USQUEPAUGH
TRANSLATION: WHISKEY, GRIST MILL, QUEEN RIVER, POOH STICKS LOCATION
If you remember Gram Kenyon’s essay about the history of Usquepaugh, you might recall that the name is derived from the local Narragansett’s term for “good WHISKEY.” I’ve also heard, “place where whiskey is made.” I am not sure if whiskey was ever made in the tiny hamlet, but corn meal certainly has been and continues to be ground at Kenyon’s GRIST MILL to this day. From the mill’s website — a compressed timeline: 1696 – first mention of a mill on the site; 1886 – John Tarbox builds the mill that stands on the site today; 1909 – the name “Kenyon” is first associated with the mill when ownership passes to Charles D. Kenyon; 2005 – the latest change in ownership (14 owners listed) to Paul E. T. Drumm III. The mill is, of course located on the QUEEN/QUEEN’S RIVER (they jury is still out on which of these is accurate) and the nearby bridge over that river is a perfect POOH STICKS location. I remember playing pooh sticks there as a kid whenever we visited Gram Kenyon. I know some in the family enjoy playing pooh sticks still, when crossing a suitable stream on a sibling hike.
SLEDDING LOCATIONS
THE GOLF COURSE, UNCLE JOHN’S MOUNTAIN, NEXT TO BURGER CHEF, AN ELEANOR’S PARENT’S BACKYARD
For me personally, my childhood sledding hill was located at Woodlawn Greens GOLF COURSE (now Kings Crossing Golf Club). We trudged up South Road dragging our sleds with us to where the big curve in the road starts. We’d cut across (someone help me here) the fairway for the 9th hole (?) over to the top of the hill. I went there as a kid, I went there with Jim and a bunch of friends from CCRI (we used canoes as sleds), and I went there with my kids. My kids probably remember sledding at 49 Potowomut more so though. Michaela always called it “UNCLE JOHN’S MOUNTAIN.” For me it still ranks five stars for hillside amenities — the hot chocolate, in particular, was always great. Although I think it was Isaac that once asked for “cold chocolate.”
JESSICA (IN THE FOREGROUND), NANCY, MICHAELA, AND
JENNIFER (L-R) IN THE BACKGROUND MAKE THEIR WAY
BACK UP UNCLE JOHN’S MOUNTAIN FOR ANOTHER RUN
I’m sure they’re are other beloved sledding spots enjoyed by family members over the years but I had to dig deep to come up with another two to include here. I have a faint memory of sledding once or twice on a hill between/behind BURGER CHEF and Gable House Furniture (current location of Walt’s Roast Beef and Biomes). Does anyone else remember ever sledding there? I found a reference to it in the Standard-Times in the Christmas Day 1975 edition. The digital version of the newspaper archives doesn’t provide great quality images but I’ve included it anyway.
For the last four or five years the list of Christmas gift ideas Catherine has provided me has included a sled. She, more than anyone else that I can think of, has continued to enjoy sledding into adulthood. I’m sure she’s done some sledding in Vermont (I think I may even have gotten her a sled for Christmas one year) but I was able to confirm with her friend Eleanor that they have wiled away an afternoon or two sledding on a hill in her parent’s backyard in Ware, MA. Sadly, no photos from (AN/THIS) ELEANOR’S PARENT’S BACKYARD.
FAIRS WE’VE ATTENDED
KING RICHARD’S, WASHINGTON COUNTY, SPRINGFIELD, ROCKY HILL
I’ve been to KING RICHARD’S Faire a couple of times, albeit many years ago. I seem to think Amber and Sheila went a few times as well. Likewise, I went to the WASHINGTON COUNTY Fair at least once. I took Catherine and some friends once and only remember it costing me a small fortune. Back in 1979 Karen and Lou went to the Springfield Fair (MA) and took part in some old-school square dancing. I believe the SPRINGFIELD Fair evolved into the Eastern States Exposition (which I took Catherine and Michaela to a few times — can’t beat a big slide with burlap sacks) and is now the Big E. Michaela, Jay, and Cecil have attended the Big E a few times (bonus photo of them from September 2023 visit).
I only know the Rocky Hill Fair as the Rocky Hill Fairgrounds/Flea Market (where CVS and New England Tech are now located at the intersection of Rt. 2 and Division Street). Rumor has it however, that Gil and Claire met at the Rocky Hill Fair. I tried to confirm this with both Aunt Judy and Aunt Eileen but neither could say for sure that it was the Fair — that it could have been Rocky Hill Grange.
JESSICA! IT’S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY!
JIM’S ELDEST, JLK, IDES OF MARCH B-DAY
So, yes, Jessica is JIM’S ELDEST, her middle name is “Lorena” giving her the same initials (JLK) as her dad, and beware — she was born on the 15th of March giving her an IDES OF MARCH B-DAY. I don’t know the date of the photo below but I can guess on the location — it looks like the seawall in Galilee, and oh my goodness, she’s adorable.
11 responses to “March 15, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”
Hi all,
I really left this one to the last minute. Apologies for any typos you might happen across.
That was easy! Thanks Nancy!
We went to King Richard’s fair and that cost us a small fortune! It was also freezing and I lost my sweatshirt to one kid and my down vest to the other. Not the first time or the last that would happen! Lol!
Look at that skinny couple twirling!
Funny because I originally had a line in there about how hot it was one time that I went.
Love that couple!
I got it! Yay! Happy Birthday Jessica!!!
I must be making them too easy now!
I solved it! I solved it! YAY
5 guesses but I didn’t go in and back out or anything!
I LOVE that pic of the sled hill!!!
I sledded one time with a friend’s family in Goddard Park and at the RI Desert. Forest Park students in PE class and kids in that neighborhood sled at what is called Hairy Scary – which is kind of to the side of Forest Park, between the school and the houses on the road up above.
Happy Birthday Jess!!! I love that picture!
I never knew Pooh sticks was played by the previous generation!!!!
I also got Molly those small and easy to store, plastic roll up sleds her freshman year at UNH because I was concerned about her having no sleds available for snowy fun!
Jess does seem really happy in the sled hill pic. I can’t believe I didn’t think of the RI Desert. Now that you mention it, I have heard about/of Hairy/Scary.
Not at all unusual to find the sibs playing Pooh sticks on a hike.
Those roll up sleds are great to have in a sledding pinch.
Oh and as always Nancy…great picture!My kids sledded on Hairy Scary. I think the boys may have sledded by Burger Chef!And I did get it without having to go out and come back in!