SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – On Saturday, June 27, the Friends of Skitchewaug will host a history hike and a bring-your-own-food picnic. The hike is moderately challenging and will last about two hours. We will meet at the Ferguson Farm, 220 Spencer Hollow Road in Springfield, at 10 a.m. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear that can get wet, as we may encounter some water and/or mud. Be sure to bring sunscreen and bug spray. Hiking sticks or poles can be useful.
We will be walking near Skitchewaug Mountain, former home of the Abenaki people, and along an unpaved portion of Crown Point Road that was built during the French and Indian War. We will visit a small cemetery from that time period.
After the hike, we will end up at the Ferguson Farm, where you are invited to join us for a picnic. Please bring your own food and drink. There is a refrigerator there, running water, and flush toilets. Keith Ferguson has offered us the use of the pavilion for free, and we appreciate this generous offer.
The Friends of Skitchewaug started with a neighborhood walk by two people who live in this historically and environmentally rich area. It has grown into a group which is committed to celebrating this area and its history and scenic beauty.
The history hike is one of the fun and enriching activities intended to celebrate the beauty of this part of Springfield. The group plans to learn and share more about the stone walls of the area; gardening, which will include pollinator plants; and the Spencer Hollow Schoolhouse, which is perhaps the oldest surviving brick schoolhouse in Vermont.
The Friends of Skitchewaug have started what will be a series of personal histories from residents in the area. For more information, visit www.fosvt.org. You can also find the Friends of Skitchhewaug on Facebook. You do not have to live locally to be a member.