| Show f - investigate purchasing some property Years later as my family often traveled the same route pointed the trees out to my children and told them about their great-grandfather who died whenwas three Later the highway was rerouted eliminating that particulat stretch of road How we missed seeing those stately trees Poplars were also planted in groves which furnished firewood for cooking and heating or provided shade and protection for picnicking stillpopular activity About three miles west of Mt Pleasant part ofgrove planted just east of the Sanpitch River remains In the middle of the grove many years ago stooddance hall where people from surrounding areas gathered to dance or otherwise enjoy themselves Thoughnever had the opportunity to participate in these activities for me the grove holds memories which are part of my pioneer legacy it was named FiddlerGreen in honor of my great-grandfather James Hansen who was the first fiddler in Mt Pleasant and who provided many firsts musically in that locale Across the street from wherewas raised stood another pioneer legacy beautiful old tree which had been planted assapling by Justus Wellington and Clarissa Jane Seely When they moved west with other early colonizers and were then sent to Mt Pleasant they carried with them incoffee can tender saplings from their home in Eastern Canada They carefully nurtured precious slips undoubtedly using some of their precious water to ensure that the plants survived until they could be planted at their new home Other pioneers brought cuttings from trees and plants seeds and seedlings from other areas all of which were protected nearly as avidly as they protected their own lives The SeelyMt Pleasant tree flourished growing intobeautiful tree We children climbed its easily accessible limbs and played with our dolls in its shade Birds nested in its branches One day--long after we had graduated from high school and overcentury from the time of the treefrail beginnings--Mother noticed 45 |
