Page 7 - JUNE 2022

June 2022
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
Page 7
Community
on project work and exploration, including plenty of field trips. Joanne remains a farm woman at home raising alpacas, pigs, goats, sheep, and a pet turkey (somewhat crippled but happy to be with Joanne, nonetheless). In addition to guiding school children, Joanne has played an essential role in raising three off- spring of her own, Alicia, Kyle, and Trevor.
This article gives recognition to the contributions of the Robie sisters for enriching life in our village, but as I concluded my interview with Hilda, Lucille, and Joanne, they reminded me to convey to the reader that they remain inspired by the contribu- tion of time and energy on the part of many unnamed residents to make Bristol a wonderful place to live.
SISTERS
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inspires her “crew” of volunteers to decorate the town with appro- priate signatures of those sea- sons. Hilda’s love of animals was fostered as a child by her father Herbert, whose nickname the “Squire” attests to his steward- ship of both land and animals. Hilda was especially enamored of his prize-winning oxen. She has always had a fondness for horses. It is no wonder that her most vivid memory from child- hood is the recollection of the day her parents surprised her with a trip to the Franklin rail- road station to witness the arrival of her first pony. The pony had traveled from Iowa. Hilda was seven at the time of her surprise. Her parents’ nurturance incul- cated in Hilda the love of nature
that is now a gift to Bristol. Hilda has conveyed that same love to her own children, Todd, Tonia,
Michael, and Andrea as a parent. In her beautification of down- town Bristol, Hilda’s partner is her sister Lucille, who the reader may know by her married name, Lucille Keegan. Hilda brings beauty to what we see of Bris-
tol. As curator and director of the Bristol Historical Society, Lucille safeguards the “soul” of the town. This is no overstate- ment. As the Nazis knew in the 1940s and as the Russians have demonstrated these days in Ukraine, eradicating a people’s past is necessary to eliminate their identity. Lucille safeguards our town’s artifacts in the His- torical Society’s home base at the old firehouse. More than this, she presents programs and
speakers to help us learn about the town’s past. Recently, she was instrumental in making us aware of a Bristol woman’s leading role in New Hampshire politi- cal history with the unveiling of E. Maude Ferguson’s historical marker in Central Square. As a female, Lucille faced her own challenges in a society not yet fully sensitized to women’s issues. At 28, she was pregnant with her second child. There was no ma- ternity leave, and she had to quit the job she loved. Six years later, Lucille would have another child. Her three children are Gretchen, Kathryn, and Brian.
A dozen years elapsed before Marion gave birth to the Ro- bie’s last girl, Joanne Lee Robie. There was family speculation that this late addition was a final try for the boy child all farm men
seemed to prize. But Joanne took to farm chores with such joy and passion that her dad would not have wanted his last child to be any different. Joanne worked hard. She fed cows, drove oxen, and bailed hay. All was not labor. There was time to ride a swing hanging from a tree on the farm- house lawn and enjoy homemade maple sugar candy. As Joanne grew older, time passed quickly as she explored woods and rode her own snowmobile. An unpleas- ant experience witnessing the dissection of a cadaver in nurse orientation convinced Joanne to change her career plans and be- come a teacher like her sisters. Bristol Elementary students are thrilled her path has led Joanne to them. She is a teacher that nurtures creativity through expe- riential learning. The emphasis is
It is that time of year! Gardeners are everywhere with trowels, watering cans, and dirty knees. Pasquaney Garden Club members always look forward to sharing their plants and meeting old and new friends at their annual plant sale.
This year›s sale will take place on Saturday, June 4th, from 8-12 in the parking lot behind Minot Sleeper Library in Bristol. The one-day sale takes place, rain or shine!
Perennials are donations from member gardens and transplants from the Butterfly Garden behind the library. The sale also includes some annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants. In recent years the Plant Sale has been the beneficiary of generous donations of plants from other local gardeners as well. To participate in the sale as a volunteer or donate plants,
please contact jewhitenh@gmail. com.
The first spring meeting of Pasquaney Garden Club was held at Minot Sleeper Library on April 19th. Members express their sympathy to the family and friends of two very long- time members of the club, Anne Milender and Ruth Munroe, who both passed recently. The contributions of these special ladies will be long remembered and appreciated.
The business meeting focused on planning for the upcoming plant sale and the organization of volunteers and plant needs for those gardens and containers in the Bristol and Newfound area, which are maintained by the club. Dates were set for trips to various greenhouses to obtain plants, and planting locations were reviewed. Dates for the care of the Butterfly Garden
were also discussed. Three new attendees were welcomed by the membership this month.
The business meeting was followed by a delightful presentation by Fern Doucette, who shared the botanical art jewelry created by Sue Cram of the Ashland Garden Club. These amazing and award-winning pieces of jewelry require the use and preparation of hundreds of
small botanical items, including seeds, leaves, and dozens of other plant parts, and a very steady and creative hand to complete the designs with lovely colored finishes. The club wishes to thank Fern and to Sue for the pleasure of viewing and hearing about these extraordinary creations.
The first garden workday at the Butterfly Garden took place on Tuesday, May 3rd, from 9-11. A hard-working crew trimmed, raked, and weeded to ready the garden for seasonal blooming. In the coming weeks, the garden areas will receive fresh mulch, and additional plant selections will be added. The next garden workday will be on Wednesday,
May 25th, from 9-11. Gardeners will divide some of the larger existing plants in need of thinning and pot them up for the plant sale. Volunteers are welcome to assist in this effort! Please bring spades, trowels, and clippers.
Pasquaney Garden Club is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization. Participation includes members from many of the surrounding towns in the greater Newfound area. Dues are $15. Guests are welcome at all meetings and activities. Information about the club is available at the Minot Sleeper Library and on local social media and publicity.
Pasquaney Garden Club Prepares for Annual Plant Sale and Community Plantings
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