Friendship Friday

[long-a-coming]

This past Friday, I took a drive to Friendship. I have been there before but never really looked that closely or spent more than a couple minutes there.
I loved it! I checked out a bunch of foundations/cellar holes. One cellar hole was much bigger than the others, set back off the main road. Does anyone know what that larger structure was? Any additional info about the area or where I can find info would be greatly appreciated. One more question: Is there anything else worth checking out there?
Thanks
Tom

 

[BEHR655]

Did you check out any of the old bogs?

Steve

 

[Ben Ruset]

Tom,

Chances are you're talking about the old cranberry packing house at Friendship.

As for other interesting things to look at nearby, there is the Charles Wills grave and the cellar hole for Eagle Tavern not too far up Friendship-Speedwell Road. There is, as Steve pointed out, Friendship bogs, with a large grainite marker erected by the DeMarco family.

You also once had High Crossing not too far from Friendship, but they cut the tracks to get fire equipment through one day, so there isn't much to see. Finally, Hampton Furnace is also nearby.

 

[suresue592003]

Friendship

Have we all forgotten that I once lived there? I can tell you what each one of those cellar holes are. One obviously was the house I lived in. Chatsworth Municipal Building has a wonderful collection of original photos of Frinedship and Speedwell! I can remember being 5 or 6 years old and peeking between the weather boards of the packing house, eyes following a ray of sun through the floating dust of workers ghost of yesteryear.
The tree still stands behind the cellar hold of my home. In it hangs the memory of the deer and fox, placed there on display with pride.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Sue,

Have you ever seen the edition of "The Pine Barrens" with Bill Curtsinger's photos in it?

There is a picture of a house in Friendship. I wonder if that was yours?

And, could you give us definitive answer since this gets asked a lot:

The State bought Friendship, and then burnt all of the buildings down, right? Or was there a forest fire that wiped the town out? Or was it arson...?

 

[bobpbx]

Have we all forgotten that I once lived there? I can tell you what each one of those cellar holes are. One obviously was the house I lived in. Chatsworth Municipal Building has a wonderful collection of original photos of Frinedship and Speedwell! I can remember being 5 or 6 years old and peeking between the weather boards of the packing house, eyes following a ray of sun through the floating dust of workers ghost of yesteryear.
The tree still stands behind the cellar hold of my home. In it hangs the memory of the deer and fox, placed there on display with pride.

I see some quotes for you in there Sue, I truly do! Change it to:

I can remember being 5 or 6 years old, peeking between the weather boards of the packing house, my eyes following a ray of sun through the floating dust of the ghosts of yesteryear

They'll love it!.

 

[suresue592003]

Quotes & Fire

Ben, funny, I can't remember the state burning down the houses. Why would they do that, yet take the time to move the schoolhouse all the way to Tabernacle and spend $ fixing it up? Can't recall any forest fires burning the town, yet if the buildings had fallen down there would be evidence. I wonder what year the state took it over? As for the picture...no I have not seen it, but would love too! Is it in our group's image gallery?
Bob, I noticed you took out the word "worker". I struggled with that, but decided to keep it so one would get the vision of people busy working in the packing house. Just plain "ghost" doesn't give off the same picture. I am interested in what you think. Now since I explained it to you...do you still think just "ghost" sounds better?
I can be dense sometimes...so what did you mean when you said "they will like it" and referred to it as a quote?

 

[bobpbx]

Bob, I noticed you took out the word "worker". I struggled with that, but decided to keep it so one would get the vision of people busy working in the packing house. Just plain "ghost" doesn't give off the same picture. I am interested in what you think. Now since I explained it to you...do you still think just "ghost" sounds better?
I can be dense sometimes...so what did you mean when you said "they will like it" and referred to it as a quote?

For your book Sue, thats what I meant! How about this:

I can remember being 5 or 6 years old, peeking between the weathered boards of the packing house, my eyes following a ray of sun through the floating dust of the ghosts of yesteryear, as they busily sorted berries and prepared them for market.

I'm not an editor Sue, but I know that you have many stories to tell, and that you have a flair for bringing memories up in a open, honest fashion, with just the right mixture of romance and fondness.

 

[suresue592003]

Thanks a mil.

Wow, what a conpliment! No one has ever quite discribed my work in that fashion before. By the way, I love your "wrap up" to the quote!

 

[long-a-coming]

Wow! You all continue to give me the info I need to expand my Pines education. I've been camping, hiking, canoeing, and just relaxing on "sick" days from work in the pines for a number of years now. Who knows how many historical gems I've walked right past w/o knowing they were there.
This site is excellent, Thanks again!!
I think I would like to camp at Batona before it gets too hot and check out the aforementioned sites all in one day. One more question- I did see the bogs as I crossed the bridge on Carranza Road, what do you mean by "checking out the bogs"
Thanks again
Tom

 

[woodjin]

Bear was referring to the bogs that lay west of the town. If you continue south past the town toward Basto (not toward 563) there are several dirt roads on the right that lead to expansive bogs that rank as some of the oldest as most wild in all of Wharton. There is also a few on the left. There is an obvious dirt road on the left which is washed out pretty bad. if you walk down it you will see an enormous beaver lodge on the far side of the left bog. It might be the biggest in the woods.

Jeff

 

[long-a-coming]

That sounds very cool indeed.
I will check it out!
Tom

 

[jokerman]

Hampton Gate is nearby. I could show some the true location of the former tavern. However this may be best for a select group since the evidence is very spare.

 

[jokerman]

Weird. I thought some people would jump on this. Maybe the Gate is already known?

 

[Ben Ruset]

I'd be interested.

 

[wolfspider05]

I'd be interested, even if it is just a picture you could show me.

 

[jokerman]

I will take a look through my photos. I don't think I had a camera with me when I found it, but not sure. It's too bad someone didn't respond prior to the Friendship trip.

 

[suresue592003]

jokerman

What exactly did you find? You mentioned a tavern site, do you mean at Eagle? I do not know of any tavern site at Friendship. I would love to join you out there. Just let me know when.

 

[long-a-coming]

I would be interested. If anyone's going out there I'll meet up w y'all.
Tom

 

[Ben Ruset]

What exactly did you find? You mentioned a tavern site, do you mean at Eagle? I do not know of any tavern site at Friendship. I would love to join you out there. Just let me know when.

He meant the tavern at Hampton Gate. Aptly called "The Gate."