Pete shared with me the spectacular show that he saw over this week. He got some great photos of 30 Trumpeter Swans that landed on Deep Creek Lake in front of his house. A very rare occurance if maybe not the first. These migratory birds are the largest birds found in North America according to Wikepedia and are found mostly in northwestern and central North America. The biggest population being in Alaska. They are really off course hanging out on the east coast. I thought I would share, enjoy!
This week is the 53rd Annual Garrett County Fair. Although I have been there several times this week to man the Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty booth, to watch the mud bog and the truck pull I always forget my camera. Pete on the other hand never goes anywhere without it. Pete & Rosie's grandchildren are up visiting this week and Pete shared some fair photos of Caroline & Claudia enjoying fair. I just thought I would share them with you. And if you are at the fair tonight, visit me in the Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty booth.
Freddie Holliday II is the son of Garrett County Commissioner Fred Holliday. Please turn out for this event and show your Garrett County Support for someone in need.
Jeff & Sherry have decided to open their home in Ridgeview Valley to the "Home for the Holidays" Christmas House Tour sponsored by The Western Potomac Chapter of the American Red Cross.
This annual event usually includes the display of 5 local homes or businesses in the Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County areas. The Christmas tour has become a tradition for a lot of people and is a great way to kick off the holiday season. This year the tour is scheduled for Friday, December 5, 4:00pm until 9:00pm and Saturday, December 6, 10:00am until 3:00pm. In addition to Jeff & Sherry's home; the home of Ross and Linda Glotfelty, the Wildwood Athletic Club, the Faith Evangelical Free Church and the home of Jim & Katie Kosieniski will also be on the tour. Tickets may be purchased at Proudfoot's Pharmacy, Arrowhead, Gregg's Pharmacy and Deep Creek Pharmacy. Advance tickets are $8.00 and tickets at the door are $10.00. Driving directions will be given and each stop on the tour is marked by a yard sign.
I am always interested in hearing a story or two or three from any local old timer. Pete & I have decided to start a series of stories given to us from our elders to educate and entertain folks about Garrett County, Deep Creek Lake and Western Maryland. My first story is told to me second hand by my father, Lonnie Bentley. The story was told to him by Frank Beckman of Oakland. I think Frank turned 80 this summer. Anyway, there is a pretty popular landmark on Mayhew Inn Road off of Rt. 219 that is locally known as the "Swayback Barn."
As I mentioned earlier, Frank is 80 years old and his father hand-hewn each and every one of the wooden shingles on this old barn. As you can see in the picture, each shingle is only 4-6 inches wide. That's a lot of shingles. Frank didn't know how long it took to make each shingle, because he's not sure he was even born when his Dad took on this job.
From the inside it looks like it could use some of those shingles again, daylight is shining through. I would like to know some more information about the barn. Who built it? Who owns it? What year was it built? If you have any information to add to the story I would love a follow up. It's important for the heritage of Garrett County to be passed along so it is not forgotten. I know this barn has been seen on many postcards and has been recreated in watercolor recently by Becky's Dad, Robert Yonke, also known as the "Bluegrass Painter". Check out his site Appalachian Studio for this and many more beautiful watercolors of local landscape. By the way Becky is my friend at Deep Creek Blog and was integral in helping me set up my blog. Here are a few more pictures that Pete took for your enjoyment.
