
Monday morning I set off for a two day trip to New Brunswick, Canada with my aunt Jean and my mom. My aunt and I had planned this trip since July. I wanted to see where my grandparents were from again and to share the visit with my mom. I hadn't been to Burtts Corner since I was around 10. I have many memories of going to my great-grandparents potato farm. I remembered the Mactaquac Dam when we came to it, the first of many recollections to come. We arrived in Burtts Corner in the afternoon and then drove to Dorne Ridge where the family farm was. I was so pleased to see the little church at Dorne Ridge, to me it has always been one of the prettiest churches I have ever seen, simple and sturdy. It also meant we were almost to my great-grandparents home!

Back onto the road again. I remember as a child the road seemed to go on for ever and it was so dusty. Some things never change, the road does go on for miles (about 7 or so) and it is still a dirt road! There are more houses there now, I believe there were only a handful when I last was there.

When we arrived at the farm I was a little disappointed. All that was left was the house (and how tiny it looked!) and a shed. I remember playing on the big screened in porch with my cousins and siblings and one time one of the hired hands was taking a nap on a day bed on the porch and a few of us rolled him off onto the porch! He was good-natured about it and I remember how we all laughed at our prank. We had fun playing in the barn, swimming in what must have been a frog pond and going to visit the various relatives. The photo below is the view from the old house now. When I was a child all you could see forever was potato fields, now long gone.

We visited with my mom's cousin Patricia in Burtts Corner for a while. I so enjoyed listening to mom, Aunt Jean and their cousin talking about the past. I learned alot more about my family and enjoyed looking at family photos. Then on to Aunt Violet's home, also in Burtts Corner. She cooked a feast for us and shared memories with us. On our way to our hotel near the Mactaquac Dam we visited with another cousin, Patricia. I was very pleased that her husband wore a Red Sox cap! We reluctantly left there with more memories and off to the hotel.

I thought this water bowl station was great, it was located inside the entryway of the hotel. We had an adventure getting into our room, lets just say it involved alot of running back and forth to the front desk and lots of new key cards being issued! We shared a room and talked over our day and had many laughs. I remember one of the last times I shared a room with Aunt Jean I got in trouble! I believe she must have been home on a break from college and my sister and I were spending the night at Grammy's house. The bedroom had two beds and I remember my sister and I fighting over the covers and waking up Aunt Jean. Lets just say we had to re-make the bed pronto and never made another peep.

Early Tuesday morning we set out for home. This trip was such a treat. We talked about anything and everything and concluded that yes, we had covered everything from A to Z! I enjoyed listening to my mom and aunt's memories. I learned alot more family history and lore. I am so glad that we could share this journey. Thanks Aunt Jean!
3 comments:
Sounds like a great trip! I don't ever remember going to Canada when I was little. Please put the memories down on paper, its priceless for your children and grandchildren!! You do realize, Court would of had a blast!! Photos are great too!
You got such great photos of our adventure, Cheryl. I loved looking at them again. It was fun to hear about the trip from your perspective. I'd like to do that trip again sometime and...also stop...at Briggs & Little....(Oh, and I don't remember the "incident" involving you and your sister! Selective memory, apparently. I always loved spending time with you two and the "other three". Honest!)
Margaret, you are so right about Courtney having a blast! He would have really enjoyed the trip and visiting with Great-Aunt Myrtle. Its hard to explain, but at Burtts Corner I just felt like I really belonged there.
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