Strawberry Picking
Box 1 of 3 of "When I Was a Girl In The Martin Box" By Orra Parker Phelps, an autobiography of a girl living in Coventry, CT in the 1870's.

From Rte 6 in Andover take Parker Bridge Rd to the pull off just before the bridge. From Rte 31 in Coventry, in "the village" turn onto Lake St. Follow as it merges on to Cross Street. At the 3 way intersection of Cross and South St, turn LEFT on to South and turn RIGHT on Bunker Hill. As you descend down bunker veer to the left, still following Bunker Hill. You will com to a V in the road veer LEFT onto Parker Bridge. Follow to the bridge. At the bridge, cross over and pull in to the pull off on the right. 

"When the first strawberries came, we children usually ate all we found. One day, down by Ed's Meadow we came upon such quantities of them that Bessie and I, fearing someone else might discover our treasures if we went home for pails, picked our aprons full. And such a mess they were when we got home"

Hop River bordered Ed's Meadow. Imagine these meadows ruby red with strawberries. To find the strawberries that Orra and Bessie missed look in the tree that sits right on the edge of your parking area. 
Enjoy and please be discrete! 

Planted by Irishtinker
On 8/12/02
Rated Easy

The May Basket
Box 2 of 3 of "When I Was a Girl In The Martin Box" By Orra Parker Phelps, an autobiography of a girl living in Coventry, CT in the 1870's. 

From box 1 travel over the bridge on Parker Bridge Rd towards Coventry. At the stop sign veer right onto Bunker Hill. At the intersection on Bunker Hill and South Street you will see a small grass "triangle" in the road. Stay to the right of the triangle. Look back at the farm house on the left. Note the two long windows on each side of the doors. You can practically see those two boys "creeping softly across the yard" and young Orra watching out the window.

"Early one evening in May, Father came from the barn where he'd been milking Dancer, the Jersey cow. There was a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye as he said "Wouldn't be surprised if Orra got a May basket. Saw Leon Lord and Kirk Wallen sneaking down the road; guess I'll surprise them."
I was thrilled. Never had I had a May basket. I begged Father not to do anything to the boys. "Oh Daddy, don't drive 'em off. I do want a May basket so bad."
Daddy laughed, "You'll get your basket, but I'll give 'em a scare."
He went into the little front hall that had a narrow window on each side of the door. He sat down by one and motioned me to look out the other. Presently we saw the two little boys creeping softly across the yard. They got to the door and one stood with fist raised up to knock as soon as the other should hang the basket on the doorknob. The fist never had a chance to fall, for the moment the basket was hung Father gave a tremendous knock on the inside. How those boys did scatter! Father opened the door and handed me a paper box decorated with crimped streamers, it's handle a strip of cat stairs. There was nothing in it but what it matter? I had a May basket I could tell the girls at school about." 

At the stop sign turn left onto South Street. There will be a drive-way on the left side of the road. Take 8 paces along the stonewall heading away from Bunker Hill. On top of the stonewall you will see a small white stone. Directly under the white stone within the wall you find Orra's May basket. PLEASE RESPECT THIS VERY OLD NEW ENGLAND STONE WALL AND RESPECT THAT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THIS WALL IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. THANK YOU.

Planted 8/12/02
By Irishtinker
Rated Easy

A Trip Through Town
Box 3 of 3 of "When I Was a Girl In The Martin Box" By Orra Parker Phelps, an autobiography of a girl living in Coventry, CT in the 1870's. 

From intersection of South Street and Bunker Hill turn Left on South, there is a stop sign about 1/10 of mile. Turn Right onto Cross Street. Drive slow and note that this is the area being described in the next excerpt clue. Try to imagine this road in 1870. At the V veer left. You will see Nathan Hale Monument in the cemetery on the Left. Turn Left into the cemetery. This is a very blind turn. You may want to drive passed it turn around at the flea market parking lot and come back at the turn from that way. 

"...never had I driven alone. Very straight I sat on the seat, slapped Jenny's back and said "Get Up" Jenny obediently "got up" and we went toward the village. As we went down the road I looked, as Father always did, away across the sea of trees that completely concealed our lake, the Wangumbaug, to a round headed tree on the horizon. How tightly I held the reins as we went down Potash Hill lest Jenny stumble! At it's foot I stopped her, got out to loose the check rein, then clambered back into the buggy again and drove her into Potash Brook. Father always watered her there. ...When she had enough, I drove her through the brook, got out and fastened up the checkrein. 
After we crossed the brook, we skirted on one side of the green, passed Nathan Hale Cemetery where towered the granite shaft to his memory, erected by proceeds from a lottery the State Legislator gave permission. This was on another hill steeper than Potash, and I held my breath and braced my feet 'til we were safely down."