind the lady demonstrating hand quilting are several antique quilts from the area. She told me they were from more than 100 years ago.

How many of us have a stove like this tucked away in our memories?

The World's Fair!...

This year is the 137th World's Fair at Tunbridge, VT.
http://www.tunbridgefair.com/
The first fair on the present grounds was in 1875. Prior to that fairs had been held at various farm fields in the area. The fair in 1875 was held for two days. The following year it was lengthened to three days and remained so until more recent times when it has been held for four days.

On Saturday the traffic was backed up towards South Royalton for nearly two miles.


Upon arrival I headed for "Antique Hill".... here is the view back towards the parking fields.


This mural on an exhibit building on Antique Hill describes the flavor of the fair. It has all the modern rides, games and food, but is truly an "old time" fair in overall mood.



There are many demonstrations on the hill. Here antique gas engines run various old pieces of machinery.
This man is demonstrating how to make hand hewn roof shingles.

Ladies in period dress are sitting on the porch of the museum building.

Civil War re-enactors have set up a small tent village,...There is a display of Civil War era items. What do you suppose this Civil War soldier is saying to his lady?

There is much to see at the fair, I'll share more with you tomorrow!

Crystal Brook....

The word "view" to me means whatever you are looking at. Yesterday my "Adirondack View" was to the east as I drove through Vermont. On my way to a great old time fair in central Vermont I passed this brook in Ripton. There was no sign to tell the brook's name. Last night I searched online maps and believe it to be Crystal Brook. If anyone knows differently, please correct me.
The leaves are starting to turn shades of orange and red. The foliage is far from peak colors yet but the hint of what is to come had its own beauty.

Looking downstream there are huge boulders and river bottom ledges that are layered and nearly verticle.
There must have been a geological upheaval at one time to leave this tell-tale mark.

Oh, to fall asleep every night with the sound of this brook outside my window!

A Special "Thank You"...

I received a surprise message today from Michele, the author of The Rocky Mountain Retreat. She has included "Adirondack View" among several that she has awarded a special blog recognition. Thank you Michele!... to be recognized by a photographer of your talent is truly an honor for me! Be sure to check out "The Rocky Mountain Retreat" in my Blog List. You will be transported to the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada and I know you will find Michele's photography amazing!

All the signs,....

Yesterday morning I looked out my bedroom window and saw the turkeys,... no, it is a second flock of turkeys. It's not the same as the ones from a few days ago. In this flock it is all adults. The ones I photographed a few days ago were a few adults and mostly this season's chicks. I got this quick shot through the window screen,....

When I got outside they saw me and started to scatter,...

Within a minute they had gathered and were clucking their way quickly off into the woods!

As I drove out my driveway to go to work I noticed how different the light is now. The sun is much lower a sure sign of fall arriving.

When I looked down from the shot above I noticed leaves on the ground,...already!

And the Wild Aster is in full bloom,... yes, all the signs of fall are here,...

This morning it is 40° ... yes, fall has arrived.